01
Chinatown (America's Oldest)
San Francisco's Chinatown is the oldest and most densely populated in North America — a labyrinth of pagoda-roofed buildings, dim sum restaurants, fortune cookie factories, and herbalist shops.
▲ Steady·Score +19
San Francisco
Best Things to Do in San Francisco
San Francisco's iconic experiences — from Golden Gate Bridge walks to Mission District burritos to the world's most spectacular bay views.
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02
Alcatraz Island Tour
America's most infamous federal penitentiary — home to Al Capone and the Birdman — sits in the middle of San Francisco Bay. The award-winning audio tour narrated by former guards and prisoners is superb.
▲ Steady·Score +12
03
Ferry Building Marketplace
The 1898 Ferry Building hosts the Bay Area's finest Saturday farmers market alongside year-round artisan food stalls — Blue Bottle Coffee's original roaster, Acme Bread, and Cowgirl Creamery cheeses.
▲ Steady·Score +11
04
SFMOMA (San Francisco Museum of Modern Art)
One of the largest modern art museums in the US, SFMOMA's collection spans Mark Rothko, Frida Kahlo, and Richard Serra's giant sculptures, anchored by a stunning 2016 expansion by Snøhetta.
▲ Steady·Score +10
05
Muir Woods Redwood Grove
Just 30 minutes from downtown, Muir Woods National Monument shelters old-growth coast redwoods up to 1,200 years old and 250 feet tall — the easiest access to ancient redwood forest in California.
▲ Steady·Score +9
06
Golden Gate Bridge Walk
Walking across the Golden Gate Bridge's 2.7km span with views of the bay, Alcatraz, Marin Headlands, and the city skyline is San Francisco's essential free experience. Best in morning before fog rolls in.
▲ Steady·Score +9
07
Haight-Ashbury and Golden Gate Park
Haight-Ashbury's Victorian houses and vintage boutiques recall the 1967 Summer of Love. Adjacent Golden Gate Park contains the de Young Museum, California Academy of Sciences, and Japanese Tea Garden.
▲ Steady·Score +8
08
Twin Peaks Sunset View
The 360-degree panoramic view from Twin Peaks encompasses the entire Bay Area from the Golden Gate to the East Bay — particularly spectacular at sunset or when fog rolls in beneath you from the Pacific.
▲ Steady·Score +7
09
Mission District Murals and Food
The Mission's Clarion Alley and Balmy Alley host extraordinary political street murals alongside the city's best Mission burritos at La Taqueria and Tartine Bakery's legendary morning croissants.
▲ Steady·Score +5
10
Cable Car Ride (Powell-Hyde Line)
San Francisco's iconic cable cars are the last manually operated cable car system in the world. The Powell-Hyde line offers the most dramatic ride — cresting over Russian Hill before descending to Fisherman's Wharf.
▲ Steady·Score +4
11
Tartine Bakery and Nopa Brunch Culture
San Francisco's food scene is world-class — Tartine's morning country loaves sell out daily; Nopa defined California farm-to-table cuisine; and the city's taqueria culture is unmatched anywhere outside Mexico.
▲ Steady·Score +1
12
Baker Beach and Marin Headlands Views
Baker Beach's tucked-away cove offers the most intimate Golden Gate Bridge view in the city. Cross the bridge to the Marin Headlands for unobstructed panoramic views of the bridge and downtown skyline.
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“Chinatown (America's Oldest)”
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