San Francisco is a premier tourist destination and a hub of culture, commerce, and finance. It might stretch over a small distance of 7 miles, but there is no dearth of fun things to do in San Francisco. No matter what your age is, there will be plenty of stuff to do in San Francisco for the outdoor kind, foodies, as well as for the party lovers. It is a perfect vacation spot with plenty to do with kids, friends, or spouse.
Things to do in San Francisco
The following are our top San Francisco activities:
1. Go for a walk across the Golden Gate Bridge
Image Credit: Rich Niewiroski Jr. for wikipedia
The world famous Golden Gate Bridge is one of the modern wonders of the world. It is constructed from steel and holds the record for getting clicked more than any other bridge in the world. All these factors make visiting this one of the best things to do in San Francisco.
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2. Take a ride on a cable car
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If you are wondering what to do in San Francisco, then you can go for one of the most classic activities and take a ride in either of the remaining 3 cable car lines to catch a stunning view of Nob Hill, Fisherman’s Wharf, Russian Hill and the Bay. Also, learn about the history of cable cars at the Cable Car Museum.
3. Go for a picnic at Presidio
The best time to go walk a picnic to Presidio is between March and October when the streets are lined with food vendors and free lawn games, yoga, live music and other activities are organised. Thursday evenings are special with their beautiful cabanas lit by lanterns, fire pits and cocktail service, among the best things to do in San Francisco.
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4. Have a fabulous time at the Union Square
One of the most loved places in San Francisco, Union Square has numerous high-end outlets, hotels, cafes, galleries, and nightclubs. There are many live events that are organized here and this area never falls short of entertainment options. A visit of the Union Square is among the best San Francisco activities.
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5. Experience the eccentric culture of Chinatown
Almost all famous cities in the US have a Chinatown. However, visiting Chinatown is one of the most interesting things to do in San Francisco since it has four and the biggest is situated on Grant Avenue. This is also one of the best options to gorge on traditional Chinese meals.
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6. Encounter Jellyfish
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Among the cool things to do in San Francisco is to meet jellyfish at Aquarium of the Bay. You can encounter exotic marine life at this aquarium that has envisioned the protection of the bay and the animals that live in the bay. This water is home to 20,000 animals from the bay and the surrounding area.
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7. Go to the Alcatraz Island at night
This was turned into a military prison in the late 19th century and visiting this fortress is one of the most popular things to do in San Francisco. It housed some of the most infamous criminals of the 20th century. At the island, there is a self-guided audio cellhouse tour which has been narrated by ex-inmates and guards and tells you stories of escape attempts and prison riots.
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8. Hum to the tunes of the Sound Of Music
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It started approximately 10 years ago with a completely different motive has today evolved into regularly occurring sing-along sessions with amazing live-action and Disney musicals such Mermaid and Frozen. The audience is elated upon receiving goodie bags that have relevant props and subtitles to keep them engaged.
9. Cheer for the Giants
Whether you are a fan of baseball or not, you must watch a game at A and T Park. This is one of the most fun things to do in San Francisco that will make you feel like a local. Enjoy the famous Garlic fries with craft beer and Ghiradelli choco-sundaes for an essential San Francisco experience while watching the game. Book early as SF Giants games are almost always sold out.
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10. Taste the world famous Neapolitan Pizza
Image Credit: MV-Fotos for Pixabay
The world famous Pizza-baker, Tony Gemignani was the first American to have won the title for the World Champion Pizza Maker that is organized in Naples. Eating a pizza at his most famous pizzeria is one of the best things to do in San Francisco at night. There are approximately 10 different varieties of Pizza that are served here and are all baked differently in separate ovens.
11. Do food tasting at the Ferry Building
Visiting this place is one of the most important things to do in San Francisco that no tourist can leave without completing. There is a wide variety of food that is available at the Ferry Building Marketplace like fresh fish, exotic cheese, etc.
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12. Visit art galleries in the city
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Making a visit to the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art is definitely one of the most desirable things to do in San Francisco. This was one of the first museums to display modern art and houses more than 29,000 pieces of work which includes painting, photographs, sculptures.
13. Make a trip to the oldest Japanese Tea Garden
The Japanese Tea Garden in San Francisco is the oldest public Japanese tea garden in the country. In present times, the gardens are very popular with tourists who come to view the pagodas, stepping stones, arched bridges and native Japanese plants, one of the top things to do in San Francisco
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14. Spend a relaxed day at the Angel Beach
If you are thinking what to do in San Francisco, Angel Island is an amazing option. You can reach here by taking a ferry from San Francisco and it is one of the most popular things to do near San Francisco. The coastal area is lined by the most spectaculars bars and cafes that serve scrumptious food.
15. Take a stroll along Ocean Beach
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Walking along this beach is one of the most romantic things to do in San Francisco with the pearl white sands and a small number of tourists. It’s a is a calm and serene beach where you can find solace with the sounds of birds and ocean waves. It’s also a delight for surfers.
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Know of any more things to do in San Francisco? Pop them in the comments below. Don’t forget to book your trip to San Francisco right away!
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Frequently Asked Questions About Things To Do In San Francisco
What should I do in San Francisco today?
Some of the best things to do in San Francisco which people can enjoy in a single day are many. The major experiences are going across the Golden Gate Bridge, exploring the waterfront at Fisherman’s Wharf, relaxing at the Golden Gate Park, spending time at the Union Square and also exploring the Chinatown.
What should I not miss in San Francisco?
Some of the amazing experiences which people can’t miss in San Francisco includes watching the sunrise at the Golden Gate Bridge, tasting the California Wine, riding the manually operated cable car, trekking at the Giant Sequoia trees and also spending a day at the Little Italy.
What should I buy in San Francisco?
These are some of the best things to buy in San Francisco which people can spend on which includes a cable car replica, Sourdough Bread, Alcatraz mementos, Jelly Belly candies and also Sausalito handicrafts.
What is there to do in San Francisco at night?
There are many things to do in San Francisco at night which cannot be missed while in the city. Some of the major experiences to grab are to see the theater show, taking a night tour, taking a cruise, visiting the Alcatraz, or taking the Segway tour.
What is there to do in San Francisco in 3 days?
These are some of the best things to do in San Francisco which one can do for 3 days. Some of the major experiences to enjoy are to visit the Golden Gate Bridge, ride the cable car, be a tourist at the Fisherman’s Wharf and also explore the Chinatown.
What can you do for free in San Francisco?
Some of the best things to do free in San Francisco are taking a drive down Lombard Street, enjoying a walking tour, watch the painted ladies, ride the cable cars and also walk across the Golden Gate Bridge.
How many days do you need to see San Francisco?
A traveler must plan a trip for around 4-5 days in SF proper before they start thinking about day trips outside of the city. Based on this I would say that you could easily fill up 3 days.
How can I spend 2 days in San Francisco?
Some of the major things to do in San Francisco for 2 days includes visiting the Crissy Field, take a tour of Alcatraz, visit Fisherman’s Wharf and also explore the famous Lombard Street.
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Kanika has 4 years of experience in writing blogs and marketing content for travel. And when she’s not writing, she’s either exploring new terrains in a different corner of the world, or out in the city freezing urban scenarios in her camera.
