San Francisco, California: 22 Things to Do in 2026

I visited San Francisco, USA back in 2012 during a big road trip along the West Coast, but that was many years ago, so take prices and opening hours from current sources. The city has changed incredibly since then and today offers experiences we couldn’t even have dreamed of back then.

The biggest technological leap is transport, because today driverless Waymo robotaxis will routinely carry you around the city. But the face of public space has changed too, with once-busy highways giving way to huge parks for pedestrians.

San Francisco may be the most compact big city in the USA, but don’t let its size fool you. Its streets are built on brutal hills, so the golden rule of any itinerary is to always plan your route going downhill and get a ride back up.

TL;DR

If you’re in a hurry and just want the absolute essentials, here are the most important tips in a nutshell:

• Buy Alcatraz tickets 90 days in advance. In high season they sell out weeks ahead, so don’t leave this to the last minute.
• Always pack a long-sleeved layer. The summer months bring the famous fog that locals call Karl, and temperatures by the ocean can be surprisingly low.
• Use the autonomous Waymo cars. They’ve been running from the airport since January 2026 and in the city they’re an attraction in themselves, safely carrying you up the steepest hills.
• Watch out for car break-ins. If you’re renting a car, never leave absolutely anything inside, not even for five minutes.
• Only walk the hills downhill. Take the historic cable cars, buses or the robotaxis going up and you’ll save yourself a lot of energy.
• Avoid the Tenderloin at night. The city has its darker side tied to the drug crisis, so some streets around Market Street are simply no place for tourists.

When to visit San Francisco, California, USA

This might surprise you, but September and October are absolutely the best months to visit San Francisco. While the rest of California slowly cools down and gets ready for autumn, here you finally enjoy real warmth, sunshine and, above all, a sky completely free of clouds. It’s a kind of local Indian summer that you’ll fall in love with, and the tourist crowds are mostly gone too.

That’s because summer here is paradoxically the coldest part of the whole year. From June to August a thick fog rolls in over the city, and especially over the ocean, which locals affectionately nickname Karl. Summer temperatures regularly drop to 14–18 degrees and a very cold wind blows in from the ocean. You’ll often wake up to a grey blanket and the sun won’t properly peek out until sometime in the afternoon. Local souvenir shops mostly live off selling overpriced hoodies to tourists who underestimated the California summer.

Winter tends to be mild but fairly wet, with temperatures hovering around 12–15 degrees. Spring months like April and May are very changeable, so the sun shines for a while and an hour later you desperately need a jacket. The city is also famous for its microclimates, so while you can happily sunbathe in the Mission district, you’ll be freezing in a hat on Ocean Beach.

The basic rule for packing is therefore layering and always having a hoodie ready in your backpack. Even when it’s unbearably hot in the sun downtown, the moment you head over to the Golden Gate Bridge or anywhere closer to the bay, you’ll always be glad you brought a long-sleeved layer. This is the most common tourist surprise that catches out thousands of visitors in shorts every year.

Where to stay in San Francisco

Choosing the right neighbourhood is absolutely crucial to your overall experience of the city, because each area offers a completely different vibe. Most travellers logically go for the Fisherman’s Wharf area, which is very touristy but puts you close to the sea, the sea lions and the ferries to Alcatraz. A great choice here is the Hotel Zephyr San Francisco, with its playful nautical design, plenty of outdoor fire pits and a perfect location right by the harbour.

If you want to be in the middle of the action near the best shops and transport, look for hotels around Union Square instead. It’s the main transport hub where the famous cable cars depart and where the metro stops on a direct line from the airport. Lovely accommodation here is offered by The Marker San Francisco, a beautiful boutique hotel with a very pleasant, distinctive atmosphere where you can rest after a full day of walking.

