San Francisco Travel Guide 2025: Top 10 Must-Visit Spots for Tourists | 10 best Things To Do In San Francisco
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San Francisco, Best San Francisco Travel Guide 2025, is located on the tip of a peninsula surrounded by the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay. With rolling hills and the iconic Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco is one of the most beautiful cities in the United States and the jewel of Northern California.
The city shot to fame in 1849 as the home of the great California Gold Rush, which, at the time, made it the largest city on the West Coast. Now known for its world-famous landmarks, unique architecture, and incredible attractions, the area is a hub of excitement and the cultural, commercial, and financial heart of Northern California.
San Francisco is also one of America’s great walking cities, with lots of pathways and cycling trails, and so many interesting sites to see and explore. This is a city that has everything, making it a fantastic place to visit.
Before we get into the Best San Francisco Travel Guide 2025, let’s dive into the top 10 things to do in San Francisco!
number 10: Best San Francisco Travel Guide 2025: Explore Golden Gate Park
Spanning 1,017 acres, the park offers gardens, museums, and green space.
Home to major attractions like the de Young Museum and California Academy of Sciences.
Features the scenic Japanese Tea Garden with plants, ponds, and bridges.
Enjoy walking trails, cycling paths, lakes, bridges, and a buffalo paddock.
Ideal for biking or walking, with plenty to explore for hours or days.
Golden Gate Park. Once an area of sand dunes, Golden Gate Park is now home to gardens and museums and is a fabulous green space in the heart of San Francisco. At 1,017 acres, the park stretches for almost 50 city blocks from the middle of the city to the foot of the bridge.
Some of the main attractions within the park include the de Young Museum, the California Academy of Sciences Museum, and the San Francisco Botanical Garden. One of the most popular attractions is the Japanese Tea Garden, with beautiful plants, ponds, bridges, and Japanese-style structures, including the Tea House.
The park also has an interesting network of walking trails and cycling paths, several lakes, bridges, and even a buffalo paddock. Golden Gate Park is one of those places that can easily take a couple of hours or a couple of days to explore. Bike rentals are available, which can be a great way to explore the park rather than trying to see everything on foot. With so many areas to explore, it’s good to ensure that you have plenty of time for your visit.
Number nine: Best San Francisco Travel Guide 2025: Explore Lombard Street's Iconic Curves
Known as the “crookedest” street in San Francisco, with eight sharp hairpin turns.
Lined with Victorian mansions and beautifully landscaped flower beds.
A popular spot for hikers to ascend and admire scenic views.
Thrilling to drive down the one-way street or take a cable car ride.
Iconic street featured in movies, offering spectacular views of the city and landmarks like the Bay Bridge and Coit Tower.
Lombard Street. San Francisco’s most famous residential street has a popular reputation as the crookedest street in the city. Lined with Victorian mansions and neatly landscaped lawns, Lombard Street is also considered one of San Francisco’s most scenic streets.
The city is well known for its steep hills, and this street is no exception. With eight sharp hairpin turns in 180 meters, it would simply be too steep to tackle in a straight line. One of the most popular things for visitors to do is hike all the way up the curves and admire the beautiful flowers planted in the beds along the way.
However, to get the full experience of snaking and braking down the zigzagging road, it is definitely more thrilling to drive down the one-way street from the top. You can also ride a cable car up the hill for spectacular views and then traverse down by foot.
This iconic street, featured in many movies, is also a popular spot for photographers. You can capture both the entire winding street from the bottom and the spectacular view from the top. Additionally, you can look out over the city landscape, which includes the Bay Bridge and Coit Tower.
Number eight: Best San Francisco Travel Guide 2025: Explore Aquarium of the Bay
Aquarium of the Bay. Discover the beauty and diversity of Northern California’s aquatic life at Aquarium of the Bay, located on the historic San Francisco waterfront at Pier 39. The aquarium is home to more than 20,000 marine animals, ranging from 8-foot native sharks to rays, jellies, and even river otters, all of which can be found in San Francisco Bay or along the California coastline.
With a focus on education, conservation, and entertainment, the Aquarium of the Bay’s exhibition space is organized as a series of experiences that invite visitors to both observe and touch the animals on display. There are four main exhibit areas for guests to explore. The first, named Discover the Bay, highlights some of the animals commonly found closest to shore, right off of San Francisco’s docks.
Under the Bay is the aquarium’s main and most iconic exhibit area. When visitors first enter, they step into a tranquil environment where they discover a mesmerizing jelly exhibit featuring moon jellies, Pacific sea nettles, and more.
Touch the Bay offers a hands-on experience for aquarium visitors. Guests can touch juvenile bat rays and even sharks in the exhibit’s first touch pool.
