Top Things To Do and See in San Francisco - Places to Visit
#1 Things to Do in San Francisco - Golden Gate Bridge
The Golden gate Bridge is San Francisco's most famous landmark. Built in 1937, linking San Francisco to Sausalito, the Golden Gate bridge is 1.7 miles long and a San Francisco attraction not to be missed.
You can catch our Hop On Hop Off tour across the bridge, with incredible views from the Open-Top bus. Rated one of the best things to do in San Francisco by our customers, you may stay on the bus, or Hop Off at the south side of the bridge, and walk over to catch a later bus on the north side at Vista Point. The bus will continue down to Sausalito after crossing the bridge. Also very popular is to ride a bike across the bridge, or to take a Boat Tour (Bay Cruise), which passes under the bridge.
City Sightseeing Tours: Golden Gate Bridge & Sausalitio Tour | All Loops Bus Tour | Muir Woods & Sausalito Tour
#2 Things to Do in San Francisco - Chinatown
San Francisco has the largest Chinatown outside Asia. This fascinating area covers around 30 city blocks in central San Francisco. Its a great place just to wander around for a few hours. Don't miss the Fortune Cookie Factory, the markets on Stockton St, and dozens of great restaurants.
Chinatown is located very centrally in San Francisco. Its a short walk from Union Square or Fisherman's Wharf, where most of the hotels are located. Stockton St is the most authentic street, and Grant Avenue has the most shops. We recommend spending a few hours here. The area is very safe, so check out all of the cross streets and interesting alleys. Daytime is the best, as there is very little activity here in the evening.
City Sightseeing Tours: Downtown Loop Tour | All Loops Bus Tour
#3 Things To Do in San Francisco - Alcatraz
Alcatraz Island, was home to the most famous prison in the world. and today is San Francisco's most popular tourist attraction. Alcatraz Island is located 1 mile off the San Francisco waterfront, in the middle of San Francisco Bay. Alcatraz Prison tours are available daily and include an award winning audio tour of the prison cellblock.
Tickets sell out very early, especially in the summer or holidays. City Sightseeing offers a popular package of a tour to Alcatraz, combined with our All Loops bus tour of San Francisco.
City Sightseeing Tours: All Loops & Alcatraz Tour
#4 Things to Do in San Francisco - North Beach
San Francisco's Italian District is home to many of the best restaurants in the city, as well as excellent coffee shops and shopping. Located centrally in San Francisco, its a short walk from the Financial District, Fisherman's Wharf, Coit Tower and Chinatown.
The main street in North Beach is Columbus Avenue, one of the few diagonal streets in San Francisco. Its an excellent place to go during the evening, and enjoy an excellent restaurant with sidewalk seating. Washington Square, in the heart of North Beach is home to the Church of St peter and St Paul. Just up the hill is Telegraph Hill, with Coit Tower at the top, which has some of the best views in San Francisco, looking down to Downtown San Francisco and Fisherman's Wharf, and out to San Francisco Bay, Alcatraz, and both the Bay Bridge and Golden Gate Bridge.
City Sightseeing Tours: Downtown Loop Tour | All Loops Bus Tour
#5 Things to Do in San Francisco - Golden Gate Park
The Golden Gate park is an excellent place to spend a day. Attractions include the Academy of Sciences, De Young Museum, Conservatory of Flowers, Botanical Gardens, Japanese Tea Gardens, and miles of hiking and biking trails. There are lakes to rent boats, a buffalo (bison) paddock, bike and skate rentals and much more. Golden Gate Park is 3 miles long and 1/2 mile wide, and extends from Haight St (Haight Ashbury District) down to Ocean Beach, at the Pacific Ocean.
You can catch our Hop On Hop Off Golden Gate Park Tour from Union Square, and hop off at either Haight Street, or in front of the California Academy of Sciences. From there, you can easily walk to the main attractions, and catch a later bus back down to downtown San Francisco.
City Sightseeing Tours: Golden Gate Park Tour | All Loops Bus Tour
#6 Things to Do in San Francisco - Fisherman's Wharf
Fisherman's Wharf is the most popular area in San Francisco for visitors. It has a reputation for being very touristy, so expect large crowds, especially during the summer. There are many attractions, and Fisherman's Wharf is located right on the Bay, at the northern edge of San Francisco.
The area spans from Ghirardelli Square on the west, to Pier 39 on the east, and includes The Cannery, San Francisco Wax Museum, Ripleys Believe it or Not, Hyde St Pier Maritime Museum, Aquarium of the Bay, Boudin Bakery Museum and much more.
Pier 39 is the 3rd most visited place in the country, and is home to the famous San Francisco Sea Lions, excellent San Francisco Bay views, and dozens of shops and restaurants.
In the Center of Fisherman's Wharf at Taylor Street, you can enjoy the world famous Dungeness Crab, at one of the many outdoor food stands, and view the last of San Francisco's Fishing fleet. Alcatraz tours depart from Pier 33, a very short walk from Fisherman's Wharf.