https://https://uk.trip.com/toplist/tripbest/recommend/san-francisco/best-things-to-do/100000007979
Best Things to Do
Top 50 Best Things to Do in San Francisco [2025]
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Fisherman's Wharf
4.5
/5
1589 reviews
8.1
Based on 19,700 reviews
Fisherman's Wharf | 3.8 km from downtown
Phone +14156733530
Address: San Francisco, CA, USA
Recommended sightseeing time: 2-3 hours
Selected for 2 years in a row
Highlights:
Distant view of the magnificent Golden Gate Bridge
San Francisco's iconic Pier 39
Saved by 328 users574 positive reviews
Verified user reviews
a lot of sea lions! a must see place in san francisco! should get a sea lion plushie as well as a gift!
The Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco is the earliest known tourist attraction, located in San Francisco Bay within the Golden Gate Bridge, with a mild climate, calm water and pleasant scenery throughout the year. Fisherman's Wharf is close to the old town of San Francisco. There are many things to see, many things to play, and the transportation is convenient. There are many restaurants and hotels nearby, so you can walk slowly.
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California Academy of Sciences
4.7
/5
918 reviews
7.8
From £18.51
Based on 6,079 reviews
Sunset District | 4.1 km from downtown
Phone +14153798000
Address: 55 Music Concourse Dr, San Francisco, CA 94118, United States
Recommended sightseeing time: 3-4 hours
Featured in 2025 Americas 50 – Best Things to Do
Highlights:
75-foot-tall planetarium featuring space journey shows
2.5-acre native plant green roof
Saved by 263 users801 positive reviews
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The California Academy of Sciences is not only a research institution, but also a natural history museum, which houses 46 million specimens and is one of the largest natural history museums in the world. The California Academy of Sciences was founded in 1853 in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park.
if you love science this is a place to go it was so amazing you can learn a lot of stuff there my kids love it and so do I I'm great customer service
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Alcatraz Island
4.6
/5
491 reviews
7.8
From £46.52
5.8 km from downtown
Phone +14155614900
Address: San Francisco, CA, USA
Recommended sightseeing time: 2-4 hours
No.2 of Night Attractions in San Francisco
Highlights:
Explore the abandoned buildings of Alcatraz Prison
Historical films are played on a loop inside the prison
Saved by 262 users265 positive reviews
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A few hundred metres from San Francisco's pier, Alcatraz was once the hardest-core prison in the United States, and after the prison closed in the 1960s, Alcatraz was occupied by Native Americans for nineteen months, and the island's social hall was burned down. Alcatraz became the Golden Gate National Amusement Park, designated as a national historical landmark in 1986, including the burned social hall, which is 15 minutes by boat from San Francisco.
Alcatraz Island is a stone island in San Francisco Bay, close to the Golden Gate, facing the old town of San Francisco, the scenery around the island is very beautiful. Because the water around the island is very deep and the water flow is very fast, the island used to be a prison. The island, which held the most famous and dangerous prisoners in the United States in the last century, became famous, and Hollywood made movies, and now it is a San Francisco Bay attraction.
No.
4
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Golden Gate Park
4.7
/5
360 reviews
7.6
Based on 9,654 reviews
Sunset District | 5.6 km from downtown
Phone +14158312700
Address: San Francisco, CA, United States
Recommended sightseeing time: 0.5-1 day
Featured in 2025 Global 100 – Family-Friendly Attractions
Highlights:
Bike through the park and enjoy the spring flowers in bloom
Over ten parks across 53 streets
Saved by 168 users207 positive reviews
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This is a relatively large park near the Golden Gate Bridge, called Golden Gate Park. Most tourists will not go to this attraction specifically, but since we are traveling independently, we can visit it in a more relaxed manner. The environment design of this park is unparalleled and it is worth checking out.
Golden Gate Park is the largest park in Xiamen. During holidays, it is the place where adults in Xiamen bring their children to check in and play. Although it is not a famous tourist attraction, it is at least a good place for parent-child travel.
No.
5
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Golden Gate Bridge
4.7
/5
2106 reviews
7.3
From £25.92
Based on 49,935 reviews
7.2 km from downtown
Phone +14159215858
Address: Golden Gate Brg, San Francisco, CA, United States
Recommended sightseeing time: 1-2 hours
Featured in 2025 Americas 50 – Night Attractions
Highlights:
Golden Gate Bridge panoramic views
2-mile seaside walking bridge
Saved by 436 users801 positive reviews
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Came here on September 24, 2017.
The Golden Gate Bridge is a landmark of San Francisco and a well-known tourist attraction in the United States. If you come to San Francisco, you must check in at the Golden Gate Bridge.
There are many bridges in China that are more majestic than the Golden Gate Bridge, so in fact, just take a tourist photo near the Golden Gate Bridge to say "I've been here". The best photo spot should be the Torpedo Wharf area on the southeast side of the bridge, and try to go early, otherwise when the sun sets, the photos will be backlit.
iconic landmark in San Francisco. there’s a beach nearby , a nice place to soak up some sun.
No.
6
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Lombard Street
4.6
/5
1830 reviews
7.3
Based on 18,441 reviews
San Francisco Downtown | 3 km from downtown
Phone +14153912000
Address: San Francisco, CA, USA
Recommended sightseeing time: 0.5 hour
Featured in 2025 Americas 50 – Night Attractions
Highlights:
Thrilling mountain road driving challenge
8 hairpin turns & 40° incline
Saved by 288 users992 positive reviews
Verified user reviews
Came here on September 24, 2017.
This attraction is unique, beautiful and interesting, and is definitely one of the must-see attractions when visiting San Francisco.
