What are the best things to do around San Francisco
1. Sausalito
One of the most classic places to visit near San Francisco is Sausalito, a small town by the sea with a village-like atmosphere. Located on the other side of the famous Golden Gate Bridge, it's very common to visit once you've crossed the bridge. And yes, the views of the San Francisco skyline from here are wonderful!
ℹ️The name comes from "sauzalito," given by Spanish explorers when they saw that the area was full of willow trees.
During World War II, Sausalito was an important industrial port, but over time many of the ships and materials fell into disuse. It was at the end of the 19th century when fishermen and craftsmen, attracted by the tranquility of the place, took advantage of these pieces to build houses on the water.
And this is the origin of the famous houseboats of Sausalito, one of the largest floating communities in the world, which throughout history have attracted artists, writers, and musicians seeking inspiration and peace.
The houses are spread across several docks, such as S40 Dock, Liberty Dock, Main Dock, and Issaquah Dock. Remember that these are private homes and you must respect the privacy of their inhabitants!
💡Recommended: Where to stay in San Francisco (and where not to)
How to get to Sausalito
There are several ways to get to Sausalito:
- By ferry. The most comfortable and scenic way to get there is by ferry, which is part of San Francisco's public transportation. The operating company is Golden Gate Bridge, and you can buy tickets to Sausalito here.
- With an organized tour. If, in addition to Sausalito, you want to discover other places near San Francisco, check out this Sausalito + Muir Woods tour or this Alcatraz + Sausalito + Muir Woods tour.
- By bike. That's how we got there! It's very common to rent a bike like this at Fisherman's Wharf and cycle to the Golden Gate Bridge, cross it, and finish up in Sausalito. This route can take around 3-4 hours in total, so we recommend taking the ferry back (you can include the tickets in your rental bike reservation).
- By car. If you have a rental car in San Francisco, you can easily get there by car. Remember that there is no toll to leave San Francisco towards Sausalito, but there is a toll to re-enter. The price is $9.25 and it's best to check with your rental company on how to make the payment (through their FasTrak account or by paying online yourself).
- On foot. You can also get there on foot, but bear in mind that it's more than 4 km (2.5 mi) one way from the bridge. Unless you have plenty of time or feel like walking a lot, this isn't an option we would choose.
2. Muir Woods
🌳Redwoods are undoubtedly a symbol of California. The Giant Sequoias can be seen in the famous Yosemite and Sequoia national parks, but there are also coastal ones (Redwoods), which are mainly concentrated in Redwoods National Park and Muir Woods. If you think that if you've seen the Giant Sequoias, there's no need to see the Redwoods, we have to tell you that you're wrong: the ecosystem is very different.
Muir Woods is a National Monument located just 27km (17 mi) from San Francisco, and although small, it's a beautiful forest full of Redwoods. If Redwoods NP (our favorite place to see them) is too far away for you, this is a fantastic option much closer to the city. Here you can go on several hikes of varying lengths and difficulty—there are options for everyone!
If you don't have a car in San Francisco, you can get there by booking a guided tour such as this Sausalito + Muir Woods tour or this Muir Woods + Wine Tour in Napa & Sonoma.
⚠️If you're traveling by car, remember that it's mandatory to reserve a parking space to visit Muir Woods. You can do it through this website. Admission is paid separately and costs $15 per vehicle (if you have the America the Beautiful, is already included).
3. Point Reyes
About 50 km (31 mi) north of San Francisco is Point Reyes National Seashore, a paradise for wild and unspoiled beaches, cliffs, estuaries, and wildlife lovers. There're more than 1,500 species of plants and animals here! In addition, the remains of indigenous villages and historic settlements also give it a cultural touch. With its viewpoints and hiking trails, you could spend a couple of days in this area without getting bored!
Things to do in Point Reyes
Although there're many more, these are the essential plans in Point Reyes:
- Whale watching: different species of whales can be seen in this area throughout the year, with the best viewing spots being Point Reyes Lighthouse and the Chimney Rock and Tomales Point trails. Bring your binoculars!
