Top Must-See San Francisco Attractions

The single biggest mistake first-time visitors make with an Alcatraz trip is treating it like a walk-up attraction — tickets are released 90 days out and routinely sell out weeks in advance during summer, and the ferry leaves from Pier 33, not the more famous Pier 39 a few blocks away. Get that wrong and you’ll either miss the boat or miss the island entirely.

Alcatraz Island

Alcatraz is the most-visited paid attraction in San Francisco, and for good reason — the former federal penitentiary held Al Capone and George “Machine Gun” Kelly, and the cellhouse audio tour (included with your ticket) is genuinely well done. A few things worth knowing before you book:

• Ferries depart from Pier 33, not Pier 39. This is the most common mix-up, since Pier 39 is the more famous tourist destination nearby.
• Book well ahead. Tickets go on sale 90 days before the date and commonly sell out 4–8 weeks ahead for summer visits, sometimes longer for holidays and weekends. Same-day tickets exist but are unreliable, especially June through August.
• Day tour tickets run around $48 for adults, with lower pricing for children and seniors; a Night Tour (Tuesday–Saturday, smaller groups, after-dark access) costs somewhat more.
• The island is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day.
• There’s no food available on the island beyond basic snacks at the dock — eat before you go.

Golden Gate Bridge

Walking or biking across is free; there’s no toll for pedestrians or cyclists. Drivers pay a toll (Golden Gate Bridge tolling is fully electronic — there are no toll booths, and you can’t pay cash at the bridge). For the classic photo, Crissy Field, Fort Point, Baker Beach, and the Marin Headlands all offer different vantage points; Fort Point in particular gives you the bridge from directly underneath.

PIER 39 and Fisherman’s Wharf

This is San Francisco’s most-visited tourist area — two levels of shops, restaurants, and views of the bay, plus the resident sea lion colony that’s been hauling out on the docks here since the early 1990s. The Aquarium of the Bay sits within Pier 39 if you want an indoor stop. It’s worth knowing this area is priced and paced for tourists (expect higher food prices and bigger crowds than elsewhere in the city), so budget accordingly if you’re spending a full day here.

Crissy Field

A former Army airstrip turned waterfront park with flat, easy walking trails, beach access, and views of the Golden Gate Bridge without the crowds of the bridge itself. The Warming Hut near Fort Point is a good stop for coffee and a break. This is a solid choice if you want bridge views without fighting for parking or sidewalk space directly on the bridge.

Ferry Building Marketplace

A food hall and farmers market inside a restored historic ferry terminal on the Embarcadero. The farmers market (check current days, as it’s not necessarily a daily event) draws local vendors selling produce and prepared food, while the building itself houses permanent artisan food shops and restaurants year-round.

Bottom Line

If Alcatraz is on your list, book it first and build the rest of your itinerary around your ferry time — it’s the one reservation on this list with a real risk of selling out. Everything else here (Golden Gate Bridge viewpoints, Crissy Field, Fisherman’s Wharf, the Ferry Building) can be done without advance tickets, so treat Alcatraz as the anchor and fill in around it.