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• Self-Guided

Self-Guided Walking Tours of San Francisco

by Jill Loeffler   •

Do you love venturing out on your own? Are you interested in exploring the city of San Francisco without a large group around you? If so, then these self-guided walking tours of San Francisco are just for you! 

All of these tours take you on a specific walking route through the city. My tours offer you a step-by-step route to make it easy to get around. You will also find others that offer either audio or a map to get you from point to point.

You can start and end anywhere along the way. It's all up to you!

It is the perfect way to learn more about the history of San Francisco at a time and pace that works for you!

Disclaimer : I receive a small commission from some of the links on this page.

My Self-Guided Walking Tours By District

Taking a self-guided walking tour around San Francisco is a great way to get to know our amazing city. I've created one for each of our most popular districts. 

My tours lay out one full day in each district. However, if you don't plan to spend much time at each attraction or stop, you can cut the time down significantly.

Fisherman's Wharf : Walk around one of our most popular districts. See the top attractions such as Pier 39, Ghirardelli Square, and the Hyde Street Pier.

Chinatown : Stroll down the colorful streets of Chinatown and see its historic temples, top dim sum restaurants, and amazing street art.

North Beach : This district is also called Little Italy. Visit its top attractions, see where the Beat Generation spent their days and nights, and taste some of the best goodies in the district.

Haight-Ashbury : See the spots where the Summer of Love captured the nation, grab some vintage threads, and check out some of this district's interesting murals. You will also see where some of the most famous people of the 60s lived, including the Grateful Dead and Charles Manson.

Castro : This colorful district is one you do not want to miss. On my self-guided walking tour, you will see where history was made for the LGBTQ community. Stroll along the Rainbow Walk of Fame, check out Harvey Milk's old camera shop, and learn more about the history of this district at the GLBT Museum.

Mission : The Mission is home to our largest concentration of street art and murals. You will also find some of the best Mexican, Cuban, and other cuisines from both South and Central America. It's a day of gorgeous art and tasty treats. 

>> Find additional self-guided tours plus some multi-day itineraries 

Japantown Self-Guided Walking Tour

The Japantown District also offers a free self-guided walking tour. You start at the Japan Center Malls where you will find a plaque outlining the walk.

You will then walk from each historical marker to the next as you learn all about the oldest Japantown in the US. 

Each stop offers a little information about what happened at that location. It also has a map showing you where your next stop will be.

It's a great way to learn all about this important SF District.

>> Learn more about things to see and do in Japantown

More Great Self-Guided Tours of San Francisco

City walks: san francisco: 50 adventures on foot.

The best way to go on self guided walking tours of San Francisco is with City Walks. The thing I love about these walks is that all 50 are printed on their own cards. This means you only have to bring along the ones you plan on using that day.

I've used these many times. On the front, you will see the full walking route. The back of each card offers the address and a little information about each point of interest on the route.

If you decide to add a few stops along the way, these cards will help you easily get back to your original route.

I've used these in other cities, too, and they are great. They are much easier to use than an audio tour if there is more than one person in your group.

These are also available on Amazon .

Barbary Coast Trail: Self-Guided

The San Francisco Museum and Historical Society offers two self-guided walks of the Barbary Coast Trail in San Francisco. This trail connects important historical sites throughout the streets of SF. 

The trail is marked with bronze medallions embedded within the sidewalks. I found the one in the picture on the left in the North Beach neighborhood.

The self-guided treks are 3.8 miles long and take you through several SF neighborhoods including Union Square, Chinatown, North Beach, and Fisherman's Wharf. 

You'll hear historical facts about SF events such as the California Gold Rush and the 1906 Earthquake and Fire. You'll also stop by many places that were frequented by famous locals from San Francisco's past.

You can choose from either a self guided audio download or a printed map. Learn more about both options on the museum's dedicated Barbary Coast website .

Frommer's Best of SF Audio Tour

This is one of the self-guided audio walking tours of San Francisco. During your walking tour, you will learn more about 20 of San Francisco's top attractions. 

This 1-hour-and-16-minute-tour can be done at your own pace. You can stop along the way to learn even more about each attraction - or even skip ahead if it's an attraction you already visited.

You will also receive a full color map of the route. This way, you always know what SF attraction you are visiting next.

You can listen to the audio on your iPhone, iPad, Kindle, or any other MP3 player.

Frommer's also has a second audio tour that covers the San Francisco waterfront. You can buy these together or separately through Amazon .

Night Adventures : Do you love seeing a city at night? Here you will find some of the best San Francisco tours at night, from scary ghost walks to night cruises around the bay.

Chinatown : This is one of the most visited neighborhoods in SF, since there is so much to see and do. Simplify your planning process to this neighborhood by taking a guided tour. Each one covers many of the top attractions and points out the hidden gems you would have missed by walking the neighborhood on your own.

North Beach : There is a lot of history in the North Beach district. Take one of these to learn more about its famous residents, controversial stories and Italian roots.

Wine Tasting in Napa or Sonoma : If you love trying different wines, then a trip to either Napa or Sonoma is only an hour away. Here you will find some of the best wine tasting trips to both of these regions. All of these leave from San Francisco and ease the burden of trying to get to and from wine country on your own.

Comments? Questions? Suggestions?

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We offer over 80 different tours – allowing you to learn about the diverse ways that San Francisco became the vibrant city it is today.

City Guides, founded in 1978, is an independent 501c3 non-profit organization with more than 300 trained volunteers who lead FREE historical and architectural walking tours in San Francisco for over 35,000 locals and visitors each year. We are a program of the San Francisco Public Library. Join us for a walk along the streets, sidewalks, and byways of America’s most beautiful – and fascinating – city!

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Truly one of the greatest treasures of San Francisco! City Guide tours never disappoint, always full of interesting stories, anecdotes, and fun- facts! Google Review – Jan ’24

The guides are well trained and enthusiastic to share their knowledge and love of the greatest city on earth! I have done numerous tours and am always delighted! Google Review – Jan ’24

The tour was fabulous! I’ve lived in SF for over 40 years but learned so much! And I saw so many places that I now can appreciate their significance. I can’t wait to do more. Google Review – Jan ’24

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Our guide was warm, friendly, funny, and full of interesting facts and stories. What a great way to get to know The City by the Bay! Google Review – Jan ’24

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28 Free, Self-Guided Walking Tours in San Francisco

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Sweet tooth dessert tour

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A day of art and history

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Rainbow Rendezvous

The Castro, San Francisco

Enjoy a meal and drinks at three historic gay pubs… View tour →

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Modern Art, Cable Cars, and Hippies

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history • 4 hours

The Summer of Love

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Street art tour

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art • 2 hours

Victorian treasures tour

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Spectacular skyline views

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general • 4 hours

Explore the weird and wonderful

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general • 7 hours 30 minutes

Landmarks from the Bay to the Bridge

Fisherman’s Wharf, San Francisco

Discover five of the city’s most iconic landmarks… View tour →

general • 6 hours

San Francisco sea & safari

Golden Gate Park, San Francisco

Relax on the beach, before having lunch and visiting an iconic landmark, then spend the afternoon at the zoo… View tour →

natural • 6 hours 30 minutes

San Francisco family fun

A day out at a natural history museum, gardens and zoo… View tour →

Golden Gate Park glory

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art • 3 hours 30 minutes

Magic mosiac tour

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Sweet tooth heaven

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A Day of Discovery

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Science, Fun and Play

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Golden Gate Bridge vistas

The Presidio, San Francisco

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art • 8 hours

The art lover’s tour of the Golden Gate City

Outer Richmond, San Francisco

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food • 5 hours 30 minutes

Craft beer scene

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Read all about it - a literary themed evening

North Beach, San Francisco

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food • 1 hour 40 minutes

Picnic along the Embarcadero

Embarcadero, San Francisco

Shop from more than 30 artisan food vendors to build your own picnic feast, then escape the crowds at Pier 7 overlooking the San Francisco Bay… View tour →

Quirky hidden gems

Uncover San Francisco’s most unual sights and attractions and find out why this city is so unique… View tour →

food • 4 hours 30 minutes

Drinks & Donuts

Polk Gulch, San Francisco

Enjoy an night on the town, experiencing three of San Francisco’s popular late night venues followed by a donut or two to round off the evening… View tour →

Eating your way through Pacific Heights

Pacific Heights, San Francisco

This walking tour through Pacific Heights is a beautiful way to spend the day, starting with coffee and pastries followed by burgers, salad and pasta… View tour →

food • 1 hour 5 minutes

Picnic and play in the Mission

Enjoy your deli sandwich and nibbles with your kids at the Mission Playground, rounding off the picnic with some of San Francisco’s best ice cream… View tour →

food • 1 hour 10 minutes

Picnic at the Tower

North Shore, San Francisco

Enjoy an al fresco picnic meal at the foot of the iconic Coit Tower… View tour →

food • 1 hour 20 minutes

A picnic in the Presidio

Presidio Heights, San Francisco

The Presidio is the largest urban national park in the United States and the perfect place to enjoy a simple pizza and pastry picnic… View tour →

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Walking Tours in San Francisco

There’s no better way to get to know the city than to take of the many San Francisco walking tours. These specialized and localized tours let visitors get up front and close to the city’s most amazing sights and landmarks, putting them in contact with locals who are the lifeblood of the city and who can tell visitors exactly the type of excitement that awaits for them. Whether it’s the historical sights downtown or the miles of beach along the coast, walking tours are the only way to make a personalized acquaintance with the city.

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JR Jorgensen

Jay is a world traveler who grew up in the US mid-west. He has lived/worked in London, Paris, Hong Kong, New York, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Chicago, Kauai, and now lives in San Francisco. Besides traveling, Jay enjoys reading, writing and basketball.

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GOT SAN FRANCISCO?

Never been to san francisco, long layover in san francisco and don’t want to sit in the airport, want to see some of the best of san francisco in one day​, on a budget don’t want to rent a car.

Let  CORR Travel  be YOUR solo travel guide and make your San Francisco travel planning easier so YOU get the MOST out of your solo trip.

One Day in San Francisco Walking Map

I create all of my own travel itineraries and walking maps for my own solo travel.

I had such a great time experiencing the  BEST OF  San Francisco attractions on my last layover in California, I had to share. I’m also a former local, so I know the TOP sights .

I’m giving you my San Francisco in a Day Walking Map for FREE to have a great time, too!

My TRIED AND TRUE Top Sights in San Francisco in 1 Day Walking Map outlines how to check bags in the airport, catch transportation to the city, and the 8 TOP San Francisco sights you can see in 1 day in San Francisco without renting a car .

