Some of San Francisco's Best Places to Explore

San Francisco: the Best Things to See and Do

San Francisco is one of America’s most famous cities, and also happens to be one of the most scenic. The city, located in northern California, and wider SF has gone from being a small Spanish settlement to a thriving metropolis and is renowned for sites and attractions such as the Golden Gate Bridge and the iconic Alcatraz Island.

Each year, San Francisco receives millions of visitors. According to the San Francisco Travel Association, 23.1 million people descended on the city in 2023. Below is a brief look at why you should visit San Francisco and some of the best things to see while there.

A scenic view of a San Francisco street leading downhill, lined with palm trees and featuring historic architecture, with the sun shining in the background.

Why visit San Francisco?

Citizens might ask, “Why not?” San Francisco offers some charming neighborhoods with their pastel-painted houses, secret staircases and hills, and astonishing views. Not to mention the fact that the authorities have invested a lot of money to make San Francisco the attractive, innovative place to live it is today, thanks to its illuminated landmarks, night markets, street pedestrianization, and repurposing of old buildings.

So, what should you see or do while you’re out there?

Aerial view of California Memorial Stadium, home of the California Golden Bears football team, showcasing the field marked with 'CALIFORNIA' and colors of blue and gold.

Cheer on a local football team.

The San Francisco Bay Area has three college football teams, all in the NCAA’s FBS. The California Golden Bears and Stanford Cardinal compete in the Atlantic Coast Conference, and the San Jose State Spartans play football in the Mountain West Conference. If you’re checking college football odds and laying down a wager on one of the teams, you could attend a game and see how they get on.

If you want professional football, you could journey out of the city and into Santa Clara to Levi’s Stadium, where the San Francisco 49ers play. If you don’t fancy that, but want to catch some professional sport, stay in the city and cheer on the San Francisco Giants baseball team at Oracle Park, or the Golden State Warriors NBA team at the Chase Center.

Street view of charming San Francisco architecture featuring colorful storefronts, including a vintage S&S Grocery sign and other shops.

Soak up coffee culture in North Beach.

The beatnik North Beach neighborhood is an artistic enclave and coffee culture hub. You’ll find some terrific coffee bars, a carefully curated bookstore, and, not to mention, lots of inviting watering holes. You can also take some food out and enjoy it in Washington Square Park or at a sidewalk table. That includes fine Italian cheeses, salami, and antipasti.

Looking for a bit of pop history in the area? You can visit the church opposite the park where the legendary baseballer Joe DiMaggio married his first wife. Or, outside of North Beach, you can see the San Francisco City Hall, where the baseball player married Marilyn Monroe.

Golden Gate Bridge at sunset, showcasing its iconic towers and cables with a view of the San Francisco Bay.

Cross the Golden Gate Bridge

To visit San Francisco and not take time to see the Golden Gate Bridge, with its 746-feet-tall towers, would be nothing short of sinful! The bridge has been standing guard over the city since 1937 and offers a glorious cityscape view on one side and a nature view on the other, with beautiful blue below. The bridge remains impressive even on a foggy day as its bright colors cut through the fog. When visiting, take extra layers of clothing with you to avoid being caught out by the mist.

A row of colorful Victorian houses with ornamental details in San Francisco, framed by lush greenery and a clear blue sky.

Explore Alcatraz

Alcatraz is a former 1870s maximum security military prison, once a lighthouse that housed the early 20^th century’s most notorious criminals. Today, the only way to reach the island in San Francisco Bay is by ferry. Once there, take a self-guided tour, narrated by former inmates and guards, who tell you about prison riots, escapes, and the 19-month occupation by Native Americans that all took place at the prison. It’s a busy attraction, so book before you go. You don’t want to make the ferry journey only to be turned away!

A vibrant street scene in San Francisco's Chinatown, adorned with red lanterns hanging overhead and bustling shops lining the streets, showcasing the area's rich culture and history.

Walk around Chinatown

San Francisco’s Chinatown neighborhood is the oldest in North America and the most storied outside of Asia. Step through the Dragon Gate and into the birthplace of American Chinese food, such as fortune cookies, chop suey, and dim sum, which China is credited with introducing to the Western palate.

While in the neighborhood, check out the Chinese Historical Society of America, which exhibits items such as Chinese laundry and Bruce Lee, or the Chinese Cultural Center of San Francisco, which showcases a wide range of Chinese art. If you can’t get enough of Chinese food, visit the Golden Gate Fortune Cookie, where you can see workers hand-fold the cookies and grab free samples.

A panoramic view of San Francisco's skyline on a sunny day, showcasing the cityscape with various buildings, palm trees, and a park where people are enjoying leisure activities.

That’s just a small selection of things you can do in Frisco. Other sites and attractions to experience include the Yerba Gardens Festival, which offers hundreds of free performances in the Yerba Gardens from May to October, and the Haight-Ashbury neighborhood, which still bears heavy traces of its countercultural past.