5 Fun Things to Do in San Francisco

I’ve now had the pleasure of visiting San Francisco city twice in the last four years, and it’s definitely one of the neatest US cities that I’ve visited. With no shortage of unique architecture and scenic ocean views, not to mention the iconic Golden Gate bridge, it’s a place I’ll definitely be visiting again. 

Here are five things to consider doing should you find yourself in the Golden City.

1. Visit the Fisherman’s Wharf

Fisherman’s Wharf sits on the northern waterfront of San Francisco, from Pier 35 to 45 and beyond. It is one of the busiest attractions in the city, and for good reason, with lots of shopping, restaurants, parks, museums, and waterfront attractions. And of course, the great view.

Related: Review: San Francisco Marriott Fishermans Wharf

Pier 39 is a very popular spot, as just beside it is a plethora of docks surrounding the pier that are always host to some lounging California sea lions. Facing out into the bay also provides a great view of Alcatraz island.

2. Walk Across the Golden Gate Bridge

You can’t visit San Francisco without experiencing the wonder that is the Golden Gate Bridge. I recommend walking across the bridge.

At the entrance to the bridge is a great coffee shop (Equator Coffees) and cafe (Round House Cafe).  It takes about 30-40 minutes to walk across the bridge’s 2.7 kilometers (1.7 miles).

On the other side is the city of Sausalito and Marin Country which has a lot to explore as well. When I visited last time, we walked down to the Presidio Yacht Club which gives a great view of the Golden Gate Bridge as well as a lot of nice boats.

There is a bar near the Yacht Club called the Travis Marina, although it is open to the public, it also often hosts private events. Another option if you’re looking for a drink or good eats is the closeby Farley, a cocktail lounge with small eats. 

3. Relax at Baker Beach or Ocean Beach

As San Francisco is surrounded by water to the north, east, and west, it’s no surprise that it has some gorgeous beaches. 

The beach closest to the Golden Gate bridge is called Baker Beach, and you’ve no doubt seen some iconic photos from this spot. There are several picnic areas and access to hiking trails around this area as well. 

On the other hand, there is Ocean Beach which has gorgeous white sand. It is located near the Richmond district to the west of San Francisco. Aptly named, this beach is right on the Pacific Ocean, and being located further from the city center, is quieter with fewer tourists. 

Ocean Beach is technically part of the Golden Gate National Park, so the surrounding area is very natural as well. 

4. Take a Stroll Through the Golden Gate Park

Golden Gate Park is San Francisco’s own version of Central Park, a large urban park. Golden Gate Park is in fact larger than New York’s Central Park by about 20%, and the 3rd most visited city park in the United States.

The park has a road that can be driven running from one side of the park to the other, but has a virtually car-free route as well. There are numerous attractions, structures, and points of interest that make this a nature and art lovers paradise, including:

• Japanese Tea Garden
• Conservatory of Flowers
• Academy of Sciences
• De Young Museum – a fine arts museum
• Windmills
• Botanical Gardens 
• Variety of lakes, including Stow Lake which offers boat rentals
• Bison Paddock
• Sports areas – Kezar Stadium, Polo Field, Archery range  
• Beach Chalet which contains several restaurants
• Much more…

Golden Gate Park is free to enter throughout the day, however, certain attractions such as the museums or tea garden do have a small fee. 

5. Attend a Concert at the UC Berkeley Greek Theatre

While not technically in San Francisco itself (‘bay area’), the UC Berkeley campus is in the closeby city of Oakland, just across the San Francisco Bay Bridge.

People gush over Red Rocks and other unique concert venues in the USA. But UC Berkeley’s Greek Theatre is a highly unique venue of its own. 

Like other Greek Theatre venues (see LA Griffith’s Greek Theatre), it is modeled to look like an ancient Greek temple. The space holds approximately 8,500 people, making concerts there both picturesque and intimate.

Even with its smaller seating capacity, the Greek Theatre is consistently host to a variety of mainstream artists from multiple genres, as well as several notable speakers including presidents and even the Dalai Lama.

The Frugal Flyer team recently got to experience a show there featuring Two Friends opening for the Chainsmokers! (But in our opinion it should have been Chainsmokers opening for the Two Friends, who absolutely killed their set).

Other Honorable Mentions

Containing this list to just 5 was tough. Too tough. So here are a bunch more ideas for your next trip to San Francisco.

Alcatraz

Alcatraz is a small island located a few kilometers offshore of northern San Fran. Alcatraz is an infamous prison closed since 1963, which was notoriously difficult to escape from with the strong currents and cold water surrounding the island. Now it operates as a tourist attraction, and you can secure day and night ferry tours to view the island and prison for as little as $25-$50.   

Bonita Point Lighthouse

A historic lighthouse located at the tip of the Marin Headlands near Sausalito, Marin County. Apparently, this lighthouse is one of the last still actively maintained by the US Coast Guard. 

Coit Tower

You can see the Coit Tower in the lower left third of the photo below.

Coit Tower is a historic tower seen in many skyline views of San Francisco. It is an art decor tower, with the inside painted with murals by a variety of artists. The tower itself was dedicated to volunteer firemen who had died in a series of SF fires. 

This tower presents an opportunity for some vibrant night photography, as it lights up in different colors at night. 

If you intend to venture inside the tower, make sure you arrive prior to the closing time of 5:00 or 6:00 PM (depending on the time of year). See the website for hours and details.

Hyde and Lombard (‘Windingest Road’)

Lombard street is host to a very famous structural attraction: the ‘Windingest Road’, a steep one block section of eight hairpin turns. It is definitely worth visiting night or day, and maybe even driving down! 

A fellow I met says he always tries to offer his taxi driver $20 to drive it backwards (in reverse). He has had no takers yet…

Land’s End

Land’s End is a popular hiking trail in northwestern San Francisco that culminates in a lookout and features many stunning views of the Golden Gate Bridge and the city skyline. It also features secluded beaches, shipwrecks, and old ruins of Sutro Baths.

Nob Hill and Powell Street

This area is known as a great spot for photographing San Francisco’s famed street/cable cars. You definitely shouldn’t leave SFO without getting a great tram shot, in my opinion. 

One famous one is at the top of Powell at the intersection with California, looking back down the hill. In the daylight, this can give you a view of the tram car coming up, with the Bay Bridge poking through the background in between the rows of buildings. 

The Painted Ladies

The Painted Ladies are a set of old Victorian style houses from the 1960s which were repainted to be brightly multi-colored. Located near Alamo Square on the western side of San Francisco, these houses offer fascinating architectural details.

The houses are also situated on a slanted street which offers a peak of the San Francisco skyline behind, making for a great photo.

Conclusion

San Francisco is a big city with unique attractions and great views. Big bridges and sandy beaches, what more can you ask for really?

I should note that, as you may be aware, the micro-economy of the city as a tech capital means things are quite expensive for tourists compared to other US cities, and even other cities in California. However, it’s a worthy price to pay in my opinion, and definitely a city worth visiting if you can make it happen.