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Top 20 Things To Do in San Francisco
Discover San Francisco's must-see attractions and highly-rated experiences. Our expertly curated guide helps you plan the perfect visit with insider recommendations and traveler favorites.
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San Francisco Travel Guide
San Francisco captivates with its iconic landmarks, diverse neighborhoods, and stunning natural beauty set against the backdrop of the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay. Cross the majestic Golden Gate Bridge, ride the historic cable cars up steep hills, and explore the infamous former prison island of Alcatraz. Wander through vibrant districts like the Mission with its colorful murals and artisanal coffee shops, Chinatown with authentic dim sum, and the hippie heritage of Haight-Ashbury. The city's progressive spirit shines through its innovative food scene—from ferry building farmers markets to Michelin-starred restaurants helmed by celebrity chefs. With its unique microclimates creating everything from foggy mornings to sunny afternoons, San Francisco offers year-round appeal. The surrounding region provides easy access to Napa Valley wine country, Monterey Bay's marine life, and the towering redwoods of Muir Woods, making it an ideal base for Northern California adventures.
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Top 20 Ranked
Best Attractions in San Francisco
Our expertly curated list of the top experiences, tours, and attractions based on traveler reviews and ratings.
#1
Top Rated
Private Full-Day San Francisco City Tour + Muir Woods 7 hr, Max 6
5 (14)
Muir Woods in the morning and City Tour in the afternoon In the Morning: Start in Fisherman's Wharf then over the Golden Gate Bridge North to the Muir Woods National Monument to see the giant redwoods. Your visit inside the park is self-guided. Your guide will be waiting for you after your park visit. Stop at Muir Beach Overlook to catch a view of the Pacific Ocean. Stop in the bayside town of Sausalito. A quick stop for grab-and-go lunch in Sausalito Stop at Golden Gate Bridge overlook on the way back to san Francisco In the Afternoon: Two to Three-hour San Francisco tours cover many of the major sites: Fisherman's Wharf, Union Square, Presidio, Golden Gate Park, Twin Peaks, Chinatown, Lombard Street (traffic permitting), Coit Tower, and North Beach (“Little Italy”). Our Jeeps fit up to 4 adults and 2 children. The 3rd row seating is perfect for children and teens.
#2
Top Rated
Private San Francisco Mission District Food Tour with +5 Tastings
5 (11)
On our Secret Food Tour: San Francisco - North Beach and Chinatown, you’ll experience the most iconic parts of “The City by the Bay.” Our experienced guides will take you on a delicious journey through the Gold Rush days of the Barbary Coast. While most tour companies only focus on one neighborhood over the other, we dive deep into both to offer you a taste of the best of both worlds. On your journey, you’ll bite into pizza with a surprise topping straight from the Pacific bay! You will explore West Coast coffee culture and find yourself wanting more of our secret bite! You’ll also discover the inner workings of our world famous cable cars, investigate the naughty red light district, uncover where the “The Godfather” was written and conceived, and wander through the alleys where the original miner 49’ers cashed in their sacks of new found gold. All in one afternoon! As a private tour, everything works around you! Our start times are much more easy going, dates can open up.
#3
Top Rated
City Cruises San Francisco: Signature Lunch Cruise
5 (8)
Come aboard and indulge in a 2-hour buffet lunch cruise around the San Francisco Bay. Pass by the iconic sites like Alcatraz Island and the city skyline, and then cruise under the Golden Gate and Bay Bridge. This lunch cruise is a perfect option for touring the bay with friends, family and co-workers.
#4
Top Rated
Let’s do a morning sail on San Francisco Bay (semi private)
5 (7)
Have you ever wanted to go sailing in the San Francisco Bay area but didn’t know anyone with a boat? Come sail with me, Captain John. Let me share my passion for sailing with you. I’m a U.S. certified sailing instructor and licensed by the U.S Coast Guard and fully insured. The boat, Temptation, was purchased in 2006 brand new. She is a modern, luxury 37-foot sailing yacht. I have lived here for almost 50 years and can be your tour guide on the water. Just sit back, relax and enjoy a great day of sailing the SF bay with your friends and family. Sailing aboard my boat, Temptation, is a great economical way to spend a memorable day on the beautiful San Francisco Bay. It’s so much fun!
