{"id":385413,"date":"2026-07-03T21:47:22","date_gmt":"2026-07-03T21:47:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/385413\/"},"modified":"2026-07-03T21:47:22","modified_gmt":"2026-07-03T21:47:22","slug":"the-8-best-things-to-do-in-san-francisco-from-a-local-who-has-lived-there-for-years","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/385413\/","title":{"rendered":"The 8 best things to do in San Francisco \u2013 from a local who has lived there for years"},"content":{"rendered":"

In a popular destination such as San Francisco, there are always going to be places with a reputation for being \u201ctouristy,\u201d the sorts of places that most locals avoid. But a particular attraction’s popularity with tourists doesn\u2019t necessarily mean the place isn\u2019t still worth visiting.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve lived in San Francisco for almost 20 years, and while I do love lesser-known attractions, some of my favorite things to do in the city are still the ones that are also popular with visitors.<\/p>\n

These are the places that I take friends and family whenever they\u2019re visiting the Bay Area. They should be on the list of anyone who is traveling to San Francisco, especially if you\u2019re visiting for the first time.<\/p>\n

Head to the Ferry Building\"The<\/p>\n

The Ferry Building & Market in San Francisco<\/p>\n

(Izzet Keribar via Getty Images)<\/p>\n

I love starting out a day exploring San Francisco at the Ferry Building. The food stalls and restaurants of the Ferry Building Marketplace<\/a> offer anything you want to eat across a wide variety of cuisines, from quick snacks to fine dining. There\u2019s also a farmer\u2019s market. Some of my favorite stops include Hog Island Oyster Company, Gott\u2019s Roadside, Humphry Slocombe, and Se\u00f1or Sisig.<\/p>\n

The shops are also some of the best places in the city to find gifts for family and friends, especially if they enjoy receiving delicious food and drinks.<\/p>\n

After you\u2019re done at the Ferry Building, it\u2019s easy to get anywhere else in the city on foot, bicycle, or public transportation, which is why I like to start the day there.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t skip Fisherman\u2019s Wharf and Pier 39\"Sea<\/p>\n

Sea lions at Pier 39,, SS Jeremiah O’Brien and Golden Gate Bridge in the background in San Francisco<\/p>\n

(SvetlanaSF via Getty Images)<\/p>\n

Yes, yes, I know. Fisherman\u2019s Wharf is one place in San Francisco that every local who is reading this is immediately getting riled up about me including on this list. But hear me out. While there\u2019s a certain level of tourist kitsch, there are still plenty of things there worth seeing, even if you\u2019re a jaded local.<\/p>\n

The walk along the Embarcadero from the Ferry Building to Fisherman\u2019s Wharf is always pleasant, with lots to see (including the excellent Exploratorium<\/a>, one of the best things to do with kids in San Francisco). Alternatively, you can take one of the city\u2019s historic streetcars along the same route.<\/p>\n

The shops and restaurants at Fisherman\u2019s Wharf\u2019s Pier 39<\/a> are popular with visitors, but the main reason I stop there is to see the sea lions.<\/p>\n

Plus, Humble Sea<\/a> is one of my favorite local breweries. Their taproom is a great place to relax with a pint.<\/p>\n

Further along the waterfront, the Mus\u00e9e M\u00e9canique<\/a> is a delightful arcade with games that the entire family will enjoy.<\/p>\n

Hyde Street Pier<\/a> is another must-do for history lovers. If you\u2019re looking for a place with unique waterfront views (including ships!), it\u2019s rarely busy.<\/p>\n

While Fisherman\u2019s Wharf and Pier 39 might seem easy to dismiss, the truth is they bring together a lot of the great things about San Francisco, especially for first-time visitors. The area might not be for everyone, but it\u2019s somehow underrated despite its popularity. At the very least, it also has an In-N-Out Burger.<\/p>\n

Visit the Cable Car Museum\"Riding<\/p>\n

Riding the Cable Car in San Francisco, with views of the Transamerica Pyramid<\/p>\n

(Matt Mawson via Getty Images)<\/p>\n

Riding San Francisco\u2019s cable cars is another popular activity for visitors. While I enjoy riding the cable cars<\/a>, the lines can be long. Here\u2019s a tip: Although the California cable car line isn\u2019t quite as scenic or practical, it\u2019s typically far less crowded than the lines that run between Powell Street and Fisherman\u2019s Wharf.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re curious how the system works, the Cable Car Museum<\/a> at Washington and Mason is the place to go.<\/p>\n

Not only can you learn about the history of the cable cars and see old memorabilia, but the whole place is an active transportation hub with cables and giant wheels. It will give you a good appreciation of the engineering that goes into this transportation system, which is found nowhere else.<\/p>\n

