For a total circumference of 7x7 miles, San Francisco sure has a lot packed into it! From exhilarating hikes, to thought-provoking art, an unparalleled underground music scene, and iconic city artifacts of a vibrant history, there's truly something for everyone here. Check out our list to get a few ideas of where to start with the unlimited plethora of activities just waiting for you beyond our fog.
Downtown|For Couples|Near The Airport| By Yourself|With Family
Downtown is a fabulous area in the city for luxurious shopping, fine dining, and even tranquil nature escapes! Here's a few ideas to get you started in this chic metropolitan hotspot.
865 Market St / (415) 512-6776 / Website
If you're shopping downtown, you simply cannot miss the Westfield. Not only does this multi-level mall with a must-see spiral escalator host all of the best designer names, but it also has a public sky terrace and periodic community events! Definitely grab a snack from their expansive food court (we recommend the creamy KB Bake cheese tarts) and enjoy it up on the rooftop (the fun adventure is finding the right elevators).
445 Geary St / (415) 358-1220 / Website
San Francisco boasts the most talented and awe-inspiring live theatre performances, which you can catch in the grand Curran theatre just off of Union Square. Be sure to get tickets early to a show that entices you most to secure the perfect view.
151 3rd St / (415) 357-4000 / Website
The SFMOMA may take a day to see everything overflowing from its several floors, but it will be an edifying experience that's totally worth it! Whether you come for their newest top-floor exhibitions or to observe all of the gallery mainstays on all the other floors and outdoor patios, you will definitely leave with a greater appreciation for our fine art curation unseen anywhere else.
20 Yerba Buena Ln / (415) 744-5000 / Website
Need a refreshment after all of that luxury shopping and museum hopping? Head to the Press Club's chic underground bar for a posh libation within the most sleek and trendy hidden cove. Located right between both the mall and the SFMOMA, this is the premier spot to impress friends, a date, or even just yourself as you take them down to this ritzy exclusive speakeasy-like lounge for affordable drinks and great music.
750 Howard St / (415) 651-3684 / Website
Sitting serenely in the middle of all of downtown's high rises, Yerba Buena Park offers a bounty of gorgeously artistic and picturesque features to explore. Take a breather from all of the downtown bustle and enjoy the peaceful nature here, along with its magnificent waterfall, Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, Center for the Arts, summer concert series, and more.
San Francisco loves romance! Whether it's a first date or for longtime couples, these following activities are timeless and provide endless excitement and fun all around our diverse neighborhoods.
50 Stow Lake Dr / (415) 386-2531 / Website
A walk around the lengthy expanse of Golden Gate Park is an ideal date idea, made even better with a couple's paddleboat out on the park's pleasantly placid Stow Lake! With low prices on both their paddle and pedal boats, this is the perfect activity for couples who want to be out in nature doing something other than walking or biking around.
554 Fillmore St / (415) 752-1967 / Website
The Church of 8 Wheels is an unmissable San Francisco institution, and you'll understand why once you step into their neon converted church venue! With an outer ring for beginners and an inner zone for the more skillful trick performers, you will truly feel no pressure here no matter what skating level you are. There's incredibly fun music, beautiful decor, and even thorough lessons if needed.
616 Divisadero St / (773) 697-7922 / Website
For the sporty and competitive couples, Emporium makes for a brilliant date night if you're looking for some interactive, but casual nightlife. Located just off of the Painted Ladies, this converted former ballroom is a multi-level arcade with restored vintage games, several pool and air hockey tables, and even spectacular live performances, not to mention the creatively refreshing cocktails!
431 Beach St / (415) 441-5695 / Website
A GoCare is a distinct mini yellow vehicle that efficiently takes two people seated together around all of the main attractions of San Francisco, sounds thrilling doesn't it? There's nothing wronog with indulging in being a tourist, especially when it zooms you around in a charmingly cute car! For a little more adventure, try it down our scenic, yet curvy Lombard Street.
Dolores St &, 19th St / (415) 831-2700 / Website
Mission's Dolores Park is a judgment-free haven for the chillest vibes, endless views of downtown, and an overall warm feeling of community. Lay down a blanket for a delightfully relaxing picnic surrounded by the most vibrant locals also hanging out, and bonus points if you can snag a scenic space in the coveted uppermost corner of the lush park.
Just got off the airport and looking for nearby places to check out? The surrounding Peninsula area is brimming with authentic cultural food, picturesque downtowns, and historic tourist spots to properly welcome you into our vibrant Bay Area.
1150 El Camino Real, San Bruno / (650) 873-2000 / Website
Need a place to shop around the San Francisco airport? Head to the Shops at Tanforan, a mall in San Bruno that is adored for having a wide range of stores.
California Dr to El Camino Real/ Website
Just a short ride south of the airport is the delightful city of Burlingame, and its downtown is a curated wonderland of the cutest boutique shops, luxurious restaurants, and intriguing local art. We recommend checking out their busting weekend farmer's markets, as well as their deliciously irresistable Copenhagen Bakery for handmade authentic Scandinavian sweet treats.
111 Anza Blvd, Burlingame / Website
Robert E. Woolley State Park offers free parking and a highly Instagrammable coastline view just off of the airport. If you need a nature escape, this is a fantastic taste of the many similar bayland parks all bordering our tranquil Bay.