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#5
Top Rated
Airport Ride - SFO to Napa, CA
5 (4)
We offer FREE meet and greet service for you or your client(s) on arrival, assist with gathering your luggage and take you to your destination in style and comfort. No lugging bulky baggage on and off shuttles or in and out of taxis – your driver takes all the fuss out of this part of your journey leaving you free to enjoy the scenery and relax.
#6
Top Rated
Private Muir Woods and Sausalito Half Day Tour
5 (3)
Escape the busy city life and head to Muir Woods National Monument to spend a half-day on a privately guided tour of one of the only groves of historic coastal redwoods in the area. Stop in the seaside village of Sausalito where you’ll see stunning views of San Francisco.
#7
Silicon Valley Tech FD Small Group Tour
3.7142856 (7)
On our exclusive Silicon Valley tour, we explore the Googleplex — a tech playground with cafes, shops, and art installations. From volleyball courts to on-site haircuts, you’ll glimpse the dynamic world of Google employees and even spot the colorful Google bikes around the campus. We’ll visit the Computer History Museum, journeying through four decades of computing history, including one of the earliest computers. Then, enjoy Stanford University with free time to explore, immerse yourself in the academic atmosphere, and stroll through the picturesque grounds. Our final stop is Apple’s Visitor Center, featuring interactive exhibits, a café, and a well-stocked Apple Store. Use an iPad and virtual reality to tour the secretive Apple campus! At 4:00 PM, we’ll conclude our tech-filled day and return to San Francisco, enjoying a scenic drive past Crystal Springs Reservoir and San Andreas Lake.
#8
Top Rated
Walking Tour of Nob Hill - Cable Cars, Luxury Hotels, French-Gothic Cathedral
5 (2)
When Robert Louis Stevenson visited San Francisco in 1879, he declared, "Nob Hill, the Hill of Palaces, must certainly be counted the best part of San Francisco. It is here that millionaires gathered together, vying with each other in display". My Nob Hill tour is a 2-hour walking photo-shoot tour that starts with a Cable Car ride and a visit to a French Gothic Cathedral and ends at the Top of the Mark on the 19th floor of the InterContinental Mark Hopkins Hotel for photographs and beverages at sunset. The eclectic history of Nob Hill includes: * The Gold Rush (not the San Francisco 49r cheerleaders) * The Silver Bonanza (not including Ben Cartwright, Ben, Hoss or Little Joe) * The Transcontinental Railroad * The 1906 Earthquake and Fire, and * A spectacular French-Gothic design Episcopal Cathedral that took nearly 40 years to build. The opportunities for photography are endless on Nob Hill!
#9
Top Rated
Muir Woods and Sausalito Private Tour
5 (4)
Take a trip around San Francisco in a luxury Lincoln Sedan. Our tours can accommodate up to 4 people, it is a private tour. Book with our friendly and informative tour guides today for SF ultimate experience. This Tour will take you across the Golden Gate Bridge to walk among old-growth coast redwoods of the famous Muir Woods National Monument Park and admire the beautiful seaside Mediterranean style City of Sausalito. On the Muir Woods and Sausalito Tour, you will cross one of the most famous landmarks, the Golden Gate Bridge, while you could admire the Art Deco style of The Bridge and the skyline of San Francisco, the Bay, and Alcatraz Island. We will be heading the Muir Woods National Monument through the coastal mountains of the Marin Headlands along with the Mount Tamalpais. Muir Woods National Monument You have a free walk of 1 hour and 15 minutes to see the world's impressive highest trees and feel the magic atmosphere while you enter "quietly in the Cathedral Groove."
