Best Places to Visit in San Francisco for Fun

San Francisco sits at the meeting point of the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay. For generations it has captured imaginations with steep hills, rainbow-coloured neighbourhoods and a free‑spirited vibe.

finds the city buzzing with new art installations and museums while its timeless landmarks still dazzle. This in‑depth guide highlights the best places to visit in San Francisco for fun, from iconic bridges and quirky streets to immersive museums and neighbourhoods that still hum with counterculture energy.

Travellers reach the City by the Bay from every corner of the country. West Coast adventurers often start with quick, direct flights from Los Angeles to San Francisco, while East Coast explorers check out flights from New York to San Francisco before planning their itineraries. With so many convenient routes, getting here is almost as easy as riding a cable car.

Golden Gate Bridge – an engineering marvel

No list of the Best Places to Visit in San Francisco would be complete without the Golden Gate Bridge. Completed in 1937, the 1.7‑mile suspension span links San Francisco with Marin County.

Its towers and orange‑red paint have become synonymous with the city. Walking or biking across the bridge is exhilarating and often chilly; views of the bay, the Marin Headlands and the downtown skyline make the trip worth any windchill.

The bridge’s beauty also stems from the natural setting—rolling hills and swift currents frame its sweeping cables. For unique perspectives, visit Battery Spencer on the Marin side at sunrise or Fort Point under the bridge.

Fisherman’s Wharf and Pier 39

Historically home to Italian fishing fleets, Fisherman’s Wharf remains one of the Best Places to Visit in San Francisco. The district stretches along the northern waterfront from Ghirardelli Square to Pier 39fishermanswharf.org.

Today it is famous for chowder stands, historic vessels and lively attractions. Pier 39 is the big draw; after the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, a few California sea lions began “hauling out” on K‑Dock.

By January 1990 more than 400 sea lions had taken over, creating a noisy but beloved spectacle. Their numbers fluctuate with migration and prey, but at times more than a thousand sea lions bask on the docks. Watching them bark and nap is a free, uniquely San Francisco experience. Street performers, carousel rides and bay cruises ensure there’s fun for all ages.

Chinatown – North America’s oldest Chinese enclave

The city’s Chinatown is the oldest and one of the largest outside Asia. Founded during the Gold Rush, it covers about 30 blocks filled with tea rooms, Taoist temples and dim‑sum palaces.

The neighborhood was rebuilt after the 1906 earthquake; today dragons and pagodas line Grant Avenue while lanterns dangle overhead. Visiting here is one of the Best Places to Visit in San Francisco, whether you’re sampling steamed buns at a bakery, sipping oolong in an apothecary or walking through the Dragon Gate at Bush Street.

Lombard Street – the “Crookedest Street in the World”

Another of the Best Places to Visit in San Francisco is Lombard Street. This single block on Russian Hill features eight sharp hairpin turns flanked by flower beds.

Originally designed in 1922 to reduce the hill’s natural 27 % grade for cars, the brick switchbacks have become one of the city’s most photographed sights. You can drive down slowly or walk along the sidewalks to admire the ornate mansions and manicured gardens.

Painted Ladies and Alamo Square

Across the city near Alamo Square, an iconic row of Victorian houses known as the Painted Ladies stands at 710‑720 Steiner Street.

Painted in pastel colours with elaborate woodwork, these Best Places to Visit in San Francisco were built between 1892 and 1896 and feature prominently in films and TV shows (including the opening credits of Full House).

From the crest of Alamo Square Park you can photograph the Seven Sisters against the backdrop of downtown skyscrapers. Arrive in late afternoon when the sunlight paints the skyline gold.

Palace of Fine Arts

The Palace of Fine Arts is a romantic landmark in the Marina District. Architect Bernard Maybeck designed it for the 1915 Panama‑Pacific International Exposition. The structure, with its Greco‑Roman rotunda and colonnades, is one of the few surviving buildings from that world’s fair. Today it hosts an exhibition center and theatre where locals marry, attend conferences or watch concert. Strolling around the lagoon beneath the dome is among the Best Places to Visit in San Francisco for photographers and anyone seeking a peaceful walk.

Golden Gate Park: gardens, museums and bison

Spanning over 1,017 acres, Golden Gate Park offers some of the Best Places to Visit in San Francisco. It’s larger than New York’s Central Park and is packed with gardens, museums and scenic spots.

Japanese Tea Garden

Created for the 1894 California Midwinter Exposition, the Japanese Tea Garden is the oldest public Japanese garden in the United States. This five‑acre oasis features koi ponds, arched bridges and a pagoda.

