San Francisco is a fantastic destination for families – there are SO many things to do in San Francisco with kids! We absolutely loved living in that area for years with the amazing mix of outdoor adventures, hands-on learning, and iconic landmarks. The city’s walkable layout and accessible public transportation, including cable cars and ferries, make getting around easy and exciting for children.
This list of the best things to do in San Francisco with kids combines famous landmarks, nature, and hands-on fun – all the makings of a great family trip to San Francisco!
For a more detailed San Francisco itinerary, check out our perfect itinerary for spending 3 days in San Francisco with kids!
How To Get Around San Francisco
Public transportation in San Francisco can be spotty in areas. The buses/trolleys/cable cars are decent when you stay in the Fisherman’s Wharf, North Beach, Chinatown, or Union Square areas, but aren’t convenient when trying to get further west or south. I recommend renting a car for at least 1-2 of the days when visiting San Francisco with kids to give you a little more flexibility on activities and timing.
Best Places to Stay in San Francisco With Kids
San Francisco has a number of interesting and distinct neighborhoods. For a shorter visit, I recommend staying somewhere relatively close to some main attractions that allows a decent bit of walkability. If you are renting a car for the duration of your trip, consider staying in a more residential and less touristy area of the city.
The best family friendly places to stay in San Francisco with kids are Union Square, Marina District, and Nob Hill/Russian Hill. In these neighborhoods you’ll be closest to kid-friendly attractions in San Francisco and the best things to do in San Francisco with kids. See this post for some great San Francisco accommodations options!
Where To Stay in San Francisco with Kids
Wherever you stay, try to learn a bit about the neighborhood in advance. You and your kids will love seeing some familiar sites once you arrive!
What To Pack for San Francisco with Kids
Here are some of our favorite items to take along on a San Francisco family vacation:
- Minimal Diaper Belt Bag: I absolutely love this little bag because it holds so much but is really compact and easy to wear with a variety of outfits. You can use the code PASSPORTFAM10 for 10% off.
- Packing Cubes: I love packing cubes for keeping things organized, contained, and compact. These are my favorite expandable packing cubes, and I also love these.
- Lightweight Women’s Pants: I absolutely adore these pants for travel because they’re SO comfortable, fold super small, and dry in a flash. More about why I love them HERE.
- Lightweight Packable Coat: I love this lightweight packable parka because it is really warm and good for layering, and folds into a bag a little bigger than a water bottle when not in use. My kids have also used these coats for years and they’re excellent because they fold up easily but are warm and layer well. They have a big line of them for the whole family. These are especially great for San Francisco where the weather is quite changeable and can be really chilly or warm and sunny depending on where you are in the city!
- Shoes: I often only take one pair of shoes – either my favorite white sneakers or my beloved black Chelsea boots. More about both shoes HERE. For my kids, we really love Keen shoes because they’re durable and waterproof. For summer, we love these sneakers or these close-toed hiking sandals. For winter, we love these boots.
- 18L backpack: We love this backpack as a day bag when going out and about, or my kids use it as their travel backpacks (either as their personal item on a plane, or sometimes as just their luggage). We love this 40L Backpack if we need more space, and my 4 year old uses a smaller 12L version.
- Pop Up Tent Baby Bed: We’ve had this super lightweight baby travel bed for over a decade. We love it so much because it’s so lightweight and fits easily in a suitcase without having to take a bulky and heavy pack n play.
- Lightweight Folding Baby Carrier; I absolutely love this baby carrier because it’s supportive but still lightweight and only weighs about a pound, and also packs into its own pouch when not in use.
Best Things to Do in San Francisco With Kids
GOLDEN GATE PARK
Golden Gate Park is a massive green oasis with endless options. There is SO much good stuff – paddle boating on Stow Lake, the Conservatory of Flowers, the Dutch Windmill & Queen Wilhelmina Tulip Garden, the Botanical Garden, hiking Strawberry Hill…there’s even a buffalo paddock! Truly something for everyone. Don’t forget to look for the Twirl ‘n Dip ice cream truck – get the vanilla soft serve dipped in chocolate with a sprinkle of sea salt!
A bit more about a couple of our favorite spots with kids:
- The Japanese Tea Garden is a beautiful and peaceful spot with koi ponds, pagodas, and bridges. Kids love exploring the winding paths and watching the fish in the ponds. Early weekday hours offer free admission, and it’s a nice quiet contrast to busier attractions in the park.
