What is San Francisco famous for?

From iconic sights like the Golden Gate Bridge to its rich and diverse culture, there are lots of places and people that make San Francisco unique.

By Seren Morris
Published: July 18, 2024
San Francisco

San Francisco is one of the most well-known and recognizable cities in the world. But what is San Francisco famous for? If you’re planning on visiting the Bay Area, check out our list of what makes San Francisco famous, including...

  • The Golden Gate Bridge
  • Alcatraz
  • San Francisco Giants
  • Fisherman’s Wharf
  • Cable Car
  • Haight Ashbury
  • The Castro District
  • And more!
San Francisco skyline

Golden Gate Bridge

A trip to San Francisco would be incomplete without visiting the Golden Gate Bridge. It's over 80 years old and has long been one of the most famous sights in San Francisco. For a unique perspective on the bridge, take to the water on a sightseeing cruise.

This hour-long cruise takes you directly under the bridge, while your audio tour tells you everything you need to know about the sights. Or get up close and take a Golden Gate Bridge guided bike tour along the waterfront and across the bridge itself. This fully-guided, three-hour tour departs from Fisherman’s Wharf, takes you to Sausalito Bay, and brings you back to the city on a ferry. 

Getting in: 🎟️ Golden Gate Bridge Guided Bike Tour admission is available on the Go City® Explorer Pass.

🎟️ Golden Gate Bay Cruise admission is available on the Go City® All-Inclusive Pass.

Alcatraz Island

Alcatraz is an island in San Francisco Bay, known for being a prison that was home to notorious gangsters, including Al Capone. Escaping from Alcatraz was said to be impossible – but that didn’t stop its prisoners from trying. Learn all about the attempted escapes, as well as the prison’s history and its famous former inhabitants.

Take the Escape from the Rock cruise around the island, which gives you an insight into Alcatraz’s rich and complex history. Your narrated audio guide tells you everything you need to know as you take in a 360-view of the island.

Getting in: 🎟️ The Escape from the Rock cruise is included with the Go San Francisco All-Inclusive pass.

Alcatraz island

San Francisco Giants

Sports fans will know that San Francisco is famous for its baseball team, the San Francisco Giants. If you can, get tickets to see the Giants in action and make the most of the city's sports scene. Games take place all year round so check out the Giants website to see if there’s a game happening during your vacation.

Whether you’re a baseball fan or have been inspired by seeing a Giants game, you can take a behind-the-scenes tour of the Oracle Park stadium. See everything from the press box to The Giant Vault.

Fisherman’s Wharf

One of the most popular areas of the city for visitors, Fisherman's Wharf is home to a plethora of attractions and sights including Ghirardelli Square, the seals on Pier 39, and more. Be sure to stop here for food – there are tons of classic San Francisco dishes to choose from, such as clam chowder bowls and crab.

Take a one-hour tour of Fisherman’s Wharf and learn all about San Francisco’s fascinating history. Remember to take your camera for amazing views of the bay and the Golden Gate Bridge. Plus, keep an eye out for the seals on Pier 39. 

Getting in: 🎟️ Admission to Fisherman’s Wharf Walking Tour is included on all Go City® San Francisco passes.

Fisherman's Wharf

San Francisco Cable Cars

For a uniquely San Francisco experience, take a trip on the cable cars. Cable cars were invented in San Francisco nearly 150 years ago. However, they still take locals around the city (and up and down those steep San Francisco streets) to this day. Traveling by cable car is a great way to experience the city’s most important landmarks. If you feel inspired and want to learn more, why not visit the Cable Car Museum? 

Getting in: 🎟️ Admission to the Cable Car Museum is free, cable car tickets are purchased separately.

Haight Ashbury

Haight Ashbury is one of San Francisco’s most famous neighborhoods. It is considered the birthplace of the 1960s counterculture movement. Its hippie history can still be seen in the vintage clothing and music stores that line the colorful streets. Haight Ashbury was home to famous bands and singers of the 1960s, including the Grateful Dead and Janis Joplin.