According to local lore, the fortune cookie may have been introduced to America here. Enjoying a bowl of matcha and mochi while listening to waterfalls is one of the Best Places to Visit in San Francisco for tranquility.

Conservatory of Flowers

Built in 1879, the Conservatory of Flowers is the park’s oldest building and remains one of the largest Victorian glasshouses in North America. It houses around 1,700 species of tropical and aquatic plants. Orchid displays, towering palms and carnivorous plants amaze visitors year‑round. Visiting this lush glasshouse is another of the Best Places to Visit in San Francisco for nature lovers.

California Academy of Sciences

At the eastern end of the park sits the California Academy of Sciences, a museum that houses an aquarium, planetarium, rainforest and natural history exhibits under one living roof.

Highlights include the Steinhart Aquarium with nearly 40,000 animals, the Morrison Planetarium’s 75‑foot dome and the four‑story Osher Rainforest filled with butterflies and birds.

One ticket lets you travel from the depths of the ocean to the stars—making the Academy one of the Best Places to Visit in San Francisco for families.

Families from Texas find it easy to visit, thanks to convenient flights from Dallas to San Francisco that provide a direct gateway to these attractions.

Exploratorium – hands‑on science for all ages

Located at Pier 15 on the Embarcadero, the Exploratorium is a must‑see participatory science museum. Since it opened in 1969, the Exploratorium has combined science, art and human perception into a public learning laboratory.

Once called “a mad scientist’s penny arcade, a scientific funhouse and an experimental laboratory all rolled into one”, it now houses about 600 interactive exhibits drawn from more than 1,000 ever created.

Visitors can crawl through the pitch‑black Tactile Dome, watch a live chicken embryo develop or experiment with light and colour. After dark on Thursdays, the museum transforms into an adults‑only playground with a full bar and live music.

Its location includes 1.5 acres of outdoor spaces and a fog bridge that periodically shrouds the piers in mist. If you love interactive learning, add the Exploratorium to your list of Best Places to Visit in San Francisco.

Coit Tower – Art Deco tower with New Deal murals

Standing atop Telegraph Hill, Coit Tower is a 210‑foot (64‑m) Art Deco landmark built in 1933. It rises from Pioneer Park, a 4.89‑acre hilltop green space established in 1876.

Lillie Hitchcock Coit, an eccentric firefighter patron, funded the tower through a $125,000 bequest to beautify her beloved city. Inside, visitors can view WPA‑era fresco murals by about 30 local artists depicting life in 1930s San Francisco.

Riding the elevator to the observation deck reveals sweeping 360‑degree views of the city and bay. With its history, art and vistas, Coit Tower deserves its place among the Best Places to Visit in San Francisco.

Ghirardelli Square – chocolate heritage and adaptive reuse

On the waterfront near Fisherman’s Wharf lies Ghirardelli Square, a former chocolate factory now transformed into a plaza of shops and eateries.

The stately brick buildings from 1895 were once home to the Ghirardelli Chocolate Factory; today they house boutiques, restaurants and a luxury hotel. The site—previously a woolen mill—was the first successful adaptive reuse project in the United States. Wandering through its courtyards and sampling world‑famous sundaes are definitely among the Best Places to Visit in San Francisco for chocolate lovers.

Travellers from the Entertainment Capital can swap neon lights for historic brick courtyards by booking flights from Las Vegas to San Francisco.

Haight‑Ashbury – the spirit of the Summer of Love

The intersection of Haight and Ashbury streets marks the heart of the 1960s counterculture movement. Here, flower children gathered during the Summer of Love, and that spirit still permeates the neighbourhood.

A street sign marks the corner where 1960s flower power blossomed. Today colourful Victorian houses brighten the hillsides and the streets teem with vintage boutiques and record stores.

Upper Haight boasts flamboyant clothing shops and tattoo parlors, while the Lower Haight is known for dive bars and music shops. Nearby landmarks include the former Grateful Dead house at 710 Ashbury Street and the Jefferson Airplane mansion at 2400 Fulton Street.

Guided walking tours and even a “Magic Bus” tour share stories of Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin. Whether you come for the history or the street art, this neighbourhood remains one of the Best Places to Visit in San Francisco.

Music lovers from the Southeast can follow the footsteps of rock legends by booking flights from Atlanta to San Francisco and heading straight to Haight‑Ashbury.

Sea lions of Pier 39

One of the city’s most charming sights is the colony of California sea lions at Pier 39. After the 1989 earthquake, boat owners vacated K‑Dock, creating space for sea lions to haul out. By 1990 more than 400 sea lions had camped out at the pier.