- California Academy of Sciences – With its hands-on exhibits and opportunities to learn about science, nature, and the environment, this museum is a fantastic destination for families. Be sure to visit the rainforest dome filled with butterflies and birds. There’s also a massive aquarium showcasing sea life from around the world and a planetarium with kid-friendly shows. Children love visiting Claude, the museum’s famous albino alligator, and exploring the interactive Discovery Tidepool, where they can touch sea creatures. The living roof, covered in native plants, is a unique spot to explore nature from above. Don’t forget to check out the earthquake simulator.
Ride A Cable Car
Honestly this is one of those touristy things that is absolutely worth the hype, in my opinion. It’s just so fun and charming and no trip to San Francisco is complete without a trip on one of these iconic cable cars. There are 3 different lines in San Francisco to choose from; Powell-Hyde is great to take you to Maritime Historical Park and ends by the beautiful Hyde Street Pier, and Powell-Mason also provides scenic views of Fisherman’s Wharf and the Bay. The California Street line is less crowded and has beautiful views of the city from up higher. If you’d like to avoid some crowds, try to get on a couple stops away from the end of the line.
Whichever line you choose, you can’t go wrong with a thrilling & scenic trip on one of these open-air cars – they’re so fun for kids and adults alike! If your family really enjoys the cable cars, get this Cable Car App Guided Tour.
MARITIME NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK
The San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park offers families a chance to explore historic ships docked at Hyde Street Pier and learn about maritime history through interactive exhibits. Our kids love climbing aboard vessels like the Balclutha, while the visitor center and small beach nearby provide additional fun and educational opportunities. Don’t forget to pick up a free Junior Ranger booklet so your kids can earn a badge!
EXPLORATORIUM
This interactive science museum on the Embarcadero is a favorite for kids of all ages. The hands-on exhibits cover everything from light and sound to biology and physics, making learning incredibly fun. There are SO MANY fun and educational toys and games that kids love. Prime age for understanding scientific concepts is probably 6+, but younger ones will still love the experience even if they don’t necessarily understand the hows and whys. It’s indoors, so it’s also a good rainy-day option, though there’s an outdoor area along the pier with beautiful bay views.
Alcatraz
Visiting Alcatraz is a fascinating experience for families, offering a glimpse into the history of the infamous island prison with stunning views of the San Francisco Bay. Hopefully you’ve managed to reserve tickets to Alcatraz in advance. If you have, head over to Pier 33 to catch your ferry. Our kids were fascinated by the audio tour of the old prison, and we all loved the refreshing and salty Bay air. (If you love being on the water, check out this San Francisco Bay sunset cruise!)
GOLDEN GATE NATIONAL RECREATION AREA
The Golden Gate National Recreation Area offers endless outdoor adventures for families, with stunning views, hiking trails, and beaches. Here are a couple of our favorite stop to visit with kids:
Lands End Labyrinth and Trail: Hiking San Francisco
This scenic coastal trail offers breathtaking views of the ocean and the Golden Gate Bridge. The labyrinth, built on a cliff’s edge, is a fun surprise for kids to discover. The hike is easy, child- and stroller-friendly with spectacular views. The trail winds through historic ruins, rocky overlooks, and beaches, making it a great family adventure with no cost.
This post has a bunch of other easy but beautiful hikes in San Francisco!
Fort Funston
Fort Funston is an off-the-beaten-path gem with trails, scenic cliffs, and incredible views. Kids can watch hang gliders launch from the cliffs, and there’s a beach for picnics or tidepooling.
Pier 39
I’m always a little surprised by just how fun this free, iconic spot is! My kids could watch the sea lions for hours and frankly, so could I. A can’t miss San Francisco spot with kids (or without)!
Ghiradelli Square
Yes, it’s a tourist trap. No, it’s not culturally interesting or a place most locals visit. But yes, it’s really fun and kids will love the stop to get a big ole’ sundae. Fun to do once!
Fort Point
While this has gotten more popular over the years, I don’t understand how it’s often quiet when Land’s End and the Golden Gate bridge viewpoint just a few minutes away are still super crowded. It’s a hidden gem right in the open! This old fort is so much fun for kids to walk around and explore, and it has some of my favorite views of the bridge in the entire city, from underneath it. It’s also operated by the National Park Service, so you can get in for free if you have a National Parks pass.
