Last updated on June 2nd, 2026 at 11:06 am
If you’re looking for unique things to do in San Francisco then I don’t think you’ll be disappointed. With an abundance of natural features and a lot of artistic flair not to mention a long history, San Franciscans have created a city with a wonderful combination of the usual tourist attractions and the more unusual, unique to San Francisco experiences.
During my visit I set out to see as many of these things as possible. In this post I’ll share my list of 13 hidden gems and unique things to do in San Francisco. I’ll also suggest some additional San Francisco secret spots and unusual things to see and experience.
Pack your comfortable shoes and let’s get to it!
1. Climb the 16th Avenue Tiled Steps
Climbing up hills and stairs is clearly one of the most common San Francisco activities! That said, some stairs are just more appealing than others. The 16th Avenue Tiled Steps are a case in point.
A sea to stars themed mosaic 163 step stairway, the steps are the result of a 2003 community project. Designed to connect the neighbours and beautify the area, the project utilised the skill of local artists. Neighbours sponsored tiles and attended workshops to help in the creation of the mosaics. The steps were opened in August 2005.
Take a walk up and admire the work, the changing images and the view from the top.
Be sure to look out for the names and messages left by the community on the individual tiles as you climb up and down the steps.
2. Visit Alcatraz Island
Although it’s not a hidden gem (it’s an offshore island after all!), visiting Alcatraz is definitely one of the unique things to do in San Francisco.
Located about 2km offshore, Alcatraz has been the site of a lighthouse, fort, military prison and maximum security Federal Penitentiary. The latter opened in 1934 but closed in 1963. Some of its more famous inhabitants include Al Capone and Robert Stroud, the Birdman of Alcatraz (although he never kept birds there).
Alcatraz Island was occupied for 19 months from November 1969 by Indians of All Tribes in the name of freedom and Native American civil rights.
Today, Alcatraz is managed by the National Park Service and is one of the most visited sites in San Francisco. To get there you need to buy a ticket for Alcatraz City Cruises. Day tour tickets are priced at $47.95 for adults. Cruises depart from Pier 33, not far from the well known Pier 39. The ticket price includes an audio tour.
If you are interested in combining a visit to Alcatraz with another activity, review available options and book here:
Here are my travel tips for visiting Alcatraz:
- places sell out quickly so book in advance
- weather can be unpredictable and change quickly so wear layers and take a jacket (I did not!)
- wear comfortable shoes and be careful as some surfaces are uneven. Be aware too that some roads and paths are quite steep
- for those with mobility issues, there is a free shuttle however it operates on a first come, first served basis
To learn more about visiting Alcatraz, read my post How to Explore the Rock – Is Alcatraz Worth Visiting?
3. Ride a Cable Car
San Francisco is famous for its cable cars and riding one should definitely be on your to do list!
The San Francisco cable car system is the world’s last manually operated cable car system and there are 3 lines remaining in operation. These are:
- California line: running along California Street
- Powell-Mason: running from the Powell Street Cable Car turnaround off Market Street in Union Square
- Powell-Hyde: also running from the Powell Street Cable Car turnaround
A single ride will cost $9. I jumped on the California line one evening and for reasons I don’t understand, I was not charged!
Cable car enthusiasts may also enjoy visiting the Cable Car Museum – check the official Cable Car Museum website for up to date visitor information.
4. Visit the Yoda Fountain
If you’re looking for both a hidden gem and a unique thing to do in San Francisco, then head to the Yoda Fountain in the Presidio!
The Presidio of San Francisco is a National Park site and a National Historic Landmark. Once home to Native people and later a military post, today it is part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. It’s 1491 acres in size and is located next to the Golden Gate Bridge.
Don’t forget to go into the building behind the statue of Yoda. It’s part of the Lucasfilm campus and houses more Star Wars memorabilia. When I visited access was free, photos were permitted but filming inside was not.
A visit to Yoda is definitely one of the fun unique things to do in San Francisco!
5. See the Golden Gate Bridge
Despite often being shrouded in San Francisco’s famous fog (known as Karl by the way!), there is no view more iconic in San Francisco than the Golden Gate Bridge. It’s one of the world’s most famous bridges and that makes seeing it one of the unique things to do in San Francisco.
The bridge spans an area of water known as Golden Gate (hence the bridge name) which connects San Francisco Bay with the Pacific Ocean.
Construction of the bridge began in 1933 and was completed in 1937. The bridge is a suspension bridge and measures about 2.74 kilometres (1.7 miles) long and 27.4 metres (90 feet) wide. Pedestrian or bicycle access is permitted but only at specified times – check the official Golden Gate Bridge website for up to date hours.
If walking or riding over the bridge doesn’t appeal to you, then consider this hop on hop off bus tour which crosses the bridge or this harbour cruise which sails underneath it.
6. Walk Up (or Drive Down) Lombard Street
The presence of the crowds will tell you that Lombard Street is not a hidden gem! As the crookedest street in the world however, seeing it is definitely one of the unique things to do in San Francisco.
To be clear, it is only one block of Lombard Street that is really crooked and that’s the block between Leavenworth Street and Hyde Street.
There are 8 hairpin bends and although you can drive down them, you can only walk up the side of the street.
7. See the Sutro Baths
The Sutro Baths are now in ruins but they were once a large ocean-fed public swimming complex. Built in 1894, the complex housed 7 swimming pools at various temperatures and could accommodate 10,000 people at one time. It also had 20,000 bathing suits and 40,000 towels available to rent!
