What Shouldn’t You Miss In San Francisco? 14 Must-Do Tourist Attractions

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San Francisco receives over 23 MILLION visitors a year, so you can bet there are a ton of attractions to keep these travelers entertained! It’s a city full of diversity, beautiful monuments, gorgeous nature sites and iconic tourist attractions that you won’t find anywhere else.

If you’re ever wondering what shouldn’t you miss in San Francisco, then you’ve come to the right place. We’ve visited San Fran several times, both with our two kids and without, and we can confidently say that we have seen the best of this dynamic city.

In this guide, we share the top attractions in San Francisco that we enjoyed, plus tips on how to save money on these attractions and how to make the most of the experience.

Tourist Attractions in San Francisco Not To Miss!

Golden Gate Bridge

The striking vermillion orange golden gate is a symbol of, not just San Francisco, but California and perhaps even the USA.

This 4,200 foot suspension bridge was completed in 1937 after four years of construction. The east side offer stunning views of the city and boats in the bay area.

On the west side is the large expanses of the pacific ocean, the bridge bringing you to the vantage points of Marin County and the stunning city landscape.

There are multiple ways you can experience the Golden Gate Bridge; you can walk across it, bike across it (we recommend taking several hours and cycling all the way into Sausalito), or you can drive over it.

If you don’t have your own vehicle, you can sit on the top deck of a Hop on Hop Off bus included in the San Francisco Sightseeing Pass. Although extremely windy, I loved seeing the bridge from this high vantage point.

Be sure to experience the views of the Golden Gate Bridge from the following viewpoints:

• Baker Beach
• Battery East Vista
• Golden Gate Overlook
• North Vista Point
• Legion of Honor
• Land’s End Trail

And of course there is the nearby Golden Gate Park that’s home to the De Young Museum, California Academy of Sciences, Planetarium, Arts Museum, Japanese Tea Gardens, and Conservatory of Flowers.

Alcatraz Island

Sitting quietly overlooking the city skyline in the San Francisco bay lies a small island with a boatload of stories to spill onto the shores.

Tales of the most dangerous criminals who walked the dank, dark corridors of its bare halls pining for a life of freedom they chose to give away.

You can take a peek into some of those stories with a tour inside the cell house of this iconic prison home it the likes of The Birdman and Al Capone.

Yes, it may spook the bejesus out your kids, which is what you want so they do not turn to a life of crime!

Older kids will find this fascinating, like our 11 year old Kalyra did.

She was riveted to the audio and closely followed the stories as they were pointed out in each relevant spot in the jailhouse. Savannah is 7 and super sensitive so was a little more freaked out.

Be sure to watch the video which tells the story of Alcatraz before it was a prison for hardened criminals and after including its pivotal role in helping Native Americans retain the rights to their homelands.

Alcatraz is a very popular attraction, so book your tickets online in advance here. You can check out various package tours that include Alcatraz by clicking here. 

A great view of Alcatraz and Angel Island State Park is from Coit Tower on Telegraph Hill.

Video of Alcatraz Island (+private walking tour of San Francisco)

Cable Cars

Clang, clang, clang…

There is probably no more iconic sound to experience than the burgundy red cable cars navigating the city’s steep streets.

It is one of the only moving National Historic Landmarks in the USA and created in 1873 by Andrew Smith Hallidie after watching many horses being whipped while they struggled on the wet cobblestones to pull a horsecar up Jackson Street.

His better way has survived the great San Francisco earthquakes and fires and political attempts to remove it from the city streets to become an icon of the bay area and a top bucket list attraction for tourists.

There are now three cable car lines to choose from; the Powell-Mason line, the Powell-Hyde line, and the California Street line.

There is no better way to experience it than by hanging from the wooden poles off its sides in true San Francisco style.

As long as you are making smart choices, it’s really not that dangerous!

Both my girls rode the entire way from Fisherman’s Wharf to Union Square on the Powell Hyde Line hanging off the side.

I enjoyed standing behind the cable car driver for a while watching him work the lever and pedals and the bell.