The neighborhood reached its peak during the 1967 Summer of Love, but its cultural impact remains. Stroll through the eclectic streets, browse vintage clothes in the thrift stores, and pick up a vinyl record or two. 

Haight Ashbury

The Castro District

Another famous area of San Francisco is the Castro District, which is considered San Francisco’s LGBTQ neighborhood. The Castro is known as a symbol of LGBTQ activism. It was also home to Harvey Milk, who was the first openly gay man voted to public office. Learn about The Castro District’s history at the GLBT Historical Society Museum and join the LGBTQ Castro District Walking Tour.

Then, visit the Human Rights Action store at the former location of Harvey Milk’s camera store. This neighborhood is full of interesting San Francisco history, so consider adding a visit here to your itinerary. 

Getting in: Admission to the GLBT Historical Society Museum tickets must be purchased separately. Entry to the Human Rights Action store is free.

Castro District

Can't choose? No need, see it all with Go City®

With an All-Inclusive Pass from Go City, you can visit both attractions for a fraction of the cost. Plus, you could save up to 50% on all your San Francisco must-sees. Or pick an Explorer Pass, if you've chosen your fave and have a specific bucket list you're dreaming of ticking off. Whichever San Francisco attraction pass you pick, you'll save while you sightsee!

☀️Compare San Francisco passes☀️ – 🌏 Explore other destinations 🌏 – ✈️ Buy a pass ✈️

Seren Morris
Go City Travel Expert

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10+ Things to Do in San Francisco in Spring 2020

Shake off the winter blues with a trip to lovely San Francisco this spring. The cherry trees are blossoming, the city streets are re-awakening, and there are loads of fun and exciting special events going on. If you’re thinking about heading to the City by the Bay this season but are stuck on ideas, check out our list of the best things to do in San Francisco this spring for some inspiration, including... San Francisco Museum of Modern Art California Academy of Sciences Napa + Sonoma Wine Country Tour AT&T Park Tour and more! Save on Springtime Activities in San Francisco Regular admission to a number of these attractions is available on the Go San Francisco pass. Choose as you go from popular attractions and save up to 55% on combined admission vs paying at the gate. Check out all available San Francisco attractions, passes, and prices. Please note, some of these special spring events may be separately ticketed and not available on the Go San Francisco pass. Local EventsSFUSD Arts Festival Bay Area Craft Beer Festival Martinez Waterfront April 18, 2020, 12:00 noon - 4:00 pm This is one for the beer lovers. The Bay Area Craft Beer Festival is back and it’s better than ever. With dozens of international and domestic beers for sampling, plus the city’s best food trucks offering up their wares, you’ll have an amazing afternoon of food and drink to look forward to. Breweries include big names like Ballast Point, Founders, Lagunitas, Sierra Nevada, Firestone Walker, and more. You'll also find smaller local breweries that are sure to wow with flavor. Getting In: Admission to the Bay Area Craft Beer Festival is separately ticketed and is not included with the Go San Francisco pass. Cherry Blossom Festival Remember to Save on Admission Did we miss anything? A few things to do in San Francisco in the spring, including some special events, other seasonal activities in March - June. Please note, the spring events taking place at some of these attractions may be separately ticketed and not available with the Go San Francisco pass. We hope you consider adding some of these fun ideas to your spring vacation itinerary.
Katie Sagal
Lanterns over the street in Chinatown, San Francisco
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Things to do in Chinatown San Francisco

