24 Things to Do in San Francisco

44 places in this vlog

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

1. 0:13

   Golden Gate Bridge

   🏢 Landmark · Presidio

   Sunrise is especially rewarding, when the light rises from behind the bridge.

2. 0:28

   Battery Spencer

   🏢 Landmark · Marin Headlands · brief mention

   Named a favourite spot for viewing the bridge, with bonus points for going at sunrise.

3. 0:40

   Alcatraz Island

   🏛️ Historic site · San Francisco Bay

   Allow at least a half-day for the visit; boats run multiple times per day.

4. 1:19

   Ferry Building Marketplace

   🛒 Market · Embarcadero

   Wandering the halls with a coffee is enough for a good time.

5. 1:30

   Hog Island Oyster Co.

   🍴 Restaurant · Embarcadero · brief mention

   Named a favourite stop in the Ferry Building.

6. 1:32

   Cowgirl Creamery

   🛍️ Shopping · Embarcadero · brief mention

   Named a favourite stop in the Ferry Building.

7. 1:35

   Gott's Roadside

   🍴 Restaurant · Embarcadero · brief mention

   Named a favourite stop in the Ferry Building.

8. 1:44

   Rincon Park

   🌳 Park · Embarcadero

   A great sunrise spot, with the sun coming up behind the Bay Bridge.

9. 2:08

   Coit Tower

   🏢 Landmark · Telegraph Hill

   The top floor has views of the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz.

10. 2:40

    Powell Street Cable Car

    🚡 Activity · Union Square

    Expect a wait in line; try to get an outside spot holding onto the side.

11. 3:07

    Cable Car Museum

    🏛️ Museum · Nob Hill · brief mention

12. 3:17

    Chinatown

    🏘️ Neighborhood · Chinatown

13. 3:35

    Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory

    🛍️ Shopping · Chinatown · brief mention

    Custom fortunes are folded into a warm cookie.

14. 3:44

    Dragon Gate

    🏢 Landmark · Chinatown · brief mention

    Suggested as a stop on the way out of Chinatown.

15. 3:50

    Lombard Street

    🏢 Landmark · Russian Hill

    Driving down is slow because tourists step into the street.

16. 4:15

    Fisherman's Wharf

    🏘️ Neighborhood · Fisherman's Wharf

    Touristy but still a lot of fun.

17. 4:24

    Boudin Bakery

    🍴 Restaurant · Fisherman's Wharf · brief mention

18. 4:28

    Musée Mécanique

    🏛️ Museum · Fisherman's Wharf

    $5–10 in quarters buys 30–40 minutes of fun.

19. 4:46

    San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park

    🏛️ Historic site · Fisherman's Wharf

    Easily worth an hour or two to explore each boat.

20. 5:14

    Ghirardelli Square

    🛍️ Shopping · Fisherman's Wharf

    Visitors entering the shop get a free chocolate; the back area shows how the chocolate is made.

21. 5:44

    Palace of Fine Arts

    🏢 Landmark · Marina District

    Photograph it as the light fades, when the reflection is best.

22. 6:10

    Wave Organ

    🏢 Landmark · Marina District

    Go at high tide to hear the waves echoing through the organ.

23. 6:39

    Presidio

    🌳 Park · Presidio

    In summer, weekend picnics draw hundreds of people to the main square.

24. 7:04

    Spire

    🏢 Landmark · Presidio · brief mention

    A 3-mile hike links all four Goldsworthy works.

25. 7:04

    Earth Wall

    🏢 Landmark · Presidio · brief mention

    One of four Goldsworthy works reachable on a 3-mile hike.

26. 7:04

    Tree Fall

    🏢 Landmark · Presidio · brief mention

    Only open on weekends.

27. 7:04

    Wood Line

    🏢 Landmark · Presidio · brief mention

    One of four Goldsworthy works reachable on a 3-mile hike.

28. 7:24

    Walt Disney Family Museum

    🏛️ Museum · Presidio · brief mention

    Features a scale replica of the original Disneyland.

29. 7:36

    Painted Ladies

    🏢 Landmark · Alamo Square

    The park next to the houses is a nice place to relax.

30. 8:03

    Twin Peaks

    🌳 Park · Twin Peaks

    A quick stop that is especially easy with a rental car.

31. 8:30

    Golden Gate Park

    🌳 Park · Golden Gate Park

32. 8:45

    Dutch Windmill

    🏢 Landmark · Golden Gate Park · brief mention

33. 8:47

    Bison Paddock

    🌳 Park · Golden Gate Park · brief mention

34. 8:50

    Japanese Tea Garden

    🌳 Park · Golden Gate Park · brief mention

35. 8:54

    de Young Museum

    🏛️ Museum · Golden Gate Park · brief mention

36. 9:03

    California Academy of Sciences

    🏛️ Museum · Golden Gate Park

    In winter there are Christmas attractions, including snow falling inside the museum.

37. 9:40

    Lands End

    🥾 Hike · Outer Richmond

    Hike before sunset, then head to Sutro Baths for the sundown.

38. 9:55

    Lands End Labyrinth

    🏢 Landmark · Outer Richmond · brief mention

    Offers one of the best views of the Golden Gate Bridge.

39. 10:01

    Mile Rock Beach

    🌳 Park · Outer Richmond · brief mention

    A good place to hang out on the sand after visiting the labyrinth.

40. 10:15

    Sutro Baths

    🏛️ Historic site · Outer Richmond

    Little remains besides the pool outline, but it is a top sunset spot.

41. 10:44

    Marshall's Beach

    🌳 Park · Presidio

    About a half-mile trail down; the return climbs uphill on stairs.

42. 11:17

    Fort Point

    🏛️ Historic site · Presidio

    Free when open; the top floor has views of the bridge and Alcatraz.

43. 11:46

    Point Bonita Lighthouse

    🏢 Landmark · Marin Headlands

    Only open one to two days a week, so check in advance; a car is recommended.

44. 12:22

    Muir Woods National Monument

    🚆 Day trip · Marin County

    Called the best place to see redwoods when staying in San Francisco.