Ultimate San Francisco Bucket List: 125+ Things to Do in SF

Last updated on March 10th, 2025 at 02:49 pm

I grew up just 20 minutes south of San Francisco and spent quite a bit of time exploring the city from high school until I left California for graduate school. I saw my first musical, Rent, at the War Memorial Opera House, I watched Giants games at Candlestick Park, and still refer to Oracle Stadium as PacBell Park. I’ve gone ice skating in Union Square during the holidays and had birthdays at Pier 39. Since moving into the city in 2020, I’ve expanded my San Francisco bucket list and am steadily working my way through many of the awesome things to do in San Francisco.

I figured I would share my bucket list for San Francisco with you to help you plan your visit to the city or, if you’re local, spark some interest in re-discovering the city by the bay as it reopens post-pandemic. 

It’s quite a long bucket list, so it’s organized by type of activity, and I share the neighborhood it’s in. I was going to break it down by neighborhoods because I figured that would help you plan a weekend itinerary or a full day exploring one neighborhood. But dang, if there aren’t way more little San Francisco neighborhoods than I imagined. I got so confused! So, by activity, it is!

Ps…. I know the numbers are off as you get to the bottom. I recently updated this post and was having one hell of a time trying to adjust the bullet points, so I gave up. There are at least 125 things to do in San Francisco on this list!

This post contains affiliate links, which means that, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a tiny bit of income if you decide to make a purchase or booking. For more, check out my disclosure. 

Best Time of Year to Visit San Francisco

San Francisco’s weather is just as quirky as the people who call the city home. The city is known for its microclimates. The Outer Sunset neighborhood could be fogged in while just a few miles away the sun is shining on the Mission! Here’s what to expect from San Francisco’s weather throughout the year to help you decide the best time to visit for you!

Summer in San Francisco (June-August)

While the summer is the busiest tourist season, it’s also the coldest time of the year. I’m sure you’ve heard the quote “the coldest winter I spent was a summer in San Francisco”. It’s true.

The fog rolls in thick and heavy, so much so that we’ve named the fog Karl. If you’re visiting in the summer, pack accordingly using my San Francisco packing list. 

As summer is the high tourist season, you can expect pricier accommodations. 

However, you’ll benefit from longer days. The sun usually sets around 9 p.m., allowing you time to add more things to your itinerary!

Fall in San Francisco (September-November)

The best time of year to visit San Francisco based on weather is September and October. This is when San Francisco summer starts. Our temperatures increase and people flock to the city’s beaches. While it’s the shoulder season, accommodation prices are generally the same as the summer.

Winter in San Francisco (December-February)

The holiday season is a fun time to visit the city. San Francisco at Christmas is a beautiful sight. Not only does the city decorate with trees, gigantic ornaments, and ice skating rinks, but many locals go all out with their house decorations.

The winter is technically San Francisco’s rainy season, and thankfully in recent years we’ve had very wet winters to help combat California’s drought.

If it happens to rain while you’re visiting, head over to my favorite things to do on a rainy day in San Francisco. 

Accommodations are reasonably priced, except for right around Christmas time.

Spring in San Francisco (March-May)

Spring is also a beautiful time of year to visit San Francisco. cherry blossoms and magnolias bloom throughout the city, the air is crisp, and accommodations are reasonably priced.

It’s a great time to take in an early season baseball game or head over to Alcatraz Island!

What to Pack for San Francisco

San Francisco is a casual and very accepting city. You’ll see such a wide variety of clothing styles here. Yesterday, within 10 minutes at a cafe, I saw a young family looking like they’d come from church, a young woman looking like she stepped out of the 70s, and two skater kids.

Bottom line: Dress how you want to. If you’ve been wanting to try something new, this might be the best place to do it because no one will care if it looks a bit off-beat (it probably doesn’t—you look amazing!).

That being said, jeans, tennis shoes, and a nice top with a jacket are appropriate for daytime exploring. If you’re going out to a nice meal, just swap out the tennis shoes for some flats or boots, and you’re “dressed up.” I tend not to wear heels here, or anywhere for that matter, but particularly in San Francisco because walking on steep hills in heels is a skill I have not mastered yet, nor do I want to.