San Francisco’s sprawling Chinatown covers no less than 24 square blocks, measuring around a half mile north to south and a quarter mile east to west and forming part of the busy Downtown neighborhood. It’s also the oldest Chinatown in North America, established here way back in 1848 when it blew Western minds with that first life-changing taste of aromatic Chinese dumplings. There’s more than enough to see and do within this historic enclave’s storied streets and alleyways to fill an entire day, allowing you time to soak up the unique atmosphere and experience a slice of San Francisco as it used to be. So what are you waiting for? Pass through the Dragon Gate and join us on our stroll through the best things to do in Chinatown San Francisco. Enter the Dragon There are two distinct sides to Chinatown: the touristy and the non-touristy. You’re a tourist though, right? So that seems like the logical place to start. Of the two major thoroughfares running north to south through Chinatown, Grant Street is the one you’re looking for – specifically the much-photographed Dragon Gate – the imposing southern entrance with its three gates in traditional pailou style and its duo of fearsome Chinese lions. Wait your turn for the essential Chinatown selfie before stepping through to begin your Chinese adventure proper. Immediately you'll find yourself transported to a different world, a world where red and gold paper lanterns sway overhead, ornate street lamps line the sidewalks, and the intoxicating scents of sizzling Szechuan shrimp and hoisin roast duck (more about the food later, snack fans!) fill the air. Soak it up as you wander along Grant Avenue, camera in hand, to the intersection of Grant and California. Here, to the clang and clatter of San Francisco’s iconic cable cars, is where you’ll find Chinatown’s other most-photographed structures: Sing Chong and Sing Fat, a pair of towering pagoda-style buildings facing off across the street, and Old St Mary’s Church which bears an ominous ALL CAPS warning beneath its grand clock: "SON, OBSERVE THE TIME AND FLY FROM EVIL" Avenues and Alleyways But the real magic happens when you get off the main drag and begin to explore the other side of Chinatown. Even the second major thoroughfare, Stockton Street, has a more authentic feel. So once you’ve bagged your souvenirs – waving lucky cat, paper lantern, bamboo backscratcher – from the gift shops on Grant, head over to the colorful markets on Stockton for a real taste of China. And we mean that literally: the produce markets here hawk everything edible, from dried fruit to live crabs and great bundles of bok choy. Wander into the side streets and back alleys and you’ll discover a whole world of Chinese culture. Think tiny mah jong parlors, laundry strewn window to window on makeshift washing lines above the street, bakeries crammed with egg custard tarts and Chinese donuts, and cute old-fashioned shops selling all manner of snacks, trinkets and esoteric Chinoiserie. Me Want Cooooookies! Discover what your future holds at the tiny Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory on Ross Alley. Here, you can watch the crack cookie team in action as they assemble thousands of the crunchy fortune-telling treats by hand every single day. Photos are permitted for a small fee, and you can buy bags of cookies in a variety of flavors to take away. Go green tea for maximum authenticity, or chocolate-coated for the ultimate cookie indulgence. But be warned: there may well be an expanding waistline in your future. Nearby Waverly Place was once home to two notorious brothels. Now the most colorful thing here is the buildings, rows of Insta-perfect shops and dwellings painted in a rainbow of garish greens, baby pinks and turmeric yellows, complete with elaborate balconies. It’s also where you’ll find the Tin How Temple. Founded way back in 1852, it’s the oldest Taoist temple in the United States. Intrepid explorers can visit by locating number 125 Waverly Place and climbing the steps to the third floor. Inside, incense burns, candles flicker in the gloom, paper lanterns hover overhead and dozens of small statues of Chinese deities crowd the space. Worshippers pray silently and leave offerings of fruit and bread at Tin How’s shrine. Next, head round the corner for a snap in front of the Old Chinese Telephone Exchange, a beautifully overstated red, green and gold pagoda-style building on Washington Street, now staffed by bank employees who gaze on with bemusement at the constant flow of selfie-takers on their doorstep. Then onwards to Portsmouth Square: this rather nondescript place is nevertheless the heart of Chinatown, and it’s here you can pause to watch the world go by and see elderly locals indulge in good old-fashioned pursuits like t’ai chi and Chinese chess. Food, glorious food! Confucius say: he who comes to Chinatown and does not eat the food did not really come to Chinatown. Ok ok, so we made that quote up, but it’s a truth universally acknowledged that the best dim sum in the States is to be found in the narrow lanes of this thriving San Francisco neighborhood. Our advice? Dive in! There are a number of hole-in-the-wall takeaway joints as well as (usually) tiny, cramped premises for those who want the full authentic Chinatown experience. These are the places for life-altering culinary experiences, where you can gorge on delicate shrimp and chive gyoza, fluffy BBQ pork dumplings and crispy sesame balls to your heart’s content. The food is so good and the prices so cheap that there’s every chance you’ll stick around for seconds. And probably thirds. Just don’t expect the ‘have a nice day’ level of attention you'll be used to from elsewhere in San Francisco. Service here often feels brusque and impatient, but lean into it at eateries like the City View Restaurant and Chinatown stalwart the Hang Ah Tea Room and you’ll soon discover it's all part of the charm, and easily one of the most fun things to do in San Francisco’s Chinatown. Save on things to do in Chinatown San Francisco Save on admission to San Francisco attractions with Go City. Check out @GoCity on Instagram and Facebook for the latest top tips and attraction info.
Stuart Bak
Stuart Bak
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San Francisco Family Vacation Ideas - Attractions, Activities & Things to Do for Summer Vacation

