Last updated on March 16th, 2026
Looking for fun things to do in San Francisco with kids? I’ve got you covered!
With its breathtaking sights, family-friendly attractions, and that iconic Golden Gate Bridge, the San Francisco Bay Area is a safe and fun family vacation destination.
I’ve lived in California for more than 20 years and love exploring this area of the state. As the mom of a teen, we visit San Francisco often and always have an amazing time.
Top 5 Picks: Things to Do in San Francisco with Kids
If you are just looking for a quick list of the can’t miss, very best things to do in San Francisco with kids, here are our Top 5 recommendations.
► Visit the Aquarium of the Bay and stroll up Pier 39 to see the sea lions
► Sail under the Golden Gate Bridge on a San Francisco Bay Cruise
► Take a ride on the San Francisco Cable Cars
► Take a hike in Muir Woods
► Check out the California Academy of Sciences, which includes an aquarium, planetarium, four-story tall rain forest, and natural history museum!
Keep reading for more details on these top five activities, plus many more fun things to do with kids in San Francisco, California.
Family-Friendly San Francisco Activities
From Alcatraz to the Zoo, here are 20 things to do in San Francisco with kids.
1. Ride a Cable Car
Did you know that the San Francisco Cable Cars are the only moving National Monuments in the entire country?
Riding the iconic San Francisco cable cars is like hopping onto a moving piece of history — and kids LOVE it. We took the cable cars just about everywhere and my son had such a great time.
Two of San Francisco’s three cable car lines come into the Fisherman’s Wharf area: the Powell-Hyde and the Powell-Mason lines. Both originate in Union Square. The California line runs the other way, originating in the Financial District.
For a full experience, ride from Union Square to Fisherman’s Wharf. The views of Lombard Street (the crookedest street in the world) and the bay are unforgettable, and it’s a great way to avoid walking steep hills with tired kiddos.
At $9 per ticket, cable car rides are expensive, so if you plan to ride multiple times or use other San Francisco public transportation while you’re in town, purchase a Muni passport that provides unlimited access.
2. Aquarium of the Bay
Located at the foot of Pier 39, the Aquarium of the Bay is a great stop to spend an hour or two if you are visiting San Francisco with kids.
The Aquarium’s coolest feature is its 300 feet of clear tunnels where sharks, rays, and fish swim overhead. Exhibits are stroller-friendly, and animal feedings and touch pools make learning hands-on and fun.
There are also daily educator-led animal feedings and interactions, hands-on science experiments, sustainable seafood discussions and more. There are nice views of Alcatraz and the Golden Gate Bridge from the Aquarium’s outdoor decks.
This stop pairs perfectly with a full day at Fisherman’s Wharf, and since the aquarium is compact, it won’t overwhelm smaller children. Be sure to stroll along Pier 39 after your visit to the aquarium to watch the sea lions lounging on the docks — one of the coolest sights in San Francisco!
3. California Academy of Sciences
Established in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park in 1853 and beautifully renovated in 2008, this fantastic museum is part planetarium, part aquarium, and part natural history museum. In total, around 40,000 live animals call the California Academy of Sciences home!
We enjoyed this museum way more than expected on our visit to San Francisco! The highlight was the rainforest. Up a circular ramp, four stories high, brightly colored butterflies, frogs, and other critters flit about.
Since there are multiple exhibits under one roof, kids stay interested and engaged. On the lower level, there is an impressive aquarium. On top, there is a 2.5-acre rooftop garden waiting to be explored.
The California Academy of Sciences is one of many great museums in San Francisco kids will love. Plan for at least 2 to 3 hours at the museum, and maybe a snack break midway through. Check the times and don’t miss the penguin feeding, planetarium shows, and other cool activities at the museum.
- 55 Music Concourse Drive, San Francisco
- calacademy.org
4. Explore Fisherman’s Wharf and Pier 39
Follow the sounds of barking sea lions to Pier 39. Yes, it is touristy, but you can’t visit San Francisco without checking the area out!
Pier 39 is one of the most kid-friendly places in San Francisco, offering a carousel, street performers, shops, and treats like sourdough bread bowls and ice cream. You can enjoy free daily shows by local street performers and musicians.
The area also offers fun attractions for families, including the Aquarium of the Bay, Museum of 3D Illusions, Frequent Flyers, and Musée Mécanique (more on this cool free museum below!).Walk out to the end of the pier for some of the best views of Alcatraz, Angel Island and the bridge. Pier 39 and the area around it is also where you’ll find all the harbor cruises and other excursions.
► For a fun and quirky stay near Fisherman’s Wharf, check out our review of Hotel Zephyr San Francisco.
5. Take a Bay Cruise
A short boat ride on the bay is a magical experience for kids, especially when the boat sails under the Golden Gate Bridge.
