San Francisco Activities: 25 Fun Things to Do in the City by the Bay

One of the most popular San Francisco activities is heading out on the water to see the sights. There are many different tours to choose from, but I've narrowed it down to the five best SF Bay cruises. 

They differ by vessel, tour length, time of day, and refreshments offered (yes, there are special champagne and wine tours!), but all of them feature riding under the Golden Gate Bridge, passing by Alcatraz Island, and admiring the city skyline.

>> Find tickets online in advance

This is our most popular museum, sure to please the whole family, as it encompasses a wide range of science subjects presented in creative, interactive formats.

You'll find an aquarium, a four-story rainforest, a planetarium, an earthquake exhibit, and a living garden rooftop—not to mention everyone's favorite albino alligator, Claude. 

This is one of the San Francisco activities that is located within beautiful Golden Gate Park.

>> Find skip-the-line tickets for this museum

>> Ideas on what it's like to visit this top museum

One of the signature tourist activities in San Francisco is visiting the iconic Golden Gate Bridge.

This orange architectural beauty, for many years the longest suspension bridge in the world, spans from the northwestern corner of San Francisco across the Golden Gate Straight to the cute town of Sausalito. 

There are many ways to explore it: on foot, on bike, by car or bus, cruising under it, or even riding a helicopter over top.

>> Best ways to see the Golden Gate Bridge

>> Best places to take pics of this photogenic landmark

Alcatraz Prison is one of the most famous sights in San Francisco.

Often referred to as "The Rock," it's a small island in the bay that served as a federal prison for the country's worst criminals, with its 1.5-mile frigid swim to shore acting as a deterrent against escapes. 

But indeed, there were several escape attempts, and you'll learn about them and the rest of the prison's history on your tour, which starts with a pre-booked ferry ride from San Francisco.

>> Where to find tickets and what you can expect on your visit

>> Tips to go on the night tour

Check out these deals on combo tickets for Alcatraz:

There is nothing like discovering San Francisco on foot. With a guided walking tour, you have the chance to see attractions up close and from different angles, while learning from your expert guide.

You can take in the distinct sights, smells, and tastes of each neighborhood, and learn about the local history, all at a comfortable walking pace. 

Some of these San Francisco activities are free, while others are paid. This varies by length, region, and what's included (many offer samples of local delights along the way). This is a great way to learn little-known facts about Chinatown, North Beach, and other famous districts.

>> My favorite guided tours and tips to find discounted tickets

Sure, you may have crossed off all the usual tourist attractions on your trip, but have you taken a closer look at SF beyond that?

Have you meandered the Mission streets to admire the colorful murals, visited the Buddhist temples in Chinatown, or climbed the 163 beautifully tiled steps in the Sunset? 

Click the link below to find out about 25 different hidden gems and San Francisco activities that you should not miss.

>> Where to find our less visited beauties

One of the most interesting San Francisco activities is looking at the street art. There are over a thousand murals throughout the city. Some are in plain sight, especially in the Mission and North Beach Districts. 

Others are tucked inside historic buildings like the Rincon Center, Coit Tower, and the Beach Chalet, which are all free to visit. Check out the variety of colors and themes portrayed by many generations of this city's artists.

>> How to find our best street art

>> Maps showing where to find the best murals in the Mission

Visiting Fisherman's Wharf is one of the most popular San Francisco activities for tourists.

This district is right on the waterfront, making for great views, deliciously fresh seafood, access to ferry rides, barking sea lions, and an aquarium known for its walk-through tunnels. 

Fisherman's Wharf hosts many festivals throughout the year, and also contains a variety of small museums, kid-friendly attractions, shops, and restaurants. 

>> Best activities in Fisherman's Wharf

>> Best places to stay in Fisherman's Wharf

With its proximity to the world-famous wine producing regions of Napa Valley and Sonoma County, San Francisco offers a lot of opportunities to taste delicious local wines as well as imports. 

Check out the wine tasting rooms, bars, festivals, and cruises all over SF. These are great ways to discover new wineries while exploring different parts of the city. Also, get the information you need to plan a tour to nearby wine country. 

>> My recommendations on where to taste the best local wines

Did you know that some of the best SF attractions are actually free to visit?

These include the most iconic sights, like the Painted Ladies in Alamo Square, the Golden Gate Bridge, crooked Lombard Street, the Palace of Fine Arts, and more. 

Find out how to get to my ten favorite free attractions in San Francisco.

>> A list of our 10 best free attractions

>> A list of my favorite free museums

Over six thousand years of the history of one continent in paintings, sculptures, pottery, and jewelry, all contained under one roof. This is what awaits you at the popular Asian Art Museum in SF's Civic Center district. 

Among its regional galleries and unique traveling exhibits, you'll find a very impressive collection of artwork from India, China, Burma, Laos, and all over Asia. Admiring these artifacts is one of my favorite San Francisco activities.

TIP: This museum offers free admission days! Find out when. 

If you're going to be traveling with kids, you'll appreciate having an insider's guide to the best San Francisco activities for the whole family. 