- Summer and fall: humpback whale, blue whale, and fin whale
- Winter and spring: gray whale
- All year round: Minke whales and orcas
- See the elephant seals at Drakes Beach: from the Elephant Seal Overlook and South Beach Overlook, you can observe the amazing elephant seals that are at Drakes Beach at different times of the year. Depending on when you go, you'll see a different stage of their cycle:
- December to March: breeding season
- January to April: pups
- April to August: molting season for males, females, and juveniles
- September to November: juvenile haul out
- Visit Point Reyes Lighthouse. This iconic and historic lighthouse was built in 1870 to guide sailors along the dangerous and rugged coastline of this area. It's well worth a visit to enjoy the views from there.
- Hike to Alamere Falls. This spectacular 12-meter-tall (40 foot) waterfall cascades down a cliff and flows into Wildcat Beach. To get there, you have to hike at least 20 km (13 mi) round trip.
- Drive through the Cypress Tree Tunnel. This photogenic cypress tunnel is located at the Point Reyes Receiving Station.
4. Sonoma Coast
A little further north of Point Reyes and 110 km (68 mi) from San Francisco, Sonoma Coast State Park offers a collection of pristine wild beaches, caves, stone arches, and natural pools.
Here, it's also possible to spot wildlife, such as various species of birds, gray whales migrating from Alaska to Baja California, or the large colony of seals that gather at the mouth of the Russian River.
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5. Napa and Sonoma valleys
🍷One of the best things to do near San Francisco is to visit Napa Valley, the perfect place for wine tasting and only an hour away from the city! With more than 400 wineries, most specializing in Cabernet and Chardonnay, it's the ideal place to sit back and relax while enjoying an appetizer accompanied by a good wine.
Another alternative is Sonoma Valley, located very close by but less well known, with slightly more affordable prices. Here there's a beautiful contrast of landscapes, as vineyards alternate with forests and rivers.
Spring is probably the best time to visit both Napa Valley and Sonoma Valley, as the vineyards are a spectacular shade of green. Summer is also a perfect time to visit, so you can join in some of the events and festivals that take place during these months.
💡In Napa Valley, is ideal to travel along the Silverado Trail, either by car or bicycle, a 45 km (28 mi) scenic road that winds through vineyards. If you want to stay in this area, check out the offers at this cozy hotel in Napa.
How to get to Napa and Sonoma valleys
Ideally, you should visit them with your own rental car, but you can also choose one of the following guided tours (all include wine tasting):
6. Silicon Valley
💻If you're a tech enthusiast, about 80 km (50 mi) south of San Francisco is the most innovative and technologically advanced area in the world. Silicon Valley is home to companies such as Google, Meta, HP, Tesla, and Apple, among many others.
Things to do in Silicon Valley
There are tons of geeky plans in Silicon Valley:
- Take a photo with Google's famous colorful bikes in Mountain View. You can use them for free and pretend you're just another employee 😊
- Visit the official Apple store in Cupertino. Here you can find merchandise that you won't find anywhere else (at Apple prices, of course). By the way, the new Apple building looks like an UFO and is huge!
- Visit the NASA gift shop in Mountain View. There used to be a NASA museum here, but everything has been moved to Oakland and now only the souvenir shop remains.
- Tour Stanford University, with its gardens and beautiful architecture.
- Take a photo with the Facebook sign (the one with the white hand with the thumb pointing up) at Menlo Park.
- Visit the Computer History Museum in Mountain View. If you like computers, you'll enjoy it, but if not, you might be bored to death.
- See the garages where it all began: where Steve Jobs created the first Apple computer, where the founders of Google developed the search engine, where HP was created, and where Jeff Bezos started Amazon.
Keep in mind that Silicon Valley is a very large area and that companies are located quite far apart from each other. We thought that once you got there, they would all be close together, but nothing could be further from the truth! You need a means of transportation to get from one to another. If you don't have a car, you can get there with this guided tour to Silicon Valley from San Francisco.
7. San Mateo Coast
If you want to see beautiful, wild beaches near San Francisco, the San Mateo coast has everything you could wish for.
This stretch of coastline south of San Francisco boasts 65 km (40 mi) of fine sandy beaches protected by cliffs that drop abruptly into the Pacific. Some examples are Gray Whale Cove (also called Devil's Beach), Half Moon Bay, and Montara Beach with its distinctive lighthouse, but there are many more!
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8. Santa Cruz
Whether you're a surf lover or not, we're sure you'll enjoy the vibe in Santa Cruz. This coastal city located 120 km (75 mi) south of San Francisco has a lively boardwalk that is home to California's oldest amusement park. Here you can ride the legendary Giant Dipper, a roller coaster from 1924, or the Looff Carousel, from 1911.