#10
Top Rated
Private San Francisco City Tour + Alcatraz (Tickets Incl., Max 6)
5 (3)
Our Alcatraz Ferry and Island Tour PLUS San Francisco Private Group City Tour offers an extraordinary day of discovery! Start your morning with a private tour of San Francisco’s top attractions, including iconic sites like the Golden Gate Bridge and Fisherman’s Wharf. In the afternoon, embark on an exciting ferry ride to explore the rich history of Alcatraz Island. How the Alcatraz City Tour Combo Package Works: City Tour: Choose between a private 2 or 3-hour city tour, starting at 9:00 AM. Ending at 11:00 AM or 12:00 PM. Alcatraz Ferry Timing: If your Alcatraz ferry departs within 1 hour after the city tour, we'll drop you off at Pier 33 (Alcatraz Landing) 30–60 minutes before. If your ferry departs more than 1 hour later, you'll be dropped at PIER 39 to relax and eat before walking to Pier 33. Alcatraz Tour Length: The Alcatraz tour takes 2–3 hours. You can return to Pier 33 at your own pace. Important: Return transport from Pier 33 is not included; the activity ends there.
#11
Top Rated
San Francisco Private Intro Tour with a Local – Custom & Flexible
5 (1)
San Francisco is a city of striking contrasts, where waterfront history meets creative energy and diverse neighborhoods shape its identity. With your local host, you will go beyond the obvious sights and experience the city through its stories, scenic piers, and the everyday moments that bring it to life. Before the tour begins, you will complete a short online questionnaire so we can match you with the right local host to design your ideal San Francisco experience.
#12
Top Rated
Private Airport Transfer From SFO to Napa Valley
5 (1)
We pride our self the best airport transportation limousine car service provider to busy corporate executives and leisure clients to make their trip more productive and enjoyable. Our Airport Transportation Limousine Car Service chauffeurs are trained to maintain intimate familiarity with the layout, logistical details and surrounding traffic patterns of the airports we service. Additionally, our drivers remain in constant cell phone and text contact ensuring that your vehicle is where you need it, when you need it
#13
Top Rated
San Francisco Sightseeing Private Tour (3-Hour minimum)
5 (1)
We provide luxurious door-to-door transportation services. Prior to one hour from a scheduled pick-up time, the passengers will receive a courteous reminder via text messaging that the chauffeur is on the way. We are always on time and arrive 15 minutes prior. Chauffeur will open a door for our clients and assist with luggage. Our vehicles 2023 and newer. Clean and sanitized between trips. Passengers responsible to select attractions and restaurants they'd like to visit in advance and confirm all reservations before booking the tour. Concierge assistance (group of up to 6 people) available for additional fee.
#14
Top Rated
Private Sailing Charter: Up to 24 Passengers
5 (1)
Our classic sailing yachts are the perfect venue for your group! Treat your family and friends to a spectacular private sail around the San Francisco Bay. While our boats are coast guard licensed for 34 passengers, we are limiting to groups of 24 or less for comfort and class. Price includes entire boat, captain and crew as well as a customary gratuity. You can stick with our standard route or tell us where you want to go. Its your boat and your party.
#15
Top Rated
Gold Greed and Gunslingers Forging San Francisco By Junket
5 (2)
Come on our History Walking Tour of San Francisco! Travel back in time to the San Francisco of the late 1840s and early 1850s with this Gold Rush History Tour. You'll visit sites important to the early history of San Francisco, and by extension, all of California. From Portsmouth Square, to Sydney Town, to Pier 7, explore the locations, people, and legends that make up some of the darker side of San Francisco's early history, replete with tales of greed, discrimination, feuds, and lawless violence.
