15 Things to Do in San Francisco by a Local Tourist

When I think of San Francisco, eclectic is the first word that comes to mind! It's a city of contrasts with many different neighborhoods of polar personalities. In 2017, I worked in the Mission District and I miss exploring the city. So recently, my husband and I stayed in San Francisco for 4 days visiting some of our favorite places. Below is the list of my 15 favorite things to do as a local tourist.

Having worked in San Francisco, I tend to avoid overly touristy areas like the Fisherman's Wharf, however, every time I visit the city, I still feel like a tourist because there are still so many areas I haven't explored.

A Local Tourist's Guide to San Francisco

Visit Presidio. 

I may be biased but Presidio is my most favorite place to visit in San Francisco. Its well-preserved civil-war era military buildings remind me of my time in Fort Jackson. I like going to the main post, grab one of the huge red lawn chairs and take deep breaths inhaling the scents of cypress and pine trees! It's quite stunning all around giving the best views of the Golden Gate Bridge and the bay. There's plenty of hiking trails, the Walt Disney Family Museum, Crissy Field and the sandy Baker Beach.

Hiking the scenic Lands End.

Lands End is quite a special place! It's where the dense urban landscape ends and the vast Pacific Ocean begins! It boasts one of the best vistas of the straight and the Golden Gate Bridge. Lands End is also one of the best hikes you can take in the city! The view of the rugged terrain of the northwestern corner of San Francisco is accentuated with tall cypress trees. Regardless of the weather, Lands End's trails make an excellent hike. At best, when the skies are clear, it offers an array of splendid panorama all around and at worse, when it's foggy, it gives a dramatic backdrop behind the massive cypress trees!

Have a  cup of masala chai tea in Samovar.

San Francisco weather can get really cold and a cup of masala chai tea always warms my heart! I wasn't much of a chai tea drinker until Samovar where my first sip became a love affair! So when visiting the city on a cold day, I make it a point to visit Samovar on Valencia.

Driving through the scenic hills. 

Driving up the hills of San Francisco can be quite scary especially if driving a manual transmission however it is undeniable that just about every turn is post-card worthy! One of my favorite things to do in San Francisco is driving around one of the hilly neighborhoods like Russian Hill, Nob Hill, Twin Peaks and Bernal Heights to name a few. I also like seeing how the houses reflect its area and seeing the sprawl of steep rolling streets.

Watching the sunset over the Pacific Ocean. 

San Francisco sunsets are concealed behind thick fog throughout the year. On days when we are gifted with clear skies, I take the opportunity to watch the sunset. My favorite places to watch the sunset are Ocean Beach, Lands End and Bernal Heights.

Visiting pastry and chocolate shops. 

If there's one thing I can never get enough of, it would be chocolate! Ok, and maybe pastries too! Having worked for a chocolate shop in San Francisco, I've explored the chocolate culture quite extensively! Among my favorites are Dandelion, TinyB, Christopher Elbow and Charles Chocolates. I'm not sure if I have a favorite bakery and pastry shop yet because there's too many I still have to visit. So far, Mr. Holmes Bakehouse, Tartine and B Patisserie are my go-to's!

Finding new places to dine. 

There are plenty of iconic foods to eat in San Francisco such as cioppino, clam chowder in a bread bowl, Mission District burrito, seafood in Fisherman's Wharf and dim sum in China Town. Considered a culinary mecca on par with some of the greatest cities in the world, there's plenty of food adventures to explore! My husband and I don't Google our next meal anymore. We pick a neighborhood and drive around to find something that interests our palettes.

Walking around the posh Hayes Valley.

If I were to describe the Hayes Valley in one word, it would be chic! I love strolling and exploring the small boutique shops and artisanal food not to mention its array of dessert shops. If there was a "sweets" district in San Francisco, it would be the Hayes Valley. Many of my favorite shops are located here such as Smitten Ice Cream, Chantal Guillon, Miette, La Boulangerie and Christopher Elbow Chocolates.

Eating local ice cream!

I find it so odd that San Francisco has a popping ice cream scene with a block-long line outside the shops considering its cold weather year round! Clearly, San Franciscans know and breath ice cream! Among my favorites are Smitten, Salt and Straw, Bi-Rite and Mitchell's Ice Cream.

Crossing the Golden Gate Bridge.

There's no other activity in San Francisco more iconic than crossing the Golden Gate Bridge. Having lived in the city, I tend to skip the Golden Gate Park as tourist flock there all year long, however, I love passing through it especially when we visit Tiburon or Sausalito. I feel somewhat part of history every time we visit!

Visit Sausalito.

Sausalito is a quintessential American small-town with a scenic vista on steroids! Although it's not quite in San Francisco, Sausalito offers one of the best views of the city from across the bay. From San Francisco, you'll have to either take a ferry or drive through the iconic Golden Gate Bridge to get there. The Main Street is lined with many boutique shops and restaurants with the city of San Francisco skyline in the backdrop! I especially love walking through the narrow streets and daydreaming which one my home would be. It's a quiet town and gives respite from the bustling city across.

Eat at the Ferry Building Marketplace.

The marketplace is a foodie's paradise! It's filled with artisanal shops with local and craft products! There's local wine, local cheese, charcuterie boards (yes!), fresh fruits and vegetables, honey and handmade products! The Ferry Building Marketplace is a showcase of the best of San Francisco and the bay area!

Take a quick stop at the Treasure Island. 

The Treasure Island is a man-made island nestled on the east-bound I80 Bay Bridge towards Oakland. I haven't really explored this island much and only know of 2 main things to do - farmer's market and music festival. Going home eastbound, I like to stop by for a few minutes to take a picture of the city when it's not foggy.

Watch the city lights at night. One of my favorite spots to watch the city lights at night is in Bernal Heights. Also, the Bay Bridge gives a spectacular light show at night and is best seen from the pier.

Visit Crissy Field.

Crissy Field is a crowd favorite for the locals and the tourists alike! It has one of the best vistas of the Golden Gate Bridge and a massive public beach area! There’s plenty to do and see in Crissy Field, from sailing regatta to kit surfing to dog walking! This makes an excellent spot to people watch!

San Francisco is a beautiful city! I hope this gives you an inspiration as you plan your next visit! Don't Forget to pin this post to come back to later! Cheers!