The walking map shows you where where to start and end your walking tour, so you can plan your EPIC San Francisco solo travel over 50.

Use all of it or some of it. It’s up to you.

Just DON’T forget to download it.

What are you waiting for?

Get your FREE Walking Map below

San Francisco in a Day Walking Map at your fingertips with a clickable link   to CORR Travel’s San Francisco in 1 Day Walking Map FULL walking route, start to finish.

Stop searching for sites to plan your long layover and what to do for an awesome San Francisco day. I got you!

San Francisco Walking Tour: 10 Top Sights

Written by Lisa Alexander Updated Dec 25, 2023

The beauty of San Francisco is best appreciated from its highest points. The city's 43 rolling hills are sandwiched in between the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay. Many streets are so vertiginous that the sidewalks are actually pedestrian steps (used by locals instead of StairMaster).

The dramatic topography also explains some of San Francisco's most iconic images. Lombard Street owes its famous curves to the road's sheer incline; its red-brick switchbacks make it safer to drive up and down. Cable cars were also designed to tackle the extreme gradients.

This self-guided walking itinerary traverses the city's steepest streets in quaint historic areas. More of an urban hike, the tour is physically strenuous, but every step of the way is rewarded with marvelous sights: pastel-painted Victorian houses clinging to dizzying hillsides; flowering staircase gardens tucked away on side streets; views of the majestic bridges, and sailboats gliding around the bay in the sunshine.

Tourists can soak up the thrilling panoramas while visiting several of San Francisco's most colorful neighborhoods on this invigorating four- to five-hour San Francisco walking tour.

Chinatown Gates

Chinatown shops & authentic chinese cuisine, jackson square historic district.

• Telegraph Hill

Views from Coit Tower

Beatnik heritage on columbus avenue, north beach: little italy, russian hill staircases, lombard street: the crookedest road.

• Fisherman's Wharf

Map of San Francisco Walking Tour: Top Sights

Where to stay in san francisco for sightseeing.

Begin the walking tour at the Dragon's Gate , the official entrance of Chinatown at the intersection of Bush and Grant streets. A traditional green-tiled pagoda crowns the gate, which features two small dragon statues at each side and presents Chinese script that translates to "Everything under heaven is for the good of all people."

Alternatively, visitors can arrive at San Francisco's Chinatown from any of the bordering neighborhoods: Union Square shopping area at Bush Street, the ritzy residential streets of Nob Hill at Powell Street, Little Italy (North Beach) at Columbus Street, or the bustling financial district at Kearny Street.

While rambling past the touristy souvenir shops on Grant Avenue , consider the turbulent history of this compact area, the most densely populated section of the city. Dating back to the Gold Rush era, this neighborhood is the oldest Chinatown in the United States and the largest Chinese community outside of Asia.

During the 1800s, Chinese immigrants faced problems of discrimination and overcrowded housing. In 1882, the United States passed the Chinese Exclusion Act, which restricted immigration from China. This xenophobic law stayed in effect until 1942. Yet, the Chinese labor force built much of the city in the 19th century.

Continue on Grant Avenue until Washington Street, make a left, and then right onto the narrow pedestrian street, Ross Alley . The small nondescript building #56 is the Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory , where tourists may stop in to watch fortune cookies being made, as well as purchase cookies. This tiny factory has been producing handmade fortune cookies since 1962.

Although fortune cookies were invented in San Francisco not China, some historians believe that the inspiration came from 14th-century "moon cakes" used by Chinese soldiers to relay concealed messages.

From Ross Alley, continue one block west and two blocks north to Stockton Street at Broadway, where the sights, sounds, and smells of Chinatown are unveiled. In between Broadway and Columbus Avenue, Stockton Street is lined with grocery shops and markets frequented by locals, many of whom only speak Chinese. The shops sell fresh produce and ingredients to prepare authentic Asian cuisine.

An easier way to experience authentic Chinese cuisine is by dining at one of Chinatown's best restaurants. Just off Stockton Street, the Michelin-recommended Z & Y Restaurant (655 Jackson Street) has a world-renowned chef and serves outstanding Szechuan-style Chinese food. Counted among the restaurant's distinguished guests are the presidents and foreign ministers of the People's Republic of China, as well as former U.S. President, Barack Obama.

From Stockton Street at Broadway, turn around and head south towards Jackson Street (turn left). Keep walking east on Jackson Street until reaching Montgomery Street to explore the historic Jackson Square area.

This district also overlaps with the Barbary Coast Trail that marks Gold-Rush-era sites with bronze sidewalk medallions. Jackson Street boasts distinguished brick buildings from the 1850s and 1860s that survived the 1906 earthquake.

Full of old-world charm, Jackson Street is lined with shady trees and quaint cast-iron street lamps. Many of the buildings house prestigious art galleries, fine antique shops, and interior design boutiques. The area also has several top-rated fine-dining restaurants.

Continue uphill on Montgomery Street to reach Telegraph Hill. At Montgomery and Broadway, turn around to admire the view of the Transamerica Building. The next several blocks feature a sheer incline with staircases along the sidewalk to help pedestrians brave the uphill climb. At Filbert Street, turn left onto Filbert Steps, a beautiful staircase with lush, quiet gardens on either side and splendid homes built into the hillside.

Climb up the staircase of 80 steps and then take another flight of 30 steps that leads to the landing of Coit Tower . One of the city's most emblematic sights, the tower stands on the former site of the telegraph station for which the neighborhood is named.

Surrounding Coit Tower is the Pioneer Park recreation area, nearly five acres of wooded park space with awe-inspiring vistas of the city and the San Francisco Bay. As you wander along the park's trails, take in the breathtaking scenery and listen for the sounds of exotic birds.

The legendary flock of parrots, featured in The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill documentary film, make their home on these forested slopes.

Perched on top of Telegraph Hill, Coit Tower is a beacon in the San Francisco skyline, visible to visitors when taking the ferry from the East Bay or driving across the Bay Bridge, as well as from other points in the city.

Built in 1929, the tower was funded by Lillie Hitchcock Coit, a wealthy patron of San Francisco firefighters. Although it's said that the tower's fluted shape resembles the nozzle of a firefighter's hose, the architect did not intend this effect. The openings at the top that appear to be the nozzle's spout are actually windows.

Take the elevator up to Coit Tower's Observation Deck (for an admission price) to admire sweeping views of the bay and downtown San Francisco. The Observation Deck provides 360-degree panoramas, and the vantage points from each window offer a different outlook, such as the Bay Bridge, the Transamerica Building, and the hills of North Beach.

Before or after visiting the Observation Deck, spend some time viewing the murals inside the tower's base. The series of Depression-era murals were painted in 1934 in a thematic style that recalls the work of celebrated artist Diego Rivera. At the time that the murals were painted, the content was considered to be radical because it depicts laborers and farm workers as the central subject.

The block of Columbus Avenue between Pacific Avenue and Broadway was the stomping grounds of Beat poets during the 1950s. The area still reveals the influence of beatnik counter-culture.

Jack Kerouac author of On the Road , one of the most celebrated works of the Beat generation, and Allen Ginsberg, who wrote the non-conformist rant Howl , once read their poetry at City Lights Booksellers & Publishers . Beat poet Lawrence Ferlinghetti founded the bookshop in 1953, and this legendary literary venue continues to exude a distinctly bohemian attitude.

After visiting City Lights, tourists can saunter down the adjacent Jack Kerouac Alley , a 60-foot-long, cobbled pedestrian thoroughfare with vibrant murals and old-fashioned street lamps. Fitting of its location, the alley features sidewalk medallions inscribed with literary quotes by famous writers, such as Jack Kerouac, John Steinbeck, and Maya Angelou.

Chinatown begins at the Grant Avenue end of the alley, while the Columbus Avenue end is in the heart of North Beach's historic beatnik neighborhood.

The Beat Museum (540 Broadway) shares the spirit of Beat Generation poets, writers, and thinkers who thrived in this neighborhood of San Francisco. The Beat artistic movement of the 1950s celebrated free-spirited individuality, creativity, and tolerance. The museum displays photos, original manuscripts, letters, and other Beat memorabilia.

San Francisco's colorful Little Italy dates to the late 1800s. Charming residential homes line this historic neighborhood's steep streets, intersected by the more modern and busy thoroughfares of Columbus Avenue and Broadway. A beach used to border the neighborhood, but the area was developed with landfill, although the name stuck.

North Beach is full of old-school Italian restaurants, with red-checkered tablecloths, that serve enormous servings of pasta, and atmospheric cafés, where patrons go to see and be seen and sip on authentic Italian espresso. Other things to do include browsing the boutiques and sampling treats at an Italian bakery or gelato shop.

Continue this walking tour at Columbus and Broadway, just north of Jack Kerouac Alley. Stop for a snack, coffee, or lunch at one of the bustling cafés. Favorites are Caffe Greco (423 Columbus Avenue) and the Caffe Trieste (601 Vallejo Street, a block from Columbus), a popular locals' hangout.

Columbus Avenue has the highest concentration of restaurants and cafés, and tends to be very touristy, whereas Grant Avenue is a quieter street with restaurants and shops frequented by locals.

Stella Pastry & Café (446 Columbus Avenue) is the place to go for traditional Italian baked goods, including specialties such as biscotti, cannoli, pasticciotti, and the award-winning Sacripantina Cake.

After the café break, wander along Columbus (heading north) until reaching Washington Square Park . This pleasant, tree-shaded green space is at the heart of North Beach. Locals come here to sunbathe, relax, and enjoy picnics.

Overlooking the park is the impressive Saints Peter & Paul Church with its Gothic spires serving as a focal point in North Beach. The graceful edifice of this Roman Catholic Church was completed in 1924. Beside its architectural beauty, the church is renowned for being the location where Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio took their wedding photos.

Continue back on Columbus Avenue until Vallejo, turn right and head up into Russian Hill. In the 19th century, the graves of Russian soldiers were located on the hill that is now Vallejo Street, giving the neighborhood its name.

As you climb Vallejo Street , you will come across two staircases surrounded by gardens with amazing views of the city and the bay. The outlook stretches all the way to the Bay Bridge, Treasure Island, and the Port of Oakland in the distance.

After crossing Mason Street, the next block of Vallejo surprises visitors with a tiny but delightful Ina Coolbrith Park . Stop to smell the roses, then keep going up one more block on Vallejo and turn right on Jones Street. The park affords great views of the Transamerica Pyramid downtown and Alcatraz Island in the bay.

From the intersection of Jones and Green streets, take in the incredible panorama of the Bay, with Alcatraz in the foreground. Turn left on Green Street, then right on Hyde Street. Stroll three blocks north on Hyde through an elegant residential neighborhood, until reaching Lombard Street.

