This list of best things to see and do in San Francisco, will help you prepare the routes through the most beautiful city in the United States, making the most of the time.
The city of San Francisco falls in love at first sight with its location around a bay and its European style, away from the loud and chaotic large American cities. In addition, its mild climate and good gastronomy make it an essential stop on any trip through the Western United States.
Crossing the Golden Gate, visiting the Alcatraz prison, strolling through the Castro and Fisherman's Wharf neighborhoods, reaching the Twin Peaks viewpoint or getting on its historic tram, are just some of the reasons to visit this city of steep streets and hills.
Based on the four days we spent in the city, during our trip through the National Parks of the Western United States, we have made this list of 10 essential places to see in San Francisco. We start!
1. Golden Gate
The Golden Gate opened in 1937, is the symbol of the city and our favorite San Francisco place.
This huge orange bridge of 227 meters high and almost 3 kilometers wide that crosses the bay of San Francisco, has come out in many movies, photographs and lists of the most beautiful bridges in the world.
To get the best views you have to reach several viewpoints located around the Golden Gate and if you are lucky and there is low fog, the views can be heart attack.
One of our favorite viewpoints is Battery Spencer, which is across the bridge towards Sausalito and up a small hill to the left. From this viewpoint you will have fantastic views of the bridge and the city, with the bay in the background.
Another excellent place to see the Golden Gate closer and walk the bridge is Battery East, located just before entering the bridge, on the right. From this area you can also reach Crissy Field, a perfect park for a picnic overlooking the bridge.
Our last recommended viewpoint is Baker Beach, a farther point but no less spectacular.
Another good way to see the Golden Gate is by booking this boat trip through the San Francisco Bay or taking the Go San Francisco Card that includes two different cruises and more than 28 attractions in the city.
Golden gate
2. Fisherman's Wharf
Fisherman's Wharf is the old port and fishing district, which has been restored to make it one of the most famous places to visit in San Francisco.
To get to this neighborhood you can take one of the city's historic trams and start the route savoring a delicious ice cream at the Ghirardelli chocolate shop, the best known in the city.
From this square you can start touring the different docks such as the Hyde Street Pier with several historic ships, and the Pier 45, which houses the SS Jeremiah O'Brien and the USS Pampanito submarine, both from World War II.
Before leaving this pier, do not forget to enter the Musée Mecanique, which has hundreds of old recreational machines inside.
To end the route through this neighborhood you can spend some time in the famous Pier 39, which has an outdoor shopping center and a sea lion colony.
This area is also one of the best to try the clam chowder, one of the most typical dishes of the city that consists of a clam soup served inside a round homemade bread.
Pier 39 at Fishermans's Wharf
3. Alcatraz Island
Alcatraz Island located in the San Francisco Bay and known as The rock, was a strong military and later became the most famous prison in the world.
The prison ran from 1934 to 1963 and today his visit is one of the best experiences and things to do in San Francisco. This large tourist influx and the small size of the island, make it essential to reserve the entrance on this official website well in advance or book this tour of the city that includes the visit, so as not to run out of place.
To get to the island you have to get on one of the boats that leave Pier 33 throughout the day or any of those that leave at night, to do a night tour of the jail.
During the visit with audioguide in Spanish you can see different rooms and cells of the prison, such as the one that was Al Capone or that of the prisoner who played Clint Eastwood in the movie "La Fuga de Alcatraz".
The visit counting the boat trips can take you about 3 hours.
Visit Alcatraz Island, one of the best things to see and do in San Francisco
Recommended travel cardsRemember that in order not to pay commissions and always have the current change we recommend you use the N26 card to pay and the Bnext and Revolut cards to get money at the ATMs. They are the ones we use, They are free and will save you a lot.
You can find more information in this article about the best cards to travel without commissions.
4. Castro and Haight-Ashbury
The Castro and Haight-Ashbury neighborhoods are two great examples of the diversity and freedom that has been living in San Francisco for a long time.
Castro was one of the places where he fought most for the rights of the city's LGTBI community and for the acceptance of sexual diversity throughout the country.
Among the most prominent places in the neighborhood is the theater, the colorful streets located around number 18, the Victorian houses and the old house of Harvey Milk, one of the great references of this community.
Haight-Ashbury was the place where the hippie movement was born in the 60s and another of the essential neighborhoods to see in San Francisco.
In this neighborhood you will find all kinds of second-hand stores such as Buffalo Exchange, hippie style and vinyl. In addition to looking for a bargain, do not forget to find the house of the great Jimi Hendrix and take pictures of the Victorian houses that are in Waller Stret, between Masonic and Ashbury and at the intersection between Haight and Masonic.
