The sites and attractions that make San Francisco, San Francisco
Are you ready to explore San Francisco? Whether you are an Bay Area native or are newly located, this guide will usher you through the in’s and out’s of San Francisco. Looking for a free and fun park to indulge in the bizarreness of San Francisco youth culture – visit Fort Miley. But don’t forget your skateboard or roller skates! Shred on gallery walls filled with street art. Or maybe skating isn’t your thing? Feel free to roam through the Presidio, a perfect place to go on a bike ride and view the Golden Gate Bridge or chill on Baker Beach!
Feeling academic or artsy? Dig deep into our shared histories at The Museum of African American Diaspora or the The Contemporary Jewish Museum – two fantastic places to learn about the cultures, foods, arts, clothes, and lives of African Americans and Jewish Americans in the past as well as the present.
Whatever you may be searching for, San Francisco has it!
Free In San Francisco
Old-School, Playtime
Fisherman's Wharf
Fisherman’s Wharf, on the northern waterfront, is one of the city’s busiest tourist areas. Souvenir shops and stalls selling crab and clam chowder in sourdough bread bowls appear at every turn, as do postcard views of the bay, Golden Gate and Alcatraz. There’s also a colony of sea lions to see and historic ships to tour. At Ghirardelli Square, boutiques and eateries reside in the famed former chocolate factory.
- love
- busy
- quiet
- walk
Fort Miley Skate Park
Fort Miley Skate Park is known as a playground, sanctuary, skate park, historical place, artists’ canvas, fortress, meditation place, escape, hidden gem, nature trail, haunted place and whatever you want it to be.
- amazing
- creative
- oldschool
- radical
Mission Dolores Park
Historic & Happening Park
- relaxing
- love
- park
- exciting
Lombard Street
Lombard Street is an east–west street in San Francisco, California that is famous for a steep, one-block section with eight hairpin turns. Stretching from The Presidio east to The Embarcadero, it has beautiful flowerbeds and an amazing view which catch the eye.
- love
- busy
- walk
- magical
Twin Peaks Summit
- amazing
- beautiful
- colorful
- cool
Stern Grove Park
Experience world-class symphony, opera, dance, world music and more in an unparalleled outdoor setting. The newly renovated concert meadow is best known as the home of the Stern Grove Festival, a beloved San Francisco institution that presents free cultural performances every summer. Come early, bring a picnic and relax on the groomed lawn amid eucalyptus and pine groves.
- beautiful
- botanical
- musical
- oldschool
The Presidio
Park
- scenic
- botanical
- family
- views
The City of Solitude
Old School, Dreamy, Quiet Energy
de Young Museum
Museum
- chill
- hidden-gem
- favorite
- creative
California Academy of Sciences
Explore SF’s unique natural history museum, aquarium, rainforest, & planetarium in Golden Gate Park. Experience science dedicated to regenerating our natural world.
- inspired
- interactive
- amazing
- volunteer
Mission Dolores Church
Mission Dolores Church is a beautiful establishment bringing community and significance to those who go to celebrate each other. The Spanish Colonial architecture will sparkle as you enjoy the wonders of the church.
- community
- dreamy
- oldschool
- spiritual
Japanese Tea Garden
The Japanese Tea Garden in San Francisco, California, is a popular feature of Golden Gate Park, originally built as part of a sprawling World’s Fair, the California Midwinter International Exposition of 1894.
- relaxing
- park
- curious
- quiet
Palace of Fine Arts Event Space
The Palace of Fine Arts in the Marina District of San Francisco, California, is a monumental structure originally constructed for the 1915 Panama-Pacific Exposition in order to exhibit works of art presented there. One of only a few surviving structures from the Exposition, it is the only one still situated on its original site. It was rebuilt in 1965, and renovation of the lagoon, walkways, and a seismic retrofit were completed in early 2009.It remains a popular attraction for tourists and locals, and is a favorite location for weddings and wedding party photographs for couples throughout the San Francisco Bay Area, and such an icon that a miniature replica of it was built in Disney’s California Adventure in Anaheim.
- inspired
- amazing
- ocean
- walk
The History that Makes Us
The Contemporary Jewish Museum
The Contemporary Jewish Museum (CJM), located at 736 Mission Street in San Francisco’s South of Market neighborhood, is a dynamic, non-collecting museum dedicated to community engagement. Since 1984, CJM has fostered connection and dialogue through innovative exhibitions, collaborating with national and international cultural institutions to present timely, relevant works of exceptional artistic achievement and scholarship.
- unique
- public
- welcoming
- international
Museum of the African Diaspora
SF museum celebrating global Black cultures, contemporary art, and the African Diaspora. Explore via tours, education, and challenging conversations.
- positive
- inclusive
- unique
- interesting
The National AIDS Memorial Grove
The National AIDS Memorial Grove, or “The Grove,” is located at the de Laveaga Dell in eastern Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, California. It honours those who have had AIDS through the botanical, beautiful space.
- solidarity
- belonging
- quiet
- together
Coit Tower
Coit Tower, a slender white concrete column rising from the top of Telegraph Hill, has been an emblem of San Francisco’s skyline since its completion in 1933, a welcoming beacon to visitors and residents alike. Its observation deck, reached by elevator (tickets can be purchased in the gift shop), provides 360-degree views of the city and bay, including the Golden Gate and Bay bridges.
- love
- quiet
- walk
- oasis
The Holocaust Memorial
The Holocaust Memorial on 34th Avenue honours those who lost their lives during the Holocaust during WWII. This memorial touches the heart and provides remembrance to all affected by this tragedy.
- belonging
- community
- oldschool
- solidarity
Alcatraz Island
Experience Alcatraz! Touch history as you see and explore one of San Francisco Bay’s most famous landmarks. Alcatraz Island contains one of the most mysterious, intriguing, and fascinating sites you’ll find in San Francisco.
- amazing
- curious
- dramatic
- fun
Something To See With Your Own Two Eyes
Quiet Energy, Togetherness
Mt. Davidson Cross
Mount Davidson is the highest natural point in San Francisco, California, with an elevation of 928 feet. It is located near the geographical center of the city, south of Twin Peaks and hosts an incredible view of the beautiful city.
- spring
- beautiful
- dreamy
- explore
San Francisco National Cemetery
San Francisco National Cemetery is a United States national cemetery, located in the Presidio of San Francisco, California. This honours those who have fallen and give relatives a beautiful place to remember their loved ones.
- active
- western
- design
- belonging
Sutro Baths
The Sutro Baths was a large, privately owned public saltwater swimming pool complex in the Lands End area of the Outer Richmond District in western San Francisco, California. Built in 1896, the Sutro Baths was located north of Ocean Beach, the Cliff House, Seal Rocks, and west of Sutro Heights Park, so it is perfectly located for you to experience its wonders and other sites of the city.
- park
- curious
- exciting
- magical
Bay Area Discovery Museum
The Bay Area Discovery Museum is a children’s museum located in Sausalito, California inside the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, which is right at the foot of the Golden Gate Bridge. It is a perfect place for children to enjoy and experience wonder, delight, and absolute fun.
- amazing
- cool
- curious
- dramatic
