Best museums in San Francisco

Source-backed place · Landmarks

Alcatraz Island

An iconic former federal penitentiary and National Historic Landmark located in San Francisco Bay, known as 'The Rock' for its ma…

2-4 hours $$ History 6 sources

Source-backed place · Bars and nightlife

Vesuvio Cafe

A historic North Beach saloon and bohemian time capsule, Vesuvio Cafe served as a legendary gathering spot for the Beat Generatio…

1-2 hours $$ History 6 sources

Source-backed place · Landmarks

Coit Tower

A slender white concrete column atop Telegraph Hill, offering 360-degree panoramic views of the San Francisco skyline and bay.

45-90 minutes $ Views 6 sources

Source-backed place · Museums

San Francisco Museum of Modern Art

A premier destination for modern and contemporary art, SFMOMA is one of the largest museums of its kind in the United States, boa…

2-3 hours $$$ Art 4 sources

Source-backed place · Food and drink

Swan Oyster Depot

A legendary San Francisco seafood institution since 1903, this intimate 18-seat counter in Polk Gulch serves fresh catches in a t…

1.5-2.5 hours $$$$ Food 6 sources

Source-backed place · History

SS Jeremiah O'Brien

Restored World War II Liberty ship museum at Pier 45.

Paid History 6 sources

Source-backed place · History

Mission San Francisco de Asís (Mission Dolores)

The oldest intact building in San Francisco, this 18th-century Spanish mission serves as a profound monument to the city's coloni…

History 6 sources

Source-backed place · Activity

Batteries to Bluffs Trail

A rugged 0.7-mile coastal walk in the Presidio featuring dramatic bluffs, abandoned 1890s gun batteries, and spectacular views of…

Nature 6 sources

Source-backed place · Food and drink

Hang Ah Tea Room

Step into history at the Hang Ah Tea Room, the oldest dim sum restaurant in the United States, serving traditional Cantonese deli…

Food 4 sources

Source-backed place · Public art

Portals of the Past

A hauntingly beautiful white marble fragment of a Nob Hill mansion, salvaged from the 1906 earthquake and relocated to Lloyd Lake…

History 4 sources

Source-backed place · Bars and nightlife

Twin Peaks Tavern

A historic LGBT landmark known as the 'Gateway to the Castro,' famous for being the first gay bar in the U.S. to feature large, o…

History 6 sources

Source-backed place · Museums

Yerba Buena Center for the Arts

A premier multidisciplinary hub for contemporary art, live performance, and social discourse, located within the scenic Yerba Bue…

Art 4 sources

Source-backed place · Theaters and music

Golden Gate Theatre

A historic 1920s Broadway-style venue known for its ornate architecture, this former vaudeville house now hosts premier touring p…

Architecture 6 sources

Source-backed place · Landmarks

Ferry Building Marketplace

An iconic 1898 landmark and gateway to San Francisco, this historic terminal blends a bustling food hall with active ferry servic…

1-2 hours $$ Architecture 4 sources

Source-backed place · Parks and outdoors

Bison Paddock

A historic urban sanctuary for North America's largest land mammal, featuring a small herd of bison that has been a beloved San F…

1-2 hours $ History 6 sources

Source-backed place · Parks and outdoors

Golden Gate Park

An iconic 1,017-acre urban oasis in San Francisco, transformed from windblown sand dunes into a lush landscape of lakes, meadows,…

2-4 hours Free Nature 6 sources

Source-backed place · History

Grant Avenue

The bustling main drag of San Francisco's Chinatown, Grant Avenue is a historic corridor lined with ornate architecture, traditio…

Free Architecture 6 sources

Source-backed place · Landmarks

Haight Street

The vibrant heart of San Francisco's 1960s counterculture, Haight Street is a colorful corridor of painted Victorians, vintage re…

History 6 sources

Source-backed place · Bars and nightlife

El Rio

A legendary Mission District institution, El Rio is a queer neighborhood bar and music venue that has been LGBTQ-owned since 1978…

3-5 hours $ History 6 sources

Source-backed place · Museums

Chinese Culture Center of San Francisco

The oldest Asian American arts organization in the United States, this community-based nonprofit provides a bridge between Chinat…

Free Art 6 sources

Source-backed place · Museums

Haight Street Art Center

A nonprofit art space in Lower Haight dedicated to the advancement of poster and graphic art, featuring galleries, a print studio…

Free Art 6 sources

Source-backed place · Bars and nightlife

Starlite

Perched on the 21st floor of the Beacon Grand, Starlite is a refined cocktail lounge offering sweeping city views and a legacy of…

1-2 hours $$$ Couples 6 sources

Source-backed place · Landmarks

Golden Gate Bridge

An iconic suspension bridge spanning the Golden Gate strait, connecting San Francisco to Marin County and serving as a world-reno…

1-2 hours Free Architecture 6 sources

Source-backed place · Viewpoints

Twin Peaks

Ascend to the geographic center of San Francisco for breathtaking 360-degree panoramic views of the city skyline, the bay, and th…

30-60 minutes Free Views 5 sources