When a space opened up, I joined the others to hang off the side and wave to all the people stopping to take their iconic San Francisco photo.

Alamo Square – Painted Ladies

The Painted Ladies are a series of colorful houses from the 1800s famous for their striking architecture backed by the San Francisco skyline looming behind them like a majestic modern mountain.

Arriving at Alamo Square to hundreds of people sunning on the grass, having a picnic, and staring at the Painted Ladies was one of the most bizarre things I’ve ever seen.

I couldn’t help but think how uncomfortable and awkward the residents inside must feel seeing that happen all day every day.

The Painted Ladies are a colorful stretch of 19th-Century Victorian Homes. If you’ve seen Full House, you’ve seen them in the opening shots.

But truth be known, none of them are even the Full House house!! You have to go somewhere in Pacific Heights for that. The location is no longer disclosed.

The prime time to visit Alamo Square and the Painted Ladies is during sunset golden hour, which is said to cast a glow over the colorful houses.

Dog lovers will enjoy the opposite side of the square which is filled with dogs of all shapes and sizes playing fetch with enamored owners.

Lombard Street – Drive or Walk Down

A must do in San Francisco is to explore Lombard Street, located in the Nob Hill District. This famous street in San Francisco has been touted as the “crookedest street in the world.”

However, there is a street that is actually more crooked than Lombard Street. Vermont Street isn’t as pretty, so doesn’t get the visitors, nor the acknowledged title.

Lombard’s 27 degrees was too dangerous for cars to drive down it so they added in a series of 8 hairpin turns.

It’s now filled with tourists driving, walking, and biking down to get their pretty Instagrammable photos of the quarter mile downhill stretch lined with gorgeous gardens.

You’ll also get great views of Fisherman’s Wharf and Alcatraz from the top of the street.

It’s much harder to take photos and videos when you drive down it, although it is a cool experience not to miss.

You may experience long lines waiting to go down. Photos will probably be better if you can walk it but watch out for cars.

It’s one of the San Francisco top attractions for a reason so expect a lot of people.

Ultimately, you’ll want to walk and drive Lombard Street. Fingers crossed you can get parking down the bottom once you have driven it.

There is a cable car stop right near here at the top on the Hyde-Powell line and the Hop on Hop Off Bus can drop you nearby.

Sea Lions at Pier 39

Lazing around on the wooden docks of the waterfront are the world-famous residents of Pier 39, the seals. They are one of the top things to see in San Francisco because there are usually so many, and it’s rare to find a spot where you can get up close to them – especially in an urban setting.

These adorable barking animals are ready for the many clicking tourist cameras. Some may even wrestle or splash about for you. Most will just sunbathe and lie on top of each other.

Fisherman’s Wharf Amusements

If you’re looking for other things to do in Fisherman’s Wharf, Pier 39 is a retail, dining, and attraction space. Have a look around after checking out the sea lions.

It’s definitely not one of my favorite places to go in San Francisco to hang out being that old style kitschy tourist stuff.

But we did Magowan’s Infinite Mirror Maze, which was actually quite a lot of fun and very quick. It’s included in the sightseeing Pass, so we thought why not?

We also did the 7D Flyer, which was included in our Sightseeing Pass. If you’ve done theses flyovers before, you know what to expect and will like it.

It had a goofy story attached and the visuals were pretty good. I didn’t find it as good as ones I had done previously, like Soaring at Disneyland and the Flyover America in the Mall of America.

We also did the 7D experience included in the Sightseeing Pass. This was one of those simulated shoot them up kinda thing. We were fighting against scary clowns. The girls loved it. It was fun but I wouldn’t have paid to do it outside of the City Sightseeing Pass inclusion.

And Museum of 3D Illusions. Although expensive, we did have fun here posing with the murals created by artists from around the world. Instagrammers will love it.

We also enjoyed Madame Tussauds as it was on our Sightseeing Pass. This was worth it though. I loved how it told the San Francisco story and who doesn’t want to jam with Joplin and Hendrix.

