Things to do in San Francisco in the Morning

The majority of San Francisco’s bucket-list attractions are up and running by 9AM. But, quite understandably, the majority of vacationers – favoring a much-needed lie-in or six – are not. This makes mornings prime time to get yourself down to the city’s most popular sightseeing hotspots. After all, which kid – big or small – wants to wait around in long lines to experience the extraordinary Exploratorium’s best interactive exhibits? Or to view the Asian Art Museum’s eye-popping collection of Neolithic Chinese jades, Angkor Wat bronzes and Japanese ceramics over a sea of bobbing heads? That’s right: no-one. 

Dodge the lines by arriving for opening time, and save money to boot with a San Francisco pass that could save you up to 50% on these and many more attractions, including the California Academy of Sciences (pictured), SFMOMA, the San Francisco cable car, Golden Gate Bridge bike tours, Alcatraz cruises and more. Click to find out more and grab your pass.

Bay cruises tend to depart late morning, once the notorious fogs have (usually) lifted. You can hop on one of the standard cruises for a whistle-stop tour that’s anything but standard, taking in the likes of the Golden gate Bridge, Pier 39 and Alcatraz Island along the way. Or get right up close to the penitentiary they called the Rock on an Escape from Alcatraz cruise. This tour lets you see the prison from all angles and is accompanied by a gripping narrative telling tales of the failed escapes and general brutality of life here, taking in notorious criminals including Al Capone and Billy Cook the Killer along the way.

Perhaps *the* most recognizable bridge on the planet thanks to its distinctive vermilion orange towers, the Golden Gate Bridge is a must-do for any San Francisco first-timer. Take a stroll along the pedestrian walkway to the middle, from where (morning fog permitting) you’ll find one of the best skyline views in town. Or rent a bike to traverse its near-two-mile length across the strait to Sausalito on the other side, where a well-earned brunch (try the Lighthouse or Fred’s Place) and further sensational San Francisco views await.

And if all that talk of brunch has made you hungry, you’re in luck. The Mission is one of San Francisco’s coolest districts, home to some of the best street art in town (check out the murals on Clarion Alley and Balmy Alley) and more authentic Mexican taquerias than you can shake a tortilla at. Grab your morning joe from the indie coffee roasteries along hip Valencia Street, then source your obscenely large belly-busting breakfast burrito from some of oldest (and best) purveyors of Mexican food in town.

Find more things to do in The Mission here.

In a city of icons – think the Golden Gate Bridge, the Pier 39 seals and those picture-perfect Painted Ladies – the San Francisco cable car may be the most fun of all. These rolling landmarks – historic painted wooden wagons that roller-coaster over the city’s hills and through its valleys – are a great way to get around, and perhaps best enjoyed in the morning during that golden hour (ok, half hour) between around 8.30AM and 9AM when the commuter rush has ended and the tourist army is yet to arrive. Take the Powell-Hyde line to spot the hairpin bends of Lombard Street (pictured) and get the best views of Alcatraz, or ride the California Street line west from the Embarcadero up to the super-rich celeb mansions in Nob Hill.

As we’ve seen, San Francisco is blessed with some truly Insta-amazing attractions, and the Painted Ladies are no exception. This colorful row of pastel-colored Victorian houses tumbles like dominoes down Steiner Street towards the hippie Haight-Ashbury enclave, where further eye candy – all flamingo pinks, cornflower blues, and mellow yellows – awaits insatiable explorers. You’ll bag the best Painted Ladies selfies from the adjacent Alamo Square Park, the elevated hills of which provide sweeping views of these colorful buildings set against the financial district’s ultra-modern skyline.

Discover more of our favorite San Francisco walks here.

San Francisco’s largest urban park is the perfect place to take your morning constitutional, thanks to its many walking trails, interesting public artworks and swoonsome views of *that* bridge. Get the blood pumping and join the morning joggers on their daily circuit of the Golden Gate Park Loop, a near-perfect length for 10k addicts that takes in lakes, lush meadows, dense redwood groves and bison paddocks along the way.

If you like to kick-start your mornings with a sensory smorgasbord of sights, scents and sounds, Chinatown’s the place for you. Widely regarded as one of the best in the States, San Francisco's Chinatown is a riot of brightly colored paper lanterns, old-school mahjong parlors, intricate pagoda roofs, and bakeries stuffed to bursting with Chinese donuts and egg custard tarts. Hit up Stockton Street for authentic Chinese market vibes, then make for one of the neighborhood’s brunch joints, where American classics are served with an Asian twist: think avocado and kimchi on sourdough, or bulgogi beef hash brown sandwiches. Yum.

Check out our full guide to San Francisco’s Chinatown here.

Take a morning walk along the famous Embarcadero and experience San Francisco as the coastal pea-souper begins to lift and the city grinds slowly into life. Grab a freshly brewed coffee and still-warm pastry from the Ferry Building market, then meander slowly north, pausing to admire views of the Bay Bridge and watch the fishing boats bobbing past the piers. It’s about 25 minutes’ walk up to Pier 39 with its famous colony of California sea lions, here in their hundreds for 10 months of the year (July through May), and Fisherman’s Wharf, home to several more excellent family attractions including Madame Tussauds, the USS Pampanito and the restored 19th-century ships at Hyde Street Pier.

Read our full guide to North Beach here.

Discover more fun things to do in San Francisco in the morning, and save big with the San Francisco pass. Hit the buttons below for more info, and to choose yours!