Although San Francisco is a small city geographically (just 49 square miles), it has many attractive places and amenities that you surely must visit. However, if you do not plan beforehand as to which places you must go to, you can leave behind many incredible sights in this city. Therefore, we have jotted down a list of 10 things to do in San Francisco that are perfect to have a good time.
1-The Golden Gate Bridge
A walk on the Golden Gate Bridge is the one thing you must do in San Francisco. Being one of the most popular bridges worldwide, the Golden Gate Bridge can highly impress you with its incredible span of 1.7 miles. And, if you are a photo freak, then what best spot can you get to click a selfie or just a picture of the bridge.
Information
- Name: Golden Gate Bridge
- Address: Between the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay
- Price: Free for pedestrians; different toll prices for vehicles
- Access: Take public transit to the bridge
- Opening hours: East sidewalk hours: 5:00 am to 6:30 pm; Vehicle: 24 hours
2-Alcatraz
This famous place, also known as ‘The Rock’ is not just a great sightseeing place, but it is also of utmost historical importance. In the past, this was a notorious prison where some of the most infamous criminals of the United States were imprisoned. Although the prison was closed around the 1960s, you can still hear the legendary stories and learn about this jail through its recorded cell-house tours.
Information
- Name: Alcatraz
- Address: Alcatraz Island at the center of the San Francisco Bay
- Prices: Adult (18-61 years) – $31.00, Junior (12-17 years) – $31.00, Child (5-11 years) – $19.25, Senior (62+ years) – $29.25, Toddlers (0-4 years) – free. These are the prices of Early Bird and Day Tour. For the Night Tour prices, please visit the website given below. (The prices are subject to change)
- Access: Take an Alcatraz Cruises ferry from Pier 31-33 (www.alcatrazcruises.com)
- Visiting hours: 24 hours
- Holidays: Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day
- Website: http://www.nps.gov/alca/index.htm
3-California Academy of Sciences
Don’t miss this special yet exciting place that has everything under one roof, ranging from an aquarium, a natural history museum, a planetarium, a four-story rainforest, etc. The California Academy of Sciences is the only place on earth that has so many things in one place. Moreover, it is one of the largest natural history museums in the world, with more than 26 million specimens.
Information
- Name: California Academy of Sciences
- Address: 55 Music Concourse Drive, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco. Between the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay.
- Prices: Adult – $34.95, Senior (62+ years) – $29.95, Student – $29.95, Youth (12-17 years) – $29.95, Child (4-11 years) – $24.95, toddlers (0-3 years) – free. These are the prices of Early Bird and Day Tour.
- Access: You can travel by bicycle, on foot, take a public transport, or your own vehicle.
- Visiting hours: Monday to Saturday: 9:30 am – 5:00 pm; Sunday: 11:00 am – 5:00 pm
- Holidays: Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.
- Website: http://www.calacademy.org/
4-North Beach
This famous beach is not really a beach in reality. It is better known as San Francisco’s Italian quarter, with ample of European-style sidewalk shops, restaurants, and cafes. These small yet beautiful shops are centered near Grant and Columbus avenues, along with Washington Square. Additionally, there are the famous churches of Paul and Saints Peter and the Coit Tower.
Information
- Name: North Beach
- Address: Broadway at Columbus Avenue, San Francisco; Between Downtown San Francisco and Fisherman’s Wharf.
- Price: Free of cost
- Access: You can travel by bicycle, on foot, take a public transport, or your own vehicle.
- Visiting hours: 24 hours
- Website: http://northbeachbusinessassociation.com/site/
5-The Chinatown
Yes, you heard in right. In San Francisco, you can get a taste of China by visiting the oldest Chinatown in this city. This small city within a big city comprises of exotic shops, famous restaurants, temples, food markets, small museums, and much more. With 24 blocks that are full of hustle and bustle, the many shops in the Chinatown are situated along Grant Avenue, which is San Francisco’s oldest street. Even though, the market is a bit large, we recommend you to explore this amazing place on foot.
Information
- Name: Chinatown
- Address: Stockton Street, Grant Avenue, San Francisco
- Price: Free of cost
- Website: http://www.sanfranciscochinatown.com/
6-Fisherman’s Wharf
This popular festive waterfront marketplace is also the abode of Pier 39. Here, you can see the California Sea Lions and enjoy their antics. Moreover, you can go to some other popular attractions nearby this place, like Madame Tussauds and the San Francisco Dungeon, Ripley’s Believe It or Not, etc. Do not forget to eat the shrimp cocktails and walk-away crabs that are sold by the vendors at the Fisherman’s Wharf.
Information
- Name: Fisherman’s Wharf
- Address: Jefferson Street, Between Hyde and Powell Streets, San Francisco
- Price: Free of cost
- Access: 20 miles north of both Oakland and San Francisco airports and around 60 miles from south of San Francisco. You can take a rental car, shuttle service, limousine, BART, cable car, city bus, or a taxi from the airport.
