10 Favorite Things to Do in San Francisco, From a Local Who Loves the City

After calling San Francisco home on and off for more than 20 years, I’ve fallen head over heels for its one-of-a-kind charm. Some mornings it's the fog draped over the Golden Gate Bridge. Other days it's the clang of the cable cars rolling past my windows near California Street, or a street corner bursting with a brand-new mural.

From vibrant art tucked into hidden alleys to world-class food you can find in a hole-in-the-wall cafe, this city knows how to surprise me.

Every day here feels like a new adventure and one that keeps my love for San Francisco growing year after year.

Here are ten things that capture my heart most about this amazing city!

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1. The Colorful Street Art and Murals

Everywhere you turn in San Francisco, there’s a splash of color waiting to catch your eye. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve stopped mid-walk because a wall I’ve passed a dozen times before suddenly has a brand-new mural.

The Mission District is the heart of our street art scene. Clarion Alley and Balmy Alley each pack more than a dozen vibrant pieces into just a single block, with each one telling its own story, from tributes to community leaders to snapshots of SF’s history.

Chinatown is another favorite of mine for its ever-changing art. I never visit without spotting something new, whether it’s a playful dragon tucked between storefronts or a traditional scene painted across an entire wall.

And the murals don’t stop outdoors. Step inside Coit Tower, the Rincon Center, Grace Cathedral, or the Beach Chalet, and you’ll find entire rooms lined with works of art, including murals, frescoes, and mosaics that are just as captivating as anything on the street. Many of these indoor murals also capture a slice of life in the history of the city.

It’s one of the things I love most about this city: the art is woven right into the fabric of daily life, and there’s always something new to discover.

>> Click here for a full list of where to find the top murals in the city.

2. Annual Street Fairs & Festivals

One of the things I love most about San Francisco is how our festival season never really stops. It just changes with the weather.

It all starts in spring, as the cherry blossoms bloom in Japantown and the streets fill with music, dance, and food during the Cherry Blossom Festival. By summer, the energy kicks up a notch with our Pride Parade and Festival, one of the most colorful and joyous celebrations you’ll ever see.

Fourth of July brings the Waterfront Festival in Fisherman’s Wharf, and not long after, I’m wandering through the streets of Pacific Heights for one of my personal favorites, the Fillmore Jazz Festival.

Then there’s the Stern Grove Festival, which truly captures the soul of San Francisco for me: a relaxed picnic in the grove, fog drifting in around the trees, locals dancing barefoot to live music. The best part is that all of it is completely free.

When September and October roll around, the city turns into one giant celebration. Fleet Week fills the skies with the roar of the Blue Angels, Hardly Strictly Bluegrass brings free music to Golden Gate Park, and there are enough food festivals to make me gain ten pounds before Halloween.

As the year winds down, the city glows, literally. The holidays bring events like Let’s Glow, where artistic light projections transform downtown buildings, plus more than a dozen tree lighting festivals that turn every corner into a postcard moment.

>> Click here for details on this year's festivals and street fairs.

3. The Food

San Francisco is a food lover’s dream, and I’ll admit, I take full advantage of it. With more than 3,000 restaurants packed into the city, you can eat your way around the world without ever leaving a seven-mile radius.

One day, I might start with a dim sum brunch in Chinatown, grab a Mission-style burrito for lunch, and end the evening with handmade pasta in North Beach. The next day? Maybe Ethiopian along the Fillmore Street, Peruvian in the Mission, or a Nepalese feast in the Inner Richmond.

It’s not just the variety, it’s the creativity. Our chefs mix flavors and cultures in ways that feel distinctly “San Francisco.” You’ll find hole-in-the-wall cafés turning out unforgettable meals, food trucks serving dishes you’ll dream about for weeks, and fine dining restaurants earning their Michelin stars night after night.

Some of my best meals have been total surprises, including places I stumbled upon while exploring a neighborhood. That’s why I always encourage visitors to wander off the main streets. Explore Hayes Valley, Potrero Hill, or the Outer Sunset and you might just find your new favorite meal.

>> Click here for just a few of my recommendations to get you started.