Finally, guests will see the aquarium’s newest exhibit, the River Otters. This exhibit features playful river otters in a serene environment that combines land and water habitats. The exhibit includes two freshwater pools, a river stream, plus plenty of dry land and dig pits for the otters to enjoy.
This amazing aquarium has a mission to protect the bay and the animals that live there and is well worth a visit.
Number seven : Best San Francisco Travel Guide 2025: Visit the Palace of Fine Arts
A stunning landmark, the last remaining structure from the 1915 Panama-Pacific Exhibition.
Features a French-inspired dome structure, beautifully reflected in a lagoon.
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, showcasing classical architecture.
Hosts art exhibitions, performances, and cultural events in a restored setting.
The Palace of Fine Arts Theatre offers a 1,000-seat venue for shows and musicals.
The Palace of Fine Arts. The Palace of Fine Arts is easily one of the most beautiful places to visit in all of San Francisco and is the last remaining structure from the 1915 Panama-Pacific Exhibition.
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, this classical-looking building with a French-inspired dome structure is beautifully situated on a lagoon, which reflects its mirror image on the calm water while ducks and geese drift by.
The palace has been restored along with the grounds and today hosts art exhibitions and performances. The Palace of Fine Arts Theatre seats approximately 1,000 patrons and offers a variety of shows, musicals, and cultural events.
Number six: top 10 San Francisco Attraction in 2025: Ride the Famous Cable Cars
Introduced in 1873, cable cars are a historic way to explore the city.
Declared a historic monument in 1964, it’s the last manually operated system.
Runs on three lines from Market Street to Fisherman’s Wharf.
Offers a fun, scenic ride, especially while standing on the running board.
Consider purchasing a pass for frequent riders or longer sightseeing visits.
Cable cars were introduced in 1873 to help locals contend with the many hills the city is built on. Today, the few remaining cable cars offer visitors a great way to explore the city in historic fashion. Since 1964, these tram-like vehicles have had the unique distinction of being the only public transport system to be declared a historic monument.
The world-famous cable cars run on three lines in the steep streets of San Francisco, between Market Street and Fisherman’s Wharf. These cars are a fun ride, especially if you get to stand on the running board. San Francisco is very proud of its cable car system, as it is the last manually operated system in the world today. At its peak, there were 23 cable car lines in the city, but today, only three remain.
The cable car system forms part of the urban transport network operated by the San Francisco Municipal Railway. If you are planning on more than a couple of rides or are going to be sightseeing for a few days, it’s a good idea to buy a pass.
Number five : Best San Francisco Travel Guide 2025: Visit the Transamerica Pyramid
The Transamerica Pyramid is San Francisco’s second-tallest building, standing 260 meters tall.
Known for its futuristic, pyramid-shaped architectural design.
Located in the Financial District, it’s a symbol of the city’s skyline.
Completed in 1972, with a white quartz exterior and over 3,000 windows.
Visitors can view the city from the 48th-floor camera feeds at the Visitor Center.
Big cities across the world are recognizable due to their unique architecture and distinct skylines, and San Francisco is no exception. Though visitors can easily pick out the Transamerica Pyramid from photographs of San Francisco, it’s more than just another building.
The Transamerica Pyramid is famous for its futuristic architectural style. Located in the heart of the Financial District, this iconic pyramid-shaped skyscraper is San Francisco’s other famous symbol, alongside the Golden Gate Bridge.
Finished in 1972, the Transamerica Pyramid stands 260 meters tall and is now the second-tallest building in the San Francisco skyline. This looming landmark features a white quartz exterior and more than 3,000 windows.
Visitors can see the view from the 48th floor through 24-hour camera feeds displayed in the Visitor Center, located on the plaza level off of Clay Street, which is well worth a look.
Number four: Must-Visit Spots in San Francisco 2025: Explore Alcatraz Island
Alcatraz, known as “The Rock,” served as a prison, lighthouse, and fort.
Home to infamous criminals like Al Capone and Machine Gun Kelly.
Housed 1,576 convicts, with 450 cells in the 30-year prison history.
Surrounded by icy waters, Alcatraz was once considered inescapable.
Take a ferry and enjoy an audio tour of this national landmark.
Often referred to as “The Rock,” the small island of Alcatraz has served as a lighthouse, a military fortification, and a prison. It was home to some of the most notorious criminals of all time, including Al Capone and Machine Gun Kelly.
During its 30-year existence, the penitentiary housed a total of 1,576 convicts, though there were never more than 250 inmates at any one time—even though there were 450 cells measuring about 10 feet by 4 feet. At times, the number of guards and staff was greater than the number of prisoners.
Surrounded by the swirling currents and freezing waters of San Francisco Bay, Alcatraz was believed to be inescapable. Since its closure in 1963, Alcatraz has become a national landmark operated by the National Park Service, welcoming over 1 million visitors a year.
