San Francisco is a compact hilltop city of about 874,000 people on the tip of a peninsula between the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay, known for the Golden Gate Bridge, cable cars, Alcatraz, Victorian houses, fog and a food scene built on Bay Area produce and seafood.
Top attractions
The most popular and significant attractions in San Francisco.
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1
Golden Gate Bridge
The 1937 Art Deco suspension bridge linking San Francisco and Marin County, with a free pedestrian walkway, Welcome Center and views of the bay.
Tip: Check the fog forecast; clear late afternoons and mornings give the best views · Dress in layers, since the walkway is windy and cool even in summer · Take Muni bus 28 to the toll plaza instead of hunting for limited parking · Cyclists can ride across and return from Sausalito by ferry · Visit early or near closing to avoid midday crowds on the narrow walkway
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2
Alcatraz Island
Former federal penitentiary and military prison on a rock in San Francisco Bay, reached by ferry, with an award-winning audio cellhouse tour.
Tip: Book only through the official concessioner at alcatrazcitycruises.com; tickets sell up to 90 days ahead · Reserve two to four weeks ahead, and earlier in summer · Take the first morning ferry for the smallest crowds · Wear layers and sturdy shoes; the island is windy and the path is steep · Bring a snack or water, as food choices on the island are minimal
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3
Fisherman's Wharf and Pier 39
Touristy waterfront with the Pier 39 sea lions on K-Dock, sourdough bakeries, crab stands and views toward Alcatraz.
Tip: Visit on a weekday morning to avoid crowds at the pier and the restaurants · Sea lion numbers are highest in winter and early spring · Ride the Powell-Hyde cable car or the F-line streetcar instead of driving, since parking is costly · Eat at the sidewalk crab stands for a cheaper meal than the sit-down restaurants · Combine with an Alcatraz ferry from Pier 33, a short walk away
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4
Lombard Street (the Crooked Street)
The famous one-block, eight-hairpin-turn brick street lined with hydrangeas, best seen on foot from the stairs.
Tip: Walk the staircase beside the street rather than driving; the car queue can be long in summer afternoons. · Arrive early on a weekday for photographs without traffic in frame. · Take the Powell-Hyde cable car to Hyde and Lombard and walk down; a ride costs $9 (USD). · Check sf.gov for any current vehicle reservation or fee on the crooked block. · Respect residents: stay on sidewalks and stairs and keep voices down.
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5
Powell-Hyde Cable Car
The world's last manually operated cable car system, climbing Nob Hill and Russian Hill with bay views.
Tip: Ride before 9:00 AM or after 6:00 PM to avoid the longest queues at Powell and Market. · Buy the 1-Day Visitor Passport at $15 (USD) if planning more than one ride, since a single ride costs $9 (USD). · Pay on board with cash or use the MuniMobile app. · Board at a stop further along the line to skip the terminus queue, though cars may already be full. · Hold the poles firmly on the outside running boards and keep belongings secure.
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6
Exploratorium
Hands-on science museum on a waterfront pier with hundreds of interactive exhibits, a Tactile Dome and bay views.
Tip: Buy timed tickets online ahead of time to skip the entry line · Reserve the Tactile Dome separately, as slots fill quickly · Arrive on a weekday morning for shorter lines at popular exhibits · Expect to spend three to four hours; the museum is closed Monday and Tuesday · Try Thursday After Dark for an adults-only visit
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7
California Academy of Sciences
Aquarium, planetarium, four-story rainforest and a living roof in one Renzo Piano building.
Tip: Buy tickets online in advance to skip the entry line · Visit the rainforest dome early, since lines grow through the afternoon · Check planetarium show times on arrival and book timed entries · Take the N-Judah light rail, as the Music Concourse garage fills quickly · Combine with the nearby de Young Museum and Japanese Tea Garden
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8
de Young Museum
Fine arts museum with American art, textiles and modern works, plus a free 144-foot tower with 360-degree views.