4. The Golden Gate Bridge

No matter how many times I see it, the Golden Gate Bridge still takes my breath away. I’ve crossed it on foot in the sunshine, biked it on blustery days, soaked in its beauty as the flowers bloom around it in the spring, and stood at the lookout as fog wrapped around its towers like a scarf.

Each time feels a little different, and each time reminds me how lucky I am to live here.

It’s more than just a postcard image. The bridge is a huge part of San Francisco’s story.

When it opened in 1937, it connected the city to the rest of Northern California in a way that transformed the region. Today, it’s one of the most photographed landmarks in the world, yet somehow it never loses its magic in person.

If you visit, start at the south end’s welcome area, where you’ll find a small but fascinating display about its history. There’s a scale model showing how the bridge works, photos from its construction, and little-known facts that make you appreciate it even more.

But the real experience is stepping onto the bridge itself. Feel the wind whip past you, watch the bay shimmer below, and look out toward the Marin Headlands. It’s an experience you will never forget!

>> Learn more about visiting the Golden Gate Bridge

5. The SF Bay & Its Islands

The San Francisco Bay is my daily dose of gratitude. I see it every day, yet it still stops me in my tracks, especially on my walks along Larkin Street, where Alcatraz seems to float just beyond the waterfront.

The bay’s shoreline is dotted with charming towns, rolling hills, and hidden beaches, but its islands are where the real adventures begin.

Alcatraz is a must-see, no matter how many times you’ve been. I go at least two to three times a year, and every visit I learn something new, whether it’s a detail about one of its infamous prisoners or a detail from its days as a military fort.

Angel Island is my favorite escape from the city’s buzz. Just a short ferry ride away, it feels like another world. You can hike up to Mount Livermore for panoramic views of the skyline and Golden Gate Bridge, wander through its history at the immigration station, or circle the island on the perimeter trail for some of the best scenery in the Bay Area.

And the water itself? There’s nothing like seeing the city from a boat. A classic 60-minute bay cruise takes you under the Golden Gate, past Alcatraz, and other attractions along SF's waterfront. Or you can mix it up with a champagne brunch cruise, an “Escape from the Rock” tour, or a sunset dinner cruise with the skyline glittering in the background.

>> Click here for a list of my five favorite bay cruises

6. The Quality & Variety of Our Museums

San Francisco might be small in size, but when it comes to museums, we’re world-class. Whether you’re into art, history, science, or something a little more niche, there’s a museum here that will surprise you.

The Legion of Honor is my go-to when I want a dose of elegance. Tucked away in Lincoln Park, it feels like stepping into a piece of Europe, complete with sweeping views of the Golden Gate Bridge and one of the most beautiful settings in the city. Inside, you’ll find an incredible collection that spans centuries, from ancient artifacts to Impressionist masterpieces.

The Asian Art Museum is another favorite of mine. Its collection is massive, covering 6,000 years of history, and I always leave feeling like I’ve traveled the world without ever leaving the city.

Golden Gate Park is also home to a couple of gems worth a visit. The California Academy of Sciences is part natural history museum, part aquarium, part planetarium, part rainforest, and all-around amazing. I could spend hours exploring its living rooftop, watching the penguins, or wandering through its rainforest dome.

Just across the way, the Conservatory of Flowers is a Victorian-era greenhouse filled with tropical plants and orchids, and stepping inside feels like entering a warm, fragrant paradise.

From these classics to smaller gems scattered throughout the city, our museums are proof that there’s always something new to learn, see, and experience here.

>> Click here for an overview of what to expect from each one when you visit.

7. The Free Attractions & Activities

San Francisco has a reputation for being pricey, but some of my favorite experiences here don’t cost a thing. You just have to know where to look.

The Cable Car Museum is at the top of my list. It’s completely free and endlessly fascinating—you can actually watch the massive wheels and cables in motion, pulling the cable cars through the streets above. Every time I stop by, I leave with a deeper appreciation for these moving pieces of San Francisco history. 

There are also smaller, free museums scattered around the city, like the Maritime Museum in Fisherman’s Wharf and the San Francisco Fire Department Museum in Pacific Heights. You can see many of the city’s most famous sights for free, too. Walk across the Golden Gate Bridge, wander along the crooked curves of Lombard Street, admire the Painted Ladies at Alamo Square, or step inside City Hall to see its stunning rotunda.