San Francisco Packing List Essentials

• Jacket: A jacket is a must for San Francisco. Moving from one neighborhood to another can result in drastic changes in weather and you’ll want to be able to pull a jacket out from your backpack. I wear a down jacket year-round and layer on a rain jacket if it looks like it’ll be a rainy or misty day.
• Comfortable shoes: Like I said, heels aren’t necessary. My favorite and insanely comfortable shoes are these Sorel Booties, which are also waterproof. I also love these Keen sneakers, which are cute and comfy!
• Backpack: You’ll likely be gone from your hotel room most of the day, so you’ll want a lightweight backpack to carry your snacks, water bottle, layers, and camera. I’ve been liking this one for travel recently.
• Water Bottle: Bring a reusable water bottle to rehydrate after climbing all of these hills! San Francisco’s tap water is some of the best; you don’t need to filter it or rely on plastic bottles. Do good for your body and the environment!
• Camera: Whether you use your phone’s camera or a fancy schmancy camera, bring one along! This is such a picturesque city, you’ll want to capture it! Here are some of the best places for photos in San Francisco.
• Portable Charger: Since you’ll be out all day, you’ll need to keep your cell phone/camera batteries charged up. You’ll use your phone for Ubers, directions, Yelp reviews, and photographs. That battery will go quickly! This is the portable charger I use. When it is fully charged, I can recharge my cell phone and my camera multiple times in a day.

I wrote a detailed San Francisco packing list guide that breaks out what to wear based on our unique weather patterns, ahem microclimates, so check that out for more packing information.

5 Quick Tips for Visiting San Francisco

1. If you need to rent a car, do it only for the days you’ll need it.This will save you a lot of money and time on parking.
2. When you do have a car, make sure to follow my San Francisco driving tips like taking everything out of it. Car break-ins are really common here, especially in tourist areas.
3. Homelessness is a complex problem in the city. You might see and smell things you wish you never had, but they’re very much a part of San Francisco. 
4. Maintain an open mind. San Francisco is a very open-minded, liberal city. You will see same-sex couples openly displaying their love (I saw the sweetest engagement) in front of you. This is their town. This is where they’re safe. Keep it that way.
5. Don’t spend all of your time at Pier 39 and Fisherman’s Wharf. There is so much more to see here!

The Ultimate San Francisco Bucket List

Below, you’ll find a list of 100+ awesome things to do in San Francisco. Some I’ve done, and some are on my bucket list as well. I’ll put a check mark next to the ones I’ve done for transparency. Pick any that appeal to you, and have fun exploring San Francisco.

Ps…. I know the numbers are off as you get to the bottom. I recently updated this post and was having one hell of a time trying to adjust the bullet points, so I gave up. There are at least 125 things to do in San Francisco on this list!

San Francisco Bucket List: Outdoor Activities

One thing I love about San Francisco is its easy access to nature. You don’t need to leave the city to benefit from nature’s restorative effects.