We also experienced the San Francisco Dungeon, which is also on the Sightseeing Pass. It is recommended for age 10 and above, so 11 year old Kalyra and I went as Savannah was too young. She absolutely loved it.

There is a drop ride at the end of it, which if you have done a drop ride before you’ll find to be quite lame. It’s small and lasts a couple of seconds. Keeping it real for you.

Eat Clam Chowder at Fisherman’s Wharf

A bowl of delicious creamy clam chowder soup in a sourdough bread bowl is a San Francisco highlight.

I remember it being one of my favorite activities to do in San Francisco when I first visited in 2006. Now I avoid gluten and my body no longer believes it to be an exquisite experience.

There are several hawker type stands set up in Fisherman’s Wharf which sells clam chowder bowls to the lines of tourists, as well as the famous Dungeness Crabs.

But, the most popular and original is Boudins Bakery & Cafe, which now has a massive storefront and café in Fisherman’s Wharf.

For a more elegant seafood dining experience head to Scoma’s Restaurant, which specializes in pier to plate seafood on the wharf.

Chocolates & Wine at Ghirardelli Square

Ghirardelli Square was my favorite part of the Fisherman’s Wharf area.

With the refurbished brick it felt more modern and tasteful. There are other shops and restaurants here, including the San Francisco Brewing Co which is a good spot to taste some local craft brew or pub food.

What makes it one of the top attractions in San Francisco is Ghirardelli Chocolates, a brand that is recognized worldwide.

Want my insider secret? Well, after you’ve sampled the Ghirardelli Chocolate, head over to The Cheese School on the opposite side of Ghirardelli Square. Get a cheese board and a glass of wine and enjoy the views of the bay.

You’ve been walking around all day so you’ve earned that wine! The kids should be happy enough with their chocolate indulging to let you indulge with your feet up and a nice view.

Across the street is the cable car turnaround and Buena Vista. Grabbing an Irish Coffee here is also meant to be one of the top San Francisco attractions. We didn’t do that so can’t comment too much except to say, why not? I love Irish coffees!

Read More: San Francisco in a Day: A solo Mother’s Relaxed Adventures

Go Car

This is an ultra-cool way to do a San Francisco city tour for the adventurous, as well as a great way to zip around the city and visit the main San Francisco tourist attractions.

We only drove a GoCar for one hour, as that was all that was included on the Sightseeing Pass. Had I known how cool it was going to be, I would have upgraded for longer.

And we set off from downtown San Francisco at the wrong time of the day too – peak hour, so didn’t really get to do and see much.

We drove around the city center and then down along the Embarcadero and Fisherman’s Wharf before returning – I can’t tell you how much fun it was to sit beside my girls low to the ground in San Francisco traffic.

You can hire GoCars for full days which will get you around most of the city.

Hop On Hop Off Bus

Generally, I like doing these hop-on-hop-off buses as it gives you a good overview of the city and allows you to see some cool places you may wish to return to.

I also like how it helps you save on transportation fees as they typically take you to the most iconic San Francisco points of interest.

They are usually included in the Sightseeing Pass, which is also why we jump on these buses!

However, I wasn’t as impressed with the Big Bus in San Fran as I have been with the hop on hop off buses in other major cities.

It was running late at the start of the day and we were waiting over 40 minutes and it should be only 20 minutes max. And for some reason we were on a bus without any commentary.

You are meant to have commentary, which is a reason I love getting on these buses as I love hearing the local stories and history.

They didn’t even tell us why. It wasn’t until I asked about it twice and why it wasn’t working that they mentioned this one didn’t have it for some reason. So we missed out.

San Francisco Zoo

This 100-acre zoo is home to more than 2000 animals, including rare and endangered species.

What’s special about SF Zoo is it has Penguin Island, the largest colony of Magellanic penguins outside of the wild, and the largest lemur habitat in the country (Lemur Forest).

It also has a petting zoo, and kids will love riding the historic Dentzel Carousel and Little Puffer steam train, a century-old steam train.

