6 Things To Do in San Francisco

By: Bahynah Hughes

A city with so much to offer, San Francisco is a great place to stop by if you have the chance to visit California. However, coming up with the perfect itinerary for this unique city can be overwhelming if you do not know where to start. We recently took a three-day mini trip to SF and gathered must-see spots that we recommend adding to your list of things to do in the Golden City!

Check out the Golden Gate Bridge

Now regarded as one of the Modern Wonders of the world, the Golden Gate is among the most photographed bridges. Its bright red color makes the landmark a popular attraction and even if your trip to San Francisco is short, you should make the effort to see it up close. Because it is less than 2 miles long we suggest walking across the bridge to get stunning views of the mountains and take advantage of the Instagram opportunities. Depending on the time you walk, you can even get a close up look of San Francisco’s foggy clouds (nicknamed Karl by locals)

Ride a cable car

A visit to San Francisco can’t be completed without riding one of the last manually operated cable cars in the world! Taking a trip on one of the historic cars allows you to appreciate the hilly roads of the city. We took a cable car from Fisherman’s Wharf, but there are plenty of different tours you can take throughout the city. Make sure you bring a friend— they can snap a picture of you hanging off the side of the car!

Visit the Painted Ladies

The painted ladies of San Francisco are featured in over 70 television shows and movies for a reason– the iconic Victorian houses that were built in the 1800s are a colorful reminder of the past. Located across from Alamo Square Park, the Painted Ladies are a sight to see when the sun is setting. 

Explore the art scene

Made famous by the hippie movement in the 1960s, Haight-Ashbury was home to prominent revolutionaries and popular musicians. Although things have calmed down a lot since the first-ever free clinic was opened in the area, Haight-Ashbury has beautiful murals, cute cafes, and thrift stores for anyone interested in art. The area has so many hidden gems — during the visit we got to view century-old clothing and jewelry at the “Decades of Fashion” vintage store.

Stop by China Town

One of the oldest and most established Chinatowns in the United States, Chinatown San Francisco has some of the city’s best Asian restaurants, galleries, and tea shops. Luckily we were in Chinatown during the Chinese New Year and had an up-close look at the fireworks while we ate dinner. Overall it’s worth spending an afternoon wandering through the colorful alleyways, treasure-packed shops, and vibrant markets that make this district stand out.

Take in the view at Twin Peaks

Twin Peaks has stunning views of San Francisco and we recommend going at dawn or dusk. If you are short on time or don’t want to walk, taking a car is an option. We went to the Twin Peaks on our last day which was a symbolic way of taking it all in before we packed our bags and said goodbye to the city.

And there you have it—six things to do to make the most of your trip to San Francisco. Safe travels!