What are the best things to do in San Francisco?

San Francisco is a very big city. There are so many things to do during your stay that sometimes you get confused and don’t know which ones to choose. If you feel like wandering around the city’s neighbourhoods, you’ll find a whole host of shops and friendly little restaurants that will delight you to no end. But if you’re looking for mythical sites and monuments (which can be seen in some cult films), or to stroll around admiring a magnificent view… Then read this article carefully. Navaway has done its homework, and we’ve come up with six varied activities that you’ll love doing with your family, friends or as a solo traveller!

What to do in San Francisco

1) Golden Gate Park

Category: €€/Sporty

Description: Inspired by New York’s famous Central Park, Golden Gate Park is the city’s largest single green space. It’s the ideal place to indulge in your various physical activities: a bike ride, rollerblading, a jog to keep fit, a family picnic, a game of tennis… We could go on for hours, there are so many things to do in this immense park. If you’re travelling as a couple, we recommend you go at the end of the day, when the sun is setting. Just imagine the last rays gently grazing your face as you and your loved one stroll hand in hand… Romantic, isn’t it? At 5 kilometres long and 800 metres wide, this is the 3rd most visited park in the world in the United States. Open every day, it’s right in the middle of the city.

2. The Golden Gate Bridge

Category: Cultural/Sporting

Description: Who hasn’t wanted to walk the length of one of the world’s most famous bridges, the one seen in so many cult films? Easily recognisable with its orange colour, the Golden Gate Bridge is undoubtedly the most visited place in the city of San Francisco, offering a magnificent view by night and day and making you feel like the kings of the world. This suspension bridge crosses the Golden Gate and San Francisco Bay. You can cross it in complete safety, on foot, by bike or even by car, making it a fun little family outing. With a length of 2.7 kilometres, we recommend that you visit some of the viewpoints along the bridge, to make the most of the spectacle! It’s best to visit during the summer (because of the climate), as you’ll be able to see the bridge enveloped in a mystical electric fog. It is located on Lincoln Boulevard at number 963.

3. Go on a cable car trip

Category: €€/Cultural

Description: If there’s one activity that children will love, it’s the Cable Car! Here’s a rather original means of transport that’s totally typical of the city. The first cable car line opened in San Francisco longer ago than you might think… in 1873! Since then, it has become something of an emblem of the city, a real hit with San Francisco locals and tourists alike. If you want to take a stroll while visiting the city, we recommend you take the Powell-Hyde line, which is the most popular line with visitors and certainly offers the most things to see. It’s worth noting that this line passes close to the great Lombard Street, a jewel of the city. The Cable Car is one of the city’s most popular attractions, earning it a place in this list of things to do in San Francisco.

4. Alcatraz Prison

Category: €€/Cultural/Insolite

Description: Visiting a prison may seem a bit “weird”, but believe us, Alcatraz is well worth the diversions! To explore it, all you have to do is take the Alcatraz Cruises ferry. Located on the city’s bay, Alcatraz is in fact an island where nobody lives. In 1934 it became a state penitentiary, one of the toughest and most secure prisons in the world. It’s a place that today raises a lot of questions among historians, and you’ll certainly feel a little intimidated in front of this enormous building. Your audioguide will tell you all about its history, as well as a few anecdotes about this prison that is the talk of the world. This is one of the city’s most visited sites, and you can visit it from 8.45am to 6.15pm on Wednesdays and Thursdays, while it will be open until 8.30pm on other days of the week.

5. The Exploratorium

Category: €€/Cultural

Description: If you’re naturally curious and love science, then you’ll be delighted to visit the Exploratorium museum. The museum is renowned for hosting over 600 attractions and lots of entertainment based around science and the questions it can raise. Young and old alike will be delighted to visit! Put on your explorer’s outfit and try out experiments on how a car works, or how to explain certain meteorological phenomena… You’ll come away different, with a different view of the world around us, and very likely answers to some of the questions you’ve been asking yourself. It’s clear that you won’t see the hours go by! The Exploratorium is located on quays 15 and 17 of the Embarcadero, and is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 10am to 5pm. It’s a place that arouses curiosity, and the famous glass gallery, the Fisher Bay Observatory, is one of its favourite attractions.

6. Palace Of Fine Arts

Category: €€/Cultural

Description: It’s impossible to miss the Palace of Fine Arts, located at the entrance to Presidio Park! This is one of the most expensive museums in the world, devoted mainly to Asian art. A real nugget. And if its architecture rings a bell, or you’re feeling a little ‘déjà vu’, it’s because it’s been featured in cult films such as 1958’s Vertigio and 2003’s The Room. Some people come here for a picnic, others for a chat while admiring the works of art on display. It’s a very welcoming place with a rich history, which we’ll give you plenty of opportunity to discover once you’re inside. We advise you to visit its highest point: a rotunda easily reaching 49 metres in height! The Palais des Beaux-Arts is open from 10am to 5pm every day, and is a favourite attraction for lovers of art and fine things.