Things to Do in San Francisco

San Francisco’s compact geography means you can cover a lot of ground on foot, by cable car, and by Muni without spending much time in transit. Below is a practical breakdown of the attractions that consistently deliver, with current entry fees, opening hours, and how to reach each one.

Walk the Golden Gate Bridge

The 1.7-mile pedestrian path across the Golden Gate Bridge is one of the few world-famous landmarks that costs nothing to experience up close. The east sidewalk is open to walkers daily from 5am–9pm (extended hours in summer); the west sidewalk is bikes-only. Dress for wind and fog—it’s reliably cold on the bridge regardless of how warm it is downtown. Allow 45–60 minutes for a return crossing.

Parking at the Roundhouse lot on the San Francisco side costs approximately $8 for 2 hours as of 2026. Alternatively, take Muni bus 28 or 101 from the city; fare approximately $3. The most photogenic angles are from the southeastern viewpoint at the Bridge Welcome Center or from Baker Beach to the south (free entry, good views of the bridge’s south tower).

Alcatraz Island

Alcatraz is the city’s most-booked attraction and sells out weeks in advance in summer. Ferries depart from Pier 33, Embarcadero. Day tours cost approximately $47.95 per adult as of 2026 and include the ferry and the celebrated audio guide narrated by former guards and inmates. Night tours cost approximately $47.95–$59.95 and allow access to sections closed during the day—worth booking if you want a less crowded experience.

Book at least two to three weeks ahead at alcatrazcruises.com. Allow 2.5–3 hours total including the ferry crossing (approximately 15 minutes each way). There are steep paths on the island; wear comfortable shoes.

Explore Golden Gate Park

Golden Gate Park stretches 3 miles from the Panhandle to Ocean Beach. The park is free to enter and contains multiple paid attractions within it.

de Young Museum (50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Dr) — American art, Pacific cultures, and international loan exhibitions. Admission approximately $20 as of 2026; free the first Tuesday of each month. Open Tuesday–Sunday 9:30am–5:15pm. The observation tower is free and gives a 360° view over the park and city.

California Academy of Sciences (55 Music Concourse Dr) — Natural history museum, planetarium, four-story rainforest dome, and aquarium under one living roof. Admission approximately $40 as of 2026. Open Monday–Saturday 9:30am–5pm, Sunday 11am–5pm. Book tickets online to avoid queuing.

Japanese Tea Garden (75 Hagiwara Tea Garden Dr) — The oldest public Japanese garden in the US. Entry approximately $13 (adults) as of 2026; free before 10am Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Open daily 9am–5:45pm (summer) / 9am–4:45pm (winter).

Stow Lake — Rowboat and pedal boat rentals from approximately $25/hour as of 2026. Peaceful, low-key, and a good option with children.

Visit the Mission District Murals

The Mission contains the largest outdoor mural collection in San Francisco. Balmy Alley (between 24th and 25th Streets, Garfield to Harrison) is the densest concentration—dozens of murals covering garage doors and fences along a single block. The walk is free and takes about 30 minutes at a comfortable pace. Women’s Building at 3543 18th St has an extraordinary all-sides mural called MaestraPeace completed in 1994.

The Mission is best visited during the day; it’s lively on weekends with farmers’ markets at Heart of the City (Civic Center Plaza, Wednesdays and Sundays) and Mission Community Market (22nd St, Thursdays).

Day Trip: Muir Woods

Muir Woods National Monument is a 45-minute drive north across the Golden Gate Bridge. Timed entry permits are required year-round and cost approximately $16 per adult as of 2026; book at recreation.gov. Shuttle buses from Sausalito Marin City BART station run on weekends and eliminate the parking problem (approximately $5 roundtrip shuttle fee).

The main loop trail (2 miles, flat, paved) passes through stands of old-growth coastal redwoods up to 250 feet tall. Cathedral Grove, about 0.75 miles in, is where the tallest trees are. Allow 2–3 hours including the drive.

Ride the Cable Cars

The Powell-Hyde line (from Powell and Market to Aquatic Park) and the Powell-Mason line (from Powell and Market to Bay Street) are working transit, not tourist attractions in name only—locals ride them when going uphill. Single fare is approximately $8 as of 2026; a Muni day pass (approximately $13) includes unlimited cable car rides. Lines form at the Powell Street turnaround; the wait is usually 15–30 minutes during midday. Ride up to Nob Hill, then walk down to North Beach for lunch.

Fisherman’s Wharf and the Waterfront

Pier 39 is commercial and crowded, but the sea lions on the K-Dock are genuinely worth five minutes of your time—they haul out year-round at no charge, and the colony fluctuates between a handful and several hundred animals depending on the season. The Musée Mécanique at Pier 45 holds approximately 300 antique coin-operated arcade machines and mechanical devices—admission is free, though individual machines cost $0.25–$1.00 to operate. Open daily 10am–8pm.

Boudin Bakery (160 Jefferson St) — The sourdough tradition started here in 1849. The bakery tour costs approximately $5 as of 2026; the museum component is free. Worth a look even if you don’t take the full tour.

Practical Tips

• Clipper Card — reloadable transit card that works across BART, Muni, cable cars, and ferries; saves time over buying paper tickets. Load it at any BART station.
• Book Alcatraz and Muir Woods permits as early as possible—both sell out in peak season.
• The Muni Metro (underground light rail) connects downtown with the Castro, Mission, and West Portal without dealing with surface traffic.
• Fog is most persistent in the western half of the city (Sunset, Richmond, Ocean Beach); the Mission and Noe Valley are reliably warmer and sunnier.