Eventually however, the commercial success of the baths declined and in 1964 developers began demolishing the structure which housed them. In 1966 a fire destroyed what was left of the baths. This National Park Service article provides a useful history of the baths.
The Sutro Baths are located close to the visitors center at the start (or end, depending which way you go!) of the Lands End Trail. I hiked this trail and saw the baths at the end of my hike. This hike follows a coastal trail and offers hikers great views, including of the Golden Gate Bridge.
8. Stop by the Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory
San Francisco’s Chinatown is the oldest Chinatown in North America and definitely worth including in your visit to the city. Established in 1962, the Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory makes traditional and flavoured fortune cookies. The factory is in Ross Alley.
It’s free to visit, however I would suggest arriving early as it didn’t take long for the queue to grow out the door and along the alley! It’s clearly a popular spot and one of THE places to go in San Francisco!
9. Wander Along Jack Kerouac Alley
Author Jack Kerouac used to frequent this alley and City Lights Books which is located at the end of it. In 2007 the alley was repaved and today it’s home to street art and various quotes from different writers embedded in the paving.
The alley is located in San Francisco’s Chinatown between Grant Avenue and Columbus Avenue in the North Beach neighbourhood. I would suggest stopping by before or after you visit the Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory.
10. Climb the Lincoln Park Steps
The Lincoln Park Steps are a good place to start if you plan on hiking the Lands End Trail. These 52 steps are located close to the Lincoln Park Golf Club on 34th Avenue.
The steps date back to the 1900s, however in 2007 the founders of community group Friends of Lincoln Park decided they needed an overhaul. A local artist was hired to design and create the steps and with financial grants to aid in the structural renovations, the work was completed in 2015.
11. See Wood Line
Located in the Presidio, Wood Line is a public sculpture created in 2011 by English artist Andy Goldsworthy.
Back in the 1880s, cypress trees grew amongst eucalyptus trees, however over time the cypress trees died, leaving gaps which the sculpture now fills.
Wood Line is made out of eucalyptus branches and is 370 metres (1200 feet) long. The eucalyptus branches lie on the ground in a winding line and will one day disappear back into the earth.
Unfortunately, my photos are not close or high enough to show the sculpture clearly, so do check the official Presidio website for an alternative view and up to date visitor information. Wood Line is free to visit.
12. Explore the Hidden Garden Steps
A hidden gem and one of the unique things to do in San Francisco, the 148 Hidden Garden Steps are worth seeing. Located not far from the 16th Avenue Tiled Steps, the Hidden Garden Steps are also a community project. Planning them began in 2010 and they were opened to the public at the end of 2013.
As the name suggests, the Hidden Garden Steps feature a beautiful collection of mosaics depicting flowers, plants and insects.
The Hidden Garden Steps are located at 16th Avenue and Kirkham Street in a quiet residential area.
These and the other tiled steps I’ve mentioned in this post are some of the most unique attractions to see in San Francisco. Clambering up and down them, well that’s just one of the fun things to do in San Francisco! Read more about these beautiful steps in my post Discover 3 of the Best Mosaic Steps in San Francisco.
13. Spot the Hearts in San Francisco
As you explore San Francisco, keep your eyes open for some heart shaped sculptures. These first appeared in 2004 as part of a project to raise money for the San Francisco General Hospital Fund. Each year San Francisco artists are invited to paint a heart which is then displayed in the city for that year. At the end of the year, the hearts are auctioned off with proceeds going to the Foundation.
There are hundreds of these hearts on display around the city. Let me know how many you spot!
The heart shown in the first photo below is located at the bottom of the Lyon Street steps. Climb up these for an amazing view of San Francisco Bay.
More Time in San Francisco?
If you have more time in San Francisco or you’re looking for further secret spots, hidden gems and unique things to see and do, then you may also want to consider seeing/visiting:
- the Wave Organ – a wave activated acoustic sculpture in the Marina District
- the Japanese Tea Garden – located in Golden Gate Park, it comprises gardens and a tea house with café
- the bison in Golden Gate Park
- Camera Obscura – a large scale camera obscura in the Lands End area
- Muir Woods – home to coastal Redwoods with opportunities to hike various trails
- the concrete Seward Street slides
- Lands End labyrinth – combine seeing this with a hike of the Lands End Trail (although note that the labyrinth is at times destroyed but rebuilt by locals so check it exists before heading there)
- Balmy Alley in the Mission District – a mural and street art destination
- Umbrella Alley at Fisherman’s Wharf – another mural and street art destination
- Musée Mécanique – home to antique arcade games and mechanical instruments and located at Pier 45
I had each of these things on my to do list, but sadly, a combination of sore feet and time running out meant that I did not get to them. They remain on my San Francisco bucket list for my next visit!
Final Thoughts
Heading off the beaten path and seeking unusual sights and experiences can often yield results and enhance a visit to a new place. That is certainly the case with San Francisco.
Whilst San Francisco’s well known tourist attractions are both worth visiting and often unique to the city, there’s still plenty out there for those looking for something a little different. As I stated at the start of my blog post about Charleston South Carolina, hidden gems and unusual things await those who go looking for them!
If you are keen to discover more things to do in the Bay Area be sure to read my post on How to Spend an Amazing 4 Days in San Francisco. If you need any general assistance with planning a trip to San Francisco then check out my Resources page.
Disclaimer – Information correct at the time of writing but do check before visiting.
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