SAN FRANCISCO, CA (2024) | 12 Best Things to Do in & Around San Francisco

The Exploratorium is an interactive science museum located on Pier 15 and 17, where visitors can engage with over 600 exhibits across six galleries, making it a playground for all ages and offering kid-free nights on Thursdays.

The Golden Gate Bridge is a celebrated landmark that can be traversed by bike to reach Sausalito, offering stunning views of the bay.

Sausalito is a charming bayside town accessible by biking across the Golden Gate Bridge, offering a picturesque destination to explore at one's own pace before returning to the city by ferry.

Alcatraz is a notorious former prison located on an island in the Bay, now a popular tourist attraction where visitors can take a Cellhouse audio tour and learn about its history.

Golden Gate Park is a massive urban park with museums, gardens, and event spaces, offering attractions like the Bison Paddock, Queen Wilhelmina Garden, California Academy of Sciences, Botanical Garden, de Young Museum, and the Japanese Tea Garden.

Twin Peaks are two prominent hills near the center of San Francisco, offering a 360° vista of the entire city, accessible by hiking, driving, or Uber.

Alamo Square offers a classic postcard view of San Francisco, featuring a grassy knoll facing a row of beautiful Victorian houses known as the Painted Ladies.

The Ferry Building is an iconic landmark and bustling marketplace with nearly 50 independent vendors selling gourmet foods and crafts, featuring a farmer's market on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.

Fisherman's Wharf, once a bustling commercial port, is now a prime tourist hub known for attractions like Ghirardelli Square, Méchanique, and Pier 39, as well as its vibrant atmosphere and sourdough clam chowder bowls.

Ghirardelli Square is a former chocolate factory in Fisherman's Wharf, transformed into a charming complex with shops and restaurants.

Pier 39 is located in Fisherman's Warf, with its wild sea lion sightings and entertainment.

The Japanese Tea Garden is a serene oasis of trees, koi ponds, and pagodas located within Golden Gate Park.

The Presidio, a former military base transformed into a protected recreation area, is known for its panoramic vistas of the Golden Gate Bridge and Pacific Ocean, including the Yoda Fountain at Lucas Film headquarters and viewpoints like Veterans Overlook and Fort Point.

Fort Point is a historic site within the Presidio that offers panoramic vistas.

Aquatic Park is a picturesque location in Fisherman's Wharf and the starting point for a Golden Gate Bridge bike tour.

The Palace of Fine Arts is a celebrated landmark passed by during a bike tour.

The Mission District, located south of downtown, is the heart of Latino culture, featuring Mission Dolores, Dolores Park, Clarion Alley, and Balmy Alley.

Mission Dolores, located in the Mission District, is the city's oldest intact building, constructed by Spanish missionaries in 1776.

Dolores Park is a spacious green area in the Mission District, popular with locals for picnics, stunning city views, and a relaxed atmosphere.

Clarion Alley is a narrow street in the Mission District that has been transformed into an open-air art gallery with everchanging murals.

Balmy Alley is a narrow street in the Mission District that has been transformed into an open-air art gallery with everchanging murals.

The Marin Headlands, just north of San Francisco across the Golden Gate Bridge, offer stunning views and outdoor activities as part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.

Battery Spencer is a viewpoint in the Marin Headlands that provides a view you absolutely can't miss.

North Beach, also known as Little Italy, is a vibrant neighborhood with trattorias, restaurants, bars, historic cafés like Vesuvio Café, and architectural gems like Saints Peter and Paul Church.

Vesuvio Café in North Beach was a popular hangout spot for Beat Generation writers like Jack Kerouac.

Washington Square Park is located near Saints Peter and Paul Church in North Beach.

Saints Peter and Paul Church is an architectural gem located at the edge of Washington Square Park in North Beach.

Coit Tower sits just above North Beach, with its steep filbert steps leading down to the waterfront.