San Francisco is a compact city—just seven miles long—but it’s filled with unique ways to play. As you explore the city’s famous landmarks and its distinctive neighborhoods, you’ll also find immersive ways to experience it that go way beyond simple photo ops.
Explore the Golden Gate Bridge
The “International Orange” steel icon offers a colorful backdrop for classic San Francisco social media posts, but it also offers its own invitation to play. Bike or walk the two miles across the bridge—check out this free walking tour—then make a day of it by hiking, exploring, and picnicking in the neighboring Golden Gate Recreation Area. That’s where you’ll find the beach activities at Crissy Field, the play spaces at Presidio Tunnel Tops, and the selfie-friendly Yoda Fountain.
Go along for the ride
San Francisco’s mass transit system makes it easy to explore the breadth of the city, and hopping on the various forms of transportation creates countless opportunities for fun. Start downtown with the famed cable cars (watch them make their big turnaround at the corner of Powell and Market) then keep exploring on San Francisco’s streetcars, which can take you to Fisherman’s Wharf, Haight-Ashbury, and beyond. Take a few ferries, too, to visit Alcatraz or Treasure Island, the man-made island just off the Bay Bridge.
Hop a ferry to Angel Island
Angel Island—the entirety of which is included in a state park—is home to Mt. Livermore and boasts a unique history as a military base, quarantine station, and immigration gateway. Take the history in and hike to the summit of Mt. Livermore for 360-degree views of the city and the bay. A stay at The Argonaut Hotel, located steps from Fisherman’s Wharf, comes with an unusual perk: The hotel offers ferry excursions to Angel Island.
Embrace the elevation gain
San Francisco is one the hilliest cities in the world, which makes for both good workouts and incredible views. Walk up the famously steep and crooked Lombard Street for jaw-dropping views of the city and the bay. Ascend or descend the colorful stair hikes around town—like the beautifully painted Lincoln Steps, where you can get a view of both Salesforce Tower and the Golden Gate Bridge. Then catch a thrill on the city’s unique hillside slides—like the concrete Seward Street Slides in Noe Valley or the 40-foot Esmerelda Slides in Bernal Heights.
Visit a hands-on museum
San Francisco is home to a number of interactive museums, like the Exploratorium, comprised of both indoor and outdoor exhibits that invite you to create your own colored shadows or to shout into a giant tube to learn about the speed of sound. Make time, too, for the California Academy of Sciences—a combination natural history museum, aquarium, and planetarium. At the free Cable Car Museum, meanwhile, you can see the giant mechanisms that still operate the trolley today, and at the SF Railway Museum (also free), you can take the wheel of a 1911 streetcar replica.
Embark on a foodie tasting tour
Where does one even begin in San Francisco, one of the top foodie towns in the world? An excellent spot is the Ferry Building Marketplace, which offers a greatest-hits selection of Bay Area delights under one roof. Come hungry: You’ll find the Napa-style comfort foods of Gott’s Roadside, the heavenly mollusks of Hog Island Oyster Company, and the renowned Neapolitan pizza at A16 La Pala. For dessert, check out Recchiuti Confections, Grande Crêperie, and the ice cream at Humphry Slocombe.
Take in a movie and a meal alfresco
Looking for a truly only-in-San Francisco night out? For 25 years, Foreign Cinema has been pairing film programming—interestingly, the majority of it not foreign—along with great food and a craft bar menu. Located in the Mission District, it offers an elegant, outdoor setting that lends itself perfectly to post-sunset movie screenings projected on the courtyard wall (sound is provided by vintage drive-in speakers; there is also indoor seating). The menu is known for its fresh, seasonal ingredients, with a focus on Californian and Mediterranean cuisine. Drop in for a date night or just a special night out with friends—the experience of taking in a movie and an elevated dinner outdoors is one not to be missed.