San Francisco, United States
Top places to visit in San Francisco
6 places worth your time in San Francisco, with what each is actually like and when to go.
Last updated 2026-08-09
1. Golden Gate Bridge
Photo: LukePricePhotography · CC BY 2.0 · source
Walkable and cyclable, and best approached from the Marin side for the view back.
- Map: Open in Maps
- Best time: Morning, before the fog rolls in
- Cost: Free on foot
2. Alcatraz
Photo: dhilung · CC BY 2.0 · source
The island prison, with an audio tour narrated by former inmates and guards.
- Map: Open in Maps
- Cost: USD 47
- Tip: Book weeks ahead; official tickets are only from Alcatraz City Cruises.
Watch outSellers in Fisherman's Wharf offering 'Alcatraz tours' that only sail past without landing.
3. Golden Gate Park
Photo: Archives Branch, USMC History Division · CC BY 2.0 · source
Larger than Central Park, with the de Young, the Academy of Sciences and a bison paddock.
4. Mission District
Photo: Eric Fischer · CC BY 2.0 · source
Murals, taquerías and the oldest building in the city at Mission Dolores.
5. Chinatown
Photo: www.bluewaikiki.com · CC BY SA 2.0 · source
The oldest in North America, and a working neighbourhood rather than a themed street.
6. Lands End and the Sutro Baths
Photo: johnnycochran · CC BY 2.0 · source
A coastal trail past ruined Victorian sea baths to a view of the bridge.
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