Top San Francisco Arts & Design

Take a journey around San Francisco's top sights in a retro way with this small-group tour by vintage Volkswagen bus, decorated with long eyelashes so you can't miss your tour vehicle. You'll pass by neighborhoods like Chinatown, Union Square, Pacific Heights, North Beach, Haight-Ashbury, the Marina, and Hayes Valley, plus see the Palace of Fine Arts, Golden Gate Bridge, Golden Gate Park, Civic Center, and more.

See paintings, sculptures, photography, and more from the world’s top modern and contemporary artists at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, located near Union Square. This general admission ticket grants access to all seven floors featuring more than 30,000 pieces, the largest living wall in the US, outdoor gardens, and six terraces. Recharge at onsite restaurants or browse the gift shop during your visit.

See San Francisco’s most famous waterfront landmarks from the water on a bay cruise that combines iconic views with onboard flexibility. Sail beneath the Golden Gate Bridge, pass Alcatraz Island, and take in panoramic views of the city skyline while listening to stories and insights through an app-based audio guide. With skip-the-line boarding and indoor and outdoor viewing areas, it’s an easy way to experience the bay from a different perspective.

Enjoy easy skip-the-line access to the California Academy of Sciences with this pre-paid ticket. Walk right in to explore the museum's 4-story rainforest, planetarium, and aquarium, plus the new Tiny Chef, Big Impact exhibit celebrating small actions for the planet.

Go beyond the movies and gain a deeper understanding of the man behind some of the world’s most beloved animated characters at The Walt Disney Family Museum. Located in San Francisco’s historic Presidio, the museum brings Walt Disney’s life and creative legacy into focus through early cartoons, films, personal stories, and recordings in his own voice. Before you leave, take in sweeping views of San Francisco Bay from the museum’s glass-walled galleries.

Explore one of California's most iconic settings from the beauty of San Francisco Bay. This narrated Golden Gate Bay cruise journeys alongside Alcatraz and Angel Island State Park, past the shores of Sausalito and beneath the Golden Gate Bridge. You can choose to view the sights from inside your boat or out on deck.

Ensure a smooth visit to San Francisco’s Exploratorium by pre-booking your admission ticket. Pass by ticket lines and spend more time engaging your senses and delve into a world of discovery through hundreds of interactive exhibits for the whole family. Explore the amazing realms of physics, anatomy, human perception, and Earth’s ecosystems through inquiry-based displays that delight and inform visitors of all ages.

Check out the Painted Ladies on this private tour in San Francisco. These popular homes aren’t open all the time, so grab your chance to view them on this tour. Your guide will tell you all about the history of the interiors and the families who lived inside the homes. Tour for around an hour, and then you are free to continue exploring San Francisco.

Beyond the tie-dye and neon, the Haight-Ashbury is a masterpiece of redwood and revolution. This 2.5-hour tour reveals the neighborhood’s true soul through three lenses: its world-class Victorian architecture, a six-decade legacy of street art, and the raw history of the 1960s counterculture—minus the nostalgia. We’ll explore grand Victorian estates that rival the famous Painted Ladies, uncovering why these communal spaces became the literal infrastructure for a social uprising. You’ll walk past musicians' homes and iconic murals—including the city’s oldest—to see how a "rejection" of the status quo birthed a new aesthetic in art and sound. From the highs of the "Free" philosophy to the darker realities of the era’s decline, this is an insider’s look at how one neighborhood’s built environment fueled a global shift. Perfect for those seeking the wider story behind the legendary addresses.

Discover the art, architecture, and history of downtown San Francisco on this small-group guided walking tour. Skip hours of research and let a guide show you around the central business district, highlight architectural gems such as the London Paris National Bank and JP Morgan Chase, along with public art and public spaces such as Salesforce Park.

Explore Alcatraz Island like never before with this exclusive package that includes official admission and round-trip ferry tickets. Accompanied by a unique companion audio guide, your journey unfolds with captivating narratives about the island’s history, hidden gardens, and powerful stories of resistance. From the moment you board the ferry at Pier 33 to your return, enjoy immersive storytelling that enhances the official Cellhouse audio tour. This experience reveals insights often missed, providing a deeper understanding of transformation within this historic site. At checkout, you can select the Alcatraz Night Tour option, which includes evening ferry service, guided introductions by park rangers, and access to areas not open during the day. With fewer visitors and special programs, the night tour offers a more intimate and immersive experience of the island. Night option is not available Sundays and Mondays. This is a self-guided tour with an exclusive audio companion guide.

“There is nothing like this anywhere!“ Step into San Francisco's Ultimate Weird House, dubbed "the most unusual house in the city, if not the universe" by the San Francisco Chronicle. Embark on a psychedelic odyssey through nine curious installations, where Alice in Wonderland meets 1001 Arabian Nights in a whirlwind of art and imagination. This "connectatorium," offers a globetrotting, time-traveling journey of self-discovery unlike any other experience in the city. Expect an adventure filled with sensory overload and surprises behind every magical door. Are you ready to look inside?

Experience Alcatraz from the water while uncovering the stories that made “The Rock” one of America’s most infamous prisons. Rather than simply viewing the island from afar, hear firsthand accounts from former guards and inmates through a smartphone audio guide as you cruise around Alcatraz. Along the way, enjoy views of San Francisco Bay landmarks, including the Golden Gate Bridge, with skip-the-line boarding for a seamless experience.

