Planning a trip to San Francisco? Whether you’re visiting for a weekend getaway, family vacation, or California road trip, San Francisco offers iconic landmarks, waterfront attractions, world-class museums, and unforgettable views around every corner.
During our visit, we explored some of the city’s most famous attractions, took day trips around the Bay Area, and discovered hidden gems perfect for families.
Here’s our guide to the best places to visit in San Francisco and beyond.
UPDATE: This post was originally published following our hosted visit to San Francisco and has been updated with current travel recommendations.
San Francisco happens to be one of my favorite places to visit. It’s like no other place, the sites are unforgettable from every angle of the city and of the bay. The history of the buildings is fun to explore as you discover the architecture.
A few years ago, my husband and I escaped for a week to explore the city and surrounding Bay Area. We discovered incredible attractions, charming neighborhoods, and scenic day trips that make San Francisco a destination worth visiting again and again.
Here’s our guide to the best things to do in San Francisco and the Bay Area.
Here’s our visit to Half Moon Bay, trust me a place you’ll want to visit too!
- Travel Tips for a San Francisco Weekend Get Away
- Stepping Back in Time in San Francisco Bay
- Best Attractions Near Fisherman’s Wharf
- Take the SightSeeing Buses in San Francisco
- Places to Visit by the San Francisco Bay
- Day Trips from San Francisco
- Sites to Visit in San Francisco Area
- What place would you visit first in San Francisco?
Top Places to Visit in San Francisco Area
Here are a few spots if you’re in San Francisco you don’t want to miss. I’ve linked them up to their destination sites for easy reference when you’re picking a location to visit. Many are free, we also used our Go City Pass to visit quite a few of our favorite spots!
Most families can see the major attractions in 3–4 days.
Travel Tips for a San Francisco Weekend Get Away
I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to stay for the weekend in a very special hotel with my husband. We were invited by the owners, brothers Tom and Robert Field, to the San Remo Hotel on Mason Street in the local North Beach Neighborhood. Built after the famous earthquakes of 1906, it’s a famous Victorian Style Hotel with unique charm.
It’s not very often when you can feel like a part of a community while on vacation but this spot does just that. Plus it was so convenient to everything near Pier 39 in Fisherman’s Wharf, we could walk everywhere!
In San Francisco many areas are walkable, but cable cars, buses, ferries, and ride shares make getting around easier.
Stepping Back in Time in San Francisco Bay
San Remo Hotel has this unique Old World feel to it with Victorian Heirloom furnishings and hallways that are a walk through history with pieces hand-selected. You can tell that the owners put great thought into it as they renovated it.
Every day we started bright and early and were out the door for our next adventure walking down to the bay, the Cable Car, or the Sight Seeing Buses, so convenient! The hotel staff was so welcoming no matter what time you passed by the front stairway to head to the street you were greeted with a friendly smile and hello.
There’s no technology in the rooms just charm and history and a fun way for couples to reconnect and share your favorites from the day’s adventures.
We had never stayed so close to the San Francisco Bay before and were pleasantly surprised with how convenient it was to be there without a car.
The City of San Francisco Visitors Bureau was very welcoming to their city with a top-notch website that makes finding just the right spots to visit easy to find.
Best Attractions Near Fisherman’s Wharf
If you’re visiting San Francisco for the first time, start at the waterfront. Many of the city’s most popular attractions are located within walking distance of one another. Here are some of my favorites that we were able to walk to from our Hotel quite easily.
- Pier 39
- Fisherman’s Wharf
- Boudin Bakery
- Ghirardelli Square
- Aquarium of the Bay
- Blue and Gold Fleet (Don’t miss the photo opportunity at the end of your trip, I love the informational book that comes with the package about the Bay.)
Take the SightSeeing Buses in San Francisco
One of the best things we did was use our Go City Pass to the City SightSeeing San Francisco Tour Bus.
Before on my trips to San Francisco, I had always driven the city and had honestly no idea what I was missing by handing over the steering wheel and enjoying the ride throughout the city.
Places to Visit by the San Francisco Bay
If you’re stopping by the San Francisco Bay my favorite spots we were
Day Trips from San Francisco
We were even able to enjoy a Day Trip Adventure by bus to
You could also consider taking a rental car to
Sites to Visit in San Francisco Area
The next few days we explored around the San Francisco Area even more. These are some of my favorite places to visit.
- Golden Gate Park
- California Academy of Sciences
- Tower at de Young Fine Art Museum
- Painted Ladies at Alamo Square
- Lands End Trail
- Sutro Baths
Are you ready to schedule your trip!
Take advantage and use this guide Visit San Francisco and the Virtual Visitors Guide. If you’re looking for a budget friendly and memorable experience take a look at the San Remo Hotel and book your visit.
Don’t forget to check out the Official San Francisco Pinterest Board with tons of ideas for where to visit with gorgeous pictures. Love using Pinterest to plan my trips! Here’s the link. http://www.pinterest.com/onlyinsf/
What place would you visit first in San Francisco?
From the sea lions at Pier 39 to the towering redwoods of Muir Woods and the stunning views of the Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco offers unforgettable experiences for families. Whether you’re visiting for a weekend or planning a longer California adventure, these attractions provide the perfect mix of history, nature, and hands-on learning opportunities for kids.
Have you visited San Francisco? Share your favorite attraction in the comments below!
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Disclosure: This post was not sponsored. We did however receive a complimentary stay at San Remo Hotel for two nights. The San Francisco Visitors Bureau gave us complimentary Go City Pass, Pier 39 Passes and City SightSeeing Tour Bus passes. All opinions are 100% my own and my husband’s and our many travels to the bay area.