For lovers of luxury and iconic views there’s the historic Nob Hill district. Here stands the famous Fairmont San Francisco, where history was written and from which the city lies at your feet, plus the cable car stops right outside the hotel. For a more authentic local experience I recommend looking for accommodation in neighbourhoods like Hayes Valley or the Mission, where you’ll find the best independent cafés and restaurants.

I always recommend booking hotels through Booking well in advance, because the best places disappear incredibly fast and last-minute prices shoot up sharply. Definitely watch out for accommodation around the Tenderloin and parts of Market Street, which are best avoided especially after dark. If you’re planning to rent a car, expect extremely expensive hotel parking, which routinely runs to around €45 (fifty dollars) a night. For the city centre itself it’s far more sensible to travel without a car and rely on public transport or robotaxis.

💡 Tip: If you’re looking for a more detailed breakdown of the individual neighbourhoods and more specific hotel tips, read our article Where to stay in San Francisco, where you’ll find plenty of useful information.

💡 On this map you can compare what’s currently available — you’ll see straight away how much cheaper a hotel in Hayes Valley is than one near Union Square.

22 things to do in San Francisco, USA

Let’s take a look at the very best this Californian city has to offer. Famous bridges, historic prisons, but also new modern parks and plenty of great food await you.

1. Golden Gate Bridge and the best viewpoints

This is the absolute classic that hardly anyone should skip. The Golden Gate Bridge rises majestically over the bay and its iconic orange colour shines for kilometres, even in the thickest fog. You can walk the whole thing on foot or cross it on a rented bike, though the pedestrian path is open only in daylight for safety reasons, while on a bike you can ride the west side even at night.

You’ll take the most beautiful photos from a few strategic spots. Right on the city side you’ll find the Golden Gate Overlook, from where the whole enormous structure is nicely framed by trees. If you cross to the north side towards picturesque Sausalito, definitely stop at the Battery Spencer viewpoint or the Golden Gate View Point, where you’ll have the bridge below you from above with the downtown skyscrapers in the background.

If you want to see the bridge from below with the ocean’s crashing waves in the foreground, head to Marshall’s Beach or the sprawling meadow of Crissy Field. It’s a slightly wilder piece of coastline, but the views at sunset are absolutely breathtaking here and it’s an ideal spot for an afternoon picnic.

💡 Tip: Pack a warm hat and a windbreaker here, because the wind on the bridge really blows hard and the famous fog can chill you to the bone in minutes, even in the middle of summer.

2. Alcatraz Island prison

The legendary prison on an island in the middle of the bay draws millions of people a year and it’s an experience that will stay etched in your memory. Alcatraz Island offers a truly fascinating audio-guided tour narrated by real former inmates and guards. You’ll walk through the cramped cells, the vast dining hall and the outdoor yard, and the atmosphere of this place will absolutely draw you in.

A basic day ticket costs $29.15–47.95 depending on the visitor’s age. Children under four get in completely free, which saves families a fair bit of money. If you want to experience a slightly spookier, more intimate atmosphere, I recommend the night tour for $34.85–59.65, which also offers special programmes, the open hospital wing and gorgeous views of the illuminated city in the distance.

⚠️ Warning: Tickets go on sale exactly 90 days ahead and in the summer season they’re hopelessly sold out even several weeks in advance. Tickets vanish surprisingly fast and without one you simply won’t get onto the island, so buy them as soon as your dates are confirmed and exclusively through the only official seller, Alcatraz City Cruises. On site you’ll have practically no chance of getting tickets.

3. Pier 39 and the famous sea lions

The heart of the tourist buzz lies right on the bay’s waterfront. Pier 39 is the single most-visited spot in the city and offers plenty of seafood restaurants, dozens of souvenir shops and a beautiful historic carousel. Even though it’s very commercial and sometimes overcrowded here, you definitely have to come by at least for a while.

The main draw here is the sea lions on the floating docks, who unexpectedly settled in right after the big 1989 earthquake and simply stayed. You can watch them completely free from the wooden walkways. It’s a great show for the whole family — the sea lions constantly bicker over the best spot in the sun, comically shove each other into the water and bark loudly while they’re at it.