Lombard Street is actually a section of Lombard Street, located between Hyde Street and Leavenworth Street. This section of the road is a steep slope, but it is designed into eight hairpin turns, and flowers are planted on both sides of the road.
If you need to take a nine-turn effect, you must stand on Leavenworth Street, which is low in terrain.
Chinese people can drive in the western United States where San Francisco is located with a translated driver's license. If you can drive in San Francisco, you might as well go and experience the feeling of driving through Lombard Street yourself.
Such a rich street. Just bursting with history. Lombard street must be a wonderful place to live on. The trees are so GREEN and the streets are so clean. It makes the living area so good you wouldn't want to leave. The hills in Dan Francisco amaze me as well, so many movies shot here. Like Miss Doubt fire and many more. Warner Bros is so lucky!!
No.
7
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San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
4.6
/5
120 reviews
6.9
From £22.22
Based on 2,116 reviews
South of Market | 2 km from downtown
Phone +14153574000
Address: 151 3rd St, San Francisco, CA 94103, United States
Recommended sightseeing time: 2-3 hours
Highlights:
Michelin-starred chef & global cuisine
City view & green wall
Saved by 125 users107 positive reviews
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Located in downtown, this museum has a modern decoration style. It has famous paintings by Picasso and other masters, as well as iconic works by Yayoi Kusama. The fifth floor (I think) is about homosexual photography, which fits the tone of San Francisco. There is an American coffee shop where you can rest and have lunch when you are tired at noon. It is worth going.
Explore the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) 🎨✨, where cutting-edge art and creativity come to life! From iconic works to thought-provoking exhibits, it’s a must-visit for art lovers. 🖼️❤️ Immerse yourself in the heart of modern art and culture.#SFMOMA #ModernArt #SanFrancisco #ArtLovers #MuseumVisit #ContemporaryArt
No.
8
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Big Bus Tours San Francisco
4.9
/5
29 reviews
6.9
From £38.99
Fisherman's Wharf | 3.7 km from downtown
Address: 99 Jefferson St, San Francisco, CA 94133, United States
Recommended sightseeing time: 2 hours
Highlights:
Visit Golden Gate Bridge & landmarks
360° view of SF landmarks
Verified user reviews
Very convenient, just verify the QR code on the bus, much cheaper than buying on site. The route is also better, arrange the itinerary, and then start to appreciate the beauty of San Francisco!
It's really cold at night. You must wear more clothes, especially on the second floor of the bus. It's really cold. It's nice to sit on the second floor during the day to see the scenery. You must get off the big bus app. Sometimes the bus doesn't go according to the stops.
No.
9
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Palace of Fine Arts
4.7
/5
697 reviews
6.7
Based on 4,525 reviews
Marina District | 4 km from downtown
Phone +14156082220
Address: 3601 Lyon St, San Francisco, CA 94123, United States
Recommended sightseeing time: 1.5-2 hours
Featured in 2025 Americas 50 – Night Attractions
Highlights:
Photographers' paradise: red stone pillars
Historic landmark built in 1915
Saved by 208 users275 positive reviews
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Although the overall area is not very large, the picturesque scenery is very interesting. The whole is the style of ancient Roman ruins. It is built for the World's Expo. The later renovation and use continue to this day. In addition to Roman architecture, the Roman column can be seen, and there is also a fountain pool, many beautiful flowers and green plants, and the faces of tourists from all over the world. Suitable for taking pictures and punching in, there are scenes everywhere
An architectural marvel and a timeless gem, the Palace of Fine Arts offers a stunning blend of history, culture, and serene beauty. A must-visit for anyone exploring San Francisco!
No.
10
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CA-1
4.9
/5
498 reviews
6.7
Based on 1,682 reviews
>100 km from downtown
Address: California, USA
Recommended sightseeing time: 2-4 days
Featured in 2025 Americas 50 – Night Attractions
Highlights:
Parking & scenic views available
Unique purple beach in the world
Saved by 114 users139 positive reviews
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The essence section is the section from San Francisco to Los Angeles, and it must be opened from San Francisco to Los Angeles, because the road on the right is facing the sea, this direction is open, and the scenery is beautiful. It is really the most beautiful road. We drove for 3 days, the first day from San Francisco to Monterey, the second day to Pismo Beach, the third day to Los Angeles, all the way to stop, while walking, playing, the sea view is invincible, a lot of flowers that have not been seen in China, really beautiful. The main attractions passing by are Half Moon Bay, Dove Point Lighthouse, Monterey Town, Carmel Town, 17 Mile Bay, Big Sur McVeigh Falls, Bixby River Bridge, Elephant Seal Beach, Pismo Beach, Solvan Danish Town, Santa Barbara, Santa Monica Beach, etc.
Highway 1 in California, USA, connects San Francisco and Los Angeles from north to south. It winds along the west coast of the United States from San Diego in the south to Leggett in the northernmost part of California, where it joins Highway 101. It is over 1,000 kilometers long. On one side is the vast sea and sky and the waves crashing on the shore, with sails dotted and gray whales cruising; on the other side are steep cliffs and mountains, lush pastures, herds of cattle and horses, and the beauty is breathtaking. This road is known as the most beautiful road in the world and was also rated as one of the 50 places you must visit in your life by the National Geographic Magazine of the United States.
If Highway 1 is divided into three sections, we just walked the middle section, San Francisco-Los Angeles, a total of more than 800 kilometers.
First day check-in attractions: Stanford University, Monterey Pier, 17 Mile, Purple Sand Beach, Bixby Bridge, Elephant Seal Beach.
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