THE 10 BEST Things to Do in San Francisco - 2024 (with Photos) - Tripadvisor

California (CA)

San Francisco Attractions

Top Things to Do in San Francisco - San Francisco Must-See Attractions

Things to Do in San Francisco

Expect to get your steps in (or hop on a cable car), while spotting iconic landmarks like the Golden Gate Bridge or taking a day trip to Alcatraz.

Explore popular experiences

See what other travellers like to do, based on ratings and number of bookings.

Ways to tour San Francisco

Book these experiences for a close-up look at San Francisco.

Small Group Yosemite and Giant Sequoias Day Trip from San Francisco
1,391
Full-day Tours
from
S$318
per adult
Reserve
Big Bus San Francisco: Hop-on Hop-off Sightseeing Tour
2,560
Audio Guides
from
S$87
per adult
Reserve
Official Alcatraz Island Prison Tour and San Francisco Bay Cruise
32
Historical Tours
from
~~S$205~~
S$185
per adult
Reserve
Muir Woods & Sausalito Half-Day Tour (Return by Bus or Ferry from Sausalito)
1,123
Bus Tours
from
~~S$133~~
S$120
per adult
Reserve
Muir Woods, Golden Gate Bridge + Sausalito with Optional Alcatraz
392
Bus Tours
from
S$165
per adult
Reserve
San Francisco: Yosemite National Park and Giant Sequoia Day Tour
876
Full-day Tours
from
S$290
per adult
Reserve
Small-Group Wine Country Tour from San Francisco with Tastings
744
Spring Break
from
S$248
per adult
Reserve
Little Italy and North Beach Walking Tour in San Francisco
433
Food & Drink
from
S$109
per adult
Reserve
San Francisco Walking Food Tour With Secret Food Tours
416
Food & Drink
from
S$123
per adult (price varies by group size)
Reserve
Monterey, Carmel and 17-Mile Drive: Full Day Tour from SF
376
Full-day Tours
from
S$176
per adult
Reserve

City Tours

Top Attractions in San Francisco

These rankings are informed by traveller reviews—we consider the quality, quantity, recency, consistency of reviews, and the number of page views over time.

1. Alcatraz Island

Historic Sites

Alcatraz Island was once the most secure federal prison in the U.S., and held notorious inmates like Al Capone. After being decommissioned in 1963, the prison is now a museum, welcoming millions of…

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2. Golden Gate Bridge

Historic Sites

Stretching 4,200 feet and towering as high as a 65-story building, this well-known bridge is the gateway to San Francisco.

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Trams

Since 1873, cable cars have run up and down the hilly city, though after the 1950s, these cars have been kept in operation more out of historic nostalgia. Seventeen miles of track remain and have …

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Marinas

From amazing views and a sea of sea lions to chowder bread bowls and California wines, your visit to San Francisco starts at PIER 39. Kick off your visit by exploring two levels of dining, entertainment…

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Arenas & Stadiums

Home of the San Francisco Giants Major League baseball team, this waterfront stadium has splendid views of San Francisco Bay and the Bay Bridge.

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6. Lombard Street

Points of Interest & Landmarks

San Francisco's most famous winding street showcases eight sharp switchbacks and stretches down a steep slope from the Presidio East to The Embarcadero.

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7. Golden Gate Park

Parks

The third most visited park in the United States, this green urban space has plenty of gardens, wildlife, museums, and art to enjoy.

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8. Exploratorium

Speciality Museums

Admission tickets from S$55

The Exploratorium is more than an iconic San Francisco museum perched by the Bay—it’s an all-ages gateway to joyful exploration of science, art, and human perception. Let your curiosity roam free …

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9. Palace of Fine Arts Theatre

Theatres

Designed to look like a Greco-Roman ruin, this structure was originally built for the 1915 Panama-Pacific Exposition. It's now a prime events venue.

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Lookouts

Standing over 900 feet above the city, these two hills offer hikers sweeping views of San Francisco's main sights (we recommend going at sunset).

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11. Fisherman's Wharf

Neighbourhoods

The historic Fisherman’s Wharf is one of San Francisco’s must-visit spots. Even getting there is an experience in itself—you can hop on a classic cable car from downtown. Dine at a scenic waterfront…

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12. Walt Disney Family Museum

Speciality Museums

Admission tickets from S$34

Pre-purchased, timed tickets are required for entry. Located in the scenic Presidio of San Francisco, The Walt Disney Family Museum is one of the Bay Area’s most inspirational venues, welcoming visitors…

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Other Top Attractions around San Francisco

Learn how recommendations for the rest of the page are selected

Day Trips

From quick jaunts to full-day outings.

Nature and Wildlife Tours

Wine Tastings

Half-day Tours

Sunset Cruises

Water Tours

Private and Luxury

*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.

What travellers are saying

Sue R
Portsmouth, UK22 contributions
Well worth a visit
Well organised on the boat.
Freedom to walk around in your own time
Very good video on the Indian Occupation. Enjoyed the audio tour explaining everything about how the prison worked. Enjoyed all the flowers and seeing the birds including the snowy egrets with the golden gate bridge in the background. Also attended a talk by someone who had been in prison about what it was like to be incarcerated . Overall spent 4 hours on the island
Review of: Alcatraz Island
Written 9 June 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
BrakiWorldTraveler
Belgrade, Serbia18,578 contributions
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