This is an overview of the main things to do in San Francisco, grouped so you can build a plan around them. The city is compact, about seven miles on each side, and many of these sights sit within walking distance of each other. For day-by-day routes, see our one-day, two-day, and three-day itineraries.
The Landmarks
Golden Gate Bridge
The bridge spans 1.7 miles between the Presidio and the Marin Headlands. Walking the full span and back takes about 70 minutes, or 40 minutes to the first tower and back. It is free to walk. The Welcome Center on the San Francisco side has parking and a viewpoint.
Alcatraz Island
The former federal prison sits in the bay, reached by ferry from Pier 33. Tickets come from Alcatraz City Cruises and sell out weeks ahead in summer. A visit runs two to three hours including the crossing.
Cable cars
Three cable car lines still run: Powell-Hyde, Powell-Mason, and California Street. The Powell-Hyde line passes near Lombard Street and ends by Ghirardelli Square. The California line is usually less crowded. Pay with a Clipper card, the MuniMobile app, or cash.
Lombard Street
The block of Lombard between Hyde and Leavenworth has eight switchback turns on a steep grade. The stairs on either side are free to walk. The Powell-Hyde cable car stops at the top.
Parks and the Coast
Golden Gate Park
The park runs three miles to the ocean and holds the de Young Museum, the California Academy of Sciences, the Japanese Tea Garden, the Conservatory of Flowers, and Stow Lake. It is larger than Central Park in New York.
Lands End
The Lands End Trail follows the coast at the northwest corner of the city, past the Sutro Baths ruins to clifftop views of the Golden Gate Bridge. The round-trip is about 3.4 miles.
The Presidio and Crissy Field
The Presidio is a former Army post turned national park land at the foot of the bridge. Crissy Field is a flat shoreline path with views toward the bridge and the bay.
The Waterfront
Fisherman’s Wharf and Pier 39
The wharf has seafood stands, the Musee Mecanique arcade, and the sea lions that have used the Pier 39 docks since 1990. Boudin Bakery serves clam chowder in a sourdough bowl.
The Ferry Building
The Ferry Building on the Embarcadero is a food hall with cheese, oyster, coffee, and bread vendors, plus a farmers market on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.
The Neighborhoods
San Francisco is a city of distinct neighborhoods, and walking them is one of the main things to do here.
- Chinatown: the oldest Chinatown in North America, entered through the Dragon Gate on Grant Avenue.
- North Beach: the Italian neighborhood, home to City Lights Bookstore and the Beat Generation history.
- The Mission: Latino history, murals in Balmy and Clarion alleys, taquerias, and Dolores Park.
- Haight-Ashbury: the center of 1960s counterculture, with record and vintage shops.
- The Castro: the center of LGBTQ+ San Francisco, with the Castro Theatre and the GLBT History Museum.
Museums
SFMOMA downtown holds modern and contemporary art across seven floors. The de Young and the Legion of Honor cover fine art. The Exploratorium on Pier 15 is a hands-on science museum. Several museums offer free admission days each month.
Day Trips
Muir Woods, with its old-growth redwoods, is about an hour north in Marin and requires a parking or shuttle reservation. Sausalito sits across the bay, reached by ferry. Napa and Sonoma wine country are about 90 minutes north.
Getting Around
BART connects the airport, downtown, and the Mission. Muni buses and light rail cover the rest of the city, paid with a Clipper card or the MuniMobile app. Rideshare is widely used. Parking downtown and near the wharf is limited, so transit is often faster.
For routed plans, see our three-day itinerary. Skip the Bus runs a small-group luxury van tour that covers many of these sights with a local guide, and the free SF Guide app collects the full set of neighborhood and food guides.