- Website: http://www.fishermanswharf.org/
7-Union Square
Do you love shopping? Then, this is the place where you should be San Francisco. Here, you can find some of the most exclusive departmental stores and major designer boutiques, such as Sutter, Post, Geary, Stockton, Grant, Powell, etc. This famous shopping destination in San Francisco also houses the popular Westfield San Francisco Shopping Centre, which incorporates the second largest Nordstrom store in the United States and the largest Bloomingdale store outside New York.
Information
- Name: Union Square
- Address: Surrounded by Stockton, Powell, Post and Geary Streets, San Francisco
- Price: Free of Cost
- Access: You can take a cable car on Powell-Hyde or Powell-Mason line. You can also take a bus, trolley, or the F Market heritage streetcar. Or else, you can use the BART subway system or Muni Metro that will drop you to the close by Powell Street Station on Market Street.
- Visiting hours: Sunday to Saturday: 9:00 am – 12:00 am
- Website: http://www.visitunionsquaresf.com/
8-Cable Car
This is not exactly a place to visit, but a mode of transport on which you should surely take a ride. The cable cars are one of the most popular modes of transport in San Francisco. It is as old as the late 19th century. Hop onto one of the cable cars and enjoy the spectacular views of the city, hills, and its exhilarating transportation.
Information
- Name: Cable Car
- Prices: Adult & Youth (5-17 years) – $5.00 each way, Senior (65+ years) and Disabled – $5.00 each way ($1.00 from 9pm – 7am), Children (0 – 4 years) – free. Tickets can be purchased at the turnarounds of the cable car at every route end.
- Access: You can board a cable car from any turntable, which is the beginning or end of each route, like Bay & Taylor, Powell & Market, etc.
- Operating hours: Seven days a week
- Website: http://www.sfcablecar.com/
9-A museum or art gallery
To soak in the culture of San Francisco, visit a museum or art gallery. You can go to The San Francisco Museum Of Modern Art (closed till May 2016), the de Young Museum, the Asian Art Museum, or the Legion of Honor, which are some of the famous galleries and museums in the city. Besides these, you can also see an opera, ballet, or symphony in San Francisco to get the real feel of its culture.
Information
- Name: San Francisco Museum Of Modern Art (SFMOMA)
- Address: 151 Third Street, San Francisco
- Website: https://www.sfmoma.org/
- Name: de Young Museum
- Address: Golden Gate Park, San Francisco
- Price: Adults – $10, Seniors (65+ years) – $7, Youths (13- 17 years) $6, College students with valid ID – $6, Children (0-12 years) – free.
- Access: You can go via bicycle, public transportation, or car.
- Visiting hours: Tuesdays–Sundays – 9:30 am–5:15 pm
- Holidays: Mondays and Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, and Presidents Day.
- Website: http://deyoung.famsf.org/
- Name: Asian Art Museum
- Address: 200 Larkin St, San Francisco
- Price: Members – free, Adults – $15, Seniors (65+ years) $10, University Students – $10, Youth (13-17 years) – $10, Child (0-12 years) – free.
- Access: You can go through public transit or your own vehicle.
- Visiting hours: Tues – Sun – 10 am – 5 pm
- Holidays: Mondays and Thanksgiving 11/26, Christmas 12/25, and New Year’s Day.
- Website: http://www.asianart.org/
- Name: Legion of Honor
- Address: Lincoln Park, 100 34th Avenue (at Clement Street), San Francisco.
- Price: Adults – $10, Seniors (65+ years) – $7, Youths (13- 17 years) $6, College students with valid ID – $6, Children (0-12 years) – free.
- Access: You can go via bicycle, public transportation, or car.
- Visiting hours: Tuesdays–Sundays – 9:30 am–5:15 pm
- Holidays: Mondays and Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, and Presidents Day.
- Website: http://legionofhonor.famsf.org/
10-AT &T Park
For all the baseball freaks out there, this the perfect place where they should be. Here, you can catch a game of baseball and enjoy the delicious Sheboygans (bratwursts with kraut) and garlic fries. And, if you reach late and only a few innings are left, then you can still watch the game at just half of the ticket price. And, when it’s late night, you can head to Philz Coffee close by, to have the finest blended French-press coffee.
Information
- Name: AT &T Park
- Address: 24 Willie Mays Plaza, San Francisco
- Price: Prices vary as per the events. For more information, visit the website given below.
- Access: You can go via your own vehicle, take a taxi, lyft, public transit, or a bicycle.
- Website: http://sanfrancisco.giants.mlb.com/sf/ballpark/
This itinerary will surely help you to plan your trip in San Francisco. This city has a lot in store for everyone.
Have a good trip and travel!