1590 Old Bayshore Hwy, Burlingame / (650) 697-1288 / Website
The Bay Area is home to some of the most scrumptious dim sum and Chinese cuisine, and at HL Peninsula Pearl you can pair their refined service and cokking with a glorious view of both the Bay and of planes gracefully taking off.
865 Burlway Rd, Burlingame / (650) 347-2122 / Website
Blurb. Address/Website/Phone Number The brimming It's It ice cream sandwich is quintessentially Bay Area, and its factory store is perfectly placed right off of the airport. Stop in for a luscious taste of history and experience the culinary ingenuity of the Bay right through this storied handheld treat.
There's absolutely no trepidation or judgment in wanting to explore the city by yourself, and in fact there are several activities and sites especially catered for a self-care solo trip.
Clarion Alley / Website
Have a solo date with art and familiarize yourself with the grassroots mural scene of the Mission District at the tucked away Clarion Alley and Balmy Alley. These decorated streets are community-created and empower marginalized voices and stories through impactful and educational vibrant murals. Take some time to slowly walk down and be captivated by each and every striking masterpiece.
See also: Balmy Alley is Mission District's Popular And Historically Significant Mural Spot
1 Ferry Building / (415) 983-8000 / Website
For a solo shopping trip without anyone to bother or stop you, the Ferry Building Marketplace is a magical bazaar that will truly make you feel like a movie main character. Whether it be the enticing stalls of rich Humphry Slocombe ice cream, stylish Heath Ceramics, or divine Tsar Nicoulai Caviar, you won't be able to resist treating yourself in this expansive retail and foodie wonderland.
255 Columbus Ave / (415) 362-3370 / Website
North Beach is a rich neighborhood best known for cultivating much of San Francisco's counterculture and Beat movements, defined by its critical, poetic, and existential artistry. Vesuvio Cafe and City Lights Bookstore were the original sites that stimulated the ideas and works from Beat luminaries Allen Ginsberg and Jack Kerouac, and you can feel the same inspiration and magic they did at Vesuvio's. This is a longstanding community favorite with ecclectic decor, cheap drinks, and an intimate second floor that overlooks the dazzling Columbus Avenue.
Candlestick Park State Recreation Area to Land’s End / Website
The SF Crosstown Trail is not for the faint of heart, and is specifically for those active thrill-seekers, as this is a city hike that covers 17 miles! Starting at the southwestern end at Candlestick Park, this trail winds through the city past Twin Peaks and into Golden Gate Park before eventually ending at Lands End with a breathtaking ocean view. Be sure to bring some water and comfy shoes!
1233 17th St / (415) 626-4455 / Website
Who says you can't enjoy a concert alone? At the historically iconic Bottom of the Hill, you can guarantee a casual, no-frills, and judgment-free live music atmosphere that showcases the most talented underground and rising artists. With an affordable show almost every night, you are sure to have a charmingly memorable time, and maybe even make new friends or meet the musicians themselves!
These following city activities inclusively cater to families of all different types and interests, and are sure to be thrillingly engaging for all ages.
199 Museum Way / (415) 554-9600 / Website
The Randall Museum us located at Corona Heights Park and is an incredible interactive museum for children, complete with interactive exhibits, live animals, and a marvelous art garden. This is the perfect fun and educational stop when also reaching the mountain's easy summit, as we guarantee both you and your kids will be impressed by the live animals.
2200A Market St / (415) 872-5310 / Website
From 2 to 6 PM every Saturday, the Castro's colorful Detour arcade bar is open for all ages, and is a highly enjoyable tucked-away space that is brimming with cheap games. There's even classic anime and kid's movies playing on all of their screens, as well as delicious Asian snacks and a large screen to battle others on in Mario Kart or Super Smash Bros!
1004 Point Lobos Ave / (415) 426-5240 / Website
Blurb. Address/Website/Phone Number For the active families, taking them to explore all around the ruins of the former Sutro Baths near Ocean Beach is an eye-opening way to have them experience an important part of our impressive history. What was once a globally-sought after bathhouse now remains as towering pillars and eroded structures that provide a glimpse of our Victorian opulence. Don't miss the nearby cave as well!
See also:
900 North Point St Ste F301 / (415) 447-2846 / Website
For the family that can't resist their sweet tooth, your kids definitely won't complain when you take them out for seaside sundaes from San Francisco's most masterful chocolatiers! We won't tell them it's a treat for the parents as well...
Pier 15 / (415) 528-4444 / Website
San Francisco truly uplifts its science and genuinely loves to inspire the next generation, and the Exploratorium on the Embarcadero is a leading example of this. Parents and children alike will love interacting with all of the engaging and enlightening exhibits here in this massive museum that educates on every corner of science in a playfully approachable way, from physics, to chemistry, psychology, and more.
No matter what you're looking for in the city, we've got you covered!
See also: The 49 Best San Francisco Bars You Need To Visit In 2022
Photography by: Andrew Whitmore/Unsplash
Yerba Buena Gardens and downtown city skyline of San Francisco- tifonimages
Stow Lake- San Francisco Chronicle/Hearst Newspapers via Getty Images / Contributor
Burlingame Main Street- pikappa/Getty Images
Clarion Alley GETTY San Francisco Chronicle/Hearst Newspapers via Getty Images / Contributor
Sutro Bath Sunsets- Ephraim Lem/Getty Images
