These are the 57 best things to do in San Francisco

What is it? What isn’t it? It’s everything San Francisco prides itself on. But if we have to define it: a weekend of celebrating inclusive LGBTQ+ love.

Why go? With beloved San Franciscan Harvey Milk’s name being stripped off a U.S. naval ship and with so many other hard-won freedoms being stripped away, too, Pride is more important than ever. With this year’s theme being “Queer Joy is Resistance,” San Franciscans will pour onto the streets in glam, glittery, gorgeous radiance to be counted and celebrated. Be there, rainbow folks and allies! The 55th Annual San Francisco LGBTQ+ Pride Celebration and Parade takes place June 28–29 with incredible performances at stages throughout Civic Center, a street fair with more than 300 artists and vendors, multiple events and best of all: the parade. The Pride Parade begins Sunday, June 29, at 10am on Market Street at Embarcadero Plaza. With more than 250 floats or displays, the parade lasts around 4 hours, moving down Market Street and ending around 9th Street. For all the fabulous nitty gritty, visit the Pride website.

Time Out tip: Dress to the hilt in all rainbow colors.

Price: Free. Donations welcomed here.

What is it? A 21+ show where “people share their worst hookup stories.”

Why go? This live storytelling event About Last Night puts truth to the adage that bad sex makes for good stories. Grab your tickets ASAP since it’s this Friday, June 6. Doors open at 7pm for the 7:30-9:30 show at the Make Out Room. Enjoy two hours of gloriously messy tales. You’ll be inspired to make your own one night stands memorable for the right reasons.

Time Out tip: If you want your hookup story to be included, fill out a form at the event website in advance; organizers will contact you if it’s terrible enough.

Price: Tickets start at $23.

What is it? An homage to David Bowie performed by a 65-piece orchestra.

Why go? Because Bowie is still with us. Blackstar, the last album David Bowie created before he died, will be played in full at the San Francisco Symphony, reimagined for a 65-piece orchestra and performed with the original Blackstar band. Blackstar Symphony: The Music of David Bowie concludes with performances of some of his other iconic songs like “Heroes” and “Life on Mars.” It happens June 26-27 at Davies Symphony Hall.

Time Out tip: Make the evening sweeter with a themed Stardust cocktail and lightning cookie, for sale at the venue.

Price: Tickets start at $99.

What is it? A hilarious dating game show

Why go? Billed as the “comedy/dating game show where the men can’t speak,” Love Isn’t Blind travels throughout the country with host Allison Goldberg, and San Francisco gets to experience it on June 13 at The Foundry. Doors open at 7pm and the show starts at 8pm.

Time Out tip: You can apply to be on the show here or nominate your single friends here.

Price: Buy early for cheaper tickets, which start at $20.

What is it? A free weekly drag show series created by the Downtown SF Partnership, happening every Friday in June.

Why go? You’ll want to celebrate Pride more than ever this year and support San Francisco’s beautiful community. The series is hosted by local drag icon Bobby Friday and features local performers each week. The series kicks off this Friday, June 6, from 5 to 7pm at One Market restaurant with performances by Bebe SweetBriar and King Lotus Boy. The June 13 event is at 101 California Plaza at PABU Izakaya restaurant with performances by Delilah BeFierce and Mudd the Two Spirit. The June 20 event is at the Institute of Contemporary Arts, 345 Montgomery St., with performances by King SlayHer and Melanie Sparks. The series will close out on June 27 with Drag Me to Front Street, the inaugural drag show and block party at California’s first ever Entertainment Zone, happening 4:30-8pm at 240 Front St. Peaches Christ will co-host with Bobby Friday, with performances by Major Hammy and Tila Pia.

Time Out tip: Bring some cash to tip the performers.

Price: The Drag Me Downtown series is free to attend; however, attendees are encouraged to pre-register here for each event to guarantee exclusive 2025 drag swag. You can register for free or choose a $10 registration option to support The Transgender District, the world's first legally recognized transgender district right here in San Francisco. The last show, Drag Me to Front Street, has a separate reservation page here (again, free or $10).

What is it: A yoga studio with immersive LED projections cast on walls and ceilings for a trippy practice.

Why go? It’s almost like a nightclub inside with the lighted pillars, black floors and black yoga mats—who knew a yoga studio could be so Instagrammable? Depending on the LED visuals, you might feel like you’re underwater, drifting through the universe, standing on a mountaintop or even in a volcano with lava swirling around you (so you can relax into Savasana like those nice folks in Pompeii). Attention is paid to all five senses with aromatherapy, touch adjustments, soundscapes and herbal tea included in your experience

Time Out tip: Some classes are accompanied by a live DJ.

Price: The first class is free, and thereafter it’s $35 per class with discounts for bulk purchases or monthly memberships.

What is it? The world’s most photographed bridge (and for good reason). 

Why go? The iconic 746-foot-tall orange towers of the Golden Gate Bridge have stood sentinel over the San Francisco Bay since 1937. Even when shrouded in fog, the bridge never fails to impress. The view is spectacular when passing over this span, with cityscapes on one side, nature on the other and a beautiful shock of blue below. Come prepared wearing extra layers; Karl the Fog doesn’t mess around when it comes to the Golden Gate. 