Arrive at one of the most popular tourist attractions in San Francisco , the city's curviest road. From the top of this winding road at Hyde and Lombard is a sensational viewpoint looking back at Coit Tower.

The only part of Lombard that appeals to tourists is found between Hyde and Jones Streets. Known as the " Crookedest Street in the World ," this portion of Lombard boasts a steep 27-degree angle. The road was paved with switchbacks in the 1920s to make it safer for cars to drive up and down.

The street also has pedestrian staircases on both sides, ideal for a leisurely jaunt with the other groups of tourists you'll likely see here. Flanking the brick-paved winding curves are beautiful homes in Edwardian, faux Tudor, and contemporary architectural styles. Bright geranium-filled flower beds blossom in between the switchbacks, giving the street the look of a garden.

From Lombard Street, hop onto a cable car at Hyde Street and enjoy a scenic ride down to Fisherman's Wharf.

A downhill walk or cable car ride from Hyde at Lombard leads to Fisherman's Wharf. This atmospheric waterfront neighborhood delights visitors with refreshing ocean breezes and stunning seaside scenery, while tempting foodies with fresh sourdough bread, fish and chips, and other seafood specialties.

In the 1800s, the area was a hub for recently immigrated Italian fishermen. Although Fisherman's Wharf still has many commercial fisheries, it's now a major tourist destination (along with the nearby Pier 39 ) packed with souvenir shops. So it would be easy to overlook the small picturesque wharf at Jefferson Street between Leavenworth and Jones, which was part of the old fishing village that predates the Gold Rush of 1849.

The little boats docked at the wharf are traditional Italian fishing boats called feluccas . Notice that the hulls are painted with the names of Catholic patron saints. Try to imagine the fishermen venturing out into the mist-shrouded bay on these tiny boats. The fishermen were known to sing Italian opera songs while sailing around in the fog.

While visiting Fisherman's Wharf, be sure to watch the fishermen unload their live catches from the dock, which is just steps away from where it's sold around Jefferson Street.

After taking a stroll along the wharf, stop to sample the sourdough bread at Boudin Bakery , get a bite to eat at a fish shack (a locals' favorite is The Codmother Fish & Chips at 495 Beach Street).

Fisherman's Wharf encompasses the San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park , a lovely waterfront area with an excellent Maritime Museum .

The San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park also includes Aquatic Park , a sheltered cove with gentle waters that are safe for swimming. The 1400-foot pier of Aquatic Park is open to the public for taking strolls and for fishing. The pier is one of the best places to visit in San Francisco for views of the bay and the Fisherman's Wharf neighborhood.

Just one block away from Aquatic Park is the touristy Ghirardelli Square (900 North Point), home to the chocolate factory that has been a San Francisco landmark since 1862. Today this location no longer makes the chocolate but serves as a boutique and ice-cream parlor. In addition to Ghirardelli Chocolate , other enticing restaurants and shops are found at Ghirardelli Square.

• Ghirardelli Square
• The Cannery
• Maritime Museum
• Maritime State Historic Park
• USS Pampanito
• Art Institute
• Saints Peter & Paul Church

Of the charming neighborhoods covered on this walking tour, North Beach and Fisherman's Wharf are the best places to stay overnight. North Beach offers upscale boutique hotels and top-rated restaurants, whereas Fisherman's Wharf is more touristy, so it has a wider selection of accommodations, including larger hotels more suitable for families.

Visitors staying in Fisherman's Wharf should beware of restaurants catering only to tourists, as these establishments don't offer the high quality of cuisine found elsewhere in San Francisco.

More Related Articles on PlanetWare.com

Other Great Walking Cities in the Bay Area : For those who love walkable cities, there are a couple of other fabulous destinations in the San Francisco Bay Area. The lively multicultural city of Oakland has an attractive waterfront and a lovely lakeside park. Nature enthusiasts will enjoy a ramble through the Botanical Gardens or Tilden Park in Berkeley , while the luxuriant Berkeley Rose Garden has hiking trails with spectacular views of the San Francisco Bay.

Nearby Hiking Destinations : Gorgeous outdoorsy destinations near San Francisco inspire more walking and hiking. About 30 miles south (a 45-minute drive) of San Francisco is Half Moon Bay , a small oceanfront town in a rural landscape with trails along the coast and in nearby redwood forests. Farther south (about a 90-minute drive) from San Francisco is the fun-loving beach town of Santa Cruz surrounded by magnificent redwood forests and protected coastline.

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The 13 Best San Francisco Walking Tours

Explore the beauty of San Francisco on two feet with these informative jaunts.

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Strolls by San Francisco's classic Victorian homes is a must-do activity in the city.

Note: Some tour providers on this list may have limited or ceased operations due to COVID-19. Check with your tour operator about availability before you book.

Despite its famous hills, San Francisco is full of leisurely (and occasionally flat) strolls. To get in a workout while on vacation and see some of San Francisco's top attractions , consider signing up for a walking tour. Local guides lead participants to some of the most interesting areas of the city, sharing history, hauntings and delicious food along the way. Here are 13 of the best San Francisco walking tours, analyzed by U.S. News using traveler opinion and expert input.

Victorian Home Walk

Stroll by more than 200 of San Francisco's colorful Victorian homes on this two-hour tour. The guided walk explores the Pacific Heights neighborhood, taking visitors past filming locations for "Mrs. Doubtfire," "The Princess Diaries," and other beloved movies and shows. Participants will also be shown the interior of a period Queen Anne Victorian. Reviewers say the guide provides interesting information. They also appreciate the leisurely pace of the walk, which doesn't include large hills. Tours are available Monday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 11 a.m., and tickets cost $25 paid in cash only. Reservations are required.

[ View & Book Tickets .]

San Francisco City Guides – Golden Gate Park: East End

On this two-hour tour, participants will meander through San Francisco's famous Golden Gate Park . Sticking to the east side of the park, guides take tourgoers to landmarks like the National AIDS Memorial Grove and the Music Concourse, while sharing information about the park's past and present. The walking tour does involve climbing stairs and small hills. Reviewers describe the tour as wonderful and praise the friendly, insightful guides. The tour, which is offered two Sundays per month at 1 p.m., is free but donations are welcome. San Francisco City Guides also offers tours focused on Alfred Hitchcock's famous San Francisco filming locations, the 1906 earthquake and architecture in Chinatown , among other themes.

Wild SF Walking Tours – Haunted San Francisco Ghost Tour

Delve into San Francisco's seedy past with tales of true crime, hauntings, unexplained deaths and even the Black Plague on this 90-minute ghost tour. Guides regale participants with stories about historic sites throughout the city that are believed to be haunted, including the Westin St. Francis San Francisco on Union Square , a former brothel, underground speakeasies and a church associated with cult leader Jim Jones. Reviewers say the tour is informative and the stories, while tragic, are not too scary. Tickets cost approximately $25 per person, though the tour is not advised for children younger than 10. Tours depart most evenings at 7 and 9 p.m. Wild SF also offers tours of San Francisco's street art, a food crawl through Chinatown and Little Italy, and a free tour of the city.

Free Tours by Foot – All-in-One Tour

See the best of the city in five hours on this free tour. During the excursion, you'll take an iconic cable car ride , visit Chinatown, learn about the buried sunken ships from the Gold Rush era, pass historic Nob Hill mansions and visit the biggest cathedral in the city. You'll also stop for a lunch break. Reviewers recommend the tour, explaining they learn a lot about San Francisco. Tickets start at $7, which cover the cost of the cable car ride, though the company asks that you name your own price at the end of the tour. Tours are scheduled on varying days, departing at 10 a.m. Free Tours by Foot offers tours of Lombard Street and downtown, among other areas of the city.

San Francisco Native Tours – Original Tour

Nosh on more than a dozen food samples, including dim sum, pizza and Ghirardelli chocolate, as you explore neighborhoods like Chinatown, North Beach and downtown on this four-hour tour. Reviewers, who highly recommend the tour, say the food is amazing and the guide informative. Tickets start at $65 per person, including the cost of the food. Tours, which are limited to 10 participants, are available Monday through Friday at noon. San Francisco Native Tours also offers private tours, as well as a version of the original tour that includes alcoholic drinks.

Urban Trek USA – Urban Trek 4

History buffs interested in 19th-century San Francisco will want to book this small group tour. Limited to seven participants, the tour explores Chinatown, North Beach, Coit Tower , the Ferry Building Marketplace , Union Square and more, emphasizing the historical events that shaped these popular neighborhoods. Reviewers highly recommend the tour and praise guides for their great customer service. Tours depart at 9 a.m. Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and conclude around 2 p.m. Ticket prices range from $39 to $69, depending on the number of people on the tour, and must be paid in cash on the day of the tour; you'll need extra cash for the tour's single bus ride to the top of Telegraph Hill. Reservations are required. Urban Trek USA also offers tours of Russian Hill, Pacific Heights and the Marina District, among other neighborhoods.

Free SF Tour

For a budget-friendly look at all San Francisco has to offer, join the daily 2 1/2-hour Free SF Tour, which takes visitors through the city's downtown. The tour visits a variety of neighborhoods, including Chinatown, the Embarcadero, the Financial District and more, providing an overview of the city's history, current affairs, as well as tips for making the most of your visit. Reviewers report learning lots of interesting facts and highly recommend the tour. Tours depart daily from Union Square at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.; tickets are free. Reservations are not required – just join the tour at its designated meeting place. The company also offers this tour in Spanish, as well as a fee-based evening tour of Chinatown in both languages.

Courtesy of All About Chinatown

All About Chinatown takes travelers through the company's namesake neighborhood for a fun history lesson.

All About Chinatown Tours – Daily Tour

Discover the gems of San Francisco's Chinatown on this daily two-hour walking tour. Participants see many historic and architecturally significant buildings, stop at a fortune cookie factory, visit the Stockton Street food markets and see an authentic Buddhist temple, among other sights. Tourists also have the option to stay for a dim sum luncheon at the conclusion of the tour. Reviewers describe the tour as interesting and worth the cost. Many also advise staying for lunch Tickets for the tour start at $35 for adults and $25 for children ages 6 to 17; children 5 and younger tour for free. You'll want to budget an additional $30 per person if you opt for lunch. Tours leave at 10 a.m. from Old St. Mary's Cathedral, and reservations are required. The company also offers private culinary tours and scavenger hunts.