Tip: The observation tower is free and needs no ticket; late afternoon gives the best light · Same-day admission includes the Legion of Honor · The museum is free on the first Tuesday of the month but much busier · Special exhibitions cost extra, so check what is on before buying · Combine with the California Academy of Sciences and the Japanese Tea Garden next door
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9
Legion of Honor
Beaux-Arts museum above the Pacific with European paintings, a Rodin collection and The Thinker sculpture in the Court of Honor.
Tip: Visit on a weekday morning to avoid weekend crowds. · Use the same ticket for same-day entry to the de Young Museum in Golden Gate Park. · Go on the first Tuesday of the month for free admission, but expect larger crowds. · Allow extra time to walk the nearby Lands End coastal trail. · Take Muni bus 1 or 38R; the Clipper fare is $3 (USD).
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10
San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA)
One of the largest modern art museums in the United States, with Warhol, Rothko and Calder in a sculptural, light-filled building.
Tip: Visit on a weekday morning for the quietest galleries. · Try Thursday evening, when the museum stays open until 8:00 PM. · Remember the museum is closed on Wednesdays. · Buy tickets online in advance to avoid queues at the entrance. · Combine the visit with Yerba Buena Gardens, a short walk away.
Attractions by category
Explore by your interests.
Landmark
Golden Gate Bridge
The 1937 Art Deco suspension bridge linking San Francisco and Marin County, with a free pedestrian walkway, Welcome Center and views of the bay.
Alcatraz Island
Former federal penitentiary and military prison on a rock in San Francisco Bay, reached by ferry, with an award-winning audio cellhouse tour.
Fisherman's Wharf and Pier 39
Touristy waterfront with the Pier 39 sea lions on K-Dock, sourdough bakeries, crab stands and views toward Alcatraz.
Lombard Street (the Crooked Street)
The famous one-block, eight-hairpin-turn brick street lined with hydrangeas, best seen on foot from the stairs.
Powell-Hyde Cable Car
The world's last manually operated cable car system, climbing Nob Hill and Russian Hill with bay views.
Coit Tower and the Telegraph Hill murals
1933 Art Deco tower with 360-degree views and lobby Depression-era WPA fresco murals.
Museum
Exploratorium
Hands-on science museum on a waterfront pier with hundreds of interactive exhibits, a Tactile Dome and bay views.
California Academy of Sciences
Aquarium, planetarium, four-story rainforest and a living roof in one Renzo Piano building.
de Young Museum
Fine arts museum with American art, textiles and modern works, plus a free 144-foot tower with 360-degree views.
Legion of Honor
Beaux-Arts museum above the Pacific with European paintings, a Rodin collection and The Thinker sculpture in the Court of Honor.
San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA)
One of the largest modern art museums in the United States, with Warhol, Rothko and Calder in a sculptural, light-filled building.
Asian Art Museum
One of the largest museums of Asian art outside Asia, with over 18,000 objects spanning 6,000 years.
Outdoors
Golden Gate Park
A 1,000-acre park, larger than Central Park, with gardens, lakes, Stow Lake boating, a bison paddock and the Music Concourse.
The Presidio
Former military post turned national park with Crissy Field, Tunnel Tops, the Walt Disney Family Museum and Golden Gate Bridge views.
Lands End and Sutro Baths
Coastal trail with Golden Gate views, shipwreck remains and the concrete ruins of the 1896 Sutro Baths.
Garden
Japanese Tea Garden
Oldest public Japanese garden in the US (1894) with a drum bridge, pagoda and tea house serving green tea and rice crackers.
Conservatory of Flowers
1879 Victorian wood-and-glass greenhouse with orchids, carnivorous plants and a tropical lowlands room.
Viewpoint
Painted Ladies at Alamo Square
Row of Victorian houses at 710-720 Steiner St with downtown skyline views from the park lawn.