Time Out tip: Throw a change of clothes and your toothbrush into a backpack and bike over the bridge to spend the night at this historic lodge at the base of the bridge.

Price: Free

What is it? A festival with more than 100 free performances from May to October, held at Yerba Buena Gardens.

Why go: There’s a great time brewing in downtown San Francisco, with outdoor music, theater, dance, poetry, circus feats and children’s programs. This month, check out:
June 7: Sundown Cinema: Wicked, 4–10:30pm
June 14: Nā Lei Hulu I Ka Wēkiu: Aloha ‘Aina, 2–4pm
June 15: 27th Native Contemporary Arts Festival, noon–3pm
June 19: Sundra Manning, 12:30–1:30pm
June 20: Circus Bella: Hoopla, noon
June 21: Circus Bella: Hoopla, noon and 2:15pm
June 26: Mahsa & Marjan Vahdat, 12:30–1:30pm
June 28: Pride in Yerba Buena! 2–4pm

Time Out tip: All of this is just for June! Stay tuned for listings for the next four months.

Price: Free.

What is it: An expansive park opened in 2022 on top of the Presidio Parkway highway tunnels, connecting the Presidio to the Crissy Field waterfront—designed by the same people behind New York’s High Line. 

Why go: The 14-acre federal parkland offers tons of green space by the water and is now one of the best spots to take in views of the Golden Gate Bridge. If you have kids in tow, they’ll love the Outpost, a natural-themed playground, and the Field Station, where they can draw butterflies, discover maps and get hands-on with science.

Time Out tip: Stretch out your enjoyment of this park by staying overnight at the Lodge at the Presidio and dining at Colibri Mexican Bistro or Dalida, both walking distance away. Piccino, the Italian restaurant in the Dogpatch neighborhood, just opened a new location here on the eastern side of the Presidio in March 2025.

Price: Free

What is it? SF’s quintessential dish. 

Why go? It is common knowledge that burritos as we know them today are an American invention. And no burrito is more famous than SF’s Mission-style burrito formed in the ‘60s. There is still some debate as to who created the first Mission-style burrito. Taqueria La Cumbre is generally credited with the creation—they introduced the tortilla-wrapped combination of beans, rice, meat, and cheese in 1969. Their neighborhood competitor, El Faro (2399 Folsom St), also claims to have originated the delicacy, serving it up to local firefighters as early as 1961. If you want the best, though, head to La Taqueria (2989 Mission St), which consistently appears on top restaurant lists year after year thanks to its behemoth rice-free, foil-wrapped bombs.

Time Out tip: As with many large cities, the crisis of homelessness means that you may encounter situations that may not feel comfortable, but the treasures of the Mission can still be experienced by staying alert.

Price: Varies

What is it? A revival of an opera about Harvey Milk called Harvey Milk Reimagined, running May 31 to June 7.

Why go? San Francisco will never forget Harvey Milk, the first openly gay man to be elected to public office in California and later tragically assassinated along with then-mayor George Moscone. Opera Parallèle presents Harvey Milk Reimagined, reorganized into two acts with new music (from composer Stewart Wallace and librettist Michael Korie) and a different cast from what you may have seen back in 1996. This pandemically-delayed revised production starts at the end of the month for four performances (and a happy hour open rehearsal on May 15 and several other events). The venue is the Blue Shield of California Theater, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts.

Time Out tip: There’s also a special commemorative display at the GLBT Historical Society.

Price: Tickets start at $50.

What is it?  The oldest and most storied enclave of Chinese immigrants outside of Asia.

Why go?  After passing through the Dragon Gate at the corner of Bush Street and Grant Avenue, get revved to explore Chinatown’s historic buildings, pocket parks and shops. Considered the birthplace of American Chinese food like chop suey and fortune cookies, as well as credited with introducing dim sum to the Western palate, you’d be remiss not to stop for a bite at an eatery like Good Mong Kok Bakery.

Time Out tip: Check out the Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory (56 Ross Alley), where some 10,000 fortune cookies are made every day—folded by hand as they come off an ancient-looking conveyor belt.

Price: Free.

What is it? An incredible showcase of all things science. 

Why go? The Cal Academy offers a bit of everything for science-loving folks. Budding marine biologists should make a beeline for the Steinhart Aquarium, which takes up the entire lower floor and has exhibits like the world’s deepest living coral reef. Are you into ecology? Check out a four-story living rainforest that boasts butterflies, birds and a variety of tropical plants. The living roof is home to 1.7 million native plant species.

Time Out tip: The Morrison Planetarium with a 75-foot dome is state-of-the-art and great for aspiring astronomers. 

Price: $49 adults, $45 youth 13–18, $39 kids 3–12.

What is it? An exhibition of the art of Mary Blair at the Walt Disney Family Museum in the Presidio

Why go? Blair was one of Walt Disney’s favorite artists, and you can see her mark on Disneyland installations (see “it’s a small world” concept art, above) and within the animation studio’s films. This exhibition features nearly 150 artworks—watercolors, drawings, collages and ceramics—and historical photographs. It runs May 22 through September 7.