San Francisco Architecture Walking Tour

Architecture buffs can get an in-depth look at significant structures in the city's Financial District on this roughly 2 1/2-hour tour, which is led by a local historian. The guided tour takes participants to various buildings in downtown San Francisco, as well as to rooftop gardens, open spaces and historic landmarks. Because of the lecture-style delivery of the tour, it's not recommended for young children. Reviewers applaud the guide for his expertise and say it's a must-do activity for those interested in architecture. Tickets cost approximately $40 per person. Tours run on select days at 2 p.m.

Cruisin' the Castro – Historical LGBTQ Tour

Hear the history of San Francisco's first gay community, the creation of the rainbow flag and the "Summer of Love" on this two-hour tour through the Castro district. As you listen to the guides' stories, you'll visit sites like Harvey Milk Plaza, the GLBT Historical Society Museum, Pink Triangle Park and more. Reviewers applaud the well-informed guides, who they describe as passionate and entertaining. Tickets start at $28 per person and are free for children younger than 5. However, the company does not recommend the tour for young children as some of the stories may be deemed inappropriate. Tours depart most days, except Sunday and Monday, at 10 a.m. The company also offers private tours.

Haight Ashbury Flower Power Walking Tour

The Haight Ashbury Flower Power Walking Tour explores the history, fashion and architecture of this iconic neighborhood as well as modern-day happenings. You'll hear stories about music icons like the Grateful Dead and Janis Joplin as you weave your way through 12 blocks in about 2 1/2 hours. Reviewers say they enjoy their guide and learn a lot about the neighborhood. Tours run Tuesday and Saturday at 10:30 a.m. or Friday at 2 p.m. Tickets cost approximately $20 and are free for children 9 and younger.

Local Taste of the City Tours – Chinatown and North Beach Night Walking Tour

Stop for tasty food samples in two of San Francisco's most famous neighborhoods on this three-hour tour. As guides share information about Chinatown and North Beach, you'll enjoy samples from the oldest Chinese bakery in the city, chocolate from Z. Cioccolato, cannoli from a North Beach pastry shop and more. Reviewers highly recommend the tour and say the food is great. Tickets start at $59 for adults, $39 for youth ages 12 to 16 and $15 for children ages 2 to 11; infants younger than 2 tour for free. The price includes drinks and food, and tours are available daily at 6 p.m. The company also offers daytime food walking tours of Chinatown only and a combo tour of North Beach and Little Italy.

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San Francisco Chinatown Self-Guided Walking Tour

Melissa Zink / TripSavvy

San Francisco's Chinatown has more guided tour options than the local herbalist has ginseng roots. Many of them are informative and entertaining, but they control the schedule, and you have to plan around that. If you'd rather:

• Tour Chinatown when you want to
• Stay as long as you want at places of interest
• Skip the bits that bore you
• And do it all for free

This self-guided tour covers all the same sights to which tour guides will take you.

Print this page to take along and you're all set—and you can't beat the cost savings.

This walking tour takes you off the main streets into alleys and areas where you'll find some unique Chinatown sights. At a leisurely pace, it takes about 2 hours, including a stop for lunch. If you're a shopper, it may take a bit longer than that.

The total walking distance is 1.5 miles, and it's nearly flat.

Get Ready to Tour Chinatown

Chinatown is woefully short on public restrooms. Your best bet is to find one before you go in. There's a Starbucks at the corner of Sutter and Grant, just a block from the Chinatown gate.

Chinatown Gate to Portsmouth Square

Today's Chinatown was rebuilt after San Francisco's 1906 earthquake, and its architecture is an odd mix of Edwardian fundamentals and Chinese details. Starting from the Chinatown Gate on Bush Street, on Grant Avenue:

• Start at the Chinatown Gate: This 1970 addition to the Chinatown entrance marks the transition into Chinatown from Union Square. A pair of Chinese guardian lions is traditionally believed to provide protection. Called Shi in Chinese or "Foo Dogs" in the West, they're a common sight in front of Chinese Imperial palaces, Imperial tombs, government office, and temples.
• Walking on Grant Avenue: Grant is especially touristy near the Chinatown gate. It's a good place for souvenir shopping, with several large shops offering t-shirts and other trinkets. Further up the street, you'll also find modern Asian items that are both stylish and easy on the pocketbook. This part of Grant is a good place to stop and look up. This isn't a ploy to make you look silly: a couple of interesting things are above eye level. Look around and you'll see that the street signs are written in both English and Chinese and the ornate streetlights (put up in 1925) are supported by golden dragons.
• Stop at St. Mary's Church: Grant at California. The granite stones used in this historic church's foundations came from China and its bricks came "around the Horn" of South America with the gold seekers. It was the first church built as a cathedral in California and for many years was one of San Francisco's most prominent buildings. Inside is a small display of photographs from the 1906 earthquake and fire, showing both how badly it was damaged and how closely the new structure resembles its predecessor.
• Walking: When you cross the cable car tracks at California Avenue, listen. Not only will it help you avoid an approaching car, you'll also hear the cables that move the cars humming beneath the street.
• Stop at the Wok Shop : 718 Grant Avenue. This long-time Chinatown shop sells an extensive selection of cleavers, woks, and chopsticks, all of which make great (and useful) souvenirs.
• Stop at Eastern Bakery : 720 Grant Avenue. Opened in 1924, Eastern is the United States' oldest Chinese bakery. Mooncakes are their specialty, filled with a light melon or rich-tasting lotus-seed paste.
• Walking: At Clay Street, turn right, then go left to enter one of San Francisco's original city parks.
• Stop at Portsmouth Square : One of three city parks set aside by San Francisco's first mayor, Portsmouth is Chinatown's social center, with residents using it as an extension of their homes, taking the kids there to play or meeting friends. You'll sometimes find men playing Chinese chess (also called elephant chess) and groups of women playing cards. Also in the park is the Robert Louis Stevenson Memorial and a marker commemorating the first public school in California. The only public restroom on the tour route is in the park, but be warned—cleanliness can be an issue.
• Walking: Cross the park to Washington Street and turn left.

Portsmouth Square to Broadway

• Stop at the Old Telephone Exchange: (743 Washington) This lovely building is now the East West Bank, but it started out as the Chinese Telephone Exchange. Callers often asked for people by name only, thinking it rude to refer to a person by using a number, so the operators working here had to know each subscriber by name. With many subscribers having the same name, they also had to know everyone's address and occupation. And - they had to speak not only English but also five Chinese dialects. Today's building was rebuilt after the 1906 earthquake and fire.
• Walking: At Grant Avenue, turn right—or take a shortcut through Wentworth Place to Washington Street.
• Chinatown Restaurant Row: Between Grant and Kearny Street on Washington are some of the best-rated restaurants in Chinatown.
• Walking: After looking around or having a bite to eat, return to Grant Avenue. This route bypasses one of Chinatown's best-rated tea shops, Red Blossom. If you want to stop in, turn left on Grant to get there. Otherwise, turn right at Grant and continue.
• To Buy a Unique Souvenir:  Talk to the folks outside the door at 924 Grant or enter through the nondescript lobby and you'll find a place to get one of Chinatown's most unusual souvenirs, a custom-made, carved stone stamp from Rainbow Sign and Art.
• Be Prepared for Game Birds: In the block between Pacific and Broadway on the right side of the street is a small shop called Ming Kee Game Birds. They sell birds used in Chinese cuisine, including a blue-skinned chicken. FYI: Several years ago, a lot of controversy arose over Chinatown shops selling live poultry and shop owners are still sensitive to gawkers and photographers.
• Stop at the Chinatown Mural: At the corner of Columbus Avenue and Broadway where Chinatown meets North Beach, you'll find a mural on the corner building. One side commemorates North Beach's Italian roots. The side facing Broadway is dedicated to San Francisco's Chinese heritage
• Walking: At Broadway, turn left. At Stockton, cross the street and turn left again, walking along Stockton.

Stockton Markets and Alleyways

• Explore the Chinese Markets: The next two blocks of Stockton are packed with markets. Some sell the same kinds of vegetables and groceries you'd find at a neighborhood store anywhere, but others sell fresh fish, Asian specialty vegetables, and foods. For fun people-watching, look for older Chinese women shopping, arguing over asparagus, wrangling over radishes or shaking an eggplant to see if it's firm.
• Walking: At Jackson Street, turn left, then turn right into Ross Alley (which is halfway to Grant)
• Stop at the Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory : (56 Ross Alley) It's not what you might expect of a factory, but more like a Wallace and Gromit invention gone awry. Some people think the staff rude, and they'll give about 30 seconds to look around before insisting you buy something, but it's worth a look and something you're not likely to see anywhere else. Bring cash if you want to buy some fresh fortune cookies and expect to pay to take a photo, too. 
• Stop at the Sam Bo Trading Company: (50 Ross Alley) This small shop sells Buddhist and Taoist religious items, Buddha statues, incense and paper goods burned in tribute to ancestors and the gods. A pack of handmade paper printed in gold purchased here makes an inexpensive, beautiful souvenir.
• Walking: At the end of Ross Alley, go right on Jackson and then left into Spofford.
• Explore Spofford Alley: There's not a lot to see in this short alley, but listen: it's home to numerous mahjong parlors and you can hear the tiles clicking as you pass, especially on weekends when you might also get a glimpse inside through an open door.
• Walking: At the end of Spofford, turn left and walk to Waverly Place. Turn around at Washington to walk the street's two-block length.
• Explore Waverly Place is often called the Street of the Painted Balconies, but it wasn't built for tourists and these days the paint is growing a bit faded. Walk along its two-block length and you'll find a dry cleaner, travel agency, employment agency two funeral businesses and two temples. Amy Tan fans may recall the name Waverly from "Joy Luck Club," and Dashiell Hammett's "Dead Yellow Women" is also set here.
• Stop at the Tien Hou Temple : (125 Waverly Place) The smell of temple incense is one of Chinatown's sensory treats, and you'll find plenty of it on the top floor at 125 Waverly Place, in a temple dedicated to the Goddess of Heaven. After you climb the long stairway, you'll find a tiny, incense-filled room hung with red and gold lanterns, several shrines and a statue of the goddess in the back. They don't mind respectful visitors (but don't allow photographs). Admission is free, but I recommend making a small donation, just to be polite.
• Family Benevolent Associations: You'll see the offices for several of these associations on Waverly Place, including the Eng and Wong families. They began as social clubs to serve social and personal needs of Chinese workers and provide political and social support systems to newcomers. These days, they are mostly gathering places, particularly for older Chinese who live in Chinatown.
• Bing-Tong Kong Freemasons: During the early twentieth century, Bing-Tong Kong was one of San Francisco's most powerful Tongs, groups often compared to modern gangs. In the 1930s, it started using the name "Chinese Free Masons," but whether they are formally associated with that organization is unclear. This building appears briefly in the 1982 film Chan Is Missing , directed by Wayne Wang.
• Stop at the  Clarion Music Center (816 Sacramento Street) sells Chinese drums, cymbals, flutes, Tibetan singing bowls and many unusual instruments and is well worth a stop if you like that kind of thing. They are closed on Sundays.