We took the San Francisco Bay Cruise with the Blue & Gold Fleet. This narrated, one-hour cruise is short enough to hold young attention spans, and kids will love spotting sailboats, seabirds, and maybe even harbor seals. If you are traveling with little ones, kids four years old and younger sail for free!
Viewing San Francisco from the bay is a great way to take in the city’s beautiful skyline and learn a little bit about its history. When the weather is nice, you can go sailing on one of two 55-foot catamarans with Adventure Cat Sailing Charters on their San Francisco Bay Sailing Cruise.
6. Visit the Exploratorium
The Exploratorium is an attraction not to be missed if you are visiting San Francisco with kids.
The totally reimagined Exploratorium reopened in 2013 in its new home on the waterfront at Pier 15. There are both indoor and outdoor exhibits.
This hands-on museum encourages guests to touch, explore and play with 600 exhibits. Investigate the living world, experiment with thoughts, feelings and behavior, explore the local environment, think with your hands and much more.
One highlight is the Tactile Dome, a dark, twisting sculpture that you walk, crawl and slide through guided only by your sense of touch.
The Exploratorium houses a cafe and a waterfront restaurant, both serving seasonal and sustainable cuisine.
- Pier 15 (Embarcadero at Green Street), San Francisco
- exploratorium.edu
7. Ghirardelli Square
A San Francisco landmark since 1862, this former chocolate factory is now a three-level shopping and restaurant center. The main showpiece is the Ghirardelli store, where you can buy ice cream and desserts in the soda shop, and chocolate souvenirs at the Original Ghirardelli Chocolate & Ice Cream Shop.
Ghirardelli Square was a must-see stop for us, but to be honest, now that Ghirardelli chocolates are available everywhere (like, even Target) and Disney California Adventure Park in Anaheim even has a replica of their soda shop, it’s kind of lost its uniqueness and charm.
- 900 North Point Street, San Francisco
- ghirardellisq.com
8. Walt Disney Family Museum
Located in a historic building in the Presidio, the Walt Disney Family Museum honors the remarkable life story of Walt Disney.
The museum features 40,000 square feet of interactive exhibits and galleries detailing the life and legacy of Walt Disney and the company he founded. Exhibits at The Walt Disney Museum include everything from family photos to the earliest known drawings of Mickey Mouse to the original multiplane camera used to make animated feature films. In the Disneyland gallery, there is even a sprawling 13-foot model of Disneyland Park!
It’s a great stop for families who love Disney, Pixar, or animation in general. Since we are huge Disney fans, and my teen has been visiting Disneyland since he was a toddler, this museum was a must for us!
The grounds outside the museum are stroller-friendly and offer plenty of space to run, as well as incredible views of the Golden Gate Bridge.
- 104 Montgomery Street, San Francisco
- waltdisney.org
► Click here for discount tickets to the Walt Disney Family Museum
9. Eat Sourdough Bread at Boudin Bakery
The Boudin Bakery Café at Fisherman’s Wharf is casual and kid-friendly with delicious bread shaped like animals — turtles, crabs, bears, and more!
If San Francisco is synonymous with any one food, it’s sourdough bread. And as someone who never turns down some good carbs (kinda my downfall in life), you better believe we were not visiting San Francisco without a stop at Boudin Bakery Café!
Downstairs is the retail shop where you can buy fresh-baked bread and other treats to go. At the café, order the soup of the day in a sourdough bread bowl, or one of the many fresh sandwiches and salads.
Kids love watching bakers work through the 30-foot observation windows while waiting for their food.
We had lunch one day at the Bistro Boudin Restaurant, which is a more upscale eatery located on the café’s upstairs level. My son and I shared a Caesar salad and an amazing sandwich, but honestly the real star of the meal was the basket of fresh bread they delivered to the table.
- 160 Jefferson Street, San Francisco
- boudinbakery.com
10. Visit Alcatraz
Arguably one of San Francisco’s most famous landmarks, Alcatraz Island is a must-do excursion when visiting San Francisco.
This one is more for older kid. If you are looking for the very best things to do in San Francisco with teens or older kids, Alcatraz should be at the top of your list! I went for the first time as a teenager myself, and have been there many times over the years with my own teen.
The infamous prison once housed Al Capone, Machine Gun Kelly, and the Birdman of Alcatraz. Today, it is run by the National Park Service and you can tour the old prison and the island’s grounds.
There is an excellent audio guide that includes memories of former prisoners and guards. It is nice to be able to listen and go at your own pace, rather than having to follow around a tour guide in a group.
The Alcatraz night tour is especially spooky, and offers extras like access to the prison’s hospital.