Twin Peaks
Hilltop viewpoint about 920 feet above sea level with 360-degree views over downtown, the bay and the Pacific.
Market
Ferry Building Marketplace
1898 clock-tower terminal turned artisan food hall with Cowgirl Creamery, Blue Bottle, Hog Island Oyster Co. and a Saturday farmers market (ferrybuildingmarketplace.com).
Architecture
Palace of Fine Arts
Domed Roman-style rotunda and lagoon from the 1915 Panama-Pacific Exposition, rebuilt in the 1960s.
Neighborhood
Chinatown and Dragon's Gate
Oldest Chinatown in North America, with the Ross Alley fortune cookie factory, Stockton Street markets and Tin How Temple.
Haight-Ashbury
1960s counterculture neighborhood with vintage shops, Amoeba Music, Victorian houses and Buena Vista Park.
Historic
Mission Dolores
Oldest intact building in San Francisco, an adobe mission chapel from 1791 with a cemetery and basilica.
Art
Mission District murals - Balmy Alley
Alley with the neighborhood's densest mural collection dating to 1971; Clarion Alley between Mission and Valencia is the sister mural lane.
Sports
Oracle Park
Waterfront baseball park where fans watch for splash hits into McCovey Cove.
Practical information
What you need to know before you go.
- Hours
- Most museums open 10:00 AM-5:00 PM and close one weekday (usually Monday or Wednesday); Alcatraz ferries start around 8:45 AM. Confirm hours on each venue website before traveling.
- Fees
- Many highlights are free: the Golden Gate Bridge walkway, the Presidio, Lands End, Palace of Fine Arts, Ferry Building entry, Lombard Street and Mission murals. Paid highlights include Alcatraz (about $48), the California Academy of Sciences (about $40), the Exploratorium (about $38) and SFMOMA (about $30), all USD.
- Best Times
- September and October are the warmest, clearest months; summer brings fog (June-August) and highs of only 60-70 F, so carry layers year-round.
- Booking
- Book Alcatraz at alcatrazcitycruises.com weeks ahead. Use a Clipper card (clippercard.com) or the MuniMobile app for Muni at $3 (USD) per ride; cable cars cost $9 (USD); a 1-Day Visitor Passport is $15 (USD).
Tips for visiting attractions
Make the most of your sightseeing time.
San Francisco is compact, about 7 by 7 miles: group sights by area (Fisherman's Wharf/North Beach, Union Square/SoMa, Golden Gate Park, Presidio/Marina, Mission) and use Muni and walking rather than a car.
Car break-ins are common at viewpoints such as Twin Peaks, Lands End and Alamo Square; leave nothing visible in a parked vehicle.
Dress in layers and carry a windbreaker even in summer; fog and wind at the Golden Gate Bridge can drop temperatures by 10-15 F.
BART connects SFO airport to Powell St, Embarcadero and Mission stations; Muni Metro and the F-line streetcar link most of the central sights.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best free attractions in San Francisco?
The Golden Gate Bridge walkway, the Presidio and Crissy Field, Lands End and Sutro Baths, the Palace of Fine Arts, the Painted Ladies at Alamo Square, the Mission murals at Balmy Alley and the Ferry Building entry are all free.
How far ahead should Alcatraz be booked?
Book 2-4 weeks ahead, and up to 8 weeks for summer weekends and night tours, through the official site alcatrazcitycruises.com or 415-981-7625 (about $48 USD per adult).
How many days are needed to see San Francisco?
Three days covers the main sights (Golden Gate, Alcatraz, Chinatown, the Mission, Golden Gate Park); 4-5 days allows day trips to Muir Woods, Sausalito or Napa Valley.
Is it easy to get around San Francisco without a car?
Yes. Muni buses, Muni Metro, cable cars, the F-line streetcar and BART serve most sights; a Clipper card or the MuniMobile app handles fares of $3 (USD) per ride.