San Francisco See & Do
Bay cruises, historic landmarks, museums and evenings out.
OVERVIEW
Sights Worth Exploring
San Francisco's famous sights are worth seeing, even if you normally avoid the obvious tourist stops. Alcatraz is a thoughtful historic experience, a bay cruise shows the city from a completely different angle, and the cable cars are still a pleasure to ride. Add hands-on science at the Exploratorium, art in Golden Gate Park or an evening performance, and there is far more here than a collection of photo opportunities. These are the places I would build a first visit around.
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LANDMARKS & SIGHTS
Attractions to Explore
San Francisco’s best-known landmarks tell much of the city’s story, from its waterfront and maritime history to the bridges and cable cars that have become symbols of the city. Many are also surrounded by neighborhoods, parks and viewpoints worth exploring in their own right. I would plan one major timed attraction at most for part of the day, then leave enough time to walk, explore and see where the city takes you.
Golden Gate Bridge & Fort Point
There are many ways to experience the Golden Gate Bridge, and I would see it from more than one perspective. Walk along Crissy Field toward Fort Point for some of the best views from the waterfront, then head up to the overlook at the southern end of the bridge. If you have time, walk onto the bridge itself, even if you do not cross the entire span.
Fort Point sits directly beneath the Golden Gate Bridge, where you can look up at the enormous structure from below. The fort was completed just before the Civil War and is worth visiting when open. When the bridge was designed in the 1930s, its plans were modified to preserve the historic fort rather than demolish it.
A San Francisco Bay Cruise
I worked in the San Francisco sightseeing industry for more than 20 years, with much of my work centered on the waterfront and bay cruises, so this is an experience I know particularly well.
I strongly recommend seeing San Francisco from the water. The city’s geography becomes much easier to understand as you look back at the skyline, waterfront hills and neighborhoods, while the Golden Gate Bridge takes on an entirely different scale when you pass beneath it. Depending on the cruise, you may also circle Alcatraz, travel toward the Bay Bridge or see other parts of the waterfront that are difficult to appreciate from land.
Keep an eye out for seabirds and marine mammals, including harbor porpoises, but consider wildlife a bonus rather than an expectation. Bring a warm layer even on a sunny day, since conditions on the bay can be considerably cooler and windier than they are on shore. Also remember that a general sightseeing cruise may pass Alcatraz, but it does not land on the island.
The Golden Gate Bridge rises above a blanket of fog.
Alcatraz Island
Alcatraz may be an obvious visitor attraction, but the experience is well organized and more substantial than its movie reputation suggests. The cellhouse audio tour is a major part of the visit, while other exhibits explore the island's wider history. The Native American occupation is an important part of that story alongside the military and prison years.
Book the authorized ferry from Pier 33 in advance and allow several hours overall. The walk up to the cellhouse is steep; consult the operator's accessibility arrangements if needed. Films including Birdman of Alcatraz, Escape from Alcatraz and The Rock helped build its mystique, but the real stories are reason enough to go.
Cable Cars & the Cable Car Museum
The California Street line crosses Nob Hill, while the Powell routes connect downtown with the northern side of the city. I especially enjoy a ride on a foggy evening. Follow the crew's instructions about seating and standing, and expect queues at popular terminals.
The free Cable Car Museum at Washington and Mason is more than a display of old vehicles: you can see the working machinery that moves the cables. It is a very good companion to an actual ride, and fits naturally between Chinatown, Nob Hill and North Beach.
Historic cable car machinery and large winding wheels inside the San Francisco Cable Car Museum.
Ferry Building, Pier 39 & the Wharf
The Ferry Building is one of my favorite stops along the waterfront, with food shops, restaurants and its well-known farmers market. From here, walk north along the Embarcadero past the historic pier buildings toward Pier 39 and Fisherman’s Wharf.
Pier 39 is unabashedly commercial, but the sea lions are worth seeing and the location gives you excellent views across the bay. Families will also find the carousel, the Flyer flying-theater experience and numerous boat excursions here. Continue into Fisherman’s Wharf for more waterfront attractions, seafood restaurants and access to bay cruises.
Maritime History & Ghirardelli Square
The USS Pampanito, a World War II submarine, and SS Jeremiah O’Brien, one of the surviving Liberty ships, offer two very different maritime experiences. Check their current visitor information before going. Hyde Street Pier has traditionally added an exceptional collection of historic vessels, but ongoing reconstruction can affect access, so I would check its status rather than plan around it.
Continue along Aquatic Park to Ghirardelli Square. The former chocolate factory complex is considerably more polished and upscale today, but I still enjoy stopping for a Ghirardelli ice cream sundae and spending some time along the waterfront afterward.
Coit Tower, City Hall & the Painted Ladies
Coit Tower is worth visiting for both the views and the Depression-era murals inside the base of the tower. City Hall is another impressive architectural stop, particularly its grand dome and interior, when public access and events allow.
At Alamo Square, the Painted Ladies provide one of San Francisco’s most recognizable views, with the row of Victorian houses in front of the downtown skyline. You do not need much time here, but it combines easily with exploring the surrounding neighborhoods.
Ghirardelli Square and its rooftop sign, seen across a grassy lawn.
ART & CULTURE
Museums & Cultural Experiences
San Francisco has excellent museums, but I would choose them according to your interests rather than trying to cover every major institution. Art, science, history and live performance are all well represented, and places such as SFMOMA or the California Academy of Sciences can easily take up half a day. Spread indoor attractions across your stay instead of clustering them together, and keep one in mind for those San Francisco days when the fog rolls in and changes your outdoor plans.