San Francisco Museum of Modern Art

The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art is the largest modern art museum in the United States, and is the place to go if you’re a fan of contemporary art.

It has a collection of more than 50,000 pieces, and always has a new exhibit on, ensuring every visit is different to the last.

Some of the most renowned pieces in the museum are Infinite Love by Yayoi Kusama, Forever Free by Sargent Johnson and Femme au chapeau (Woman with a Hat) by Henri Matisse.

San Francisco Botanical Garden

The SF Botanical Garden, located in Golden Gate Park, has more than 8,000 species of plants set in an area encompassing 55 beautiful acres.

It also has a beautiful Japanese Tea Garden, which is a serene place to sip on a cup of green tea and admire the foliage from around the world.

Walt Disney Family Museum

The Walt Disney Family Museum is a small but enjoyable museum that everyone in the family will love!

It’s dedicated to the life, perseverance and imagination of Walt Disney, creator of Mickey Mouse.

The museum features gallery and exhibits that showcase his early cartoon drawing,s movies, and models of Disneyland.

I especially enjoyed hearing about his ‘failures’ and determinations to succeed and sitting on the park bench that helped plant the Disneyland seed.

It’s worth a visit to learn more about Mickey Mouse and even try your hand at drawing him. I was impressed with the girl’s efforts.

How To Save on San Francisco Attractions

For a lot of these attractions in San Francisco, it’s free to see them, but most of them are paid attractions.

I don’t need to tell you that when visiting a city as a family, paying for four people for every attraction adds up, and before you know it, you’ve spent $500 on tickets and only kept the kids entertained for three days.

That’s why I always get a Sightseeing Pass when I go to a major city.

These attraction passes can save you loads of money on attractions and tour fees, especially for families.

There are several different companies that provide these attraction passes, but our favorite is the Sightseeing Pass, which we’ve used before in New York, Las Vegas, Los Angeles and New Orleans. They also have a USA pass if you intend on visiting several US cities in a 30 day period.

We work in partnership with them, but are under no obligation to recommend them as our preferred sightseeing pass. We recommend them because we like them.

I love how they go beyond the traditional San Francisco tourist spots and have quite a few local experiences and unique tours as well.

They also offer things like discounts on shopping and food, and they are super flexible and give you options on either selecting a few attractions to cover on the pass, or multi day passes.

So, if you want to see the main San Francisco sights plus save on food and transport, this is a pretty good deal!

For the San Francisco Sightseeing Pass, we received $30 for each pass at Burger Bar – a very expensive burger place in Macy’s at Union Square. It covered our meal for the evening which was a bonus I really enjoyed.

We also could have got a free ice cream for two of us (buy one get one free) but we ran out of time to get to the ice cream place (poor planning!)

We had the 5 Day San Francisco Pass and did a really good job of experiencing a lot on the pass so it saved us a lot of money.

• 1 Day Pass is $99 adult, $94 child
• 3 Day Pass is $144 for an adult and $129 for a child
• And 5 Day Attraction Pass costs $209 adult and $164 for a child

Some other tours and attractions also included in the city Sightseeing Pass that I have not mentioned already and I think are a fantastic addition include:

• Walking Tours in San Francisco, including a haunted after dark tour.
• Bike rentals and bike tours
• Aquarium of the Bay

San Francisco Top Attractions Map

Final Thoughts

So there you have it, these are the most iconic experiences every traveler needs to do when they visit San Francisco.

Some of these attractions feel so touristy and it’s not typically what we want to experience when visiting a destination, but these attractions are popular for a reason and perhaps what you are looking for.

We enjoyed these San Francisco landmarks and we LOVED combining them with more local type experiences. You can combine these iconic attractions with some hidden gems mentioned in our guide to San Francisco hidden gems!

Video: Top attractions in San Francisco with Kids

Click play to watch the fun we had visiting these attractions in San Francisco. You’ll love the Museum of 3D Illusions!

More California Travel Tips

Looking for more California travel tips? Start with these posts:

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