Time Out tip: A screening in the museum’s theater is in the planning stages: It will include a collection of rare film footage and animated film clips to accompany the artwork featured in this exhibition.

Price: Admission is free with general admission, with a suggested donation of $5 to support the museum’s initiative to present world-class original exhibitions.

What is it? A former maximum-security prison in the middle of the San Francisco Bay. 

Why go? Converted from a lighthouse station to a military prison in the 1870s, Alcatraz is a formidable fortress in the middle of San Francisco Bay that was home to the early 20th century’s most notorious criminals. Today, you’ll only make it to “The Rock” via ferry from Pier 33 Alcatraz Landing. Once there, the self-guided audio cell house tour narrated by former inmates and guards will fill you in on harrowing escape attempts, prison riots and the 19-month-long occupation of the site by Native Americans demanding reparation for broken treaties in 1969. You have to purchase a ferry ticket (even if you have an America the Beautiful national park pass) to get to the island, and reservations are strongly recommended—we’ve seen people be turned away.

Time Out tip: To get a more creepy bang for your buck, try a night tour. Plan to spend about three hours round trip and bring a jacket to protect you from heavy year-round fog and the agonized spirits of the island’s former residents. 

Price: Ferry ticket prices start at $48. The island itself is free to visit.

What is it: A celebration of spring and its blossoms at Union Square, where you’ll find colorful bouquets adorning many entryways.

Why go: This annual March-to-September enterprise involves floral displays, events (like Flower Bulb Day), cable cars bedecked with flowers and hotels pulling out all the stops—like the Westin St. Francis’s Suite In Bloom pictured above, bookable through July 31 (read what it's like to stay there, here). The Bloomie Awards honor the businesses who best decorate to the theme, including naming the best flower-enhanced cocktails you can order from restaurants and bars in Union Square.

Time Out tip: Wear your brightest floral shirt so you can take beautiful photos with the backdrop of bouquets—this is not the time to wear dark colors!

Price: Free.

What is it? The home of over 2,000 exotic, endangered and rescued animals with talks and interactive feeding sessions running every day—set across 100 acres of beautiful gardens located right on the Pacific Coast. 

Why go? For a reasonable price you can spend the whole day getting to know your favorite animals, as well as creatures you’ve probably never even heard of. San Francisco Zoo has its very own tropical rainforest with exotic birds and plants, an amazing outdoor lemur exhibit and a gorilla preserve where you’ll find Africa’s largest primate. 

Time Out tip: Try to plan your visit for the morning: Animals are far more active and there are fewer crowds. Which animals are “morning people?” Snow leopards, red pandas, grizzly bears, giraffes and African lions… you might even hear one roar.

Price: $31 adults, $26 seniors, $22 children

What is it? Added to the San Francisco skyline in 1933, this monumental love letter to the city remains an iconic welcome for travelers westbound across the Bay Bridge. 

Why go? This postcard favorite is named for Lillie Hitchcock Coit, a wealthy eccentric woman whose $118,000 bequest to the city resulted in Coit Tower’s construction. The tapered fluted tower stands 180 feet tall at the crest of Telegraph Hill. At the top is the tower’s observation deck with 360-degree views of San Francisco and the bay. 

Time Out tip: Don’t miss the rotunda at its base, covered in Depression-era WPA murals depicting socialist images painted by more than two dozen artists, some of whom studied under Diego Rivera. 

Price: Free to see the ground-floor murals. To get to the top of the tower, admission is $10 adults, $7 seniors 62+ and kids 12-17, $3 kids 5-11. Guided tours of the tower and murals are $10.

What is it? SFMOMA is the stylish go-to for top-notch modern art. 

Why go? Global architecture firm Snøhetta designed the 2016 addition to Mario Botta’s iconic 1995 building, tripling its exhibition space and making it the 8th largest art museum in the country. Inside, you’ll find 33,000 works of art, including painting, photography, architecture and design, and media arts. Along with seven ticketed gallery floors, there is a large area of public space filled with art, free to the public. Currently on exhibit is Ruth Asawa: Retrospective, through September 2.

Time Out tip: Spend the night at the InterContinental San Francisco hotel, just a 15 minute walk away. Get a room on the highest floor you can (there are 32 stories) to see gorgeous skyline and bridge views, including the MOMA’s distinctive round roofline.

Price: $30 adults, $25 seniors 65+, $23 student, free for 18 and under.

What is it: San Francisco’s newest museum, a pop-up celebration of epic fails.

Why go? There are 150 objects on display, from the spray-on condom to the frozen lasagna made by a toothpaste company, all of which would have gotten thumbs-down from the Shark Tank experts. And believe it or not, there was once a Hooters airline. You'll find the museum at Fisherman’s Wharf at 145 Jefferson St., on the second floor of the former Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum. 

Time Out tip: There’s one section clearly marked “Failure XXX” where exhibits may not be appropriate for younger people, but otherwise this is a very kid-friendly museum. They'll especially love sitting in the hula chair that swivels you around.

Price: $28 adults, $21 kids, $22 seniors, military and students.