While Alcatraz is the most popular tourist attraction in San Francisco, it is just one of the many amazing things to do and things to see. From popular attractions like the Golden Gate Bridge and Pier 39 in the city of San Francisco to Muir Woods, Silicon Valley and Napa Valley located in the surrounding Bay Area, there are tons of great activities for people of any age, all year long.

The Alcatraz Cruises Ferry leaves from Pier 33, which is actually close to a lot of great attractions so before or after your visit to Alcatraz, you can do your own walking tour of the area. Pier 39 is a waterfront shopping area that is only a couple of minutes walk from the ferry dock. It is one of the busier tourist areas of the city, filled with a great variety of shops, restaurants, cafes, bars and even an arcade and a carousel. Right next door to Pier 39, you can find a very unique San Francisco attraction, the hundreds of sea lions that took over the boat docks shortly after the Loma Prieta earthquake in 1989. Other attractions in the Fisherman’s Wharf neighborhood around the pier include the Aquarium of the Bay, Ghirardelli Square, Madame Tussauds Wax Museum and The Ripley’s Believe it or Not Museum.

If you are visiting San Francisco for a short amount of time and want to get a chance to see as many cool attractions as possible, buying passes to one of the Alcatraz Combo Tours from local tour companies will give you a chance to do a variety of different things with transportation included. There are many different San Francisco tour options that include things like winery tours in Napa Valley, a trip to Muir Woods, a trip to Sausalito and sightseeing around the city of San Francisco.

With so many great options, choosing the best things to do in San Francisco can be a little overwhelming. Below are some of the best attractions, events and activities in the San Francisco Bay Area.