Things to Do in San Francisco
Top attractions, best neighborhoods to wander, and the food you shouldn't skip in San Francisco, USA — 2026 traveler picks.
Top places to see
Ferry Building + Embarcadero waterfront
Iconic clock tower + Saturday farmers market (worldwide best) + Hog Island Oyster Co + Acme Bread. Walking distance from BART Embarcadero.
Cable car ride (Powell-Hyde)
Iconic San Francisco cable cars — $8 one-way, 30 min to ride from Powell to Fisherman's Wharf. Best photo angles from Lombard Street stop.
Golden Gate Bridge + Crissy Field
World's most-photographed bridge. Free pedestrian walkway. Best photos from Crissy Field or Marshall Beach. Allow 60 min round-trip from BART.
Mission District + burrito at La Taqueria
Heart of San Francisco's Mexican-American community. La Taqueria (24th + Mission) for the city's best Mission-style burrito ($14). Walking street art tour.
Book tours + skip-the-line tickets
Compare tours + attractions in San Francisco across GetYourGuide, Tiqets and Trip.com — free cancellation on most, and prices match direct booking.
Things to do in San Francisco
Lock in a few experiences before you go — the good ones sell out.
Tours, tickets & day trips
Our pickGetYourGuide has the deepest catalogue for San Francisco and free cancellation on most experiences — book now, decide later.
Browse San FranciscoJust need timed-entry attraction tickets? Try Tiqets.Want a private driver-guide? Trip.com Private Tours in San Francisco.Eat here first
Mission burrito at La Taqueria. Dungeness crab + sourdough at Fisherman's Wharf. Cioppino at Sotto Mare in North Beach. Ferry Building oysters at Hog Island.
Local tip
SFO is 21km from downtown — BART is the fastest fast option (30 min, $11.65) and runs every 15 min. The BART station is connected to the International Terminal via SkyTrain (free, 5 min). For 4+ hour layovers: BART + Ferry Building + cable car ride is feasible.
Where to stay
Hotels across San Francisco — filter by neighborhood + budget on the map below.