Things to See and Do in San Francisco

Main Attractions in San Francisco include

De Young Museum. The De Young Museum was founded in 1895 and is the namesake of San Francisco newspaper tycoon M. H. de Young. In 2005, the De Young Museum opened the doors on its new building housing its collection of American, African and Pacific Art. Designed by architects Herzog & de Meuron and Fong & Chan, the building has garnered world-wide acclaim as a contemporary masterpiece. For more details about the main attractions at the museum, go to www.famsf.org/deyoung.

Fisherman’s Wharf. Fisherman’s Wharf is one of San Francisco’s top things to do for kids in San Francisco with the Aquarium of the Bay and the two-story carousel. Fisherman’s Wharf also includes Pier 39, Ghirardelli Square, the Cannery Shopping Center, the Wax Museum at Fisherman's Wharf, San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, a Ripley's Believe it or Not Museum and the Musée Mécanique. To learn more about the many things to see and do at San Francisco’s Fisherman’s Wharf, go to www.fishermanswharf.org. [Top]

Golden Gate Park. Golden Gate Park is home to two of the city’s leading museums, the De Young Museum and the California Academy of Sciences, and some of the city’s main attractions including the San Francisco Botanical Garden at Strybing Arboretum, the famed Japanese Tea Garden and the Conservatory of Flowers, which is one of the largest traditional wood-and-panel conservatories in the world. For more details on things to do in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park, visit www.golden-gate-park.com.

Golden Gate Bridge. The Golden Gate Bridge connects the northernmost tip of San Francisco to the Marin Headlands and is one of the most spectacular man-made sights in the world. Drive, bike or walk across the Golden Gate Bridge to enjoy the sweeping views from Angel Island to Alcatraz. The giant orange towers of the Golden Gate Bridge span a stunning 4,200 ft. For more details on one of the best things to do in San Francisco, visit www.goldengatebridge.org. [Top]

California Academy of Sciences. The California Academy of Sciences is the only museum in the world that encompasses a planetarium, an aquarium and a sprawling natural history museum under one roof with exhibits ranging from astronomy to reptiles to precious gems and minerals to aquatic life and penguins. For more information on the main attractions and things to do with kids at the California Academy of Sciences, visit www.calacademy.org.

Union Square. The Union Square District offers some of San Francisco’s top shopping with department stores like Neiman Marcus and Macy’s. Union Square is also one of the city’s most prestigious cultural centers with streets lined with art galleries and landmark theaters, which are home to Broadway shows. Shop, dine and enjoy the sights, sounds and cultural events in the city. The actual park square from which Union Square takes its name is lined with splendid granite plazas. For more details, visit www.unionsquaresf.net. [Top]

Ghirardelli Square. Ghirardelli takes its name from the famed Ghirardelli chocolate factory. Ghirardelli chocolates were made there from 1893 until it was closed in 1964 and converted into a marketplace. Today, Ghirardelli Square is one of San Francisco’s most famed spots and a center for shopping and dining. Get a taste of delicious gourmet foods, including cupcakes, chocolates, cheeses and wines. For more information on fun things to see and do in Ghirardelli Square, call (866) 764-1377 or visit www.ghirardellisquare.com.

The San Francisco Asian Art Museum . The Asian Art Museum of San Francisco is one of the world finest museums of Asian art. The Asian Art Museum also ranks as one of the largest, boasting a collection that spans more than 6,000 years of history and includes more than 15,000 objects. The museum exhibits come from China, Indonesia, Malaysia Thailand, Cambodia, Korea, Japan, Burma, Vietnam, Laos and the Philippines, and more. For details about things to see and do at the Asian Art Museum, visit www.asianart.org. [Top]

San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) is housed in a sleek and contemporary building designed by Swiss architect Mario Botta. The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art is focused on twentieth-century art in a myriad of forms, including sculpture, painting, photography, architecture and design. The SFMOMA features tours for visitors and specials exhibits. To learn more about current special exhibits and the permanent collection, visit www.sfmoma.org.

Palace of the Legion of Honor. The Palace of the Legion of Honor is one of the world’s leading fine art collections with permanent exhibits focused on European Painting and European Decorative Arts, including French and English porcelain, and Ancient Art. The famed Beaux-arts building which houses the Palace of the Legion of Honor was constructed in honor of soldiers from California who died in World War I, and occupies one of San Francisco’s most picturesque locales. For more information on main attractions and things to see and do at the Palace of the Legion of Honor, visit www.famsf.org/legion. [Top]