If it is your first time in the city, it is very interesting to know the history and not miss anything important to book this tour of San Francisco in its entirety or this free tour of San Francisco Free!, Both with a guide in Spanish.
Castro neighborhood
5. Painted Ladies, one of the places to see in San Francisco
Painted Ladies, Victorian-style houses painted in various pastel colors, the city's most famous are located near Alamo Square Park.
These seven houses, located between 710 and 722 on Steiner Street, became very popular as "Forced Parents" came out in series. Also from the top of the park you can take one of the best photos of San Francisco, with the houses in the foreground and in the background the silhouette of the city.
Although it is one of the places to visit in San Francisco, it is necessary to take into account that the city had more than 50,000 houses of this same style, before the earthquake of 1906, and many still spread throughout the city.
Painted Ladies
Our recommended hotel in San Francisco
Our recommended hotel for San Francisco is the Grant Hotel, located 5 minutes walk from Union Square and 10 minutes from Chinatown. The hotel also has a tram stop a few meters away that communicates with the other areas of the city, parking and excellent value for money, difficult to find in an expensive city in accommodation.
6. Climb on Twin Peaks, one of the best things to do in San Francisco
One of the best things to do in San Francisco at sunset or sunrise is to climb the hill of Twin Peaks, the best viewpoint in the city.
These twin hills of almost 300 meters high, offer panoramic views of the entire city, which on a clear day allows you to see points like the Golden Gate or Alcatraz.
We reach the top of the hill by car, although you also have the option of public transport and if you are very fit you can climb on foot or by bike.
The best time to climb is one hour before sunset to see the sunset and how the city lights up.
San Francisco from Twin Peaks
7. Golden Gate Park
The Golden Gate Park, a green space 5 kilometers long by 1 kilometer wide, is another essential place to see in San Francisco.
If you do not want to ride a lot, it is preferable to rent a bike or take the minibus that runs through the park to visit places like the Japanese garden, the Shakespeare garden, the great Dutch mill, the rose garden and the Stow lake, among many others.
Also inside the park lives a community of coyotes and American buffalo.
Golden gate park
8. Other neighborhoods
In addition to Castro and Haight-Ashbury, there are other essential neighborhoods to visit in San Francisco such as:
- Chinatown: It is one of the largest Chinese neighborhoods in the world in which they stand out: Grant Avenue and Stockton Street, Dragon Gate and Portsmouth Square, a square where tai chi and board games are practiced.
- Little italy: In this neighborhood that has been shrinking over the years you will find Italian shops and stores, many located on Columbus Avenue. In addition to eating in an Italian restaurant, don't forget to visit the church of San Pedro and San Pablo, where Marilyn Monroe got married.
- Mission district: It is a neighborhood with a great Latin presence that has the Mission Dolores church as a great jewel, it is the oldest building to see in San Francisco. In addition to this church, it is worth seeing the numerous murals and graffiti of Clarion Alley, Balmy Alley and that of the Women's Building.
- Japantown: The small Japanese neighborhood has a 5-story pagoda, Peace Square and Japan Cener, a shopping center with Japanese shops and restaurants.
A good way to visit all these neighborhoods, if you do not have much time, is to book this tourist bus with comments recorded in Spanish.
Chinatown, one of the neighborhoods to visit in San Francisco
9. Lombard Street
Getting off by car on Lombard Street, the curvy street in the United States, is another of the best things to do in San Francisco.
Located between Hyde and Leavenworth, this small stretch of street has up to 8 tight and narrow bends that allow cars to save a slope of 27 degrees of inclination.
In addition to the curiosity of the section, being in an elevated position of the city, you get good views.
Lombard Street, one of the places to see in San Francisco
10. Excursions from San Francisco
There are several places that are located near San Francisco and worth visiting if you have half a day or a day, such as Sausalito and Muir Woods.
Sausalito is a small coastal town, located less than 10 kilometers away, which stands out for its art galleries, houseboats and, above all, for its relaxed and bohemian atmosphere.
You can reach Sausalito by ferry, car or even by bicycle.
In the Muir Woods forest, located just over 10 kilometers away, you can see the giant sequoia trees that can be more than 150 meters high and live more than a thousand years.
To get to this fantastic forest you can rent a car or book this excursion that includes Sausalito or this one that includes the visit to the renowned California vineyards.
Other of the best excursions in San Francisco are:
Yosemite
How to have internet in San Francisco?If you want to have internet in the United States a good option is to buy one Holafly SIM card, with which you will have internet from the moment you land, several GB of data, keeping your WhatsApp number and support service in Spanish.
You can buy your Holafly prepaid SIM card here with a 5% discount for being our reader.
If you feel like helping us complete the list of 10 essential things to see and do in San Francisco, add yours in the comments.
