Things to do in San Francisco

San Francisco sightseeing is a hugely rewarding experience and, if travellers enjoy walking between the sights, a physically demanding one, too. Few cities have hills as steep as this, but mercifully the cable cars are a practical and fun way to travel up and down the rises.

There are a number of world class sights. Visitors can take a stroll around Golden Gate Park, while enjoying glimpses of the iconic Golden Gate Bridge; then catch a cable car up the steep hills to Chinatown, and the stunning Aquarium, before taking a long lunch at Fisherman's Wharf, one of the city's most popular attraction.

Perhaps the best of sightseeing in San Francisco is simply being in the city and experiencing its welcoming atmosphere while enjoying the charming architecture and splendid natural scenery. If travellers are planning a very full day of sightseeing, they should consider the Go San Francisco card, which provides a range of discounts and preferential access to attractions.

Golden Gate Bridge photo

Golden Gate Bridge

The rust-coloured towers, graceful suspension and supportive cables of the Golden Gate Bridge make this famous symbol of San Francisco the most photographed bridge in the world, an…

Alcatraz photo

Alcatraz

Out in the middle of San Francisco Bay, Alcatraz Island, or 'The Rock', is one of Golden Gate National Recreation Area's most popular destinations. The notorious escape-proof islan…

Fisherman's Wharf photo

Fisherman's Wharf

Some people love the bustle of Fisherman's Wharf, while others make a conscious effort to steer well clear of it. For better or worse it is massively popular, attracting more visit…

North Beach photo

North Beach

Between Russian and Telegraph Hills, North Beach is San Francisco's 'Little Italy', and has long been the central hub for anyone with alternative inclinations. During the 1950s the…

Golden Gate Park photo

Golden Gate Park

Of the many open green spaces in San Francisco, Golden Gate Park is the biggest and the loveliest stretching from The Haight to the Pacific Ocean, featuring gardens, lakes, numerou…

Cable Cars photo

Cable Cars

One of San Francisco's most endearing attractions is its network of 130-year-old cable cars, the only mobile National Historic Landmark in the country, and the world's only survivi…

Wine Country photo

Wine Country

The Napa and Sonoma Valleys are at the heart of the Californian wine country, producing wines that are praised by connoisseurs worldwide, from a perfect climate of sunny days and c…

Yosemite National Park photo

Yosemite National Park

One of the country's premier national parks, Yosemite receives millions of visitors each year with more than four million people visiting the Yosemite Valley alone. It's home to th…

Sausalito photo

Sausalito

Located at the north end of the Golden Gate Bridge, Sausalito is a half hour ferry ride from Fisherman's Wharf. The panoramic view of San Francisco Bay is spectacular, and Sausalit…

Exploratorium photo

Exploratorium

Named San Francisco's best museum, the Exploratorium is a fun, quirky museum of science, art and human perception that features some 650 'please touch' exhibits. Located inside the…

Aquarium of the Bay photo

Aquarium of the Bay

The Aquarium of the Bay features 300 feet (91m) of crystal clear acrylic tunnels through which over 20,000 aquatic animals can be viewed. The aquarium offers visitors the opportuni…

Alamo Square photo

Alamo Square

Anyone who has ever seen an episode of the 90s sitcom 'Full House' will know what Alamo Square looks like. It's a residential neighbourhood and park in San Francisco, frequented by…

Chinatown photo

Chinatown

A dragon-draped archway at the intersection of Bush and Grant streets marks the entrance to Chinatown in San Francisco, the oldest Chinatown in the United States and the largest Ch…

Lombard Street photo

Lombard Street

Known as the 'Crookedest Street in the world', Lombard Street features eight sharp hairpin turns. The road was designed in 1922 in order to reduce the 72 degree slope of the hill a…

Ripley's Believe it or Not! Museum photo

Ripley's Believe it or Not! Museum

Visitors at the Ripley's Believe It Or Not! Museum can be mystified and thrilled at the rare, the bizarre and the totally unexplained in the many interactive and state-of-the-art e…

Oakland Zoo photo

Oakland Zoo

Boasting a menagerie of over 300 wonderful animals, the Oakland Zoo is a must for animal lovers and children. Highlights include a children's park, picnic area, wildlife theatre, c…

Children's Fairyland photo

Children's Fairyland

This ten-acre entertainment park on the shores of Lake Merritt features carousel rides, puppet shows, friendly animals and displays of story-book sets from well-loved characters su…

Ghirardelli Square photo

Ghirardelli Square

Just as seekers will find gold at the end of the rainbow, there's surely chocolate at the end of the cable car line in San Francisco. Ghirardelli Square, located on Fisherman's Wha…

Coit Tower photo

Coit Tower

This 210 foot tall (64m) tower in North Beach is the best vantage point in San Francisco, and a great way for new arrivals to get their bearings. The art deco tower is the centrepi…

Haight Ashbury photo

Haight Ashbury

Legend has it that the 1960s hippy movement and resulting American counter-culture kicked off in the Haight Ashbury area. That was more than 50 years ago, but the bohemian atmosphe…

Union Square photo

Union Square

This central plaza is the modern face of San Francisco, surrounded by Macy's, Saks, Bloomingdale's, and the Levis flagship store, plus iconic hotels and quaint historical buildings…

San Francisco MOMA photo

San Francisco MOMA

The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) is one of the country's premier modern art centres, featuring important works of Diego Rivera, Picasso, Jackson Pollock, Clyfford St…

Asian Art Museum of San Francisco photo

Asian Art Museum of San Francisco

San Francisco has close ties with Asia, a legacy reflected in its sizeable Chinese and Japanese communities. The Asian Art Museum collection was funded and developed to honour this…

Muir Woods photo

Muir Woods

The closest remaining stand of Redwoods to San Francisco, Muir Woods National Monument is a great half-day excursion from the city to pay homage to these soaring giants of the fore…

Six Flags Discovery Kingdom photo

Six Flags Discovery Kingdom

Located in Vallejo, Six Flags Discovery Kingdom is an animal theme park that offers wildlife experiences with a range of creatures. Visitors can feed dolphins, sea lions, seals or …

Winchester Mystery House photo

Winchester Mystery House

One of the most bizarre attractions in northern California, the Winchester Mystery House was the residence of Sarah Winchester, widow of the inventor of the famous rifle. The house…

Redwood National and State Park photo

Redwood National and State Park

Redwood National and State Park features the world-famous redwood trees that tower up to 379 feet (115m) in the air. Forty five percent of the remaining old-growth redwood forests …