SF Info
What you need to know!
Yvette M
Yelp
I went to San Francisco with my boyfriend and he booked the ghost and crime tour for the Saturday night. It was a really interesting blend of true crime, history and some seriously scary ghost stories. In other words perfect entertainment for the night. The tour stopped in a historical bar midway through the tour for a quick cocktail and then ended at the oldest pub in the city. It was our first night in SF and the guide was really helpful with recommendations for the rest of our stay. We’d definitely give it 5 out of 5!
John Julien
This was a great tour and Jamie was a fantastic guide! We were able to see so many parts of the city, learn its history, and feel comfortable navigating its many neighborhoods. Whether you’re visiting for a day or a week, I can’t recommend this tour enough. Thanks Jamie!
Gina Ziegler
TripAdvisor
What an awesome way to see San Francisco. Jamie our tour guide was born and raised in the city and was an amazing, interesting source of knowledge and made the tour so fun from riding the trolley car, easy walking, beautiful sites and excellent food and treats. I highly recommend this tour. And I must say, a great value. THANK YOU JAMIE, you made San Francisco so memorable!
Sightsee780139
TripAdvisor
Such an interesting deep dive into the Castro and Mission neighborhoods, for which we had an incredibly sunny warm summer day. Our guide was extremely knowledgeable, having grown up in the area, and pointed out not only historical places, but beautiful murals, homes and fun nooks and crannies (like hidden stairways to streets) that we never would have seen on our own. We definitely came away with much more of an appreciation for Castro and the Mission (love Dolores Park!) and will seek out other neighborhoods on our next trip!
Gillian_D
Viator
I had the most amazing time, as a solo traveller doing a small group tour is perfect. My tour guide was very knowledgeable and friendly. He gave us lots of fun facts along the way and the whole experience was very interesting. Bring your walking shoes we started at 10 am and finished at 6 pm, I highly recommend you do this tour. We went to places tourist didn’t go.
Jamie Sarkozi
My Boyfriend and I booked an all Day SF tour with Christofer and had an amazing time! He knew a ton of history which we loved and we were able to see a ton. We loved it as it had been our first time visiting. Would highly recommend to anyone wanting to be shown around the city.
Edgar Wallace
Did a wonderful tour with these guys while I was in San Francisco on business. I’d also done a tour with the sister company in Los Angeles several years ago. Kevin, who was the guide, was great and it was so nice to be outside. We learnt tons about SF. Definitely recommended!
10 Things to Do in San Francisco with Kids
For families coming to visit San Francisco deciding on things to do in SF with kids can be a bit tricky. Do you choose activities that will appeal to mom and dad and make the kids tag along, complaining all the time? Or do you focus on child friendly excursions that can, frankly, get a bit boring for the parents? Probably a bit of both, right?
Trust us, you can do way better than that. San Francisco is a family and child friendly destination with dozens of activities and attractions which will be entertaining for everyone in your group. In this list of the best things to do in San Francisco with kids we’ve broken it down to bring you our tried and trusted family favorites.
We also produce a guide to the top events happening here every month, such as screenings, festivals, exhibitions and concerts on Inside SF. Have a look at that too for more ideas on activities and events to make the most of your stay here, there are usually a few family-friendly ideas there.
Family Activities & Places of Interest in SF
1. WALT DISNEY FAMILY MUSEUM
When people think of Disney and California, they usually think of Disneyland, near Los Angeles, but the Walt Disney Family Museum is the best if you want to learn the personal history of Walt himself.
There are some fabulous galleries, following his life and achievements from the beginning, in Missouri, all the way to the establishment of yes, you guessed it, Disneyland, and beyond.
2. BAY AREA DISCOVERY MUSEUM
It’s called a museum but think of the Bay Area Discovery Museum as a learning environment full of hands-on experiences and exhibits for the little ones. They’ll be occupied for hours, learning about the natural world, doing scientific experiments and trying as hard as they can to winch themselves up a pole. It’s a great, fun, safe and affordable experience for the whole family.
It's also in a great location in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, just the other side of the Golden Gate Bridge from downtown.
3. GOLDEN GATE PARK
This is another well located attraction. Golden Gate Park is full of things to occupy your kids, from the Japanese Tea House and Garden, to a windmill, to real American bison, to the Koret Children's Quarter and a historic carousel.
You could easily spend whole day exploring the park - it's a must-do on our list of things to do in San Francisco with kids!
4. CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES
Here's a great institution you can visit that's actually inside Golden Gate Park. From the California Academy of Sciences you can explore deep sea, deep space and everything in between, all from the safety of the Bay Area. There's an aquarium, a planetarium, a rainforest and, whisper it, sleepovers (shhh!).
Pretty much any child - and most parents - can find something to interest them here.
5. CHILDREN'S CREATIVITY MUSEUM
Your children are creative - as you've undoubtedly noticed whenever they're making an excuse for doing something they shouldn't have, or trying to get you to let them do something you don't want them to do, so why not channel and develop that creativity?
The Children's Creativity Museum is right in the heart of downtown and it's designed to build creative confidence in children aged 2-12 years old.
6. SAN FRANCISCO ZOO
What kid doesn't like the zoo? In the past some children might have been concerned to see wild animals being kept in small, contained spaces etc, but most zoos nowadays have extensive conservation programs, including of course the San Francisco Zoo,
In addition to the animals there are talks, feedings, rides and tours. This could easily be a day trip.
7. MISSION DOLORES PARK
"Encompassing nearly 16 acres, Mission Dolores Park is one of San Francisco’s most popular parks, the vibrant heart of the vibrant, culturally diverse Mission District. Here you’ll find lush green lawns shaded by tall palm trees, a soccer field, six tennis courts, one basketball court, a multi-use court, a playground, and two off-leash dog play areas. Yes. Many festivals, performances and other cultural events are also held here".
Sounds good, right? It is.
8. CABLE-CAR MUSEUM
An icon of San Francisco, everyone wants to travel on one of our cable-cars, so what could be better than learning all about them at this amazing museum, right in the historic Nob Hill neighborhood? This is not to be missed.
Even if you don't visit the museum, just taking the little ones for a ride on the cable car itself will definitely be a highlight for them.
9. CRISSY FIELD
Located in a beautiful spot, right on the bay, near the Golden Gate Bridge, Crissy Field has state of the art, green education facility consists of classrooms, labs, and gathering spaces for youth enrolled in the Center’s camps, field trips, and programs. Why not see if you can sign the little ones up before you come? Or just turn up and enjoy the wetlands, exhibits and views.
Our Real San Francisco Bike tour takes guests through the Presidio to Crissy Field and is a great option for older kids (12 y.o. and up).
10. AQUARIUM OF THE BAY AND THE EXPLORATORIUM
Perennially popular with kids, an aquarium is usually a win for all the family. The Aquarium of the Bay is no different as parents and children can enjoy the exhibits, present their noses up against the glass and discover the beauty and diversity of Northern California aquatic life. Could we have saved the best until last with our list? You decide!
Another place nearby that all the family will love is the Exploratorium, a public learning laboratory where visitors can explore the world through science, art and human perception.
Also close by is Fisherman's Wharf, if you're planning a trip to this famous San Francisco neighborhood. and the ferry terminal for Alcatraz Island.
As you plan your trip be sure to check Inside SF – where we post a monthly breakdown of the best things to do here, which usually includes several family-friendly activities.
This map is interactive. To open in Google Maps, click the icon in the top right corner.
If you have any feedback on our list of things to do in San Francisco with kids, or if you have some recommendations of your own, please email us and let us know. We’ll be sure to take it into account.
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