Of course, you have to go see the surfers (unless you're one of them): The Hook and West Cliffs are very popular spots. There's even a museum dedicated to surfing! The Natural Bridges area is also beautiful, with rock formations in the middle of the sea and eucalyptus trees that welcome monarch butterflies during their migratory route.
🏨If you're looking for accommodation in Santa Cruz, a good option is the Howard Johnson Santa Cruz because it offers good value for money and is very centrally located.
9. Big Sur
Ready to drive along one of the most beautiful scenic roads in the world? Big Sur is a 145 km (90 mi) stretch of the Pacific Highway 1, the road that runs along the California coast from north to south. This is one of the best places to go near San Francisco!
It runs from Carmel-by-the-Sea, about 200 km (124 mi) south of San Francisco, to San Simeon, passing cliffs, wild beaches, waterfalls that flow into the sea, charming villages, viewpoints, and iconic bridges. You can also see colonies of sea lions and elephant seals, sea otters, and many other animals!
Places to see in Big Sur
These are the most interesting stops you can make in Big Sur—you won't get bored!
- Monterrey and 17 Mile Drive (before Big Sur begins)
- Carmel-by-the-Sea
- Point Lobos
- Garrapata State Park
- Rocky Creek Bridge
- Bixby Creek Bridge
- Hurricane Vista Point
- Point On
- Andrew Molera State Park
- Pfeiffer Beach
- Partington Cove
- McWay Falls
- Gamboa Point
- Elephant Seals Vista Point
- Hearst Castle
10. Yosemite National Park
This place needs little introduction, as it's one of the five most visited national parks in the United States and an essential stop on any USA West Coast road trip.
Its granite mountains with vertical walls are one of the park's great icons, with Half Dome always dominating the landscape. Add to this its waterfalls, lakes, forests, and wildlife, and Yosemite becomes a paradise for nature lovers.
💡Recommended: The Ultimate Guide to Visiting Yosemite | Info + Tips + Maps |
Ideally, you should spend at least two days in this park and stay at least one night in the area, for example at the Yosemite View Lodge or Cedar Lodge. This will allow you to enjoy the viewpoints, drive along Glacier Point Road (if it's open), and go on a hike, such as the one that leads to Vernal and Nevada Falls. Check out our post on where to stay in Yosemite for more info.
11. Glass Beach
260 km (162 mi) north of San Francisco, in Fort Bragg, you can walk along a beach covered with thousands of fragments of colored glass polished by the forces of the sea. This is Glass Beach, part of MacKerricher State Park, an area with beaches, sand dunes, forests, and wetlands.
The origin of these colored glass pieces is quite curious, as they're actually the remains of an old garbage dump that was used in this area during the 20th century. Once closed and over time, nature itself has sculpted the glass remains, creating a highly photogenic landscape.
⚠️Remember that this place is protected and even though the glass comes from waste, it's forbidden to collect it and take it away.
12. Pinnacles National Park
The last of the places to see near San Francisco we suggest is Pinnacles National Park, a park that is still relatively unknown. The most striking feature here is its landscape of rocky spires, caves, and canyons, which are the result of ancient volcanic eruptions. It's a paradise for rock climbing enthusiasts, but also for those who enjoy hiking trails with scenic views.
There're tons of treks to choose from here, although we'd recommend the High Peaks, the Balconies Cave Trail, and the Moses Spring Trail (passing through Bear Gulch Cave and Bear Gulch Reservoir). This is also a perfect place to spot the California condor, an endangered bird that can be seen in very few places.
ℹ️Please note that there're two entrances (east and west) and that they aren't connected by road (only by footpaths). Accommodation options are limited in the area, but one alternative is this hotel in Soledad (west entrance).
Map of the San Francisco area
With this map, it'll be very easy for you to find all the places to visit near San Francisco, each one marked with a color:
Where to stay in San Francisco
Are you looking for accommodation in San Francisco and you feel a little bit lost? In our post about where to stay in San Francisco we answer all your questions! You're goint to find the 5 best areas with pros and cons of each, recommended hotels, and a super-detailed map. We also tell you which areas to avoid!
If you want to get straight to the point, you can find all the accommodations in San Francisco here, but below are our five favorite hotels in the city for their good value for money:
We hope you enjoy these places to visit near San Francisco!
