# Things to Do in San Francisco

Landmarks and museums that define a first (or fifth) visit to San Francisco proper. · community starter list

Looking for things to do in San Francisco? This list of 9 includes Alcatraz Island (Alcatraz Island, San Francisco). The order here is where we started — no votes have been cast yet, so voting decides it from here.

**Where:** [Third Platz](/.md) / [United States](/united-states.md) / San Francisco
**Updated:** 2026-08-25 16:53:40

1. **[Alcatraz Island](/e/alcatraz-island---1322.md)** (attraction) — Former federal prison on a bay island, reachable only by the official ferry from Pier 33. — score 0 — endorsements 0 — sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alcatraz_Island, https://www.nps.gov/alca/planyourvisit/index.htm
2. **[Golden Gate Bridge](/e/golden-gate-bridge---1323.md)** (attraction) — Free to walk or bike the 1.7-mile span; the pedestrian walkway keeps seasonal hours and there are no bike rentals on site. — score 0 — endorsements 0 — sources: https://www.nps.gov/prsf/planyourvisit/golden-gate-bridge.htm, https://www.goldengate.org/bridge/visiting-the-bridge/
3. **[de Young Museum](/e/de-young-museum---1324.md)** (attraction) — Fine-arts museum with a free-to-ride observation tower offering 360-degree park and bay views; advance reservations encouraged. — score 0 — endorsements 0 — sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_Young_Museum, https://www.famsf.org/visit/de-young
4. **[California Academy of Sciences](/e/california-academy-of-sciences---1325.md)** (attraction) — Aquarium, planetarium, natural history museum and living rainforest under one roof; planetarium shows need a separate advance reservation. — score 0 — endorsements 0 — sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_Academy_of_Sciences, https://www.calacademy.org/hours-admission
5. **[Exploratorium](/e/exploratorium---1326.md)** (attraction) — Hands-on science museum on the waterfront piers with 650+ exhibits; the pitch-black Tactile Dome is ticketed separately and closes periodically for maintenance. — score 0 — endorsements 0 — sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exploratorium, https://www.exploratorium.edu/visit
6. **[Ferry Building Marketplace](/e/ferry-building-marketplace---1327.md)** (attraction) — Restored 1898 transit terminal turned food hall, with a farmers market on the plaza three mornings a week. — score 0 — endorsements 0 — sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Francisco_Ferry_Building, https://www.ferrybuildingmarketplace.com/visit/
7. **[Coit Tower](/e/coit-tower---1328.md)** (attraction) — 1930s tower atop Telegraph Hill with free Depression-era murals on the ground floor and a paid, ticketed elevator to the viewing platform. — score 0 — endorsements 0 — sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coit_Tower, https://www.pioneerparksf.org/visit
8. **[Cable Car Museum](/e/cable-car-museum---1329.md)** (attraction) — Free museum inside a working cable car powerhouse and barn, with views down into the cable-winding machinery below street level. — score 0 — endorsements 0 — sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Francisco_cable_car_system, https://www.cablecarmuseum.org/
9. **[Presidio Tunnel Tops](/e/presidio-tunnel-tops---1330.md)** (attraction) — Free park built over the Presidio Parkway tunnels, with a visitor center, playground and picnic lawns overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge. — score 0 — endorsements 0 — sources: https://www.parksconservancy.org/parks/presidio-tunnel-tops, https://presidio.gov/explore/attractions/presidio-tunnel-tops

## Related lists

### Nearby
- [Things to Do in Chicago](/united-states-chicago/things-to-do---204.md) — Chicago
- [Things to Do in Los Angeles](/united-states-los-angeles/things-to-do---168.md) — Los Angeles
- [Things to Do in New York City](/united-states-new-york-city/things-to-do---137.md) — New York City

### More in San Francisco
- [Best Cafes in San Francisco](/united-states-san-francisco/best-cafes---206.md) — San Francisco
- [Top 10 Restaurants in San Francisco](/united-states-san-francisco/top-10-restaurants---207.md) — San Francisco
- [Best Parks in San Francisco](/united-states-san-francisco/best-parks---209.md) — San Francisco

### Same topic, elsewhere
- [Things to Do in Istanbul](/turkey-istanbul/things-to-do---140.md) — Istanbul
- [Things to Do in Mumbai](/india-mumbai/things-to-do---142.md) — Mumbai
- [Things to Do in Toronto](/canada-toronto/things-to-do---144.md) — Toronto

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