Explore Golden Gate Park\"People<\/p>\n

People cycling, walking, and relaxing in Golden Gate Park in front of the Conservatory of Flowers<\/p>\n

(Takako Phillips via Getty Images)<\/p>\n

Golden Gate Park<\/a> is San Francisco\u2019s backyard. Stretching across nearly half the city from Haight-Ashbury to Ocean Beach, the park has miles of walking and cycling paths, museums, gardens, and event spaces.<\/p>\n

The Japanese Tea Garden<\/a> is my favorite place to see the cherry blossoms each spring. The Bison Paddock and Blue Heron Lake are particularly nice for wildlife viewing.<\/p>\n

Go to Land\u2019s End at the edge of San Francisco\"Looking<\/p>\n

Looking towards the Marin Headlands across the Golden Gate from Land’s End in San Francisco<\/p>\n

(Gu via Getty Images)<\/p>\n

If you head north along Ocean Beach from the western end of Golden Gate Park, you\u2019ll arrive at Cliff House and Land\u2019s End<\/a>, part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Once home to public baths, this area of San Francisco is my favorite place for a walk.<\/p>\n

The panoramic views from the cliffs are spectacular, making it one of the best urban hikes in the United States.<\/p>\n

Wander around the neighborhoods\"The<\/p>\n

Japantown, San Francisco<\/p>\n

(SvetlanaSF via Getty Images)<\/p>\n

Each one of San Francisco\u2019s distinct neighborhoods is worthy of an afternoon wander. They all have different vibes and international flavors. My favorites include Japantown, North Beach, the Mission, the Castro, Alamo Square, Chinatown, and the Richmond. Go hungry, since each neighborhood is filled with excellent places to eat.<\/p>\n

See the Golden Gate Bridge\"Waves<\/p>\n

The Golden Gate Bridge and Fort Point<\/p>\n

(Dan Kurtzman via Getty Images)<\/p>\n

The iconic Golden Gate Bridge is San Francisco\u2019s most famous landmark. Every tour bus stops there for photos. Those with more time can rent a bike near Fisherman\u2019s Wharf and ride across the bridge to nearby Sausalito<\/a>.<\/p>\n

But my favorite view of the Golden Gate Bridge is one that not nearly as many visitors see. Head to Fort Point, a National Historic Site located right below the bridge. And I do mean right below. If the fort is open, you can go inside and climb to the upper levels to see the bridge towering above you.<\/p>\n

While the Golden Gate Bridge is impressive from any view, it\u2019s from this waterside vantage point that you can see just how imposing it is.<\/p>\n

Eat and drink at excellent restaurants and bars\"People<\/p>\n

People waiting for burritos at El Farolito in San Francisco<\/p>\n

(Sam Gomez via Getty Images)<\/p>\n

San Francisco has some of the best bars and restaurants in the world. All of the neighborhoods I mentioned above have excellent places to eat. Some of my favorite restaurants include State Bird Provisions, La Mar, Pizzeria Delfina, Yank Sing, Tartine, Coqueta, Sweet Maple, and Marufuku Ramen.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m partial to El Farolito in the Mission for a burrito. If you want to start an argument with people in San Francisco, just ask them about their favorite burrito spot – La Taqueria and Taqueria Cancun are also worthy of your attention.<\/p>\n

Toronado and Liquid Gold are two of my favorite places for craft beer. I also love Pacific Cocktail Haven, True Laurel, and Trick Dog, all of which are on the list of North America\u2019s 50 Best Bars<\/a>.<\/p>\n

They\u2019re the perfect places to end a memorable day exploring San Francisco.<\/p>\n

For even more great activities in the Bay Area, check out my full list of things to do in San Francisco<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Want more stories like this one? Use the button below to follow me for more travel tips, news, and reviews, and visit me at Everybody Hates A Tourist<\/a>. You can also subscribe to my weekly travel contest newsletter<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"In a popular destination such as San Francisco, there are always going to be places with a reputation…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":385414,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[30],"tags":[2980,47468,12167,11917,2985,155539,101,103,102,104,106,105],"class_list":["post-385413","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-san-francisco","tag-ferry-building","tag-fishermans-wharf","tag-getty-images","tag-golden-gate-bridge","tag-golden-gate-park","tag-hyde-street-pier","tag-san-francisco","tag-san-francisco-headlines","tag-san-francisco-news","tag-sf","tag-sf-headlines","tag-sf-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/385413","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=385413"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/385413\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/385414"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=385413"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=385413"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=385413"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}