Top 10 Things To Do in San Francisco
It’s not easy coming up with just 10 things to see in San Francisco given the wealth of iconic structures and fun neighborhoods to explore in the City By The Bay. However, we have gathered information from our customers over the past few months and asked them what their favorite spots are to visit. As a result, we created this list of what our customers felt are the Top 10 Things To Do in San Francisco in 2026.
Golden Gate Bridge
The Golden Gate Bridge is San Francisco’s most famous landmark. Built in 1937, linking San Francisco to Sausalito, the Golden Gate bridge is 1.7 miles long and a San Francisco attraction not to be missed.
You can catch our Hop On Hop Off tour across the bridge, with incredible views from the Open-Top bus. Rated one of the best things to do in San Francisco by our customers, you may stay on the bus, or Hop Off at the south side of the bridge, and walk over to catch a later bus on the north side at Vista Point. Also very popular is to ride a bike across the bridge, or to take a Boat Tour (Bay Cruise), which passes under the bridge.
Chinatown
San Francisco has the largest Chinatown outside Asia. This fascinating area covers around 30 city blocks in central San Francisco. It's a great place just to wander around for a few hours. Don’t miss the Fortune Cookie Factory, the markets on Stockton St, and dozens of great restaurants.
Chinatown is located very centrally in San Francisco. It's a short walk from Union Square or Fisherman’s Wharf. Stockton St is the most authentic street, and Grant Avenue has the most shops. The area is very safe, so check out all of the cross streets and interesting alleys. Daytime is the best, as there is very little activity here in the evening.
Alcatraz Island
Alcatraz Island was home to the most famous prison in the world, and today is San Francisco’s most popular tourist attraction. The Island is located 1 mile off the San Francisco waterfront, in the middle of San Francisco Bay.
Prison tours are available daily and include an award-winning audio tour of the prison cell-block. Tickets sell out very early, especially in the summer or holidays. Skyline Sightseeing offers a popular package of a tour to Alcatraz, combined with our 2-Day Hop-On Hop-Off bus tour of San Francisco.
North Beach
San Francisco’s Italian District is home to many of the best restaurants in the city, as well as excellent coffee shops and shopping. Located centrally in San Francisco, it's a short walk from the Financial District, Fisherman’s Wharf, Coit Tower, and Chinatown.
The main street in North Beach is Columbus Avenue. It's an excellent place to go during the evening and enjoy an excellent restaurant with sidewalk seating. Just up the hill is Telegraph Hill, with Coit Tower at the top, which has some of the best views in San Francisco.
Golden Gate Park
The Golden Gate Park is an excellent place to spend a day. Golden Gate Park is 3 miles long and 1/2 mile wide, extending from the Haight Ashbury District down to Ocean Beach at the Pacific Ocean.
Attractions include the Academy of Sciences, De Young Museum, Conservatory of Flowers, Botanical Gardens, Japanese Tea Gardens, and miles of hiking and biking trails. There are lakes to rent boats, a buffalo (bison) paddock, bike and skate rentals, and much more. You can catch our Hop On Hop Off tour and easily walk to the main attractions from our designated stops.
Fisherman’s Wharf
Fisherman’s Wharf is the most popular area in San Francisco for visitors. It has a reputation for being very touristy, so expect large crowds, especially during the summer.
The area spans from Ghirardelli Square on the west, to Pier 39 on the east, and includes The Cannery, San Francisco Wax Museum, Ripley's Believe it or Not, Hyde St Pier Maritime Museum, Aquarium of the Bay, Boudin Bakery Museum, and much more. Enjoy the world-famous Dungeness Crab at one of the many outdoor food stands.
Pier 39
Pier 39 is a bustling waterfront complex that offers some of the best entertainment, dining, and views in the city. It is officially the 3rd most visited place in the country!
Famous for its resident population of noisy, playful California sea lions that bask on the wooden K-Dock, Pier 39 is a massive hit with families and wildlife enthusiasts alike. Beyond the sea lions, you can enjoy fresh seafood, explore two levels of unique shops, ride the beautiful San Francisco Carousel, or just take in the incredible bay views of Alcatraz and the Golden Gate Bridge.
Marina District & Palace of Fine Arts
Today, the Marina District is one of the most desirable areas to live in San Francisco, with its bay setting, central location, nightlife, and abundance of shops and restaurants on Chestnut Street.
The Marina District is also home to The Palace of Fine Arts. Built for the 1915 World's Fair (Panama-Pacific International Exposition), it celebrated both the opening of the Panama Canal and the rebirth of San Francisco following the great disaster of 1906. This is a popular place for wedding photos and was famously featured in the movie “The Rock”.
Union Square
Union Square is San Francisco’s premiere shopping and hotel district. This plaza received its name from the American Civil War (1861 to 1865), when the city saw daily rallies in support of the Union Army.
The 95-foot high column in the center of the square is the Dewey Monument. It was modeled after a young artist’s model, Alma de Bretteville, who eventually married Adolf Spreckels, one of San Francisco’s richest citizens. The square remains the bustling retail heart of the city today.
Ferry Building
The iconic Ferry Building was built in 1896. It survived the 1906 earthquake but was severely damaged. Notice that the clock face on the right side of the clock tower is partially visible—the earthquake turned it clockwise a few degrees!
Today, the Ferry Building not only acts as a working transit terminal for Bay ferries, but it is also home to an artisanal marketplace featuring some of the best local restaurants, cafes, and shops. Don't miss the famed farmers market held on Saturdays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays.