THE 15 BEST Things to Do in San Francisco - 2024 (with Photos) - Tripadvisor
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California (CA)
San Francisco
Things to Do in San Francisco

Things to Do in San Francisco, CA - San Francisco 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.

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Ways to tour San Francisco

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Day Trips

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Top Attractions in San Francisco

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These rankings are informed by traveler reviews—we consider the quality, quantity, recency, consistency of reviews, and the number of page views over time.
8. Exploratorium
4.5 of 5 bubbles3,566
Speciality Museums
Admission tickets from $40
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 through hundreds of exhibits in six spacious indoor and outdoor galleries. Watch, listen, notice, experiment, and play with wondrous phenomena from the world around you: from living cells to cosmic rays, from bubbles to human behavior, from optical illusions to electricity, from playful machines to rainbows, and much more. Plus observe the Exploratorium’s open shop, where our exhibits are designed, built, and tinkered with. You’ll find thoughtful safety protocols for visitors and staff, our unique museum store, excellent dining, and beautiful San Francisco Bay views. Located in the historic Pier 15 along San Francisco's Embarcadero, between Pier 39 and the Ferry Building, the Exploratorium is easy to get to by public transportation, and there's ample parking nearby.
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12. Walt Disney Family Museum
4.5 of 5 bubbles2,838
Speciality Museums
Admission tickets from $25
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 to an historic building that reveals 40,000 square feet of imagination. Find animation, innovation, inspiration and immerse yourself in the remarkable life story of Walt Disney—the man who raised animation to an art, tirelessly pursued innovation, and created a distinctly American legacy, transforming the entertainment world! The museum presents contemporary interactive galleries and state-of-the-art exhibits which are narrated in Walt’s own voice, and features early drawings, cartoons, movies, music, listening stations, more than 200 video screens, and a spectacular model of Disneyland. Come experience the life story of the man behind the magic.
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*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 travelers are saying

  • kava-kauboi
    Boca Raton, FL741 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great Morning on The Rock
    What a cool and eerie experience to visit this historic site. Everyone in America knows about the legends of Alcatraz. Doesn’t look like it was a fun place to be imprisoned. The views from the ferry on the way over and back are amazing. The gardens on Alcatraz are beautiful. Great way to spend a morning or an afternoon. The audio tour is nice. I parked in Pier 29 1/5. Very convenient.
    Review of: Alcatraz Island
    Written May 19, 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Kevin W
    St. John's, Canada2 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles