Close Icon
Gear IconImportant Reminder:The City Guide app will be sunsetting on December 15, 2024, with the web version to follow in early 2025. Please visit our FAQ to learn more or to download our Swarm app.
Learn more
San Francisco Tourist Attractions

1. Ferry Building Marketplace

9.3
1 Ferry Building (at The Embarcadero), San Francisco, CA
Market · Financial District · 468 tips and reviews

Travel ChannelTravel Channel: With all the local produce, cheese, meats, Vietnamese food, Japanese food, seafood, it represents the incredible bounty San Francisco has access to. – Samantha Brown

2. Pier 39

2 Beach St (at The Embarcadero), San Francisco, CA
Pier · Fishermans Wharf · 387 tips and reviews

Travel ChannelTravel Channel: One of San Francisco's most popular tourist destinations, the Wharf consists of a long, coast-side row of restaurants, street vendors, souvenir stores and beautiful ocean scenery.

Lombard Street is one of San Francisco Tourist Attractions.

3. Lombard Street

8.7
Lombard St (btwn Hyde & Leavenworth St), San Francisco, CA
Road · Russian Hill · 309 tips and reviews

4. Coit Tower

8.9
1 Telegraph Hill Blvd (btwn Lombard & Union St), San Francisco, CA
Monument · Telegraph Hill · 327 tips and reviews

ViatorStaffViatorStaff: One of the best panoramic views of the city! Make sure you check out the murals. Read more.

5. Twin Peaks Summit

9.5
100 Christmas Tree Point Rd (at Twin Peaks Blvd), San Francisco, CA
Hill · 274 tips and reviews

ZipcarZipcar: When people come in from out of town, they all want to see the Golden Gate Bridge. Take ‘em here instead. With beautiful views of the cityscape worthy of a Will Pearson photo, they’ll forget the rest.

6. Golden Gate Bridge

Golden Gate Brg S, San Francisco, CA
Bridge · 813 tips and reviews

AudiAudi: It's famous, and with good reason. Crossing the Golden Gate is guaranteed to put a smile on your face, no matter what you're driving.

7. Fort Point National Historic Site

9.2
Marine Dr (at West Bluff Dr), San Francisco, CA
Historic and Protected Site · Presidio National Park · 78 tips and reviews

Brad D.Brad Day: Starting March 1, Fort Point will lead free crabbing demonstrations from the pier. Who's hungry? Read more.

8. Alcatraz Island

9.4
Golden Gate National Recreation Area (San Francisco Bay), San Francisco, CA
Historic and Protected Site · 502 tips and reviews

National Wildlife FederationNational Wildlife Federation: Did you know... at Alcatraz Island you can witness the breeding behavior of seven species of seabirds... now that's birdwatching! Read more.

9. Treasure Island

8.0
(at California Ave), San Francisco, CA
Island · 87 tips and reviews

K D.K Dawg: Go to treasure island on a clear night. Some of the best city views and at sea level. Beautiful.

10. Golden Gate Bridge

Golden Gate Brg S, San Francisco, CA
Bridge · 813 tips and reviews

Clay F.Clay Fox: Yeah, come on, like you're not coming here first. #protip - explore the area east of the main entrance off of Lincoln Blvd. Some of the best photos can be taken there, then walk up to the bridge.

11. Alamo Square

9.3
Steiner St (btwn Fulton & Hayes St), San Francisco, CA
Park · 168 tips and reviews

Clay F.Clay Fox: Gorgeous part of the city, and home of the "Full House houses".

12. Painted Ladies

8.9
Steiner St (btwn Grove & Hayes St), San Francisco, CA
Historic and Protected Site · Alamo Square · 149 tips and reviews

Clay F.Clay Fox: It's the Full Houses houses! You know you want to take this picture, don't even try to hide it.

13. Transamerica Pyramid

7.9
600 Montgomery St (at Washington St), San Francisco, CA
Structure · Financial District · 28 tips and reviews

Clay F.Clay Fox: The most famous building in the SF skyline. Best view is from Coit Tower.

14. Ghirardelli Square

8.7
900 N Point St (btwn Polk & Larkin St), San Francisco, CA
Shopping Plaza · 256 tips and reviews

Clay F.Clay Fox: Mmmmm, chocolate. You know you want some.

15. Alcatraz Island

9.4
Golden Gate National Recreation Area (San Francisco Bay), San Francisco, CA
Historic and Protected Site · 502 tips and reviews

Clay F.Clay Fox: Everyone should visit the Rock at least once.

16. Fisherman's Wharf

2801 Leavenworth St (at Bay St), San Francisco, CA
Pier · Fishermans Wharf · 337 tips and reviews

Clay F.Clay Fox: This place is almost always an asshole rodeo, but you kind of have to go anyway. Checkout the seals, catch a boat to Sausalito, etc.

17. San Francisco City Hall

1 Carlton B Goodlett Pl (btwn Grove & McAllister St), San Francisco, CA
City Hall · Civic Center · 79 tips and reviews

Clay F.Clay Fox: One of my favorite buildings in SF. That gold leaf on the top? Yeah, that was a million dollar project. Totally worth it though, right? Gorgeous.

18. Union Square

8.5
333 Post St (btwn Powell & Stockton St), San Francisco, CA
Pedestrian Plaza · Downtown San Francisco-Union Square · 433 tips and reviews

Clay F.Clay Fox: The Times Square of SF. I'd tell you to avoid it at all costs, but you're not going to, so might as well check it off your list.