There are most of them here during the colder winter months, but you’ll reliably find several dozen all year round. Around the pier the air smells of sweets and fresh coffee, and nearly every second tourist walks around with a bowl of clam chowder in hand — a typical thick soup served in a hollowed-out bread bowl. Definitely stop by the nearby Ghirardelli chocolate shop and soak up that real California ease by the water.

4. The retro arcade Musée Mécanique

A short walk from the noisy sea lions hides a real treasure that many people completely miss in the tourist rush. Right on neighbouring Pier 45 you’ll find Musée Mécanique, a huge, lovingly kept collection of working mechanical automatons and old game machines. The moment you step inside, you’re whisked a hundred years back in time.

The entrance to the hall itself is completely free; you only pay small quarters for what you actually play or watch. You can try the very first arcade games here, have your future told by spooky old fortune-tellers, or watch precise mechanical theatres. Break a few dollars into coins at the entrance and I guarantee you’ll happily get stuck here for at least an hour.

It’s one of the best hidden gems on the whole busy Wharf and an absolutely ideal refuge when the cold fog rolls in outside. The atmosphere here is completely unique and kids will love it just as much as the adults, who happily reminisce here about the good old days of fairs and wooden arcades.

5. Historic cable cars and Muni transport

Say San Francisco and almost everyone immediately pictures an iconic wooden tram climbing a steep hill. A classic cable car costs $12 per ride and it’s probably the most expensive tram ride in the world. Since April 2026, though, the local transit authority SFMTA has introduced a special Cable Car Plus day pass for $18, which is definitely worth it if you plan to ride more.

For everyday getting around the city, the huge Muni network works great, including buses, the underground metro and regular surface trams. A single adult ride costs $3. Since January 2026 the earlier discounts for electronic payments unfortunately no longer apply, so the price is now exactly the same in cash and when paying with the rechargeable Clipper card.

💡 Tip: Instead of standing in the huge hour-long cable car queue at the Powell Street turntable, try the historic F-line streetcars. They run along the picturesque Embarcadero waterfront, are beautifully restored old cars gathered from around the world, and you’ll only pay the regular $3 fare, while the experience is absolutely comparable.

6. A Waymo robotaxi ride from the airport

The year 2026 brought an incredible technological novelty to the city that feels straight out of a sci-fi film. Waymo robotaxis now carry passengers to SFO airport too, officially since 29 January 2026. For now they won’t pick you up right at the departure terminals, but they pick up and drop off at the Rental Car Center on Level 1 Curbside, which you can reach quickly and easily from the planes on the AirTrain airport train.

Around the city these white Jaguars with a spinning sensor on the roof drive around completely normally and you’ll meet them on every corner. Riding in a car with no driver at all is a huge experience for travellers. You simply order it through the Waymo mobile app, the car arrives, you hop into the back seat and on the display in front of you the whole ride you watch how the car analyses its surroundings and safely weaves through the narrow streets.

Just bear in mind that the robotaxi follows traffic rules one hundred percent. The car never honks at anyone, carefully gives way to all pedestrians and never double-parks with hazard lights on, so it will only drop you off where it’s strictly legal. In a hilly city, though, it’s an absolutely perfect helper for the trips uphill.

7. The new Sunset Dunes park on a former highway

This is by far the largest project to pedestrianise public space in the history of all of California. Two miles of the busy coastal Great Highway were recently transformed into a park, so instead of hundreds of cars you’ll now find a wide promenade right by the ocean. The new park, called Sunset Dunes, spans a respectable 77 acres and opened to the public on 12 April 2025.

It’s a fantastic spot for long walks, rollerblading or just sitting on a bench with a view of the crashing waves. The whole paved area flows smoothly onto the sandy Ocean Beach, so you can spend a lovely afternoon here far from the bustle of downtown and breathe in the fresh sea air.