1. Hike Lands End to the labyrinth that overlooks the Golden Gate Bridge and the Pacific Ocean. This not-so-hidden gem anymore is popular amongst locals and a great sunset spot (Presidio) ✅
2. Having a bonfire at Ocean Beach is incredibly high on my San Francisco bucket list. I walk by people enjoying the bonfire pits every night of the week, especially on the weekend. There are designated fire pits at Ocean Beach, but you’ll also see people making their own. Bring everything you need, including a bucket to fill with water to put out the fire when you’re done  (Outer Richmond)
3. Did you know that San Francisco has a ruin? It’s Sutro Baths! This former bathhouse is now a haven for graffiti artists, photographers, and walkers. You can still see the steps that lead into the pools, although I definitely wouldn’t go swimming in them now. Sutro Baths also has trails that connect to the Lands End trail, so you could easily visit both in an afternoon, checking off two items on this bucket list (Seacliff) ✅
4. Across the street from Sutro Baths is Sutro Heights Park, a formerly walled Victorian Garden. This is very much a local gem as it’s tucked away in Seacliff overlooking Ocean Beach and Seal Rock. There are a few benches to watch the sunset and ample grassy areas for a picnic (Seacliff) ✅
5. Walk Lovers Lane, the oldest footpath in the Presidio. This is a .6 mile completely paved path, but keep your eye out for the art installation by Andy Goldsworthy near the south end of the trail. This is a popular place for photo session! (Presidio) ✅
6. Chill out at Crissy Field with views of the Golden Gate Bridge and the city skyline. There is a lot to do in this area from picnics to biking, to simply enjoying a sunny San Francisco day (Presidio) ✅
7. Baker Beach is probably one of the more popular beaches in San Francisco and definitely worth the visit with its awesome views of the Golden Gate Bridge and connection to the Batteries to Bluffs trail. Fair warning, though, the closer you walk along the beach to the bridge, the less clothing is worn (Presidio) ✅
8. Marshall’s Beach is located just north of Baker Beach and is only accessible by the Batteries to Bluffs trail either from Golden Gate Overlook or Baker Beach. This beach, at times, is inaccessible due to the tides, but it is a great sunset spot. It’s also a nude-friendly beach (Presidio) ✅
9. As mentioned above, the Batteries to Bluffs Trail is an awesome hike that doesn’t require you to leave the city! It’s roughly 2 miles round trip with a mix of coastal pathways, staircases, and consistently gorgeous views (Presidio) ✅
10. Walk the 17-mile Cross Town Trail. If you’re a walker, this is a great way to see lesser-known parts of San Francisco (entire city).

San Francisco Bucket List: Viewpoints

With all its many hills, some of which have parks at the top, there are ample locations to take in the panoramic views of the city.

11. Gaze out over the San Francisco Bay, Alcatraz Island, and Angel Island from Inspiration Point. (Presidio)
12. Grab a workout on the Lyon Street Steps. These steps are a popular workout location for locals, but the view from the top makes the climb worth it. Alternatively, just park at the top and enjoy the view without the sweat session. (Pacific Heights) ✅
13. Take sunset photos at Pier 7, perhaps the most beautiful pier in the city. It lines up perfectly with the Transamerica Pyramid building. (Embarcadero)
14. Climb to the top of the highest mountain in San Francisco, Mt. Sutro. Nope it’s not the more popular Twin Peaks, but offers just as striking views of the skyline, Sutro Tower, and the Bay to the south. (Forest Knolls) ✅
15. Fall in love at Cupid’s Span. Ok, not really, but this unique art installation is one of my favorite places, especially after dark. I love how the buildings light up behind it! (Embarcadero) ✅
16. Twin Peaks is a popular tourist destination, especially at sunset. It’s very picturesque and fun to see the buildings across the bay appear to light on fire as the sun sets. You also get a 360 view of the city from the Pacific Ocean to downtown. But it does get crowded. For almost the exact same view (without the ocean) with fewer people, head to Tank Hill. (Twin Peaks) ✅

San Francisco Bucket List: Landmarks & Tourist Attractions

If it’s your first visit to San Francisco then there are some things that you just have to do.

17. Climb to the top of Coit Tower for 360-degree views of the city. While it’s a steep climb to the base of the tower, you’ll avoid traffic and parking issues.  (Telegraph Hill) ✅
18. Perhaps one of my favorite places in the city, the Palace of Fine Arts is a must for a leisurely stroll or picnic. (Marina) ✅
19. Drive down the “crookedest street” in the world, Lombard Street. Ok, it’s not actually the most crooked street, but it is quite fun and beautiful to drive down. Go early in the day to avoid traffic (Russian Hill) ✅
20. Ride the Cable Cars! While highly touristic, this is kind of a must-do and really fun. But avoid the lines from the start and end points and catch the Cable Cars from the middle of their routes. (Fisherman’s Wharf, Financial District, Chinatown, North Beach) ✅
21. Sample the food shops at the Ferry Building. There is also an awesome farmers market at the Ferry Building on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays (Embarcadero) ✅
22. I don’t normally recommend visiting Pier 39 or Fisherman’s Wharf, but I really love the sea lions at Pier 39. If you’re nearby, definitely stop to see them. Then get out of the area ASAP!  (Pier 39)
23. If you like iconic buildings, you must visit Grace Cathedral. It’s a beautiful Gothic Church (reminds me of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris) located across from a lovely park. What I love about it is how the outside lights up in celebration of current events (Christmas, Pride, 4th of July, etc) (Nob Hill) ✅
24. What I love about San Francisco is that each neighborhood has a classic movie theater. While many have closed, there are still plenty that show movies. Perhaps the most well-known is the Castro Theater in the Castro neighborhood. They do fun sing-alongs to popular movies, like Frozen 🙂 (Castro) ✅

Golden Gate Bridge

I felt like I needed to have a specific section for the bridge because there are just so many great places to see the Golden Gate Bridge!