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Exploratorium
The Exploratorium is one of the museums I recommend most readily, even for people who do not usually seek out science museums. Hundreds of interactive exhibits explore perception, light, sound, human behavior and the physical world, and the emphasis is very much on experimenting for yourself rather than simply looking at displays.
Its location at Pier 15 on the Embarcadero also makes it easy to combine with the Ferry Building and waterfront. Give yourself several hours if you enjoy hands-on museums. This is not a place I would rush through between other attractions.
California Academy of Sciences
The California Academy of Sciences is one of the highlights of Golden Gate Park, combining a natural history museum, aquarium, four-story indoor rainforest and planetarium under one roof. The building is part of the experience, particularly its undulating living roof, which is planted with native vegetation.
I especially like the variety here. You can move from a tropical rainforest to the aquarium and then see a planetarium show without leaving the building. Allow at least half a day, particularly with children, rather than trying to squeeze another major museum into the same part of the day.
The grassy living roof of the California Academy of Sciences, dotted with circular skylights.
de Young & Legion of Honor
The de Young is one of my favorite San Francisco art museums, both for the collections and the striking contemporary building in Golden Gate Park. I particularly enjoyed its Arts of Africa collection, and I love taking the elevator up the Hamon Observation Tower for the panoramic view across the park and city. It has been several years since my last visit, so I would check the current exhibitions rather than go expecting exactly what I remember.
The Legion of Honor offers a very different experience. Its European art collection is housed in an imposing neoclassical building in Lincoln Park, but the location is part of the attraction for me. Set near the cliffs above the Pacific, it has beautiful views toward the Golden Gate and Marin Headlands and combines particularly well with a walk at nearby Lands End.
SFMOMA & the Asian Art Museum
SFMOMA is the city’s major destination for modern and contemporary art, conveniently located near Yerba Buena Gardens. The Asian Art Museum near Civic Center offers a very different collection, spanning thousands of years of art from across Asia.
Walt Disney Family Museum
The Walt Disney Family Museum in the Presidio was one of the museums that surprised me most. Rather than focusing primarily on Disney characters or theme parks, it tells the story of Walt Disney himself, his family, career, creative process and the development of the company.
I found it fascinating to learn more about the man behind Mickey Mouse and how his ideas developed from early animation into films and Disneyland. Even if you are not a devoted Disney fan, the exhibits offer an interesting look at animation, entrepreneurship and one of the most influential figures in American popular culture.
The Legion of Honor museum, with its columned entrance and fountain.
Live Music, Theater, Opera & Ballet
One of the things I enjoy about live entertainment in San Francisco is the variety of venues. For rock and popular music, The Fillmore is the legendary name, closely associated with promoter Bill Graham and San Francisco’s 1960s music scene. I like it not only for that history, but because it still feels like a real concert hall rather than a generic event space.
The Warfield is another favorite of mine. Opened in 1922 as a vaudeville and movie palace, it is gorgeous inside, although its stretch of Market Street can feel considerably edgier than the ornate theater itself. The Great American Music Hall is much smaller and more intimate, with balconies, decorative ceilings and an atmosphere that makes even the building part of the evening. The Regency Ballroom provides another option for touring acts in a historic setting.
For Broadway productions and touring shows, check the Orpheum and Golden Gate Theatre. The Civic Center is also the heart of San Francisco’s major performing arts institutions, with the San Francisco Symphony, San Francisco Opera and San Francisco Ballet all based within a few blocks of one another.
Across the Bay: Oakland & Berkeley
Do not limit your concert search to San Francisco. The Fox Theater and Paramount Theatre in Oakland are two venues I love, and both are worth seeing for their architecture as much as for the performance. The restored 1928 Fox is particularly spectacular inside, and BART makes downtown Oakland practical for an evening from San Francisco.
Berkeley’s Greek Theatre is another favorite of mine. The open-air amphitheater holds about 8,500 people, so major performers can play there while the experience still feels relatively intimate. I particularly enjoy the setting on the UC Berkeley campus, and from the higher seats you can look out toward San Francisco Bay.
For any East Bay performance, check the return trip before buying tickets. BART and other transit services may run less frequently later in the evening, so getting back to San Francisco deserves as much attention as getting to the venue.
A Giants or Warriors Game
You do not need to be a dedicated sports fan to enjoy a game in San Francisco. Oracle Park is one of the places where the setting is part of the experience. The Giants’ ballpark sits directly on the bay, with waterfront views and easy access from the Embarcadero. For a longer stay, I would happily spend an afternoon or evening here even if baseball were not the main reason for my trip.
Basketball offers a completely different experience at Chase Center in Mission Bay, home of the Golden State Warriors. The modern arena is surrounded by the restaurants and public spaces of Thrive City and is easy to combine with exploring Mission Bay or Dogpatch. The arena also hosts major concerts, so it is worth checking the schedule even outside basketball season.
For either venue, I would use public transportation rather than plan around a car. If you choose a Giants evening game, bring an extra layer. Sitting beside the bay after sunset can feel considerably colder than the temperature elsewhere in the city suggests.
A statue of Willie Mays outside Oracle Park, home of the San Francisco Giants.
Final Thoughts
The San Francisco experiences I return to most are the ones that connect naturally with the city around them: a cruise beneath the Golden Gate Bridge, a museum along the waterfront, or a concert in one of the city’s historic venues. Leave time around the main attraction to explore the neighborhood, stop for a meal or simply walk. In San Francisco, getting there can be as enjoyable as the place you came to see.