⚠️ Warning: This huge project is a very contentious topic among locals. There’s a strong petition with more than 15,600 signatures sharply demanding the reopening of at least part of the road for cars because of worsened traffic in the surrounding neighbourhoods. The park’s final fate will therefore be decided in a closely watched November 2026 vote, so we’ll see how long this oasis of calm actually lasts.

8. The enormous Golden Gate Park

Looking at the city map, you might be surprised how huge this green rectangle is. Golden Gate Park is even noticeably bigger than New York’s famous Central Park. It stretches from the residential neighbourhoods in the middle of the city all the way to the ocean, and inside you’ll find dozens of kilometres of trails, picturesque ponds and beautifully kept gardens.

One of the absolutely most beautiful spots inside is the Japanese Tea Garden, the oldest public Japanese garden in the entire USA. You can admire the precisely trimmed bonsai here, drink tea in a wooden pavilion and cross a steeply arched stone bridge that’s a little attraction in itself. A short walk away you’ll also find the beautiful historic Conservatory of Flowers, full of exotic plants from around the world.

The park is so incredibly large that a real herd of bison lives in its western part. If you come here at the weekend, you’ll definitely stumble upon the outdoor skate disco near 6th Avenue, where local enthusiasts dance on rollerblades to the rhythm of disco. It’s a huge dose of typical California positive energy you can’t miss.

9. The California Academy of Sciences

If you love animals, science and nature, you have to add this place to your plan straight away. The California Academy of Sciences sits right in the middle of Golden Gate Park and is an absolutely unique modern building that has a huge living lawn on its roof acting as natural insulation.

Inside you’ll find three fantastic attractions cleverly combined in one ticket. There’s a huge underground aquarium, a top-class digital planetarium and, above all, a giant glass dome with a living rainforest, where exotic butterflies and rare birds fly freely around you. Basic adult admission is $49, but at peak times and weekends the price climbs to $55.

Youth pay $45–49 and children aged 3 to 12 get a ticket for $39–45. Children under two enter the academy free. Set aside at least three full hours for the whole visit, because the individual exhibits are incredibly detailed, interactive and will absolutely pull you in.

10. Art at the de Young Museum and Legion of Honor

Directly opposite the natural history museum you’ll find a real paradise for all lovers of fine art. The de Young Museum building catches your eye at first sight with its unusual copper façade and tall observation tower rising above the trees. Adult admission is $20, seniors pay $17 and students $11 on presentation of an ID.

The great news is that youth under 18 enter the collections completely free, and if you come here on the first Tuesday of the month, no one pays the basic admission at all. The museum’s observation tower is also accessible free at all times and offers a wonderful panoramic view over the whole park and surrounding neighbourhoods.

The city’s second top-class art museum is the Legion of Honor, which according to reviews is the highest-rated museum in all of San Francisco. It sits in a beautiful bright palace modelled on Parisian buildings and you’ll find it high on the cliffs above the ocean. It focuses mainly on antiquity and European art and the atmosphere here is incredibly stately and calm.

11. The winding Lombard Street

This is exactly the famous street you’ll reliably recognise from every second American film. Lombard Street is renowned for its eight extremely sharp hairpin bends, which builders once had to create because the hill’s original gradient was simply too steep for ordinary cars. It’s an incredibly photogenic spot full of precisely trimmed shrubs and blooming hydrangeas.

The essential advice for a visit is clear: come here strictly on foot. Driving the street in your own car is hugely tempting, but in the summer season exhausting queues of cars form here, and behind the wheel you won’t enjoy it at all and won’t get good photos. It’s far better to come up comfortably by cable car, get out and walk the whole street slowly down the adjacent steps.

💡 Tip: You’ll get the best view of the whole zigzag with the cars from below, right from Leavenworth Street. Better stop by early in the morning, while there aren’t yet crowds of tourists with phones on sticks, and enjoy that lovely view in complete peace.