One of my favorite "insider" tips is the SFCityGuides, part of the San Francisco Public Library, free walking tours. They offer nearly a dozen each day, covering everything from historic neighborhoods to architectural highlights, and they’re led by passionate volunteer guides. (They do suggest a small donation to keep the program running.)

The best part about free attractions here? They’re often the ones that give you a real sense of the city’s character, and no ticket is required.

>> Find out more about my favorite free SF attractions and activities

8. Its Historic Victorians

San Francisco’s Victorians are like jewelry boxes scattered across the city, each one a little different, each one hiding its own charm. Built mostly in the late 1800s, these homes are known for their ornate woodwork, intricate details, and layers of paint in colors you might never think to combine, but expert painters work them together perfectly here.

Many were lost in the 1906 earthquake and fire, but a few neighborhoods escaped the worst of the damage. Today, you’ll find the highest concentrations in Pacific Heights, Alamo Square, and Haight-Ashbury, where entire blocks look like something out of a storybook.

The most famous of them all are the Painted Ladies along Steiner Street across from Alamo Square Park, an iconic row that’s been photographed millions of times, but still feels magical when you see it in person.

I love wandering these neighborhoods, turning a corner, and spotting a new favorite, a mint green façade with gold trim, a deep purple beauty with delicate white scrollwork, or a sunny yellow house framed by blooming bougainvillea.

If you want to step inside a Victorian, the Haas-Lilienthal House in Pacific Heights is a must. The owner of the Blue Painted Lady across from Alamo Square Park also offers guided tours. These two guided tours give you a peek into what life was like here more than a century ago.

9. Golden Gate Park

Golden Gate Park is my all-seasons escape with 1,000 acres of gardens, trails, lakes, and some of the city’s best attractions all tucked into one green stretch on the west side of San Francisco. I’ve been here more times than I can count, yet I still manage to find something new almost every visit.

It’s home to icons like the California Academy of Sciences, the de Young Museum, the Conservatory of Flowers, the Japanese Tea Garden, and the San Francisco Botanical Garden. But it’s also a place for quiet moments, reading under the trees at the Shakespeare Garden, watching the ducks at Blue Heron Lake, or wandering through the Rose Garden when it’s in full bloom.

In recent years, the park has also embraced large-scale public art, with sculptures, installations, and rotating exhibits popping up in unexpected places. One of my favorite things is stumbling across a striking new piece of art while on a morning walk.

And then there are the events, big, lively, and uniquely San Francisco.

Outside Lands brings world-class music (and food!) to the park every August, drawing huge crowds. Hardly Strictly Bluegrass offers three days of free live music each fall, with stages tucked among the trees.

Throughout the year, you’ll also find cultural celebrations, community runs, and family-friendly gatherings that turn the park into the city’s biggest backyard party.

You could spend a week here and still not see it all, but even an afternoon in Golden Gate Park will leave you feeling like you’ve experienced a little piece of San Francisco magic.

10. Wine Tasting in Napa & Sonoma

One of the perks of living in San Francisco? Wine country is practically in my backyard.

In just over an hour, I can be surrounded by rolling vineyards, sipping a crisp Sauvignon Blanc or a bold Cabernet under the California sun.

Napa Valley and Sonoma County each have their own personality. Napa with its polished tasting rooms and world-famous wineries and Sonoma with its laid-back charm and family-run estates.

I love them both, and I try to make the trip at least once a quarter. Sometimes it’s for a special event, other times just for a quiet day wandering between wineries.

If it’s your first visit, I recommend starting with a guided tour. You’ll get to relax and enjoy the views along the way, learn about the history and winemaking process, and, best of all, sample to your heart’s content without worrying about the drive back over the bridge.

In late summer and early fall, the vineyards come alive with harvest season. The grapes are ripe, the air is fragrant, and the hills are painted in shades of gold and green. But truthfully, there’s no bad time to go. Even on a winter day, sipping wine by a fireplace in a cozy tasting room is pure bliss.

>> Read through my recommendations for guided wine tours from San Francisco

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