All citiesSan Francisco Things to do and walking itinerary
United States San Francisco travel guide
31 things to do in San Francisco, where to stay, airport transfers, 4 MICHELIN-starred restaurants. Pick places on the map and get a day-by-day walking route from your hotel with steps, kilometres and minutes.
Top things to do in San Francisco
- Ferry Building — Historic clock-towered ferry terminal filled with local producers; a farmers' market sets up outside on market days. (visit ≈ 60 min)
- Golden Gate Park — public park in San Francisco, California, USA (visit ≈ 45 min)
- San Francisco Museum of Modern Art — modern art museum in San Francisco, California, USA (visit ≈ 120 min)
- Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary — prison in the San Francisco Bay (visit ≈ 120 min)
- Lombard Street — thoroughfare in San Francisco, California, United States (visit ≈ 30 min)
- California Academy of Sciences — natural history museum in San Francisco (visit ≈ 120 min)
- M. H. de Young Memorial Museum — fine arts museum located in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park (visit ≈ 120 min)
- Presidio of San Francisco — place in California listed on National Register of Historic Places (visit ≈ 45 min)
- Coit Tower — observation tower (visit ≈ 40 min)
- Exploratorium — museum in San Francisco (visit ≈ 120 min)
- Asian Art Museum of San Francisco — museum in San Francisco, California (visit ≈ 120 min)
- Union Square — neighborhood in San Francisco (visit ≈ 15 min)
- Alamo Square — residential neighborhood and park in San Francisco, California, United States (visit ≈ 45 min)
- USS Pampanito — 1943 Balao-class submarine (visit ≈ 120 min)
- War Memorial Opera House — opera house in San Francisco, California, United States, home of the San Francisco Opera company (visit ≈ 20 min)
- Mission San Francisco de Asís — mission in San Francisco (visit ≈ 30 min)
- Pink Triangle Park — mini-park located in the Castro District of San Francisco, California. (visit ≈ 15 min)
- Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Assumption — church in San Francisco, California, United States (visit ≈ 35 min)
- Walk of Game — video game industry monument (visit ≈ 15 min)
- Holy Virgin Cathedral — Russian Orthodox cathedral in San Francisco (visit ≈ 35 min)
- The Walt Disney Family Museum — museum in San Francisco, California (visit ≈ 120 min)
- San Francisco Botanical Garden — botanical garden (visit ≈ 45 min)
- Sutro Tower — TV and radio antenna tower in San Francisco (visit ≈ 40 min)
- Japanese Tea Garden — historic garden in San Francisco, California, United States (visit ≈ 45 min)
- Grace Cathedral — Neo-Gothic cathedral in San Francisco (visit ≈ 35 min)
- Portsmouth Square — public park in Chinatown, San Francisco, California (visit ≈ 15 min)
- Contemporary Jewish Museum — museum in San Francisco, California (visit ≈ 120 min)
- Yerba Buena Center for the Arts — contemporary arts center in San Francisco, California (visit ≈ 120 min)
- St. Paul's Catholic Church — roman-catholic church in San Francisco, United States (visit ≈ 30 min)
- Saints Peter and Paul Church, San Francisco — church (visit ≈ 30 min)
- Fort Mason — fort in San Francisco, California, USA (visit ≈ 60 min)
2-day San Francisco walking itinerary
Starting point: Union Square. The top 8 places at a normal pace (up to ~10 km of walking a day), in this order. Change places or your hotel on the map and the route is recalculated; distances are estimates with a street allowance.
- Day 1 (≈ 8.3 km · 11,200 steps · 1 h 51 min on the way): Union Square → San Francisco Museum of Modern Art → Ferry Building → Exploratorium → Coit Tower → Lombard Street
- Day 2 (≈ 7.2 km · 9,740 steps · 1 h 36 min on the way): Alamo Square → Asian Art Museum of San Francisco
Hidden gems and overlooked spots in San Francisco
- Musée Mécanique — Wharf-side hall of century-old coin-operated automatons, fortune tellers and vintage arcade games. (visit ≈ 45 min)
- 16th Avenue Tiled Steps — A neighbour-made mosaic stairway rising from sea to sky, with ocean views from the top. (visit ≈ 30 min)
- Lands End and Sutro Baths — Clifftop ocean trail past the ruins of the old Sutro Baths, with distant Golden Gate views. (visit ≈ 90 min)
- Conservatory of Flowers — White Victorian glasshouse in Golden Gate Park, full of tropical plants and giant water lilies. (visit ≈ 45 min)
- Jackson Square Historic District — Some of the city's oldest commercial streets, brick buildings of the old Barbary Coast that survived 1906. (visit ≈ 30 min)
Where to stay in San Francisco
- Union Square: Central, full of hotels, with the cable car turnaround nearby.