The link below takes you to a full list of SF places that kids love to visit, from hands-on discovery museums, a zoo, and an aquarium, to boat rides and antique arcade games on the pier.

You'll also learn about fun local trails to bike or hike.

>> 25 ideas for family vacations in San Francisco

Many know them as the "Full House" houses, a charming row of pastel-colored Victorians with a green grassy park in the foreground and the SF skyline behind them. 

They are also called the Seven Sisters, or Painted Ladies, of Alamo Square. 

The park is the perfect place to have a picnic and soak in the views, and you can also wander around this neighborhood full of beautiful, historic homes. 

>> Best spots to take pictures of "Postcard Row"

In the realm of professional sports, the San Francisco Bay Area is lucky to have two baseball teams, one football team, and a basketball, soccer, and hockey team.

That means that no matter what season you visit, you will most likely be able to attend an exciting home game! 

Cheer on the champion Giants, A's, 49ers, Warriors, Earthquakes, or Sharks at a stadium near SF, and get a taste of what Bay Area sports are all about.

>> More about Bay Area sports teams and a schedule of upcoming games

One of the best free San Francisco activities is participating in a walking tour led by expert volunteer guides from SF City Guides (a program of the Public Library).

These are high quality, informative tours that cover almost every district and a variety of interesting themes, such as the legacy of the 1906 fire, the Gold Rush, Art Deco architecture, city murals, and more. 

There are several free walking tours offered every day of the year, so check the schedule to find out where and when to meet.

>> Details on the City Guides walking tours

San Francisco theater offers several popular musicals every year, including shows like Hamilton, Finding Neverland, The Lion King, and more.

Many of these Tony Award-winning productions come fresh from Broadway. 

Others make their debut here before heading to New York and around the world. Either way, you are in for a treat with talented casts, elaborate costumes, memorable music, and fantastic stories, not to mention the beautiful historic theaters themselves.

These are just a few of the upcoming shows:

With over 1,000 acres of gardens, trails, museums, and sports fields, Golden Gate Park is a true asset to the city as a major green public space. The park stretches from the Sunset District to Ocean Beach on SF's west coast. 

It contains the California Academy of Sciences, the Conservatory of Flowers, the de Young Museum, and so much more.

Every year, it also hosts large outdoor music festivals like Outside Lands and Hardly Strictly Bluegrass. Explore Golden Gate Park by attending an event, biking around, or taking a walking tour.

>> More ideas on what you can see and do in Golden Gate Park

If you cross the Golden Gate Bridge and travel northeast a little over an hour, you'll head right into the heart of California wine country.

Both Napa Valley and Sonoma County are full of beautiful rolling hills and lots of vineyards where you can taste delicious local wines. 

You can either head up on your own or take a guided tour, like these:

The Japanese Tea Garden in SF's Golden Gate Park is the perfect place to hang out, relax, and (of course) sip tea!

You'll first arrive at the gorgeous wooden entrance gate, then step inside a world that makes you feel like you've traveled back in time and halfway around the globe. 

It's green, peaceful, and aesthetically captivating. As you meander the trails, you'll encounter a beautiful high arching drum bridge, a five-story pagoda, a dwarf tree collection, a zen rock garden, and more. 

>> Images of what you will see and tips to visit

If you're not much of a fan of organized tours because you like to go at your own pace, explore in depth, and get a real taste of each neighborhood, you're in luck! 

I've put together a bunch of self-guided itineraries for each SF district, and for seeing the whole city in one to four days. 

You'll get great ideas for how to spend a perfect day between the best attractions, restaurants, and San Francisco activities in Chinatown, North Beach, Haight-Ashbury, and more.

>> Dozens of self-guided itineraries to see SF at your own pace

Whether you're looking for souvenirs, artisan gifts, bargains, or brand-name items, you'll find plenty of shopping areas to fit your needs.

San Francisco has several large malls as well as specialty centers like Ghirardelli Square, the Cannery, and the Ferry Building, which offer a lovely selection of boutique shops. 

Find an incredible variety of cheap gifts in Chinatown, or more upscale items in the trendy Marina District. Click the link below for more information on where to start your shopping spree.

>> Best places to shop all around town

Chinatown is a busy, crowded neighborhood with shops, restaurants, temples, and lots of Chinese-American residents.

It's known as a "city within a city" because it's so dense and visiting can be a little overwhelming if you don't have a guide to all of its highlights. 

Some of the top year-round attractions in this district include the fortune cookie factory, bargain shops, dim sum, and Buddhist temples. Also, between January and March each year, you'll find Chinese New Year decorations and celebrations. 

>> Top things to do and see in Chinatown

Another one of the top San Francisco activities is visiting the SF MOMA, which has drawn attention recently for reopening after a huge expansion that doubled its capacity for exhibits and established the building itself as a shining work of art in the downtown area. 

This museum now offers 10 stories of artwork, including contemporary paintings, photography, and architectural pieces. You'll find work by famous painters like Matisse and Diego Rivera, as well as pieces from all corners of the world.

SAVINGS TIP: In addition to free days, Floors 1 and 2 of the SFMOMA contain 45,000 square feet of art-filled public space that you can access for free any day.