You can take a ferry over to the island, and the informative pre-recorded audio tours are strongly recommended, as they allow you to learn about the prison while roaming the grounds at your own pace.
As one of the most popular places to visit, this amazing experience is definitely not to be missed in San Francisco.
Number three: Explore San Francisco in 2025: Hike to Twin Peaks for Stunning Views
Twin Peaks offers panoramic views of San Francisco and the Bay Area.
The two hills rise 922 feet, the second-highest point in San Francisco.
Enjoy views of landmarks like the Bay Bridge and downtown skyscrapers.
Open daily from 5:00 a.m. to midnight with free parking available.
Hike marked trails with rustic wooden stairs for stunning hilltop vistas.
The Twin Peaks in San Francisco are a world-famous tourist attraction and offer spectacular views of the Bay Area. These famous grassy hills rise 922 feet from the ground, making them the second-highest point in the city after Mount Davidson.
The two peaks are adjacent to each other, and from the top, visitors can view multiple San Francisco landmarks, including the Bay Bridge and the downtown skyscrapers. The Twin Peaks are open from 5:00 a.m. to midnight, and there is free parking at the top of Twin Peaks Boulevard. It is best to stay on the marked trails and dress for windy conditions if you are planning to hike to the top.
There are pathways up to the top of both peaks, and they’ve recently been improved with rustic wooden stairs. Although there are some relatively steep ascents and descents on some of the trails, the fantastic views are definitely worth it.
Number two: San Francisco Top Destinations2025: Explore Fisherman’s Wharf and Attractions
Fisherman’s Wharf stretches from Pier 39 to Municipal Pier.
Known for its historic waterfront, once home to fishing fleet.
Enjoy fresh seafood at various waterfront restaurants and eateries.
Visit museums, souvenir shops, and historical buildings along the wharf.
Scenic views of the bay make Fisherman’s Wharf a top attraction.
One of the most popular tourist areas in San Francisco, Fisherman’s Wharf runs all the way from Pier 39, with the famous colony of cheeky sea lions, through to Municipal Pier at the end of Aquatic Park.
The wharf is rich in history, and for over a century, its historic waterfront was once the hub of San Francisco’s fishing fleet. It’s now a fun place to stroll around and get a taste of the city, with its beautiful setting along the waterfront.
A diverse number of restaurants are available, offering some of the freshest seafood in the city, with most caught just beyond the docks. Other tourist attractions at the wharf include lots of museums, souvenir stores, historical buildings, and fantastic scenic views over the bay.
Number one: Top Things to Do in San Francisco 2025: Visit the Iconic Golden Gate Bridge
The Golden Gate Bridge opened in 1937, once the longest bridge.
Spanning 2 km, it connects San Francisco and Marin County.
The bridge’s iconic red color is maintained with 1,000 gallons of paint.
Visitors can walk, drive, or cycle across the Golden Gate Bridge.
Stunning views await from both pedestrian walkways and Marin viewpoints.
The Golden Gate Bridge was the longest suspension bridge in the world when it was completed in 1937, measuring approximately 2 km in length. It has become an internationally recognized symbol of San Francisco and a must-see place of interest.
The bridge took 4 years to build and spans the Golden Gate, the straits between San Francisco and Marin County to the north. With its distinctive red metal work, on sunny days, it transfixes crowds with a radiant glow, which is maintained by the painters that apply 1,000 gallons of red-orange paint every week.
Visitors can drive over the Golden Gate Bridge or use the walkways on either side of the bridge that are open to pedestrians and cyclists. The walk begins at the start of the bridge, accessible from the Presidio Shuttle, and ends with a viewpoint in Marin County. At night, the floodlit structure is equally striking, but the bridge is only open to pedestrians and cyclists during daylight hours.
Making the Most of Your Best San Francisco Travel Guide 2025
And that wraps up our Best San Francisco Travel Guide 2025! We hope you found this guide helpful in planning your next adventure to this iconic city. From the breathtaking views of the Golden Gate Bridge to the rich history of Alcatraz Island, San Francisco offers something for every traveler.
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Thank you, and that wraps up Best San Francisco Travel Guide 2025. Do you agree with the places we chose, or is there somewhere you visited that you feel should be on the list? leave us a comment.
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frequently asked.
What are the must-see attractions in San Francisco?
The Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz Island, Fisherman’s Wharf, the Transamerica Pyramid, and the Twin Peaks are some of the top attractions. Don’t miss the famous Lombard Street and Golden Gate Park for unique experiences.
What’s the best way to get around San Francisco?
Public transportation options like the Muni buses and the historic cable cars are popular. For a more scenic experience, try biking around or taking ridesharing services. Walking is also ideal for short distances.