25. Watch the sunrise at Battery Spencer. This is a gorgeous way to start your day! (Marin Headland) ✅
26. Find the Cypress Tree framing at Golden Gate Overlook (Presidio) ✅
27. Watch surfers surf underneath the Golden Gate Bridge from Fort Point (Presidio) ✅
28. Get up close and personal by walking or biking across the Golden Gate Bridge  ✅

San Francisco Bucket List: City Parks

San Francisco is filled with parks. Each neighborhood has at least one, and they’re a great way to spend a sunny day in the city.

29. At the top of the 16th Ave tiled steps is Grandview Park which has awesome views of the entire city. From Ocean to Downtown! (Inner Sunset) ✅
30. Alta Plaza Park is one of my favorites! A great picnic spot or workout location on the staircases (Pacific Heights) ✅
31. Enjoy a relaxing afternoon in the picturesque Washington Square Park (North Beach) ✅
32. Perhaps the best hidden gem park, Ina Coolbrith, is where to go for sunrise in San Francisco (Russian Hill) ✅
33. Picnic in Mission Dolores Park, the sunniest place in San Francisco (Mission) ✅

Golden Gate Park

Like the Golden Gate Bridge, I felt it necessary to highlight some of the bucket list things to do in Golden Gate Park. 

34. Stop by and say hello to the herd of 10 Bison grazing a pasture on the western edge of the park. ✅
35. Sip a traditional match while overlooking the beautiful Japanese Tea Garden. ✅
36. Meander through the Conservatory of Flowers.
37. Did you know you can see a Redwood Tree grove without leaving the city? Yep, in the Golden Gate Park Botanical Gardens, right next to the succulents! Go check it out. ✅
38. See the tulips bloom at the Dutch Windmill on the western edge of the park. ✅
39. Row a boat on Stow Lake (great date activity).
40. When you’re done, climb up to to top of Strawberry Hill. ✅

San Francisco Bucket List: Shopping 

San Francisco has a few streets throughout the city with unique boutiques and national names. If you need traditional shopping, head to Union Square!

41. Hayes Street in Hayes Valley has awesome shopping! With local boutiques and international names, you’ll definitely find something to splurge on (Hayes Valley) ✅
42. Check out all of the vintage clothing stores and head shops on the famous Haight St (Haight Ashbury) ✅
43. Shop the boutiques on Fillmore Street (Fillmore) ✅
44. Valencia Street in the Mission District is home to great thrift stores, home goods, and other unique shops. (Mission) ✅

San Francisco Bucket List: Victorian Homes

I can’t get enough of the gorgeous and ornate Victorian homes throughout San Francisco.

44. Check out the Grateful Dead, Jimi Hendrix, and Janis Joplin houses. (Haight Ashbury) ✅
45. Snag a photo opp at the Painted Ladies in Alamo Square. You know, the ones from the Full House intro. The actual Full House house is nearby too. (Pacific Heights) ✅
46. Not as popular as the Painted Ladies, but more beautiful, in my opinion, are the Victorian Homes in the Haight. Marvel at the ones on Waller, Page, and Central. (Haight Asbury) ✅

San Francisco Bucket List: Street Art & Staircases

San Francisco likes to make things pretty and/or a statement. We turn our normal gray staircases into tiled masterpieces and alleyways into political art.