- North Beach: Italian cafés, bookshops and Telegraph Hill.
- Mission District: Murals, taquerias and Dolores Park.
- Hayes Valley: A small, stylish area of boutiques and restaurants.
- Fisherman’s Wharf: Harbour, sea lions and Alcatraz boats; good for families.
Getting from the airport to San Francisco
- San Francisco (SFO): BART train, no change ≈ 30 min.
- Oakland (OAK): BART airport connector, change at Coliseum ≈ 40 min.
Getting around
The centre is hilly but walkable; Muni buses, streetcars and cable cars plus BART reach everywhere. Pay with a Clipper card or your phone.
Classic places to eat
- Tadich Grill: The city’s oldest restaurant, open since 1849; try the cioppino.
- Swan Oyster Depot: Oysters and crab at the counter since 1912.
- House of Prime Rib: Prime rib carved tableside since 1949.
- Zuni Café: A classic famous for its wood-oven roast chicken.
- La Taqueria: Rice-free burritos in the Mission since 1973.
- Liguria Bakery: Making only focaccia since 1911; it can sell out early.
- Caffe Trieste: An espresso café loved by Beat writers since 1956.
- Tartine Bakery: A bakery famous for sourdough and croissants.
- Vesuvio Cafe: A bohemian bar next to City Lights bookshop since 1948.
MICHELIN-starred restaurants
Last known stars; check the MICHELIN Guide before you go.
- Quince — 3 MICHELIN stars, Californian, Italian
- Lazy Bear — 2 MICHELIN stars, Contemporary American
- Acquerello — 2 MICHELIN stars, Italian
- Birdsong — 2 MICHELIN stars, Contemporary American
Romantic views
- Twin Peaks (Sunset): The whole city and bay spread below you.
- Palace of Fine Arts (Evening): A Roman-style rotunda by a lagoon with swans.
- Crissy Field (Sunset): A flat shoreline walk towards the Golden Gate Bridge.
- Baker Beach (Sunset): The bridge’s red towers rise beyond the sand.
- Golden Gate Bridge (Afternoon): Walk across the bridge and feel the bay breeze.
Good to know before visiting San Francisco
- Fine: Carrying open alcohol in the street is banned in most cities.
- Fine: Cannabis remains illegal federally: banned in national parks, airports and across state lines.
- Fine: Declare fruit, vegetables, meat and other food at customs; undeclared items are fined.
- Warning: The drinking age is 21; bars and shops ask for ID.
- Warning: Healthcare is very expensive; get comprehensive travel medical insurance.
- Price tags exclude sales tax, which is added at the till.
Extra rules for California
- Fine: Obey fire bans outdoors during wildfire season.
- Warning: Cannabis is legal for 21+, but banned in public places and where smoking is prohibited.
- Jaywalking is only ticketed when there's immediate danger.
- Shops charge for bags; bring your own.
- Emergency: 911
- Plugs: A/B, 120V
- Tap water: Tap water is safe to drink.
- Tipping: Tipping 18–22% in restaurants is all but mandatory; $1–2 per drink at bars.
Sources: UK FCDO — Foreign travel advice: United States, U.S. Customs and Border Protection — ESTA, Wikivoyage — United States of America, T.C. Dışişleri Bakanlığı — Türk vatandaşlarının tabi olduğu vize uygulamaları · For information only; rules change, check official sources before you go. Last checked: 2026-10
San Francisco travel FAQ
- How many days do you need in San Francisco?
- The top 8 places in the centre take about 2 days at a normal pace on a walking route from your hotel. Allow 4 days for the top 19 places within walking distance.
- What are the top things to do in San Francisco?
- Highlights: Ferry Building, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary and Lombard Street. The map has 31 things to do in total.
- Where to stay in San Francisco?
- Union Square: Central, full of hotels, with the cable car turnaround nearby. Other options: North Beach, Mission District, Hayes Valley and Fisherman’s Wharf.
- How do you get from the airport to San Francisco city centre?
- San Francisco (SFO): BART train, no change ≈ 30 min. · Oakland (OAK): BART airport connector, change at Coliseum ≈ 40 min.
- How do you get around San Francisco?
- The centre is hilly but walkable; Muni buses, streetcars and cable cars plus BART reach everywhere. Pay with a Clipper card or your phone.
- Which MICHELIN-starred restaurants are in San Francisco?
- According to the last known data there are 4 starred restaurants: Quince (3 stars), Lazy Bear (2 stars), Acquerello (2 stars), Birdsong (2 stars). Check the MICHELIN Guide before you go.
- What is the emergency number in San Francisco?
- Emergency: 911.
- Do you tip in San Francisco?
- Tipping 18–22% in restaurants is all but mandatory; $1–2 per drink at bars.
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