12. Coit Tower and the Filbert Steps

On the very top of the steep Telegraph Hill proudly rises a concrete tower shaped like a fire hose nozzle. Coit Tower offers not only a beautiful 360-degree view over the whole bay, but above all unique historic frescoes from 1934 on its ground floor. These detailed murals depict the hard life of Californian workers during the Great Depression and are truly immensely powerful.

The greatest experience of all, though, is the walk up to the tower itself. I definitely recommend going up on foot via the famous Filbert Steps. It’s a steep wooden and concrete staircase that winds through secret lush gardens and past beautiful houses you absolutely cannot reach by car. It’s a really steep staircase, so expect to work up a good sweat.

As you climb, listen carefully to the surrounding sounds. The famous wild parrots live in these steep gardens, having once escaped from cages long ago and formed a huge noisy flock. It’s a fairly physically demanding hike, so don’t forget to bring a water bottle and take breaks for photos.

13. The view from the Twin Peaks hills

If you want to see the whole city from a bird’s-eye view and understand its layout, you have to come here. The Twin Peaks hills rise to a respectable 280 metres and offer the absolute best panoramic view far and wide. The whole downtown, both famous bridges and the bay lie perfectly at your feet from here.

You can get here comfortably by bus number 45, by Waymo robotaxi or in your own car, but remember that parking up at the viewpoint is often very limited. The view is stunning both by day and after dark, when downtown lights up with thousands of lights and looks absolutely magical — but don’t forget one thing.

⚠️ Warning: An extremely strong, icy wind blows up top at practically any time of year. Even when it’s pleasant T-shirt weather and sunny down in the centre, up here you’ll bitterly regret it if you don’t bring a warm jacket and hood. Most tourists quickly snap a few photos here and are glad to jump back into the warmth of their car.

14. The Lands End Lookout trail and Sutro Baths ruins

At the very northwestern tip of the whole city you’ll find a surprising piece of rugged, wild nature. The Lands End Lookout coastal trail runs along high cliffs right above the ocean waves and is one of the loveliest walks in the city. You can do it in an hour, and entry to this area is also completely free.

Along the perfectly maintained path you’ll see the remains of old shipwrecks down in the water and enjoy absolutely unusual views of the Golden Gate Bridge from the other side. The trail leads through beautifully fragrant cypress groves that will also reliably shelter you from the worst wind off the sea.

At the very start of the trail, definitely explore the Sutro Baths ruins. They’re the huge concrete remains of once-luxurious Victorian sea baths that unfortunately burned down, leaving only the foundations. Today the ocean waves dramatically crash against them and the whole place has a wonderful, slightly melancholic atmosphere that’s made for photos.

15. Alamo Square Park and the famous Painted Ladies

This iconic view is reliably known to anyone who ever watched American family sitcoms in the nineties, especially the Full House opening credits. Alamo Square Park is a beautiful, well-kept grassy slope from which you look out at the famous row of perfectly restored Victorian houses called the Painted Ladies.

The most interesting thing about this place is the huge architectural contrast. Right in the foreground you see the ornate historic wooden houses from the nineteenth century, while just behind them the most modern glass skyscrapers of the financial district rise in the distance. It’s a perfect spot for an afternoon picnic and a rest on a blanket.

💡 Tip: It gets really busy here during the day, so if you want to take a perfect photo without strangers’ heads in the shot, come first thing in the morning after breakfast. The park sits on a little hill, so feel free to bring a fresh coffee from a nearby café, sit down on the grass and enjoy the peaceful morning atmosphere.

16. The hidden gem of Grandview Park and the mosaic steps

While most tourists constantly stay in the centre, you should definitely head a bit further south into the residential Sunset district. Here you’ll find the little Grandview Park hill, a viewpoint with a beautiful view of the ocean and the endless grid of streets deep below you. Ordinary tourists almost never come here, so you’ll have incredible peace and quiet.