19. Mission Dolores Park

9.4
Dolores & Church St (btwn 18th & 20th St), San Francisco, CA
Park · Mission Dolores · 505 tips and reviews

Clay F.Clay Fox: Gotta hit up the Mission/the Castro for at least a minute. This is a great view of the city, and there's lots of cool stuff around it.

20. Powell Street Cable Car Turnaround

8.3
Powell St (at Market St), San Francisco, CA
Cable Car · Downtown San Francisco-Union Square · 121 tips and reviews

Clay F.Clay Fox: You're gonna wanna ride a cable car aren't you? Sigh. Watch them turn them around here. It's cool for at least 30 seconds.

Musée Mécanique is one of San Francisco Tourist Attractions.

21. Musée Mécanique

9.0
Pier 45, Shed A (at Taylor St), San Francisco, CA
Museum · Fishermans Wharf · 182 tips and reviews
Vermont Street is one of San Francisco Tourist Attractions.

22. Vermont Street

Vermont St (btwn Division St & 25th St), San Francisco, CA
Road · Potrero Hill · 3 tips and reviews

23. California Street Cable Car

California Street (Drumm to Van Ness), San Francisco, CA
Cable Car · Financial District · 36 tips and reviews

Cory O.Cory O'Brien: See the inner workings of this historic transportation system, and get a quick lesson in San Francisco history, all for the easy to swallow admission price of FREE.

Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory 金門餅食公司 is one of San Francisco Tourist Attractions.

24. Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory 金門餅食公司

7.9
56 Ross Aly (at Jackson St.), San Francisco, CA
Bakery · Chinatown · 90 tips and reviews
Bison Paddock is one of San Francisco Tourist Attractions.

25. Bison Paddock

8.0
Chain of Lakes Dr E at John F Kennedy Dr (Golden Gate Park), San Francisco, CA
Zoo Exhibit · Golden Gate Park · 19 tips and reviews

26. Humphry Slocombe

9.1
2790 Harrison St (at 24th St), San Francisco, CA
Ice Cream Parlor · Mission District · 375 tips and reviews

Eris S.Eris Stassi: Try the Secret Breakfast for breakfast. Cornflakes and bourbon to start the day.

27. Blue Bottle Coffee

66 Mint Plaza (at Jessie St), San Francisco, CA
Coffee Shop · SoMa · 736 tips and reviews

Tom B.Tom Bridge: If you don't like the New Orleans Iced Coffee, I'm fairly sure you're a cylon.

Off the Grid: 5M @ Fifth and Minna is one of San Francisco Tourist Attractions.

28. Off the Grid: 5M @ Fifth and Minna

410 Minna Street (btwn 5th & Mary St), San Francisco, CA
Street Food Gathering · SoMa · 33 tips and reviews
Muir Woods National Monument is one of San Francisco Tourist Attractions.

29. Muir Woods National Monument

9.2
1 Muir Woods Rd, Mill Valley, CA
National Park · 244 tips and reviews
Oracle Park is one of San Francisco Tourist Attractions.

30. Oracle Park

9.2
24 Willie Mays Plz (at King & 3rd St), San Francisco, CA
Baseball Stadium · South Beach · 480 tips and reviews
Union Square is one of San Francisco Tourist Attractions.

31. Union Square

8.5
333 Post St (btwn Powell & Stockton St), San Francisco, CA
Pedestrian Plaza · Downtown San Francisco-Union Square · 433 tips and reviews
Chinatown is one of San Francisco Tourist Attractions.

32. Chinatown

San Francisco, CA
Neighborhood · 134 tips and reviews
Alcatraz Island is one of San Francisco Tourist Attractions.

33. Alcatraz Island

9.4
Golden Gate National Recreation Area (San Francisco Bay), San Francisco, CA
Historic and Protected Site · 502 tips and reviews
Slow Club is one of San Francisco Tourist Attractions.

34. Slow Club

2501 Mariposa St (at Hampshire St), San Francisco, CA
New American Restaurant · Mission District · 103 tips and reviews
Slanted Door is one of San Francisco Tourist Attractions.

35. Slanted Door

1 Ferry Building #3 (at The Embarcadero), San Francisco, CA
Vietnamese Restaurant · Financial District · 451 tips and reviews
Foreign Cinema is one of San Francisco Tourist Attractions.

36. Foreign Cinema

9.2
2534 Mission St (btwn 21st & 22nd St), San Francisco, CA
New American Restaurant · Mission District · 362 tips and reviews
Exploratorium is one of San Francisco Tourist Attractions.

37. Exploratorium

9.2
Pier 15 (at The Embarcadero), San Francisco, CA
Science Museum · Northern Waterfront · 335 tips and reviews

38. California Academy of Sciences

9.4
55 Music Concourse Dr (at Martin Luther King Jr Dr), San Francisco, CA
Science Museum · Golden Gate Park · 510 tips and reviews

sam t.sam tripodi: The Planetarium! Go early on a weekday. Don't go on a school holiday. When you arrive, go directly to the Planetarium and get your pass for the show.

TCHO is one of San Francisco Tourist Attractions.

39. TCHO

Pier 17 (btwn Embarcadero & Green), San Francisco, CA
Dessert Shop · Northern Waterfront · 62 tips and reviews
Vista Point is one of San Francisco Tourist Attractions.

40. Vista Point

9.4
Golden Gate Bridge (Hwy. 101), Sausalito, CA
Scenic Lookout · 128 tips and reviews