San Francisco is probably my favorite US city. It’s so beautiful, so unique, and so alive in the best way possible.
The stunning bay, the steep hills, and the charming architecture make this city so special and picturesque … and the food is outrageous!
There’s a ton to do, see, and most importantly (in my opinion) eat around the Bay Area, so keep reading to learn all about my favorite things to do in and around the city.
Also, do me (and the locals) a favor and please don’t call it San Fran! 😉
Things to do in San Francisco
My #1 activity every time I visit San Francisco: ride a cable car! It’s legitimately the most fun mode of transportation in the world. I can’t tell you how many I’ve been on across my trips there, just because I LOVED it so much!
You can pay in cash per trip when you hop on, or download the MuniMobile app and pay for a single ride, or 3-day or 7-day unlimited ride passes using a credit card. It’s not super cheap anymore, unfortunately, but I think it’s worth a ride or two based on fun levels alone! Plus, it’s a quintessential part of visiting the area.
Pro tip: If you’re only going to ride a cable car once, be sure to ride it going uphill, so you avoid walking the city’s steepest hills and tiring yourself out. Or ride it end-to-end, so you can enjoy the longest ride possible, and then stick around to watch the fascinatingly manual process of turning the cable car around when you hop off!
You can also visit the Cable Car Museum. Admission is free and it’s a really interesting museum – just note that it’s closed on Mondays.
There are countless beautiful buildings in San Francisco, and one of my favorites is their City Hall. We were lucky enough to attend a wedding inside City Hall several years ago, and it’s absolutely stunning inside!
Of course, I also highly recommend wandering around the famous Pier 39 area, spending some time watching the local sea lions hanging out by the pier, and then hop over to Alcatraz for a tour. This can easily all be accomplished in an afternoon, and dinner options are plentiful nearby. Try some clam chowder for a truly local experience.
San Francisco’s Food Scene
Just a short walk from from City Hall is Pläj, a Scandinavian restaurant. I loved their unique cheese board (pictured above) most of all, but my husband devoured his herrings and licked the plate clean!
The San Francisco Sourdough Scene
As a huge sourdough nerd, I really couldn’t go wrong when visiting San Francisco; the self-proclaimed home of naturally-leavened bread. Boudin Bakery is famous for their sourdough, and it definitely lived up to the hype!
You can buy all sorts of sourdough bread from Boudin Bakery. I chose this little turtle-shaped sourdough with currants for eyes, which was adorable, but I honestly recommend choosing a regular loaf for the best bread experience of your life. Alternatively, have lunch or dinner there and enjoy one of their sandwiches, or a soup and sandwich combo!
It’s not exclusive to the Bay Area, but be sure to buy some See’s Candies along your way. It’s some of the best chocolate in the country and it originated here. Sometimes they’ll even give you a free sample just for stopping by!
Beyond SFO: The Bay Area
When visiting the Bay Area, be sure to drive over to Sausalito; it’s utterly gorgeous, full of cute shops, and you get to see San Francisco from the other side of the bay, which is a truly spectacular view.
Driving over the Golden Gate Bridge makes this trip worthwhile alone. It also makes a beautiful, albeit windy, walk!
Barrel House Tavern is my favorite restaurant in Sausalito. Everything I’ve ever had there has been utterly delicious. I’m a sucker for a good cheese plate, and theirs was one of the best I’ve ever had. Each accompaniment was outstanding – as was the sourdough it came with!
We’ve also previously enjoyed their garlic-laden fries, and their unique lobster doughnuts. The garlic fries were delicious, and the lobster doughnuts were incredible!
While on the other side of the Golden Gate, you MUST visit Muir Woods. This breathtaking redwoods forest is a National Park, and it’s not too far from San Francisco itself.
The tallest tree in this forest is 258 feet / 78.6 meters tall! To put that in perspective, the Statue of Liberty is 305 feet / 93 meters tall! These redwoods are not only incredible, but the woods itself is the most peaceful, tranquil, magical place I’ve ever been. Do yourself a favor and spend a few hours there. It’s worth every second.
Note that while entrance tickets can be purchased onsite, parking passes must be purchased in advance – and there’s no cell reception at the National Park. So, be sure to purchase the pass before leaving the city or Sausalito. Check out the Muir Woods parking info here.
What did I miss? Let me know your go-to San Francisco spots below!