The easiest way to get to many other parts of San Francisco from Chinatown is by cable car. Find everything you need to know about riding them in the San Francisco Cable Car Guide .

• If You're Done for the Day: Turn left at Sacramento Street and right onto Grant. Walk 3 blocks and you'll be back where you started.
• To Go to  Union Square : Turn right on Bush, left on Stockton and you'll be there in 3 blocks
• To See the  Ferry Building, Waterfront, Bay Bridge : Turn left on Grant to California and catch the cable car (the one going downhill)
• To Check Out Nob Hill: Turn left on Grant to California and get on the cable car (the one going uphill)
• To Go to  Fisherman's Wharf : Turn right on Sacramento and walk 2 blocks to catch the Powell-Mason or Powell-Hyde cable car
• To Explore North Beach: Turn right at Sacramento Street and then right onto Stockton. It's about 6 blocks to the edge of North Beach from there

Apps for Your Chinatown Tour

Sutro Media's San Francisco Chinatown app provides a map and an A to Z listing of points of interest. The map is filled with detailed icons, but unfortunately, they overlap and are hard to read on a mobile phone screen. If you're the type who likes to wander but occasionally wants to know more about something, you may find it useful.

The free app City Walks provides minimal information and you'll have to pay for an upgrade to access their guided tours. It's a pricing strategy, this app rates only 2.5 stars out of 5, largely because of complaints that the free version has nothing to offer.

Time Shutter - San Francisco  is custom-made for history buffs and anyone who wonders what a place looked like long ago. Using their map- or list-based index, you can bring up historic photos of the place you're standing. Double-tap and they'll transform into modern-day views.

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San Francisco Marina Walking Tour and Map

Today I want to bring you my self-guided Marina walking tour in San Francisco. This part of the City by the Bay is famous for its Art Deco buildings, eye-catching Palace of Fine Arts, waterfront area, and great shopping, dining, and nightlife. The Marina District is one of the most exciting neighborhoods in San Francisco, and it’s a fun place to discover on foot. My walking route will guide you around to the top spots in the area and allow you to explore its local streets and beloved spaces while you do. I’ve included a map, too.

Marina, San Francisco Walking Tour

The Marina is in the north of the city, and it’s one of my favorite neighborhoods in San Francisco. I lived here for years, and I still love its mix of boutiques, restaurants, pretty streets, and waterfront charm. It’s a local area a lot of visitors miss, and it’s worth a special trip.

I’ve walked all over the neighborhood, and I’m excited to share my favorite places to explore with you. From Chestnut Street to Marina Green, picturesque houses to awe-inspiring parks, there’s a lot to love about this part of SF.

My favorite thing about the Marina is the variety of things to do and see on Chestnut Street. From independent shops and cafes to classic wine bars and pretty storefronts, this street has a lot of the things I like about the city.

My self-guided Marina walking tour in San Francisco is the ideal way to live like a local, take in the side streets, stroll along the water, and discover a part of the city locals love to spend time in.

And make fun of. Non-Marina residents like to give people who live here a hard time about living in a neighborhood full of young yuppie partiers. I still get teased about having been a “Marina girl” even though I never felt like I fit the stereotype. I’ll let you judge it for yourself while you’re here. I hope the balance tips in the area’s favor!

Helpful Tips and Guidelines

Unlike some of my other San Francisco self-guided walking tours , this walk is completely flat. Much of the Marina was built on landfill, so it doesn’t involve city’s famous hills. I still recommend wearing comfortable walking shoes, bringing water, and going at your own pace, though.

And as always, walk safely, obey traffic rules, and only use authorized crossing points as you go.

If you prefer a guided tour, there are plenty of good ones to choose from. They’re great ways to see the City by the Bay with an experienced local. You can see options and book one here .

Marina Walk Route in San Francisco

My self-guided San Francisco walk in the Marina starts at the intersection of Chestnut and Fillmore. You can arrive by local bus 30, by bike or scooter, or on foot from Russian Hill, Cow Hollow, Fort Mason, the Presidio and other parts of the city. Parking can be a pain (especially on weekends), so try to avoid driving if you can.

Chestnut Street

Start this walk by heading west down Chestnut Street toward the Presidio. Along the way you’ll pass all kinds of restaurants, wine bars, and cafes. It’s a great place to get a meal or snack if you need one. The shopping is excellent here, too.

My favorite places to eat on Chestnut include Pacific Catch (the Original Ahi Poke bowl is amazing) and Kara’s Cupcakes (don’t miss the seasonal flavors). Side streets like Steiner and Scott are full of good places to eat as well.

Palace of Fine Arts

After walking almost all the way down Chestnut Street, turn right on Divisadero. Here you’ll start to take in some of the residential architecture in the area. The Marina is particularly known for its Art Deco apartment buildings since the area was largely developed in the 1920s. Make sure to look up and take in the details as you go.

When you get to Bay Street, turn left and walk two blocks west to Baker Street. Turn right on Baker, cross the street where it’s safe, and take in the magnificence of the Palace of Fine Arts.

This local landmark was built for a 1915 world’s fair called the Panama Pacific International Exposition. The event took place to mark the city’s resurgence following the devastating 1906 earthquake and fire that destroyed large parts of the city.

The Palace of Fine Arts was so popular that it was left intact when many other structures from the exposition were taken down to create the area that’s now known as the Marina District.

Spend some time exploring the park, walking around the lake, and taking in the architecture. You might recognize some spots from movies set in San Francisco . Scenes from famous films like The Rock and Vertigo were filmed here. You may see couples getting wedding portraits taken, too.

Marina Green

When you’re done exploring, continue your self-guided Marina walk back on Baker Street. You’ll see impressive houses opposite the park as you make your way north to the San Francisco Bay.

When you get to Marina Boulevard, you’ll have two options. The first is to cross the street and walk through the Little Marina Green Picnic Area to get to the path that leads west along Crissy Field to the Golden Gate Bridge. Whether you walk all the way to the bridge or not, you’ll take in beautiful beaches and great views of Alcatraz as you go.

The second option is to cross the street, turn right, and walk along the San Francisco Marina Yacht Harbor and Marina Green. You’ll see everything from food trucks to the lighthouse and Alcatraz as you stroll along the waterfront. The houses on the south side of the street are worth a glance, too.

If you choose the first option, rejoin the walking route on Marina Green to continue your self-guided Marina walking tour to the end.

Side Streets

When you get to Fillmore Street, turn right, then take a quick right on Retiro Way. This road will take you into a tangle of pretty streets that show off the Marina’s residential architecture. From attractive houses to eye-catching apartment buildings, there are a lot of details to take in here.

When you reach Casa Way, keep left to stay on Retiro Way, then turn right on Rico Way. Follow it down to Avila Street and turn left. Head down Avila, staying on it as it crosses Cervantes Boulevard, and curving around with it as it meets Prado Street and straightens out to lead you south.

This stretch of Avila Street is one of my favorites in the Marina. There are lots of pretty houses to admire here.

When you reach Capra Way, turn left and walk down to Mallorca Way. This pretty street will lead you to Alhambra Street, where you can turn right. Walk down it and take in the attractive houses and apartment buildings as you go. I used to live on this street, and I loved all the architectural details.

When you reach Pierce, turn left and then take your first left on Toledo Way. Walk down it until you reach Mallorca again, and turn right. This will lead you back up to Chestnut, where you can turn left to get back to the intersection with Fillmore. Your walk ends right where it began.

Walk Details and Map

Below you’ll find the details and map for my self-guided Marina walking tour in San Francisco, as well as other neighborhoods and places you can explore when you’re done.

Distance: 2.5 miles (not including the walk to Crissy Field and the Golden Gate Bridge)

Time: 1 – 2.5 hours (depending whether you walk out to Crissy Beach and the bridge or not)

Map of the first half of the walk: https://goo.gl/maps/apqDCPvNwzJuU9Qk7

Map of the second half of the walk: https://goo.gl/maps/ngY5EfWD7UdUNicN6

Further afield: Russian Hill and Polk Street, Cow Hollow and Union Street, Fort Mason, the Presidio, Pacific Heights and Fillmore Street, Ghirardelli Square, the Golden Gate Bridge

Marina Walking Tour in San Francisco

I hope my Marina walk has made you look forward to getting outdoors and exploring this part of the City by the Bay on foot. It’s one of the highlights of San Francisco , and the tour is the perfect way to discover this local part of SF.

If you want to walk around more of the city’s neighborhoods, you can take a look at my Pacific Heights walking tour , my Russian Hill walk , and my Telegraph Hill walk . Happy exploring!

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The 5 best walks in San Francisco: how to explore the city on foot

Jan 30, 2022 • 9 min read

From crossing the Golden Gate Bridge to wandering through some of the city's best parks, here are five great walking routes in San Francisco © Maridav / Getty Images

The best way to see San Francisco is on foot. It’s how you’ll fully appreciate the city’s nuances and quirks, all part of its endless appeal. These five walks take you into the historic heart of the city and explore some of its most diverse neighborhoods .

You’ll venture deep into natural areas and enjoy the fabulous views that are part of the city’s lore. You’ll even get up close and personal with some of the city’s top icons. Whether you have two hours or most of a day, one of these walks will suit. Along the way, you’ll discover opportunities for good food and drink, as well shops like none you’ll find elsewhere.

Take a stroll through Chinatown and North Beach

Best walk for pure san francisco.

1.5 miles one-way, 3 hours, moderate

Start in Chinatown at Portsmouth Square , the neighborhood’s unofficial living room. It’s named after John B Montgomery’s sloop, which staked the US claim on San Francisco in 1846. Today the square is graced by the Goddess of Democracy , a bronze replica of the statue that Tiananmen Sq protesters made in 1989.

Stop into the Chinese Historical Society of America , which shows what it was like to be Chinese in America during the gold rush, transcontinental railroad construction and the decades that followed, all while contending with virulent racism.

Meander north on the busy, shop-lined streets, watching for the 41 historic alleyways packed into Chinatown’s 22 blocks. Don’t miss Waverly Place and its historic clinker-brick buildings and flag-festooned temple balconies.