#16
Top Rated
Private Airport Transfer From SFO to San Francisco Union Square
5 (1)
We pride our self the best airport transportation limousine car service provider to busy corporate executives and leisure clients to make their trip more productive enjoyable. Our Airport Transportation Limousine Car Service's chauffeurs are trained to maintain intimate familiarity with the layout, logistical details and surrounding traffic patterns of the airports we service. Additionally, our drivers remain in constant cell phone and text contact ensuring that your vehicle is where you need it, when you need it
#17
A Sip and Paint Experience in San Francisco
4 (2)
Our sip and paint activities provide value to guests as we offer: Creative Outlet: Guests can express their creativity through painting. Social Experience: Guests can meet new people and have fun together. Relaxation: Painting can be calming and help reduce stress. Cultural Engagement: Guests can immerse themselves in the local art scene. Personal Keepsake: Guests create their own artwork as a memorable souvenir. In summary, sip and paint activities provide guests with opportunities for creativity, socializing, relaxation, cultural engagement, and personal keepsakes.
#18
Top Rated
San Francisco's Glen Park and Glen Canyon: A Self-Guided Tour
5 (1)
The village of Glen Park is nestled among the slopes of the San Miguel Hills near the heart of San Francisco, just south of Twin Peaks. It is the gateway to a hidden gem of 70 acres of open space known as Glen Canyon, of which 60 acres is officially designated as a Significant Natural Resource Area. Much of the history of Glen Park and Glen Canyon is closely intertwined, from early open-range cattle grazing and "milch" ranches, to an explosive direct link with today's prestigious Nobel Prizes, to a radical sales gimmick for selling home lots that included just about everything from lions and bears to trick shooters and high-flying aeronauts! In addition to the area's remarkable cultural history, we'll also discover some of the highlights of the canyon's natural history as we trek through. The tour is ready whenever you are and the audio plays automatically at exactly the right time and place using your smartphone's GPS and the VoiceMap mobile app, which also works offline.
#19
Top Rated
Enchanting Yosemite National Park Tour from San Francisco
5 (1)
Explore and relish the enchanted day trip to Yosemite from SFO -something you don’t want to miss. Enjoy the great the great outdoors with both guided sightseeing and free time, ensuring you see the UNESCO World Heritage Site’s major attractions, like Half Dome, Yosemite Falls, and Yosemite Valley. Travel through the Central Valley farmlands, historical Gold Country, and the Sierra Nevada foothills Spend hours snapping photos of Yosemite’s stunning forests, rock formations, and waterfalls Visit Half Dome, Yosemite Falls, and El Capitan on a guided van tour. Enjoy free time to explore Yosemite’s other natural wonders by foot or bike. Take in a breathtaking panorama from the Tunnel View overlook for an expansive view of the Yosemite Valley. Small-group tour with a private and group options limited to 5 ensures a more personalized experience.
#20
Top Rated
Marin Headlands Gravel Cycling Tour From San Francisco
5 (1)
Let me introduce you to and guide you along the amazing gravel biking routes right in San Francisco and in the Marin Headlands. The headlands are across the Golden Gate Bridge and are the birthplace of mountain biking. Whether you are an experienced gravel cyclist or don't own a gravel bike, but are gravel curious, you will have a great time as I will craft a route for you based on your skill level and fitness. The private tour will feature amazing vistas of the Pacific Ocean and the San Francisco skyline. The ride can include challenging climbs, single-track, exhilarating downhills, wildlife sightings, a lunch refueling stop, and celebratory drinks at The Pelican Inn. If you don't own a gravel bike, I will coordinate renting a high-quality gravel bike. Check out our Instagram videos on @GravelGuideSF
Review counts and ratings based on Viator and Tripadvisor data
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do tours cost in San Francisco?
Tours in San Francisco range from $10 to $1208, with an average price of $340. The highest-rated tour is "Private Full-Day San Francisco City Tour + Muir Woods 7 hr, Max 6" at 5 stars.
What are the best experiences in San Francisco?
Our guide features 20 top experiences in San Francisco, averaging 4.9 stars across 75 reviews. The top-rated is "Private Full-Day San Francisco City Tour + Muir Woods 7 hr, Max 6".
When is the best time to visit San Francisco?
The ideal time to visit San Francisco depends on your preferences. Plan your trip with Plan Harmony to organize all your activities and make the most of your visit.
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