The way up itself leads over the amazing 16th Avenue Tiled Steps, an absolutely stunning steep staircase made of exactly 163 steps. Every single step is hand-decorated with a colourful mosaic that, seen from below, together forms a beautiful image of a river flowing from the ocean up to the stars in the night sky.

This quiet spot is absolutely the best for watching the sunset in the whole city. The sun sets right in front of you into the waves of the Pacific and the mosaic on the steps glistens beautifully in the golden evening light. Don’t forget comfortable shoes, because it’s quite a decent climb.

17. Modern art at SFMOMA and science at the Exploratorium

Right in the busy city centre, a short walk from Market Street, stands a giant building full of the world’s best modern art. The SFMOMA museum has a respectable seven floors and inside you’ll find original works by greats like Warhol, Pollock and Frida Kahlo. The architecture of the building itself is absolutely breathtaking and worth a detailed look even from the outside.

A huge advantage for travellers on a limited budget is that entry to the entire ground floor of the museum is completely free. You can calmly look at several huge sculptures here and, above all, at the huge living wall made of thousands of plants, which works as a perfect backdrop for photos. If you love art, set aside at least half a day for the whole exhibition.

With kids, definitely head to Pier 15 to the renowned Exploratorium. It’s one of the oldest and most famous interactive science centres in the world, where you can try out the laws of physics in practice first-hand. It’s absolutely the best place for families in the city, where kids will reliably be entertained for hours and you’ll get a moment’s rest.

18. The oldest Chinatown in North America

Walk through the green Dragon Gate and San Francisco seems to vanish — suddenly you’re surrounded by red lanterns, the smell of spices and mandarins. The local bustling Chinatown has been running non-stop since 1848 and it’s the oldest Chinese quarter in all of North America. The narrow streets here are full of red lanterns, the aroma of exotic spices and little shops selling absolutely everything from teas to electronics.

Definitely don’t miss the tucked-away Ross Alley, where you’ll find the inconspicuous historic Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory bakery. The famous fortune cookies are made here and you can watch up close with your own eyes as the little slips of prophecy are inserted into the hot dough.

Avoid the main tourist drags full of souvenirs and duck deep into the side alleys instead. There you’ll find authentic shops with traditional Chinese medicine, quiet tea houses and local markets where residents buy fresh vegetables. The atmosphere here is completely authentic, noisy and colourful, exactly how a proper Asian quarter should be.

19. The sunny Mission district and its murals

If you’re looking for an authentic California atmosphere and want to warm up a bit, head straight here. The Mission district has absolutely the warmest and sunniest weather in the whole city, because the surrounding high hills reliably shield it from the cold fog off the ocean. It’s a neighbourhood full of life, the best independent cafés and strong Latin American culture.

The main visual draw here is the beautiful street murals. Walk slowly through Balmy Alley and Clarion Alley, where the walls of houses and old garages are completely covered in gorgeous colourful paintings. These huge works of art often respond sharply to current political and social topics and constantly change dynamically.

On a Friday afternoon or any time at the weekend, grab a blanket and go sit in Mission Dolores Park. Seemingly the whole city meets here, live music plays on the grass, people throw picnics on a grand scale and there’s a beautiful view of the glass skyscrapers in the distance. For food, definitely try the huge Mission-style tacos with cheese and beans.

20. History in Castro and Haight-Ashbury

These two neighbouring districts wrote the modern history of the whole United States and have incredible charm. Castro is the historic centre of the American queer movement, where the famous politician Harvey Milk was active. Today it’s an incredibly clean, colourful and friendly neighbourhood, where you’ll find a huge rainbow flag flying over the square and painted on the pedestrian crossings. Be sure to check out the historic Castro cinema here with its amazing old organ.

