It’s pleasantly surprising that a city as small as San Francisco in terms of the geographical area offers a great assortment of attractions and activities that can make every kind of traveler fall for this beautiful city in California! San Francisco’s rich history, ethnic diversity, and liberal personality are as fascinating as the city’s natural beauty, which is accentuated by its foggy weather! From visiting the topmost attractions like Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz Island, Fisherman’s Wharf to riding the iconic cable car around the city, here are five best things to do in San Francisco that every first-time traveler must not miss!

Walk or drive over the Golden Gate Bridge:

Visiting this iconic landmark in California must be on the top of your list of things to do in San Francisco. This brilliantly constructed bright orange bridge graces the San Francisco Bay and connects the city of San Francisco with Marin County. Feel the magnificence of the Golden Gate Bridge by walking or biking over it. How can you miss clicking the pictures of this most photographed bridge in the city, if not the world? Many vantage points like Golden Gate National Recreation Area, Nob Hill, etc., offer the best views of the bridge!

Visit Alcatraz Island/ The Rock:

This beautiful island situated 1.5 miles off the shore of San Francisco Bay is famous for its former penitentiary of the same name and the notorious stories of failed escape attempts by the inmates. Alcatraz served as a military fortification and a jail before it was developed into a federal prison, and now it’s a famous tourist attraction in San Francisco visited by more than 1.5 million tourists every year. Tourists love clicking the sweeping views of the bay from ‘The Rock’ besides taking the self-guided audio cell house tour. The audio (voiced by former prisoners and guards) narrates to you how life was in this prison on an isolated island.

Tour San Francisco in its iconic cable cars:

A ride in the historic cable cars is one of the classic things to do in San Francisco! These tram-like vehicles operated manually were introduced in the 1800s to transport people conveniently across the hilly areas of the city, and they are now the last of its kind in the whole world! Also, San Francisco’s cable car system is the only public transportation to have earned the title of a National Historic Landmark! So, hop on to one (the most popular route is Powell-Hyde) and enjoy a ride taking in the scenic views of San Francisco’s popular attractions like the Bay and Alcatraz!

Go to the California Academy of Sciences:

Are you a science buff? Then, the California Academy of Sciences located in Golden Gate Park is a must-visit for science enthusiasts like you! Everything that you are going to see in this science and history museum simply astonishes you! While the Steinhart Aquarium is home to 900 species of animals, the Osher Rainforest has thousands of animals, and hundreds of birds, reptiles, and amphibians. Check out the dinosaur fossils in Kimball Natural History Museum and watch “Tour of the Universe” shows on a 75-foot-diameter screen inside the Morrison Planetarium! Isn’t it the best place to take your kids to? Book cheap flights with iEagle and visit San Francisco with your family!

Explore Fisherman’s Wharf:

This famous waterfront neighborhood in San Francisco will be bustling with tourists all year round, thanks to its numerous attractions that draw everyone (from solo travelers to families) to Fisherman’s Wharf. Pier 39 is probably the most well-known attraction of the Wharf, where you can indulge in shopping, dine at world-class restaurants, enjoy the sweeping views of the San Francisco Bay, and have unlimited fun! Take some time out to watch the antics of scores of California sea lions that call the docks on Pier 39 their home – it’s one of the best light-hearted things to do in San Francisco.