Cut over to Columbus Ave and the heart of San Francisco’s Beat culture at Jack Kerouac Alley . Note the words of Chinese poet Li Po embedded in the alley: "In the company of friends, there is never enough wine." Kerouac, Arthur Miller, and other Beat icons drank in the 1950s at neighboring bar Vesuvio . Nearby is the legendary City Lights Books , one of America’s best bookshops.

Head up Columbus through the heart of North Beach, which still has discernable Italian roots. At lushly planted Washington Square , you’ll spot parrots in the treetops and octogenarians in tai chi tiger stances on the lawn.

Head up steep and residential Greenwich St to Coit Tower for the city’s best views. The exclamation point on San Francisco’s skyline, the stark white deco building is surrounded by a park where you’ll be thrilled by vistas from the Golden Gate to the Bay Bridge and beyond. Take time to duck into the lobby where murals depict city life during the Depression: people lining up at soup kitchens, organizing dockworkers’ unions, partying despite Prohibition, and more. The depictions have riled up conservatives ever since.

Now head east and down the Filbert Street Steps . The steep climb leads past hidden cottages along Napier Lane, more sweeping views and more colorful wild-parrot flocks. Continue across The Embarcadero to the waterfront at Pier 23, where you turn left for Fisherman’s Wharf or right for the Ferry Building .

Free your spirit on a walk through the Haight and Golden Gate Park

Best walk for hippie culture and a fun-filled park.

4.5 miles one-way, 4 hours or more, easy

Start in Buena Vista Park , with panoramic city views. Head west up Haight St into the neighborhood that defined the Summer of Love in 1967. Hippie flashbacks are a given in the here, where the fog is fragrant downwind of Haight St’s legal marijuana dispensaries.

Turn right onto Waller St and left uphill past 432 Delmar St, site of the Sid Vicious overdose that broke up the Sex Pistols in 1978. A block over, pay your respects to Jerry Garcia, Bob Weir, and Pigpen at the Grateful Dead House . Down the block, 635 Ashbury St is one of many known SF addresses for Janis Joplin, who had a hard time hanging onto leases in the 1960s. 

At the corner of Haight and Ashbury , the clock overhead always reads 4:20, better known in "Hashbury" as International Bong-Hit Time. Follow your bliss to the drum circle at Hippie Hill in Golden Gate Park, where free spirits have gathered since the ’60s to flail to the beat.

Golden Gate Park sprawls across 1017 wonderful acres with a variety of sites that will have something for every interest. Heading west towards the ocean, you could see carnivorous plants gobbling insects at the Conservatory of Flowers , or spot blue butterflies in the rainforest dome at the California Academy of Sciences . Perhaps you'll choose to get lost in the art exhibits of the de Young Museum , or maybe you’ll allot a couple of hours to sipping green tea in the Japanese Tea Garden . Note that cars were banned from John F Kennedy Dr in 2021, which adds greatly to your walking pleasure.

Continuing west, there’s the walk to the summit at Strawberry Hill and the namesake large, furry critters grazing at the Buffalo Paddock . When you hear the surf, you’re close to the Pacific and magnificent four-mile-long Ocean Beach .

Marvel at murals as you mosey through the Mission

Best walk for savoring san francisco’s contradictions.

2.75 miles one-way, 3 hours, easy

The Mission is a crossroads of contradictions and at its heart is Mission St, SF’s faded "miracle mile" now occupied by dollar stores and rollicking street life, surrounded by colorful murals and buzzy restaurants. West of Mission St, Valencia St has quirky boutiques and seven-figure condos. Calle 24 (24th St) is SF’s designated Latino Cultural District. Walking in the Mission puts you in the heart of all the contradictions that are San Francisco today.

Begin at the city’s first building and neighborhood namesake: adobe Mission Dolores , built by some 5000 conscripted Ohlone and Miwok laborers. You can glimpse the Miwok memorial hut through the mission fence on Chula Lane. Hitchcock fans still come to the garden here to smell the flowers in a prime location from the 1958 movie  Vertigo .

Climb to the upper southwestern corner of Dolores Park for panoramic views. Then walk down 19th St past Daniel Doherty’s impressionist-inspired 2009 mural A Sunday Afternoon at Dolores Park , showing Dolores Park’s regular cast of characters, including frolicking pugs and handlebar-mustachioed men in matching swim shorts.

On Valencia St, pause to pay your respects to bygone celebrities at Dog Eared Books – the front window features hand-drawn obituary cartoons of luminaries. Window-shop down Valencia and hang a left onto Calle 24. Pass community centers, churches, bodegas, panaderias (bakeries), and taquerias all swathed in murals. Stop at 24th & York Mini Park , where Aztec serpent-god Quetzalcoatl rears his mighty mosaic head. 

Double back along 24th St, cross over and swing down to Balmy Alley , where you may recognize beatified activist Archbishop Romero and surrealist painter Frida Kahlo among the colorful characters illuminating garage doors. For food, join the line at La Taqueria for one of SF’s best burritos. Get yours "dorado style," so they’ll crisp the outside.

Walk across the Golden Gate Bridge to Sausalito

Best walk for dramatic views and nature.

5 miles one-way, 4–6 hours, moderate

One of San Francisco’s best walks takes you right out of the city, but what a walk it is given you’ll cross the Golden Gate Bridge on foot and then curve around the bay to the delightful town of Sausalito where you’ll catch a ferry back to SF. (Confirm the ferry schedule before you set out.) All along this walk you’ll enjoy sweeping views of the city and a surprising amount of natural beauty.

The city’s most spectacular icon towers 80 stories above the roiling waters of the Golden Gate, the narrow entrance to San Francisco Bay. Begin your walk at the Golden Gate Bridge Welcome Center at the south end, where you’ll learn how the huge undertaking was completed in 1937, a mere four years after construction began. 

Pedestrians take the eastern sidewalk. Dress warmly! It’s 1.7 miles across the walkway and you’ll want to take your time for the views, both horizontal and vertical. If you’re lucky you’ll get to look right down the funnel of a passing ship.

At the north end, follow the curving walkway and road all the way down to Fort Baker and Horseshoe Bay. This former military post with one of the world’s best views was a defensive position for much of the 20th century.

Continue on East Road along the tree-lined coast north into Sausalito, where you can stroll the cute little center and enjoy some of the region's best seafood in a waterfront cafe like Fish . On a Golden Gate Ferry for the 30-minute ride to the Ferry Building in SF, you’ll go right past Alcatraz .

Amble through Presidio and Crissy Field for amazing Golden Gate views

Best walk for ocean and bay views.

3.5 miles one-way, 4 hours or more, easy

Explore the Presidio , the vast splotch of green on the map between Baker Beach and Crissy Field and you’ll find parade grounds, historic buildings by the dozen, beautiful natural areas, and some fascinating art projects. What started as a Spanish fort built by Ohlone conscripts in 1776 is now a treasure hunt of surprises. It was decommissioned as a military base in 1994 and turned over to the National Park Service (NPS), which has been transforming it into one of the nation’s best urban parks. Download the NPS Presidio app for details on trails and sights.

At mile-long Baker Beach take in the spectacular views of the Golden Gate. Crowds descend on weekends, especially on fog-free days, so arrive early. For nude sunbathing, head to the northern end. Mind the currents and the c-c-cold water. 

Hike up along the Batteries to Bluffs Trail, which follows the coast and offers spectacular views from bluffs where huge guns once defended San Francisco. Head inland to Fort Winfield Scott, with its flat parade ground and vintage buildings. Curve east on paths along Lincoln Blvd and enjoy the bay and bridge views.

At the manicured Main Parade Lawn, you’ll find cafes and museums. The Presidio Officer’s Club is the site’s oldest building. Its gorgeous Spanish-Moorish adobe architecture dates to the 1700s. The free Heritage Gallery shows the history of the Presidio, from Native American days to the present, along with temporary exhibitions.

Cross over the new grasslands covering Hwy 101 and head down to Crissy Field, a military airstrip turned waterfront nature preserve with knockout Golden Gate views. Bird-watchers, walkers, windsurfers, kitesurfers, and cyclists flock here. Rent a bike and join the fun or sit on the beach and watch for gray whales who sometimes venture into the bay.

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Free Walking Tour of San Francisco

• 9.30 / 10 3,153 reviews | 31,772 travellers Great! The guide told us a lot of interesting things and helped us with the visit. 10 Inés Z
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Discover the best of San Francisco's history, culture and architecture on this guided walking tour of the Californian city.

San Francisco Free Walking Tour

At the scheduled time, we'll meet on Post Street to start our tour at  San Francisco's most important public plaza :  Union Square . Located in the heart of the city center, the square is a popular meeting place for locals and tourists alike and has played host to concerts, protests and other public events throughout its history.

Stroll through the streets surrounding Union Square in the direction of  Maiden Lane , one of San Francisco's best-known shopping streets. The  high-end boutiques  and  art galleries  that line the pedestrianized mall make it a popular spot for retail therapy in the city.

Continuing on your free walking tour, you'll soon reach  Dragon Gate , the emblematic archway marking the beginning of San Francisco's Chinatown. The colorful façades of the temples, stores and restaurants with their Chinese lanterns and Mandarin and Cantonese signs give the impression that you've entered an Asian city - without leaving the USA! Did you know that  San Francisco Chinatown is the second-largest Chinese enclave in the United States ? You'll have the opportunity to visit a local fortune cookie shop to learn more about the culture here.

As we finish up the tour we'll leave Chinatown behind and head into the  Financial District . We'll discover the contrast of buildings like the marble-clad former Pacific Stock Exchange with contemporary skyscrapers such as the Transamerica Pyramid , a futuristic building that's one of the most characteristic structures in San Francisco.

Weekends and Public Holidays

Please note that on weekends and public holidays, the free walking tour of San Francisco will finish at the pier .

It is not possible to book this tour for groups larger than 6 people . If you're a bigger group, please reserve a Private Tour of San Francisco instead.

Other San Francisco Free Tours

If you feel like exploring other areas of the city in depth, we recommend checking out  The Castro & Mission District Free Tour or the  Chinatown & Little Italy Free Night Tour

More Information

2 hours 30 minutes.

The activity takes place with a guide that speaks in English.

English speaking guide.

Not included

When to book.

You can book up until 30 minutes before the activity as long as there are still places. Book now to guarantee your spot.

Type of voucher

Electronic. Show the voucher on your phone.

Accessibility

Not wheelchair accessible.

Sustainability

All services published on Civitatis are carried out in accordance with our Sustainability Code .