A short walk further north lies the Haight-Ashbury district, the famous cradle of the hippie movement of 1967. It was right here that the legendary Summer of Love took place, and that energy is still here. The streets are full of amazing vinyl record shops, huge thrift stores and fragrant esoteric little shops.

It’s by far the best place to buy original souvenirs and crazy clothes. The houses here have incredibly vivid colours and from every corner the relaxed atmosphere of the wild sixties breathes over you. Grab a coffee in one of the local spots, sit down on a bench and just watch the people around you — it’s a better show than most films.

21. Food at the Ferry Building and Italian North Beach

For all lovers of good food this is an absolute, non-negotiable must. The historic Ferry Building from 1898 today serves as a huge covered market full of the best local produce. You’ll find artisan cheeses, fresh baked goods, oysters and plenty of small, cosy bistros here, so it’s the best place for lunch downtown without needing a complicated reservation.

If you come here on a Tuesday, Thursday or Saturday morning, you’ll experience the famous outdoor Ferry Plaza Farmers Market. The waterfront fills with farmers from the wide surrounding area and you’ll buy the absolute freshest fruit and vegetables straight from the growers here.

In the afternoon then move smoothly on to the nearby Italian North Beach district. Stop for a strong espresso and definitely visit the legendary City Lights Bookstore. It’s a bookshop where the famous Beat writers once gathered, and to this day it has an incredible intellectual charm full of old books and debates. For lovers of classic seafood there’s the famous local specialty clam chowder in a bread bowl, dungeness crab or the rich fish soup cioppino.

22. A paradise for vegetarians and vegan spots

San Francisco is a true paradise for vegetarians and vegans; the range of plant-based spots here is among the best in the whole USA and you’ll struggle to choose. Personally I recommend heading to the Mission district to the cult spot Shizen, where they make absolutely fantastic vegan sushi that enthusiastic people travel from all over the wide area for, and queues form here.

If you want great food combined with an iconic view, book a table in good time at the Greens restaurant in Fort Mason. It’s an honest vegetarian classic open since 1979 and as a bonus, at dinner you’ll get a view straight onto the illuminated Golden Gate. In the Cow Hollow area you definitely can’t miss the popular plant-based bistro Wildseed.

You’ll find other great lunch sure-things in the trendy Hayes Valley district at the modern spot Rad Radish or at Om Sabor. In Chinatown you’ll reliably fall in love with vegan Asian classics at Golden Era or the excellent vegan dim sum at Enjoy Vegetarian. And nowhere in the city forget to taste the famous sourdough bread, which is as typical for the city as the morning fog and wafts out of every second bakery.

Where to go from San Francisco

Once you’ve explored the city, it’s time to venture beyond its limits, because the Bay Area offers a completely different rhythm from the busy streets of downtown.

• Sausalito: A picturesque little town on the other side of the bridge, which you reach by ferry from the Ferry Building in 25 minutes. It offers a stunning view of the city skyline across the bay.
• Muir Woods: A forest full of giant sequoias just 30 minutes north. ⚠️ Warning: Parking and admission itself must be booked in advance; without a reservation they simply won’t let you in.
• Napa and Sonoma: The world-famous wine region lies about an hour to the northeast. If you want to do tastings, better come here on an organised tour so you don’t have to worry about driving.
• Silicon Valley: An hour south you’ll find the world’s tech centre with cities like Palo Alto or Mountain View. The company campuses aren’t normally accessible, but the Stanford University campus and the Computer History Museum are worth a visit.
• Half Moon Bay and further south: Head down the iconic Highway 1 along the cliffs. If you’re planning a longer trip, get inspired in our article Road trip around the American West: a 14–21 day itinerary.
• More tips in California: Are you more drawn to the south or the national parks? Read What to see in Los Angeles or discover Yosemite National Park: 15 things to see and do.

Frequently asked questions

Here are the answers to the most common questions you might have about visiting San Francisco.