Bay Area Discovery Museum
A really excellent children’s museum just across the bay in Sausalito. Take a boat or drive over – either way, you’ll love the views. Stop at Battery Spencer or Hawk Hill on the way back for some of the most impressive Golden Gate Bridge views you’ll find.
GOCAR SAN FRANCISCO TOUR: Best Bay Area Outdoor Activities
GoCar San Francisco is such a fun and unique way to see the city that we loved! It was so fun to get a view that’s different from a car and that allowed us to easily go and stop places that we couldn’t otherwise and that allowed us to enjoy the beautiful fresh air. The minimum age varies by location, but we were able to do it with a child as young as 4. You can book for a guaranteed low price here.
Fisherman’s Wharf + Musee Mechanique
This is a bit of a random stop but my kids adore going here. It’s an old timey spot filled with cheap arcade games of all types and generations – super fun for young and old. It’s right near Fisherman’s Wharf, which is worth only a very brief stop (especially with kids, who are usually not interested), but this will keep them excited. We usually give our kids each a small budget of coins ($5ish) to play whatever games they’d like.
SS Jeremiah O’Brien + USS Pampanito
Though these are two completely separate sites, I’m sharing them together as they’re right next to each other and both involve impressive maritime history. Both are super fun to go on board and explore for any families interested in naval history. The Jeremiah O’Brien was in action during D-Day and the Pampanito was a working submarine, so both are really fascinating to wander with older kids & teens.
Chinatown + Fortune Cookie Factory
This spot is small but so fun for kiddos – it’s so neat seeing the cookies being made, and of course picking up snacks to take along!
Children’s Creativity Museum
If you don’t want to head across the bay to the BADM, try out this spot located in Yerba Buena Gardens. This hands-on museum encourages kids to explore their creativity through interactive exhibits like a stop-motion animation studio and a music studio. It’s geared toward younger kids but has plenty to entertain all ages. Yerba Buena Gardens itself also has a playground and carousel, making this a great spot for families.
Wave Organ
This lesser-known spot near the Marina Green features a unique wave-activated acoustic sculpture. As waves hit the pipes built into the structure, they create otherworldly sounds that kids will find fascinating. It’s free and easy to reach, and the nearby views of the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz make it a beautiful setting for a picnic.
Cable Car Museum
The Cable Car Museum is a fun stop where kids can learn about San Francisco’s iconic cable cars. Located in the Nob Hill neighborhood, it offers a behind-the-scenes look at the massive wheels and engines that power the cable car system. Visitors can view historic cars and interactive exhibits explaining the mechanics and history of this unique transportation. It’s a quick, engaging visit that’s both educational and entertaining for the whole family. The best part is that it’s FREE!
Randall Museum
A hidden gem in Corona Heights, this free museum features animal exhibits, interactive science displays, and workshops for kids. There’s even a model train room, which is always a big hit. It’s smaller than other museums, making it a great option for families who want a shorter, enriching outing.
Best San Francisco Beaches
One of the best experiences in San Francisco is playing on the beach in the glowy afternoon sunlight. Here are our favorite San Francisco beaches with kids:
Baker Beach
Baker Beach is a beautiful spot for families to relax, offering stunning views of the Golden Gate Bridge and the rugged coastline. Kids can play in the sand and explore tide pools, while parents enjoy the serene atmosphere and breathtaking scenery. Though the waves can be strong, it’s a great spot for a picnic or a leisurely stroll along the shore.
China Beach
China Beach is a small, secluded gem in San Francisco, perfect for families seeking a quieter spot to enjoy the coast. With calm waves and spectacular views of the Golden Gate Bridge, it’s great for sand play, picnics, or simply relaxing. The beach’s cozy cove setting and scenic beauty make it feel like a hidden treasure in the city.
Crissy Field
Crissy Field is expansive and perfect for running around. It’s a flat, sandy beach with stunning views of the Golden Gate Bridge and space for kids to run around or play. The area includes picnic tables, restrooms, and a dog-friendly beach, as well as a popular café nearby. It’s a wonderful (and free!) place to relax, have a picnic, and enjoy the view.
MORE POSTS
IF YOU LIKED THIS POST ABOUT THE TOP THINGS TO DO IN SAN FRANCISCO WITH KIDS, YOU MIGHT LIKE THESE POSTS, TOO:
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