Our providers commit to:

• Provide a safe and satisfying experience.
• Reduce, reuse, recycle.
• Incorporate eco-conscious technologies.
• Uphold fair employment standards.
• Foster the growth of local communities.
• Preserve the integrity of local culture.
• Safeguard both cultural and environmental heritage.
• Ensure ethical treatment of animals.
• Operate with honesty and transparency.
• Encourage sustainable behaviors among customers and staff.

This particular activity contributes as follows:

• Printed material is avoided.
• No single-use plastics are used.
• The activity helps the dissemination of local cultural heritage.
• The activity helps to promote peace.
• No printing of documentation required.
• Promotes local employment.
• Has a gender equality policy.
• Has a carbon footprint offset policy.

Free Sf Tour Show more

Corporate name: Filip Lazarevski DBA Free SF Tour

Frequently asked questions

Q - Why do this activity with Civitatis?

A - At Civitatis we guarantee the best quality and prices, click here if you want to know how we select our activities .

Q - How to book?

A - To reserve the activity, choose the date and complete the form on this page. You will receive your confirmation immediately.

Q - Is a minimum number of participants required?

A - This activity requires a minimum of 5 participants. Should this number not be reached, we'll get in touch with you to offer alternatives.

If you have any other questions please contact us.

Free cancellation

Meeting point.

389 Post Street

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Home / San Francisco Tours / Attractions Map

San Francisco Tourist Attractions Maps | City Tours Map

San Francisco is a huge city in the state of California and known for its Victorian architecture, scenic natural landscapes, hilly terrains, and great cultural diversity. It’s no wonder why this city is one of the most visited cities in the United States. San Francisco is quite compact and exploring the city to enjoy its sights should be easy, especially if you have copy of the San Francisco Transport Map.

The best way to see San Francisco is by its public transportation. San Francisco has one of the best public transportation systems all over the country and is very comprehensive. To use the train, refer to our copy of the San Francisco metro map so you’ll find your way all over the city and find out which station you need to go.

If you want to go sightseeing, we have a San Francisco Tourist Sightseeing map that can serve as your guide. This will tell you how to reach some of the city’s most famous sights and attractions including the Golden Gate Bridge, Palace of Fine Arts, California Academy of Sciences, Aquarium of the Bay, Fisherman’s Wharf, and more. This map also includes details about where to find the city’s best museums, parks, and art galleries.

Walking is also an exciting option to explore San Francisco’s most beautiful neighborhoods. Check out our free printable copy of the San Francisco Walking Tour Maps to find out which streets are pedestrian-friendly and what places you’ll come across along the way.

Taking the San Francisco Hop on Hop Off Tour is a more convenient way to explore the city and this is the best choice for those who are traveling with the elderly and the kids. To find out more about this, check out our free printable copy of the San FranciscoHop on Hop off Bus map.

• Interactive San Francisco Attractions Map
• Top Rated San Francisco Attractions

San Francisco City Sightseeing Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour Map

San francisco bigbus hop-on hop-off bus tour map, san francisco metro map, san francisco transport map, san francisco tourist map, san francisco walking tour map.

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43 Best Things to Do in San Francisco — From Famous Sites to Can't-miss Attractions

Here are some of the top ways to spend your time in the Golden City.

San Francisco is a city filled with iconic American landmarks, fascinating history, must-try culinary delights from cioppino to Ghirardelli chocolate, diverse cultures, and quintessential California nature. Even the people who live there couldn't get bored with all there is to see and do in the bustling and beautiful West Coast metropolis. The next time you find yourself planning a trip to the Golden City (soon, we hope), allow this list of things to do in San Francisco to inspire your itinerary.

Top 5 Can’t Miss

• The Golden Gate Bridge is a world-famous landmark, and walking or biking over it offers expansive views of the city, water, and Marin Headlands.
• Cheering on the Giants baseball team from the nosebleeds at Oracle Park will provide you with superb bay views and make you feel like a proud San Franciscan for a day.
• Hundreds of street art works make up the Mission Murals, painted all over the Mission District.
• Indulge in pizza, pasta, and cannolis in retro North Beach, San Francisco's Little Italy.
• Immerse yourself in the international feel of Sausalito, known for its verdant hills, quirky houseboats, and laid-back vibe.

Walk or bike over the Golden Gate Bridge.

Adrian Rudd/Travel + Leisure

The Golden Gate Bridge is one of the most recognizable sights in the U.S. The 1.7-mile-long, brick-red structure spans the strait for which it's named, allowing both cars and pedestrians to travel between San Francisco and Marin County. Walking or biking across the bridge is almost mandatory during a first visit to the city. There are two sidewalks on the bridge — east and west — and there are rules about which should be used for walking and cycling depending on what day of the week and time of day you cross it. Check the website before you go.

Watch the Giants play at Oracle Park.

Rooting for the home team in San Francisco means cheering on the Giants at Oracle Park . Baseball fanatics will want to sit in the 100s, close to the field, but the upper deck at this waterfront stadium offers stunning views of the bay. Seriously, this is where sitting in the nosebleeds can really pay off. Just bring a glove so you're prepared to catch a foul ball or homer.

Tour the Mission Murals.

Get out and see some fabulous street art for free with a self-guided tour of the Mission Murals. The best way to view them is by taking a stroll down Caledonia Alley, Clarion Alley, Balmy Alley, and Horace Alley, though really, you can just walk around the area and find your own favorite mural out of hundreds that line the streets.

Eat your way through Little Italy.

North Beach is San Francisco's Little Italy, packed with pasta joints and plenty of cafés to sip an espresso outside like a true Italian. Have a cannoli from Victoria Pastry , try a Neapolitan-style slice from Tony's Pizza Napolitana , dig into the cioppino (seafood stew) at Sotto Mare , or sip on a true Italian cappuccino at Caffe Trieste .

Experience Sausalito's small-town charm.

123/Getty Images

The picturesque seaside village of Sausalito is just across the Golden Gate in Marin County and best accessed by bike or ferry. On a sunny day, you might feel like you're somewhere in the Mediterranean thanks to the small town's colorful architecture, hilly nature, and relaxed aura. Many liken it to Positano, Italy. Spend some time touring the neighborhood by bike (rental shops abound), making sure to stop at Lappert’s for an ice cream and Waldo Point Harbor to admire the elaborate houseboats.

Find fresh air at the Presidio.

The Presidio , a one-time military post that's now a 1,500-acre public park, is an excellent space to roam outdoors. It's the place to go for a hike or bike ride on the 24 miles of trails, as well as to get an epic view of the Golden Gate Bridge from one of the lookout points. San Francisco is surrounded by beautiful nature, and this is one of the best places to escape the bustle and find a moment of peace.

Take in the view from the Presidio Tunnel Tops.

The Presidio Tunnel Tops provide green space above a six-lane highway. The 14 acres of parklands connect the Main Post (the site of the former military base) to the Crissy Field waterfront, offering spectacular views of the Golden Gate Bridge. You can even reserve one of the picnic tables with the best view for an unforgettable experience. There are also plenty of opportunities for recreation and learning, such as weekend campfire talks led by National Park Service rangers.

Admire art that pushes boundaries.

Sure, you'll find many places to admire art in this intensely creative city, but the  Institute for Contemporary Art San Francisco is different: It's nonprofit, non-collecting, and "dedicated to experimenting." It's the antidote to artistic pretentiousness. The pieces here range from photography to textile to video to mixed media, and you won't pay to see any of it thanks to free admission.

Feel a sense of pride in the Castro.

xavierarnau/Getty Images

The Castro is as iconic as neighborhoods get. As one of the first predominantly gay neighborhoods in the nation, it became a symbol of hope for the LGBTQ+ community. The neighborhood remains a vibrant place to visit and is still home to the famed Castro Theatre and GLBT Historical Society Museum , plus Pink Triangle Memorial , a site dedicated to remembering the gay men persecuted in Europe during World War II.

Do anything but drive on JFK Promenade.

JFK Drive in Golden Gate Park was once car-free just on weekends, but San Francisco voters elected to make the road permanently pedestrian-only. You can walk it, bike it, skate it, or make your way along it any way you want without having to worry about traffic. On the route, you'll be treated to art installations, chairs set up for kicking back, and public pianos.

Travel by cable car.

San Francisco is a famously hilly city. Unless you're hoping to get a major leg workout, it may be beneficial to get around on public transportation. The city's celebrated cable car system, an attraction in itself, has been transporting people around the city since 1873. Plus, it's easy to hop onto one near many of the city's best hotels . The cable cars remain both an excellent mode of transit and a super Instagrammable experience you must try. Tickets can be purchased through the MuniMobile app or at kiosks around the city.

Ferry over to Alcatraz.

Kelly Griffin/Travel + Leisure

Visiting a jail may not seem like a very vacation-like thing to do, but Alcatraz isn't any old jail. The long-closed penitentiary, located on the namesake island in San Francisco Bay, housed some of the nation’s most notorious criminals (some of whom tried to escape by swimming across the treacherous waters). Anyone can take the ferry over to the island, now part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area , for a guided tour of the prison to learn more about its fascinating history.

Tour North America's oldest Chinatown.

San Francisco’s Chinatown, whose entrance is marked by the Dragon Gate at Grant Avenue and Bush Street, is the oldest in North America. Spanning 30 square blocks, the neighborhood is its own little bustling metropolis. Go peruse the shops, feast on world-class dim sum or traditional congee, sip boba, or grab a green tea-flavored fortune cookie from the Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory .

Walk down Lovers' Lane.

For an outdoor treat, take a quiet stroll down Lovers' Lane , the oldest footpath through the Presidio. The roughly half-mile trail is paved and rated easy to moderate. It's the perfect place to find a moment of solitude amid the trees — and stroll hand-in-hand with someone you love.

Stand in awe at the Palace of Fine Arts.

For the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exhibition, architect Bernard Maybeck designed the neoclassical Palace of Fine Arts as a replica of Roman ruins to be dismantled after the fair ended. Instead, a determined group of citizens saved the beloved structure, which really did become a ruin by the late 1950s. Rebuilt during the following decade in a more permanent fashion, it remains a stunning landmark. The free attraction features a gorgeous open-air rotunda, 162 feet tall, flanked by two Corinthian colonnades and overlooking a tranquil lagoon, all set in a park at the edge of the Presidio. It’s a great place for a walk or photoshoot.

Picnic at Alamo Square Park.

Alamo Square Park is one of the most photographed places in San Francisco, mostly because it's the perfect vantage point for capturing the pastel-colored Painted Ladies (aka the Victorian-style homes of Full House fame). But it also offers a spectacular view of the entire city on all sides. Pack a blanket and a snack to sit out and people watch to your heart's content.

Flip through Beat classics at City Lights Bookstore.

