Best Tourist Attractions in San Francisco
De Young Museum (Golden Gate Park)
Celebrating its 125th anniversary, the de Young Museum has been home to ancient artifacts for generations. A perfect destination in San Francisco walking tours, this fine arts establishment cultivates unique exhibitions of cultural treasures from around the world– featuring famous paintings, porcelain ceramics, organ concerts, and even spiritual portals. It’s currently ranked in the top 10 most visited museums in the United States. Residing in Golden Gate Park, this museum welcomes residents and visitors alike. With the community in mind, the de Young offers opportunities for compelling conversations, family art making, and even sketching in the galleries.
Palace of Fine Arts
Located in the Presidio District of San Francisco, the Palace of Fine Arts is an exhibition center and theater. Featuring gorgeous Greco-Roman architecture, this large space contains over 29 indoor event rooms– perfect for hosting weddings, conferences, corporate gatherings, and more. This historical landmark is also renowned for its beautifully landscaped greenery, calming pond, and views of the Golden Gate Bridge. With no admission fees required to experience the outdoor spaces, the Palace of Fine Arts is a popular destination for the best walking tours in San Francisco.
Cable Car Ride
Ranked as one of the most walkable cities in the United States, San Francisco is known for pedestrians traveling by foot and utilizing public transportation. In order to navigate the steep city hills, these cable pulley systems were implemented in 1873. For the last 150 years, cable cars have been the most unique way to travel through downtown SF. Providing physical relief and beautiful views for riders from all over, these steam engine-powered vehicles are renowned as national landmarks. Due to their historical significance, almost every San Francisco tour guide takes visitors on these cable car rides. After all, not only is it transportation from one end of the downtown to the other, but also a cultural attraction for people to experience.
Tourist Taking Cable Car Ride in San Francisco
Mission Dolores Park
As one of the most popular open spaces in San Francisco, Mission Dolores Park sits on 16 acres of land. Rich with vibrant green grass, beautiful palm trees, and views of the city skyline, this park is a common environment for friendly gatherings and solo escapes from the city hustle and bustle. Other features include: an athletic soccer field, six tennis courts, an outdoor basketball court, picnic area, playground, public restrooms, and two off-leash dog areas. Mission Dolores is a communal space where people perform, host cultural events and festivals, and, primarily, picnic on sunny days. Between the welcoming community, numerous amenities, and Muni access, this park has so much to offer; making it the perfect tour destination for San Francisco locals.
Twin Peaks
With amazing views of the Bay Area, Twin Peaks is a popular location for hiking and photography. Its natural landscape exhibits lush grassland, coastal shrubs, and lupine vegetation. This is a popular destination for nature exploration due to all the endangered and native plants and animals that thrive here. Sitting 1000 feet above the city, Twin Peaks provides incredible views of historical landmarks– including: the Golden Gate Bridge, the Bay Bridge, the Transamerica Building, Salesforce Tower, and the traffic piling up on the famous Market Street. Visitors can also see Golden Gate Park from the opposite side of the peak. In the distance, onlookers can see remnants of Alcatraz, the top of Mount Diablo, and East Bay cities like Berkeley and Oakland. Many city guides bring patrons here on walking tours to get the best 360 views of San Francisco. Whether it's hiking during the day or photographing the night skyline, Twin Peaks’ birds eye view of San Francisco is an experience like no other.
The Ferry Building
Considered the most famous landmark in San Francisco, the Ferry Building has existed in the Embarcadero since 1898. Originally used as a train stop during the Gold Rush, it has continued to prioritize transportation over the years– shifting into a ferryboat dock until the 1930s. Due to the further development of automobiles and increasing bridge commutes, the Ferry Building changed into an office space. However, after the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, this space was renovated and restored as a public marketplace in 2003. For the last 20 years, the Ferry Building Marketplace has gathered small independent businesses, provided local and organic ingredients, and continued to bring communities of people together. Known across the world, its world class Farmers Market provides incredible cuisine and ethnic diversity. Visitors can grab fresh food and drinks every Saturday, either independently or through a San Francisco tour guide.