Visiting San Francisco for the First Time? Here’s What To See and Do

Kick off your trip by ticking off a list of San Francisco landmarks that'll help you get your bearings. Highlights across the city include Pier 39, Fisherman's Wharf, Golden Gate Park, Coit Tower, the Palace of Fine Arts, and winding Lombard Street, and there are countless ways to explore.

Multi-attraction passes are a good way to cut costs at museums and attractions, while hop-on, hop-off bus routes whisk you directly to the places you want to see. If you’re short on time—or prefer a curated experience—fully guided city tours are a worry-free option that cover key sights in a day or less.

Alcatraz Island is an unlikely place for a prison, but the site was once home to a maximum security federal penitentiary that held some of America’s most notorious criminals. Select a tour with your Alcatraz Island visit, from independent daytime excursions to visits after dark with appearances from expert historians. There’s more than criminal history on view at Alcatraz, too. In 1969, the island was occupied for 19 months by American Indians protesting for civil rights.

Insider tip: Visiting Alcatraz doubles as a boat tour of San Francisco Bay—admission tickets to the island include round-trip ferry tickets from Pier 33.

Sure, you could drive across the Golden Gate Bridge. But riding a bike—or an e-bike—across the famed landmark, which has a car-free area for cyclists and pedestrians, is even more spectacular. (And it gives you more time on one of the best SF viewpoints.)

Guided cycling tours and Golden Gate Bridge tours offer a curated experience as you pedal from San Francisco to the artsy coastal enclave of Sausalito, where brightly painted floating homes bob along a waterfront lined with galleries and boutiques. Or, you could rent an e-bike to try the adventurous journey on your own—with the option to return to the city on a scenic ferry ride.

San Francisco has long been a hub for LGBTQ+ culture—especially the Castro District that’s become a symbol for gay rights in the US. Exploring the neighborhood on an LGBTQ+ walking tour is a fascinating glimpse of activism, AIDS history, and the ongoing vibrancy of the city’s queer community.

Tours of the Castro generally include key landmarks such as Harvey Milk Plaza, the Rainbow Honor Walk, and the Castro Theatre—local guides are a great resource for tips on where to stick around after the tour for a drag show or meal.

San Francisco is a city of vibrant neighborhoods, each more delicious than the last, and a guided food tour is one of the best ways to learn where to eat in San Francisco. Head to the Mission District for guided tastings of Mexican and Latino food with a hipster twist. In the city’s historic Chinatown, foodie highlights go from classic dim sum to dumplings, noodles, and Hong Kong–style tea. For a taste of the city’s Italian heritage, book a gourmet tour of North Beach, or opt for a combo tour with tastings of both adjacent neighborhoods.

The top museums in San Francisco range from the family-friendly Exploratorium to the science- and education-focused California Academy of Sciences and the extraordinary fine art of the De Young Museum. True to the San Francisco spirit, there are also plenty of quirky alternatives, such as the Cable Car Museum and the coin-operated wonders of the Musee Mechanique.

If you want to visit more than one museum on your trip to San Francisco, consider multi-attraction city passes that can help cut on costs while exploring the city.

Insider tip: Some museums offer special evening hours that make for a unique date night.

Related: 9 of the Best Museums in San Francisco and How To Visit

Consistent, powerful waves draw expert surfers to scenic Ocean Beach—but there are plenty of San Francisco surf spots that are well suited to beginners, too. Surfing lessons at Pacifica Beach are a great way to get started, as lessons generally include all the gear you need and tips from experienced instructors. Or, cross the Golden Gate Bridge to Stinson Beach, a gorgeous, 3-mile (4.8-kilometer) swoop of white sand where warm days bring crowds for surfing, sunbathing, and volleyball games.

Sailboats, ferries, and sightseeing boats ply San Francisco Bay, a chance to trade landlocked sights for sea breezes. Bundle up for a sunset cruise by sailboat, or take a Golden Gate cruise that goes under the bright-red span of the 1933 Golden Gate Bridge. The views are spectacular after dark, too, when city lights cruises—some with onboard bars and entertainment—off the chance take in the urban constellation of San Francisco’s glittering skyline.

The 1967 “summer of love” brought flower-decked seekers to San Francisco’s Haight-Ashbury neighborhood, and you can still glimpse that bohemian spirit more than 50 years later. Exploring Haight-Ashbury on a guided tour is a great way to experience that San Francisco subculture, or you can channel the vibe in key San Francisco neighborhoods on a hippie-themed tour of the city by rainbow-hued Volkswagen bus.

Did you know?: Haight-Ashbury is best known for art, music, and culture, but it’s also a trove of historic Victorian-style houses that were untouched by the 1906 earthquake that devastated other parts of the city.

Soaring old-growth redwoods at Muir Woods, located about an hour from downtown San Francisco in neighboring Marin County, offer a haven for nature lovers. This network of easygoing hiking trails can be explored on a guided walking tour.

Select round-trip transport to save you the hassle of driving and parking—a key travel hack, since reservations are required for any vehicles entering the national monument. The journey is nearly as awe-inspiring as the destination, especially if you make the return trip to SF from Sausalito by ferry.