San Francisco guide
Things to do in San Francisco
Things to do in San Francisco: start with Alcatraz Island, Asian Art Museum, and California Academy of Sciences. Use the 246 places below to build a plan around this theme; each place has source-backed details behind its description.
246 places
Places to start with
Source-backed place · Theaters and music
Cobb's Comedy Club
A cornerstone of San Francisco's North Beach scene since 1982, this intimate venue blends old-school charm with high-energy stand…
Tickets TicketmasterSource-backed place · Museums
Musee Mecanique
A whimsical interactive museum at Fisherman's Wharf featuring over 300 antique coin-operated mechanical machines and arcade artif…
Source-backed place · Landmarks
Pigeon Point Lighthouse
Standing 115 feet tall, this iconic West Coast beacon guides mariners along the rocky California coast. Explore its maritime hist…
Source-backed place · Theaters and music
Rickshaw Stop
A funky, intimate indie music venue located in a converted TV studio, hosting indie bands and DJs in the heart of San Francisco.
Bookable Eventbrite
Source-backed place · Theaters and music
The Lost Church
An intimate acoustic performance theater and 501(c)(3) nonprofit in North Beach, dedicated to sustaining live performance spaces…
Source-backed place · Public art
The Wave Organ
A wave-activated acoustic sculpture in San Francisco Bay, amplifying the sounds of the tide to create a unique sonic experience.
Source-backed place · Theaters and music
Cheaper Than Therapy
An independent stand-up comedy club in Union Square, offering a diverse lineup of Bay Area talent and national headliners without…
Bookable Eventbrite
Source-backed place · Parks and outdoors
Ina Coolbrith Park
A hidden 0.8-acre hillside treasure in Russian Hill, offering breathtaking panoramas of the San Francisco Bay, the Bay Bridge, an…
Source-backed place · History
AIDS Memorial Grove
A serene 10-acre living memorial in Golden Gate Park dedicated to those impacted by the AIDS epidemic, offering a sacred space fo…
Source-backed place · Parks and outdoors
Alamo Square
A hilltop sanctuary offering the quintessential San Francisco view, where the colorful 'Painted Ladies' Victorian homes contrast…
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…
Source-backed place · Parks and outdoors
Baker Beach
A mile-long stretch of sand beneath rugged serpentine cliffs, offering iconic views of the Golden Gate Bridge and a glimpse into…
Source-backed place · Landmarks
Bay Bridge
A massive engineering marvel connecting San Francisco and Oakland, this historic complex is four times longer and twice as busy a…
Source-backed place · Viewpoints
Bay Bridge west span views from the Embarcadero
Experience breathtaking views of the San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge's West Span from the waterfront promenade of the Embarcader…
Source-backed place · History
California Street cable car line
Experience the historic California Street cable car line, part of the world's last manually operated cable car system, traversing…
Source-backed place · History
Castro District
A world-renowned epicenter of LGBTQ+ culture and resilience, the Castro District is a vibrant neighborhood in Eureka Valley known…
Source-backed place · Theaters and music
Castro Theatre
A world-renowned movie palace and historic landmark, the Castro Theatre serves as the architectural and cultural heart of San Fra…
Source-backed place · Museums
Conservatory of Flowers
A stunning Victorian wood-and-glass greenhouse in Golden Gate Park, housing 1,700 species of rare aquatic and tropical plants in…
Source-backed place · Landmarks
Corner of Haight and Ashbury
The iconic intersection of Haight and Ashbury streets, serving as the historic epicenter of the 1960s counterculture and the lege…
Source-backed place · Parks and outdoors
Crissy Field
A stunning waterfront recreation area and former 1920s Army airfield, offering panoramic views of the Golden Gate Bridge and scen…
Source-backed place · Parks and outdoors
Crissy Marsh
A restored 20-acre tidal shoreline habitat in the Presidio, serving as a thriving sanctuary for over 100 avian species and offeri…
Source-backed place · Public art
Diego Rivera Mural
Experience Diego Rivera's largest mural, Pan American Unity, a monumental work of art that explores the unity of art, religion, h…
Source-backed place · Landmarks
Dragon Gate
The iconic ceremonial south entrance to San Francisco's Chinatown, featuring traditional Chinese architecture and a green-tiled r…
Source-backed place · Museums
Exploratorium
A world-renowned museum of science, art, and human perception, featuring hundreds of interactive, hands-on exhibits designed to s…
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