47. Climb to the top of the 16th St Tiled Steps and continue your way up to Grandview Park. (Inner Sunset) ✅
48. Then, go down Grandview Park to the Hidden Garden Steps. From there, either go to Home or Hollow for one of the best matcha lattes in San Francisco 🙂 (Inner Sunset) ✅
49. The Mission is known for its colorful neighborhood murals. A few good starting points are Balmy Alley and Clarion Alley, but you can really find beautiful artwork throughout the entire neighborhood. (Mission) ✅
50. Tucked away in the Richmond neighborhood, just below the Legion of Honor, are the beautiful Lincoln Park Steps. (Richmond/Seacliff) ✅
51. Cross the rainbow street crosswalk in the Castro (Castro) ✅

San Francisco Bucket List: Where to Eat

San Francisco is a food lover’s dream!

52. Dive into some chicken wings from Sang Tung. (Inner Sunset) ✅
53. Order soup dumplings from Kingdom of Dumplings or Dumpling King (Inner Sunset)
54. Eat anything from Hook Fish Co and take it to the beach to enjoy. (Outer Sunset) ✅
55. Eat Dim Sum on Clement St. There are so many places to choose from. (Richmond)
56. Order the Greek Yogurt pancakes with eggs and Turkish sausage at Lokma. (Richmond) ✅
57. Get the chocolate almond AND ham and cheese croissants from Arsicault Bakery. (Richmond) ✅
58. Order the Cal Italia from Tony’s Pizza. (North Beach) ✅
59. Get in line early for the Focaccia from Ligueria bakery. (North Beach) ✅
60. Sunday morning brunch at Mamas. (North Beach) ✅
61. Grab a slice from Golden Boy Pizza (North Beach) ✅
62. Head to the Mission for a mission-style burrito from La Taqueria. Order it Dorado style (the tortilla is grilled) (Mission) ✅
63. Pop over to BiRite for an ice cream (Mission)
64. Get in line at Tartine for a morning bun or a delicious loaf of bread. Then go back to BiRite for some cheese and fig spread and take it all to Dolores Park for a picnic (Mission)
65. #treatyoself to the best meal of your life at La Mar, owned by famed Peruvian chef Gaston Acurio. (Embarcadero) ✅
66. On a rainy/foggy/any day enjoy a bowl of Marufuku ramen. (Japantown)
67. Proclaimed as the best egg tart outside of Hong Kong, see what the lines are all about at the Golden Gate bakery. (Chinatown)
68. See how fortune cookies are made at the Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory. (Chinatown) ✅
69. Have, the “best brunch in the city”, at Plow. (Potrero Hill) ✅
70. Indulge in a unique sweet treat at Smitten (Hayes Valley)
71. You know I love my matcha, now make it ice cream form and I’m all in. The matcha soft serve from Matcha Maiko is a must! (Japantown) ✅
72. Have the San Francisco classic, clam chowder in a bread bowl at Boudin in Fishmeran’s Wharf. (Fisherman’s Wharf) ✅

San Francisco Bucket List: Where to Drink

I’ll expand this list as I find more places to drink. I mean, sure there are plenty of bars in the city, I’m just not much of a drinker anymore so my knowledge of this is a bit limited.

73. Indulge in Tiki drinks at Smugglers Cove (Hayes Valley) ✅
74. Enjoy fancy, and expensive, cocktails with the best views of the city at Top of the Mark (Nob Hill)

San Francisco Bucket List: Where to Get Coffee/Tea

But I do love a good coffee shop, and so does San Francisco.

75. Touristy, but for good reason. Head to the Buena Vista Cafe for an Irish coffee. How they pour them is equally entertaining (Pier 39) ✅
76. Order a hot chocolate (spicy or regular) from Dandelion. They also have unique chocolate bars (Mission) ✅
77. I didn’t think I would like this, but the ice strawberry matcha latte at Boba Guys is pretty damn good (Hayes Valley) ✅
78. Enjoy a Matcha latte, Nutella latte, or Rainbow latte at Home. (Richmond) ✅
79. Cozy up with the chai-spiced Matcha Latte at Hollow. (Inner Sunset) ✅

San Francisco Bucket List: Bookstores

San Francisco has been involved in American literature for decades. Visit these awesome San Francisco bookstores to get a taste of it!