Summertime is one of the best times to visit San Francisco. The weather is at its best, nature is thriving, and the best attractions are open and ready for business. If you’re planning a family trip to San Francisco but aren’t sure which attractions are right for you, check out this list of our favorite family-friendly attractions. Curated by industry experts, they’re the best activities, tours, and museums for family vacations in San Francisco. The top San Francisco summer family vacation ideas include: Big Bus San Francisco Sightseeing Tour California Academy of Sciences SFMOMA Fisherman’s Wharf Madame Tussauds San Francisco Bike Rentals Exploratorium Aquarium of the Bay Six Flags Discovery Kingdom Golden Gate Park Muir Woods Big Bus San Francisco Hop-on Hop-off Tour   One of the best ways to introduce the family to San Francisco is with a guided bus tour of the city. A hop-on hop-off option is both fun and flexible, allowing you to get off when something intrigues you, and get back on when the kids get tired. See the sights from the top deck and then simply hop off to explore the streets. This tour from Big Bus includes more than 20 different stops in all the city’s hot spots, plus a selection of free, guided walking tours that begin at selected stops. Madame Tussauds San Francisco   Speaking of Fisherman’s Wharf... Located in an area of the city we’re sure you’re already exploring, Madame Tussauds is a fun attraction for families. It’s the only place outside of Hollywood where you’ll see so many celebrities. Take a selfie with your favorite A-list celebs – nobody will know the difference! A visit here is a good opportunity to learn more about the history and culture of San Francisco, too. Their Spirit of San Francisco exhibit highlights famous figures from art, music, and literature. The San Francisco Dungeon Learn all about San Francisco's shadier side of history, brought to life in a fun and campy way at this attraction that's part thrill ride, part theatrical experience. You'll see a number of live theatrical performances that re-enact true, local history and take you back in time to the dark days of San Francisco. This is one of the more creepy things to do at Fisherman’s Wharf. But if your kids are interested in history, it's a fun and entertaining way to learn about it! Six Flags Discovery Kingdom A theme park is a great summer idea for families, so why not take a quick drive a bit north of the city to reach the delightful Six Flags Discovery Kingdom? This popular park combines all your favorite amusement park rides – like roller coasters, bumper cars, water rides, and much more – with the educational fun of animal exhibits. Visit the animal inhabitants of Discovery Kingdom all throughout the park, like the playful creatures of Dolphin Harbor, Seal Cove, and the Butterfly Habitat. You also have the opportunity to upgrade to a number of animal encounters to make the day a truly special one. Muir Woods For those families looking to explore the expansive natural world around San Francisco, a trip up to Muir Woods is non-negotiable. Home to the majestic redwood trees, Muir Woods National Park is a wondrous place to explore. You’ll immerse yourself in the peace and quiet of this ancient forest, and get to see an incredible diversity of plant and wildlife all throughout the park. Remember to bring a camera to Muir Woods for pictures – you’ll get no cell reception and this may drain your phone’s battery. Remember to Save on Family Friendly Admission There you go. A few suggestions for attractions and activities for your upcoming San Francisco family vacation. Regular admission to a number of these family friendly attractions are available with a pass by Go City. We hope you consider adding some of these fun ideas to your family vacation itinerary. Learn more about our San Francisco passes, attractions and prices.
Katie Sagal

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