The Sea Lion Center notes that the animals arrive because the docks provide a safe resting spot between hunting forays. At times over a thousand sea lions bask there. Watching them is free entertainment and absolutely one of the Best Places to Visit in San Francisco for animal lovers.

Families from the Midwest can easily watch these playful marine mammals thanks to direct flights from Chicago to San Francisco that connect the Windy City to the Bay.

Ferry Building – a foodie temple

A visit to the Ferry Building on the Embarcadero is essential. This 1898 Beaux‑Arts structure serves as a transit hub, historic landmark and foodie mecca.

The Ferry Building Marketplace and adjacent farmers’ market showcase Northern California’s artisan food and wine producers. Sample oysters, grab an artisanal sandwich or browse the stalls for edible souvenirs. It’s an excellent stop on any list of Best Places to Visit in San Francisco.

For food lovers along the Gulf Coast, there are daily flights from Houston to San Francisco that land you right at the Ferry Building’s doorstep.

Ride the historic cable cars

San Francisco’s cable cars are the world’s last manually operated cable system and are designated moving National Historic Landmarks. Riding one up Nob Hill or down Powell Street is as much a part of the city experience as eating sourdough bread.

The clang of the bell and the wind in your face make cable cars one of the Best Places to Visit in San Francisco for fun transportation.

Alcatraz Island – more than a prison

Another of the Best Places to Visit in San Francisco lies offshore. Alcatraz Island, once a Civil War fort and later the nation’s top maximum‑security penitentiary, now forms part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.

A 600‑cell prison complex was completed in 1912. In 1933 the Department of Justice turned Alcatraz into a maximum‑security prison to hold America’s most incorrigible criminals. Notorious inmates included Al “Scarface” Capone, who served four years here, and George “Machine Gun” Kelly.

During its 29‑year operation, there were 14 escape attempts; all inmates were either caught or presumed drowned. The prison closed in 1963 due to high costs and deteriorating facilities. In 1969 Native American activists occupied the island for nearly two years to advocate for Indigenous rights.

Alcatraz is now one of America’s most visited attractions, drawing more than a million people annually and offering spectacular views of the Golden Gate Bridge and the city. Ferry tickets sell out weeks in advance, so plan ahead.

New highlights and experiences

San Francisco continues to innovate. Several new attractions have debuted or are opening in 2025, adding to the Best Places to Visit in San Francisco:

• Balloon Museum – At the Palace of Fine Arts, this interactive art museum features large‑scale inflatable installations that visitors can explore and photographs. It joins the nearby Palace’s art exhibitions and offers a novel indoor experience.

• Counterculture Museum – Located in Haight‑Ashbury, this museum preserves the stories of the 1960s cultural revolution and celebrates San Francisco’s role in music, activism and psychedelic arts.

• Embarcadero Statue – A 45‑foot kinetic statue of a nude woman from Burning Man now stands on the Embarcadero; it lights up and “breathes” at night.

• Union Square live events – Hundreds of free concerts, dance lessons and gatherings will energize Union Square throughout the year.

• Illuminate laser art shows – For the city’s 175th birthday, the nonprofit Illuminate is projecting laser art onto landmarks like City Hall, the Ferry Building and the Bay Bridge.

• Entertainment zones – New city ordinances create “entertainment zones” where visitors can order to‑go drinks from local bars and enjoy live music; zones include Front Street and Thrive City, with more planned for Pier 39 and Ellis Street.

These additions ensure there are always more Best Places to Visit in San Francisco as the city evolves.

Planning your trip – flights and more

San Francisco International Airport (SFO) welcomes nonstop flights from across North America and beyond. For example, sun‑seekers from Florida can check flights from Miami to San Francisco to start their Bay Area adventure. Flying directly means more time enjoying the Best Places to Visit in San Francisco, from the Golden Gate Bridge to Haight‑Ashbury.

Conclusion

With its blend of natural beauty, historical depth and cutting‑edge creativity, San Francisco remains one of the world’s most captivating cities. Iconic sights like the Golden Gate Bridge, Fisherman’s Wharf, Chinatown and Alcatraz anchor any itinerary.

Museums such as the California Academy of Sciences and the Exploratorium inspire wonder, while neighbourhoods like Haight‑Ashbury and North Beach pulse with character.

Add in 2025’s new attractions—the Balloon Museum, Counterculture Museum and innovative laser shows—and there is always more to discover. Whether you’re arriving by cable car or ferry, make sure these Best Places to Visit in San Francisco for fun top your list.