79. Peruse 3 stories of new and used books at Green Apple Books (Richmond) ✅
80. Explore American literature at City Lights Bookstore and Publishers were famous writers such as Jack Kerouac once hung out (North Beach) ✅
81. Check out the airy Blackbird bookstore with a lovely outdoor patio. Stop by Trouble Coffee on your way out (Outer Sunset) ✅
82. Peruse stacks of off-beat and local literature at one of the two Dogeared Books locations (Castro/Mission) ✅

San Francisco Bucket List: Museums

One of the best things to do on a rainy day in San Francisco is to visit one of the city’s many museums.

83. Learn about European art at The Legion of Honor, or just marvel at this beautiful building with epic views. (Seacliff)
84. Take in an exhibit at the San Francisco MoMA.
85. Climb to the observation deck at the deYoung. (Golden Gate Park) ✅
86. Go to Nightlife at the California Academy of Sciences. (Golden Gate Park) ✅
87. Learn over 100 years of GLBT History at the aptly named GLBT History Museum.(Castro)
88. See original artwork and walk through the history of Disney at the Walt Disney Family Museum. (Presidio) ✅
89. Learn how the Cable Cars work at the Cable Car Museum (Nob Hill)

San Francisco Bucket List: Unique Things to Do 

Many things in San Francisco just can’t be categorized. Here are some unique things to do in San Francisco. 

90. See if you can watch the wild Telegraph Hill Parrots (Telegraph Hill) ✅
91. In April, check out the Cherry Blossom trees blooming throughout the city (Japantown/Golden Gate Park) ✅
92. Run the wildly popular and clothing-optional Bay to Breakers, or just pick a spot along the route and enjoy the party (Golden Gate Park)
93. Attend the largest Gay Pride parade in the US. This occurs in June (Downtown/Castro)
94. See the amazing acrobatic show, Dear San Francisco, at the iconic Beach Blanket Babylon theater, one of my favorite things to do in North Beach (North Beach) ✅

San Francisco Bucket List: Catch a Sporting Event

We love our sports here!

94. Head to PacBell, AT&T, Oracle Park for a Giants Game. Get the Garlic Fries. ✅
95. Watch the Warriors play at the brand-new Oracle Arena

San Francisco Bucket List: Attend a Festival

San Francisco loves a good festival, whether its a weekend filled with live music or a street fair. Here are some to add to your San Francisco bucket list

94. Outside Lands is a 3-day live music festival with a variety of headliners from Green Day to Lizzo. (Golden Gate Park) ✅
95. Hardly Strictly Blue Grass is a FREE three-day music event with multiple acts in the bluegrass and country genres on 6 stages. (Golden Gate Park) ✅
96. Stern Grove free music festivals in the park run every weekend during the summer from June to August. People like LeAnne Rimes and the San Francisco Symphony play here – for FREE! (Stern Grove Park)
97. The Folsom Street Fair is the world’s largest leather and fetish event. This is a big event in the LGBTQ+ community. (SOMA)
98. The Haight Street Fair and the Castro Street Fair are filled with craft vendors and live music. (Haight-Ashbury/Castro)
99. Fleet Week is when the Blue Angels put on a pretty impressive air show…think Top Gun. (Marina) ✅

San Francisco Bucket List: Day Trips

San Francisco is perfectly located for day trips to other parts of the Bay Area. Here are some favorites!

96. Walk the halls of Alcatraz to see where the US’s most infamous gangsters were held. ✅
97. Take the ferry over to Angel Island, commonly known as the Ellis Island of the West to hike and learn about Chinese Immigration ✅
98. Wander underneath giant Redwood trees at Muir Woods ✅
99. Spend an afternoon in Sausalito enjoying the quaint downtown ✅
100. Take a drive out to Point Reyes for Oysters and hiking! ✅

San Francisco Bucket List: Weekend Getaways

If you can extend your stay in the Bay Area or Northern California, consider a weekend getaway.

101. Hike Half Dome, or not, but definitely spend a weekend in Yosemite
102. Camp or rent a cabin in Lake Tahoe and relax in one of the most beautiful places in California ✅
103. Take a drive down Highway 1 to Big Sur and check out Pfeifer State Beach and do some hiking ✅
104. Head north on Highway 1 for the small and charming town of Mendocino ✅
105. Go wine tasting in Napa, Sonoma, or Healdsburg ✅

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