13 Best Things to Do and See in San Francisco
Exploring San Francisco on foot is one of the best ways to feel the city’s atmosphere, connect its landmark places and discover its neighbourhoods at a more natural pace.
In this guide, you will find the attractions not to miss when planning a walking route in San Francisco, with simple reference points.
To go further, you can also enjoy a private guided tour in San Francisco. It is a smoother way to connect places, understand details you might miss on your own and enjoy a more human, personal discovery adapted to your trip.
1. Pier 39
Pier 39, on the San Francisco waterfront, is one of the liveliest spots in Fisherman’s Wharf. This marina and shopping area brings together boutiques, restaurants, street entertainment, and bay views, with Alcatraz Island and the Golden Gate Bridge visible in the background on clear days. It is also a very popular place to watch sea lions, stroll along the piers, and enjoy the maritime atmosphere. It is an ideal stop for combining a walk, leisure, and discovering the coastline.
2. Golden Gate Bridge
The Golden Gate Bridge is one of the most iconic landmarks in San Francisco and the United States. Crossing this great suspension structure, visitors are treated to spectacular views of the bay, the Pacific Ocean, and the city skyline, often wrapped in fog. The site attracts walkers, cyclists, and photographers alike, thanks to its viewpoints and remarkable lookout points. It is a must-see place to admire a famous architectural symbol while enjoying a magnificent coastal landscape.
3. Alcatraz Federal Prison
Alcatraz Federal Prison, located on an island in San Francisco Bay, is an iconic historic site that attracts many visitors. Here, you can discover the remains of a once-famous penitentiary, with its detention buildings, narrow corridors, and preserved living quarters. The visit also lets you admire superb views of the bay, the bridge, and the city, while understanding the isolated atmosphere of this place steeped in history. It is a must-see stop for discovering another side of San Francisco.
4. Golden Gate Park
In San Francisco, Golden Gate Park is a vast green space where visitors can discover beautiful gardens, lawns, walking paths, and bodies of water perfect for relaxing. The park is also home to several cultural and leisure attractions, making it a popular destination for a varied visit that combines nature and activities. Visitors can enjoy a peaceful atmosphere, admire the plant life, go cycling, or simply take a stroll away from the hustle and bustle of the city. It is one of the city’s major green lungs.
5. Union Square
Union Square is one of San Francisco’s most iconic landmarks, at once a public square, a place for strolling, and a lively meeting point. In the heart of the shopping district, it features a large open plaza surrounded by department stores, hotels, galleries, and theaters, making it an ideal stop between sightseeing visits. The site also hosts seasonal events and offers a pleasant setting to watch the city’s energy unfold. Its central location makes it a great starting point for exploring San Francisco on foot.
6. Painted Ladies
The Painted Ladies are a famous row of colorful Victorian and Edwardian houses located in San Francisco, facing Alamo Square. This highly photographed spot offers an iconic glimpse of the city’s residential architecture, with its ornate facades, elegant details, and vivid colors that often contrast with the urban skyline in the background. It is a popular place for strolling, admiring the architecture, and taking in views of the surrounding neighborhood, especially from the nearby park.
7. San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, better known as SFMOMA, is one of the major modern and contemporary art museums in the United States. Located in the heart of San Francisco, it brings together a vast collection of paintings, sculptures, photographs, installations, and multimedia works. A visit lets you discover major artists from the 20th century through to the most contemporary creations, in bright and varied exhibition spaces. It is an essential stop for art lovers and for curious visitors looking to explore the city’s cultural scene.
8. Coit Tower
Coit Tower is one of San Francisco’s most iconic landmarks, where history, mural art and sweeping city views meet. Built atop Telegraph Hill, it draws visitors for its recognizable silhouette and its views over the bay, downtown and surrounding neighborhoods. Inside, the murals are a highlight of the visit and add an artistic reading of the site. Part monument, part landmark and part cultural stop, Coit Tower captures a major part of the city’s visual identity.
9. San Francisco Zoo
San Francisco Zoo offers a visit where enclosures, gardens and paths unfold in an open setting in the west of the city. Visitors discover a wide variety of animals in spaces designed to evoke their habitats, along with a botanical dimension that adds to the walk. The result is a distinctive urban zoo near the Pacific, at the crossroads of park, garden and tourist attraction.
10. Twin Peaks
Twin Peaks is one of San Francisco’s best-known viewpoints, with two peaks overlooking the city from around 900 feet above sea level. Visitors come for open views over the neighborhoods, the bay and, on clear days, the ocean. It is also a park setting, where natural hills, grassy slopes and the urban skyline meet. From these heights, you can see San Francisco’s unique layout, its hills, grid streets and layered neighborhoods.
11. Chinatown – San Francisco
Chinatown in San Francisco is one of the most famous Chinese neighborhoods in the United States and a must-see attraction in the city. Explore lively streets lined with traditional shops, restaurants, markets, herbal pharmacies and lantern-covered façades with colorful signs. The atmosphere is vibrant, with Asian food aromas, souvenir stalls and quiet temples. It is also a great place to experience a mix of culture, commerce and everyday life in the heart of San Francisco.
12. San Francisco de Young Museum
The San Francisco de Young Museum is a major art museum located in Golden Gate Park, in San Francisco. Visitors can explore diverse collections ranging from American art to works from Africa, Oceania, and the Americas, as well as temporary exhibitions showcasing contemporary creation and major artistic movements. The building itself is striking for its modern architecture and its tower, which offers beautiful views over the park and the city. It is an ideal visit for art lovers and curious travelers alike.
13. Aquarium of the Bay
Located on San Francisco’s waterfront, Aquarium of the Bay invites visitors to discover the rich marine wildlife of the bay and its surroundings. The aquarium features transparent tanks and tunnels where you can see local fish, rays, jellyfish, small sharks, and other Pacific coastal species. The visit highlights the bay’s ecosystems, the animals that live there, and the importance of protecting them. It is an ideal outing for getting a close look at the marine world while enjoying an immersive, family-friendly attraction.
Antony M
During my travels, I looked for guides who spoke my language. This search turned out to be long and tedious. That is why I created MYTOGU (My Tourist Guide): a matching site between tourists and professional tourist guides.