The American Bookbinders Museum in San Francisco invites visitors to explore the rich history and craft of bookbinding. Open Tuesday through Saturday, this unique museum showcases hand-binding tools from the 1600s to the industrial machines of the 1800s. Engage with self-guided and audio tours, featuring interactive exhibits and hands-on activities that enhance your understanding of book creation. Discover special rotating exhibits like 'Design for a Modern Century,' reflecting the influence of Art Deco on book arts. This museum is perfect for book lovers and history enthusiasts looking to appreciate the art of bookmaking.

This is a unique tour package to visit both the Alcatraz Island and the Golden Gate Bridge! For the Alcatraz tour, you will first take a short ferry ride from Pier 33 to the Alcatraz Island, where you can walk around the Island freely at your own pace and follow a 45-minutes award-winning audio tour in multiple languages of the Alcatraz Prison Cellhouse. You can hop on to any returning ferry when you are finish touring the Alcatraz Island. For the San Francisco Bay Cruise Tour, it will start near Pier 39 where just a short walk from Pier 33 Alcatraz Landing. During this 60-minute Bay Cruise Tour, you will tour around the Alcatraz Island and under the famous Golden Gate Bridge, where you will enjoy breathtaking views of San Francisco and its bay! Tips: You can do the Bay Cruise Tour before the Alcatraz Tour, or on a different date! There are multiple departures daily and your Bay Cruise voucher is valid for any date, any departure time.

Enjoy a new way to experience one of San Francisco's premier attractions when you book after-dark tickets to the Exploratorium, available exclusively on Thursday evenings. After regular visiting hours end, the Exploratorium turns into an adults-only destination for intellectual discovery. Visitors aged 18 and older can dance, mingle, and explore while sipping on cocktails (own expense, aged 21+ only) and discovering the museum's interactive exhibitions.

See a side of San Francisco that many visitors overlook—and soak up the city’s local feel—on this small-group walking tour. Pick between morning and afternoon start times, and meet your guide in the Inner Sunset neighborhood. Over the course of 2 miles (3 kilometers), you’ll enjoy a leisurely stroll as you ascend hidden staircases, explore secret gardens, and soak up the city’s picturesque views well off the tourist track.

Discover a world of wonder and exploration with the California Academy of Sciences Ticket in San Francisco, an unforgettable experience for travelers of all ages. This all-in-one attraction brings together an aquarium, planetarium, natural history museum, and living rainforest under one innovative roof. Walk through a four-story tropical rainforest filled with butterflies and birds, come face to face with sharks and vibrant marine life, and enjoy fascinating planetarium shows that take you on a journey through space. Interactive exhibits make science fun and engaging, while the iconic living roof and location in Golden Gate Park add to the experience. Perfect for families, science lovers, and curious explorers, this ticket offers a full day of discovery, learning, and excitement. Book now and experience one of San Francisco’s most inspiring attractions.

Save time and money with the San Francisco CityPASS®, which gives you admission to your choice of four top attractions: the California Academy of Sciences and Blue & Gold Fleet San Francisco Bay Cruise, de Young Museum + Legion of honor, Aquarium of the Bay, Exploratorium, San Francisco Museum of Modern Art — SFMOMA, San Francisco Zoo & Gardens, or The Walt Disney Family Museum.

Sail across San Francisco Bay at twilight to admire the skyline as it begins to light up for the night, and enjoy a perspective on the skyline that few other visitors get to see. With an experienced captain at the helm, you’ll glide past Alcatraz Island and cruise underneath the Golden Gate Bridge. As you go, you can also enjoy one complimentary beverage to accompany your sightseeing, or purchase additional drinks from the onboard bar.

This is the official Alcatraz prison tour that gives you access ON the island and INSIDE the building cellblocks with the award-winning audio tour in multiple languages. You will get to experience all of the interesting parts of the Alcatraz Island and the stories behind. A 15 minutes ferry ride will take you from Pier 33 to the island in the middle of the San Francisco Bay, and when you are done with the Alcatraz tour, you can take any ferry back to the pier. It's definitely the one tour you don't want to miss when visiting San Francisco! What's better? This tour includes a bonus San Francisco Bay Tour - a cruise tour that takes you around the Alcatraz Island and under the famous Golden Gate Bridge in just 60 minutes! Tour starts near Pier 39 which is within walking distance from the Alcatraz Pier at Pier 33, and there are multiple departures daily so you could use it basically on any day, at any departure time! Don't miss your chance to experience the best San Francisco Bay tours!

Learn about the history and culture of the Haight Ashbury neighborhood of San Francisco with this puzzle game. Download the game onto your smartphone and use it even when you are offline. Solve clues and puzzles all over the neighborhood and learn about the history along the way. Play the game at your own pace.

Visit two of the San Francisco Bay Area’s most popular destinations without the hassle of driving, parking, or securing reservations on your own. Travel across the Golden Gate Bridge to explore the towering redwoods of Muir Woods, then spend time in Sausalito, known for its waterfront views, art galleries, and laid-back charm. Return to San Francisco by coach or choose the flexibility of a ferry ride across the bay.