Top Things to See & Do in San Francisco! (full travel guide)

47 places in this vlog

In the order they appear. Tap a time to play it here, or ↗ to open YouTube at that second.

1. 0:34

   Golden Gate Bridge

   🏢 Landmark · Presidio

   Renting bikes and cycling across is called the best way to experience it.

2. 0:46

   Fort Point

   🏛️ Historic site · Presidio · brief mention

3. 0:56

   Battery Spencer

   🏢 Landmark · Marin Headlands

   Easy to reach by bike after cycling across the bridge.

4. 1:12

   Presidio

   🌳 Park · Presidio

5. 1:15

   Presidio Tunnel Tops

   🌳 Park · Presidio · brief mention

6. 1:22

   Yoda Fountain

   🏢 Landmark · Presidio · brief mention

7. 1:28

   Palace of Fine Arts

   🏢 Landmark · Marina District

8. 1:49

   Baker Beach

   🌳 Park · Presidio

   Especially popular at sunset.

9. 2:01

   Marshall's Beach

   🌳 Park · Presidio

   Fog (nicknamed Karl) can completely hide the bridge from here.

10. 2:23

    Lands End

    🥾 Hike · Outer Richmond · brief mention

11. 2:28

    Sutro Baths

    🏛️ Historic site · Outer Richmond · brief mention

12. 2:44

    Painted Ladies

    🏢 Landmark · Alamo Square

    One of the current owners offers tours inside one of the houses.

13. 3:26

    Coit Tower

    🏢 Landmark · Telegraph Hill · brief mention

14. 3:39

    Transamerica Pyramid

    🏢 Landmark · Financial District · brief mention

    The stairways off Montgomery Street give a cool shot of the building.

15. 3:48

    Tank Hill

    🌳 Park · Clarendon Heights

    A quiet, uncrowded alternative to the more popular Twin Peaks.

16. 4:01

    Twin Peaks

    🌳 Park · Twin Peaks · brief mention

17. 4:38

    Haight-Ashbury

    🏘️ Neighborhood · Haight-Ashbury

    Former homes of the Grateful Dead, Janis Joplin and Jimi Hendrix can be spotted here.

18. 5:14

    Grateful Dead House

    🏛️ Historic site · Haight-Ashbury · brief mention

19. 5:35

    Alcatraz Island

    🏛️ Historic site · San Francisco Bay

    The night tour cost $56 per person, took about 3 hours, and includes a cell door slamming demonstration.

20. 7:01

    Chinatown

    🏘️ Neighborhood · Chinatown

    Come hungry and plan at least a few hours.

21. 7:14

    Dragon Gate

    🏢 Landmark · Chinatown · brief mention

22. 7:19

    Grant Avenue

    🛍️ Shopping · Chinatown · brief mention

23. 7:55

    Eastern Bakery

    🍴 Restaurant · Chinatown

    Steamed pork buns and custard tarts are the picks.

24. 8:05

    Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory

    🛍️ Shopping · Chinatown

    Fresh samples are offered; custom fortunes make a good gift.

25. 8:25

    Hang Ah Tea Room

    🍴 Restaurant · Chinatown

    Tasty, no-frills three-and-a-half-star experience that feels authentic.

26. 9:04

    Li Po Cocktail Lounge

    🍺 Bar · Chinatown

    Known for its Chinese mai tai, endorsed by Anthony Bourdain.

27. 9:20

    North Beach

    🏘️ Neighborhood · North Beach

    Comes alive in the early evening with live music and outdoor bistro tables.

28. 9:35

    Caffe Trieste

    ☕ Cafe · North Beach

    The latte and macchiato make for a delightful morning stop.

29. 10:01

    Washington Square

    🌳 Park · North Beach · brief mention

30. 10:10

    Vesuvio Cafe

    🍺 Bar · North Beach · brief mention

31. 10:46

    Fisherman's Wharf

    🏘️ Neighborhood · Fisherman's Wharf

    The better spots are further west, away from Pier 39.

32. 10:55

    Pier 39

    🏢 Landmark · Fisherman's Wharf

    Called beyond cheesy, but the sunbathing sea lions at the end of the pier are worth a few minutes.

33. 11:21

    Musée Mécanique

    🏛️ Museum · Fisherman's Wharf

    Free admission; most games cost 25 to 75 cents.

34. 12:09

    Boudin Bakery

    🍴 Restaurant · Fisherman's Wharf

35. 13:21

    Surisan

    🍴 Restaurant · Fisherman's Wharf

    The millionaire bacon is a must-try.

36. 13:32

    Buena Vista Cafe

    🍺 Bar · Fisherman's Wharf

    Irish coffee is made in a warmed stemmed glass over two sugar cubes with lightly whipped cream; breakfast is good too.

37. 14:54

    Powell Street Cable Car

    🚡 Activity · Union Square

    Rides are $8 or $13 for a day pass; line up early to hang off the edge.

38. 15:30

    Cable Car Museum

    🏛️ Museum · Nob Hill

    Good for a quick visit.

39. 17:01

    Ghirardelli Square

    🛍️ Shopping · Fisherman's Wharf

    Offers good views of Alcatraz from up top.

40. 17:31

    Scoma's

    🍴 Restaurant · Fisherman's Wharf

    Locals recommend it as the one restaurant to eat at in the city.

41. 18:00

    Ferry Building Marketplace

    🛒 Market · Embarcadero

    Saturday mornings add a farmers market outside.

42. 18:17

    Red Bay Coffee

    ☕ Cafe · Embarcadero · brief mention

43. 18:20

    Embarcadero

    🏢 Landmark · Embarcadero · brief mention

44. 18:46

    Napa Valley

    🚆 Day trip · Napa County

    Pricier than Sonoma; booked winery tours avoid the need to drive.

45. 19:05

    Beringer Vineyards

    🚆 Day trip · St. Helena, Napa Valley

46. 19:22

    Sonoma County

    🚆 Day trip · Sonoma County

47. 19:51

    Lombard Street

    🏢 Landmark · Russian Hill

    No line on a weekday afternoon; go early or off-peak to avoid crowds.