As far as bookstores go, City Lights is San Francisco's most famous. Peter D. Martin and poet Lawrence Ferlinghetti opened it as America’s first all-paperback shop in 1953, eventually attracting (and sometimes publishing) the likes of Jack Kerouac and Allen Ginsberg. Today, the indie North Beach landmark remains committed to bringing customers the best of Beat literature, though it does have a little bit of everything. Go to sift through poetry, fiction, historical, and philosophical books — and possibly find a literary souvenir to take home.

Find a vintage gem at TreasureFest.

San Francisco is home to some seriously stellar vintage shopping, but there is perhaps no better spot to find unique items than at TreasureFest . The open-air market includes clothing, antiques, handmade products, and live music performances. There are plenty of food trucks on hand to feed the hungry masses as well. Check the website for upcoming dates as this flea is open only one weekend a month.

Cruise the bay.

Get a different perspective of the city by hitting the water on a bay cruise. This will allow you to get up close to several attractions including Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz Island. Keep an eye out for seals and other sea life, too. There are many options to choose from, including an hour-long tour with the Blue and Gold Fleet or an adventurous 90-minute excursion by inflatable raft with Bay Voyager .

Build something new at the Exploratorium.

The Exploratorium is a museum and "public learning laboratory" that allows anyone to become a mad scientist. You can use the tools available to create whatever you pull from your imagination. Unsurprisingly, the place is a hit among children, but the museum's adult-only Thursday evenings are especially fun if you're child-free. Otherwise, go anytime to learn from regular speakers and interact with the exhibits.

Lose yourself in art at SFMOMA.

To say the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art is huge would be an understatement. The museum has seven gallery floors and more than 45,000 square feet filled to the brim with contemporary pieces, photographs, sculptures, and so much more. You could easily spend an entire day (and then some) wandering SFMOMA and experiencing all this vast institution has to offer.

Grab a snack at the Ferry Building.

Looking to get a tasty treat? Head to the historic Ferry Building , a marketplace offering local delights from the Portuguese donuts at Ocean Malasada to the frothy beers at Fort Point Beer Co . If you can, plan to visit on a market day — Tuesday, Thursday, or Saturday — when local purveyors descend on the space to sell their goods straight from their farms.

Stop and smell the flowers at San Francisco Botanical Garden.

The San Francisco Botanical Garden stretches across 55 acres and showcases the most magical flora in the city. You'll feel like you're in the Andes one minute and the Mediterranean the next as you wander through the different gardens. This place is particularly well known for its magnolia collection, so make sure to walk by and get a whiff if you're visiting during the blooming season, mid-January through March.

Sip a tiki drink in the Tonga Room.

The city is filled with excellent bars and restaurants that will happily serve you a drink, but arguably none are as iconic as the Tonga Room . The tiki-style bar inside the Fairmont San Francisco has long been a favorite of travelers because it just feels so out of place in the Bay Area, yet somehow, it works. Get a fruity cocktail and a few island-inspired bites and feel transported to the tropics.

Have afternoon tea at the Palace Hotel.

Want to feel a little more regal? Head to the Palace Hotel for afternoon tea. On Saturdays, the hotel hosts a traditional ceremony in its Garden Court dining room, where stands of classic English bites like scones and finger sandwiches decorate the tables and serve as the perfect pick-me-up for peckish tourists and locals alike.

Peruse a dispensary.

Keen to have a quintessentially San Francisco experience? Pay a visit to one of the city's many dispensaries. Even if you don't partake, it can still be fun to check out the thriving marijuana business up close. Since 2016, adult-use cannabis has been legal in the state, and now it's become a full-service lifestyle. Think of it like going to a wine shop. If you need any help, just ask a friendly "budtender." Check out Weedmaps to find a location.

Climb the Filbert Street Steps.

Take in more sights and get a great glute workout at the same time with a walk up Telegraph Hill via the famed Filbert Street Steps. This set of stairs starts at Samson Street and takes you up to Coit Tower, a columnar concrete landmark of San Francisco's skyline. Along the way, you can marvel at the stunning gardens on either side and use the displays as a great excuse to stop and catch your breath.

Take in a San Francisco Symphony performance.

A show at the Louise M. Davies Symphony Hall, in the Civic Center neighborhood, is a feast for both the ears and eyes. Go for a traditional concert, or visit during one of the San Francisco Symphony's special film nights, during which a blockbuster movie plays on a big screen while the orchestra provides a live soundtrack. Check the schedule on the  symphony's website .

Get an Irish coffee at Buena Vista.

Come for a cup of coffee with a twist at Buena Vista . The café claims to be the spot where the Irish coffee was perfected in America in 1952. Warm yourself up with one at the bar and see whether it lives up to your standards. If not, that's OK. The restaurant has a full menu of items to choose from, including crab cake eggs Benedict, "scrambled" lobster, and more.

Indulge at Ghirardelli Square.

If the name Ghirardelli Square rings a bell, odds are you have a sweet tooth. The entertainment and retail complex, located between Fort Mason and Fisherman's Wharf, was once home to the famed chocolate company of the same name. Ghirardelli moved its operations to nearby San Leandro in 1966, but its Chocolate Experience — featuring a pick-and-mix bar and a sundae station – pays faithful homage to the property's history. Head in for a taste, or visit its neighboring restaurants and bars for a larger bite.

Stroll the Japanese Tea Garden.

The Japanese Tea Garden is an absolute treat for any anthophile. The five-acre gem in Golden Gate Park is filled with stunning plant life, traditional pagodas, tranquil koi ponds, and an authentic tea house where you can sip and savor for as long as you'd like. If you visit during the spring — specifically March or April — don't miss the cherry blossoms.

Drive down the "crookedest street in the world."

The place that best represents San Francisco's characteristic hilly and winding landscape is Lombard Street, otherwise known as the "crookedest street in the world." It takes eight sharp turns in zig-zag fashion on the hill between Hyde and Leavenworth Streets. It's a fun little stretch on which to take a slow drive, but if you're prone to motion sickness, you can walk the street and check out the houses along the way instead.

Spot sea lions at Pier 39.

Being right on the water means that San Francisco's "locals" include some sea critters — namely the California sea lions that live on K-Dock at Pier 39 . Some years ago, hundreds of them descended on the pier and quickly ousted the boaters. Now, you can stand at the viewing area near the north end of the pier to wave from a distance, watch them bask in the sun, and hear their adorable barks.

Get nostalgic at The Walt Disney Family Museum.

The Walt Disney Family Museum is a must-see for any Disney fan making their way through San Francisco. It showcases the personal side of the man behind the brand with interactive exhibits and plenty of insider knowledge. On display are original storyboards, retro movie posters, some of Walt's own personal belongings, Disney memorabilia, and more. You'll surely leave feeling inspired, or at the very least, you'll want to rewatch your favorite animated classic.

Attend an outdoor music festival.

Avid festivalgoers are likely familiar with Outside Lands , one of the most popular music festivals in the world. Every August, dozens of first-rate bands and hundreds of thousands of people descend on Golden Gate Park for the three-day festival. Less famous but still worth attending are the Stern Grove Festival and Yerba Buena Gardens Festival , both of which feature free outdoor concerts throughout the summer, and the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival , which kicks off fall with sweet folk sounds.

Listen to the ocean at The Wave Organ.

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Did you ever put your ear next to the opening of a conch shell and "listen to the ocean" inside of it? Well, San Francisco's Wave Organ is sort of like that but on a much larger scale. Designed by architect Peter Richards and built on a jetty in the Marina District by stonemason George Gonzalez, the sculpture contains PVC and concrete pipes laid out alongside the bay in a way that makes the tides literally sing as the waves hit and pass through the tubes. The acoustic sculpture has been part of the city's waterfront since 1986.

Peruse the exhibits at the California Academy of Sciences.

Kids and adults alike can easily lose an afternoon viewing prehistoric fossils, spotting colorful marine life, and learning about all things natural history at this Golden Gate Park museum. The California Academy of Sciences houses a whopping 46 million specimens, but it's more than a vast collection of exhibits. It's also an interactive lab where children can touch a real condor wing, practice insect collecting, and get their hands wet building a model boat and testing it on the winding Riveropolis.

Get groovy at an old-school roller disco.

"Rolligion" is the new foundation of this 19th-century church that's been transformed into a funky disco skating rink. At the aptly named Church of 8 Wheels , you can rent skates, book a lesson, watch performances, or take to the floor during an open skate session to test your coordination.

See masterpieces old and new at the Asian Art Museum.

Thousands of artworks from Asia and by Asian artists live in this museum , one of the most comprehensive collections of Asian art in the world. Here, you'll find a permanent collection with masterpieces dating back to the fourth century, as well as rotating exhibits showcasing anything from kimono couture to K-pop. Go on the first Sunday of the month for free admission.

Forget you're in the U.S. inside this French Gothic cathedral.

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Grace Cathedral feels like a slice of 12th-century Europe in the heart of San Francisco. Despite the French Gothic style of the structure, it was actually finished in the 1960s (and opened with a sermon by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.). Today, the grand exterior lures many a Nob Hill tourist inside to see intricate murals, medieval-esque labyrinths, and stained glass that drenches the space in color when the sun shines.

Get a bird's-eye view from Twin Peaks.

Twin Peaks is a park comprising two near-identical hills offering 360-degree views of the city and surrounding Bay Area. The park is the second-highest point (922 feet) in San Francisco, only 16 feet shy of Mount Davidson's height, and sits conveniently near the center of the sprawling metropolis. A trail just 0.7 miles long scales both peaks and provides incredible photo opportunities.

Go back in time in Haight-Ashbury.

Flower children will develop a soft spot for this neighborhood famed for its hippie culture. You'll feel like you've time traveled back to the 1960s as you flip through bins of vintage vinyl and racks of bohemian fashion. Deadheads — or anyone who appreciates the counterculture of said decade — must stop by the Grateful Dead House at 710 Ashbury Street, where most of the band lived from 1966 until early 1968. You can also walk past Janis Joplin’s former pads (635 Ashbury and 122 Lyon streets), but the real stars of the neighborhood may be the Four Seasons houses – a stunning quartet of Queen Annes at the corner of Waller Street and Masonic Avenue designed to represent winter, spring, summer, and autumn.

Take your clam chowder in a bread bowl.

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Clam chowder is a staple of San Francisco's food scene, but to experience it like a local, you need to order it right: with a fluffy, golden bread bowl as the vessel. Some of the best of San Francisco's clam chowder bread bowls hail from Boudin Bakery at Fisherman's Wharf, which serves its creamy New England-style chowder in sourdough. Really, though, you can find this signature dish on just about any seafood menu.

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