Alcatraz Island is located in the San Francisco Bay and can be reached only via Alcatraz Cruises. The Alcatraz Ferry Terminal is located at Pier 33 on The Embarcadero, and the trip each way takes only about 15 minutes.
This is a very popular tour, with tickets sometimes selling out weeks in advance. Make sure to reserve your tickets as soon as you have a date!
11. Cable Car Museum
If your kids enjoy riding the cable cars, they’ll love visiting the Cable Car Museum!
Here, you’ll learn how the whole cable car system works, including a look at the gripping mechanism that every car extends below the street level. It is fairly small and only took us about an hour to see and read everything on display. Best of all, the museum in free!
Located in Nob Hill along the Powell-Mason and Powell-Hyde lines, the free Cable Car Museum is an easy stop on your way to Union Square, Chinatown, or the surrounding areas.
So if you are riding the cable cars, just hop off at the corner of Mason Street to find the museum.
- 1201 Mason Street, San Francisco
- cablecarmuseum.org
12. Musée Mécanique
The Musée Mécanique collection includes over 300 vintage and novel coin operated machines. It’s a must-see attraction for vintage game lovers and history buffs, and a fun way to show your kids what games were like before Xbox.
Items include coin-operated pianos, antique slot machines, hand-cranked music boxes, and various vintage arcade games. The arcade games are all in working condition and can be played.
Admission to the Musée Mécanique is free, but you’ll have to bring some quarters if you want to play any games.
- Pier 45, Fisherman’s Wharf, San Francisco
- museemecanique.com
13. Bay Area Discovery Museum
Across the Golden Gate Bridge in Sausalito you’ll find the Bay Area Discovery Museum.
One of the most popular Bay area children’s museums, this interactive museum offers a myriad of fun activities for kids. Indoor and outdoor displays are designed to offer younger kids the chance to explore everything from tunnels and caves to building things out of foam blocks. Gumnut Grove is a popular area where kids can run around and play.
The museum recently opened two new exhibits. How Things Work, the Try It Studio and Tot Spot are included with general admission.
- 557 McReynolds Road, Sausalito
- bayareadiscoverymuseum.org
14. Children’s Creativity Museum
Located in Yerba Buena Gardens, the Children’s Creativity Museum is an interactive space for kids with a wide range of hands-on activities. It is a fun place to go if you have young kids, ideally 2 to 12 years old.
This hands-on STEAM museum is designed just for kids. Exhibits include clay animation, building stations, music exploration, robotics, and more. Kids can learn how to program a robot or record their own music in the Making Music Studio. The museum is also home to a nice playground and the LeRoy King Carousel, originally built in 1905, which is also perfect for younger children.
A visit to the Children’s Creativity Museum usually takes 1 to 2 hours. It’s a great activity to enjoy on rainy days, or if you just need a break from outdoor sightseeing.
- 221 4th Street, San Francisco
- creativity.org
15. Take a Hike in Muir Woods
Just a short drive away across the Golden Gate Bridge is Muir Woods, a great place for families to spend time outdoors. I’d be remiss not to include it on this list of fun things to do in San Francisco kids, especially if you are a family of nature lovers.
Muir Woods National Monument is home to some of the oldest trees on Earth – and the tallest! The redwoods in Muir Woods tower at more than 200 feet tall, and some are more than 1,500 years old.
There is a very easy 2-mile trail that is flat and scenic and easy for families with small kids. For more experienced hikers, there are a variety of trails to choose from with varying degrees of difficulty. All will give you fantastic up-close views of nature and these majestic trees.
There is a Visitors Center, gift shop and cafe, and ranger talks are provided throughout the week.
Admission to Muir Woods National Monument is free for children up to age 15, while teens and adults 16 and older must pay $10 admission. For more information and to make required parking reservations (for crowd control), visit the National Park Service’s website.
16. Take the Ferry to Oakland
Oakland is often overlooked as day trip destination for more sophisticated locales such as Napa Valley or Monterey. But a day trip to Oakland is a fun and easy jaunt, offering lots of things to do and great places to eat, as well. I took the photo above passing another ferry as we headed back to San Francisco from Oakland.
The scenic ferry ride from San Francisco to Oakland is more than transportation, it is part of the fun! Boats depart from the historic Ferry Building and drop you right at Jack London Square.
Once there you can grab lunch along the waterfront, Stop by Plank for arcade games and bowling, or even rent a kayak to explore Oakland’s waterfront by boat.
17. Catch a Ball Game
Visiting San Francisco during baseball season? Head to a day game at Oracle Park, home of the San Francisco Giants. The stadium is right on the bay, so you can enjoy the views on a sunny day.
Throughout the year, there are many other concerts and special events that take place at the stadium. Head the the Oracle Park website for the full calendar.
- 24 Willie Mays Plaza, San Francisco
- mlb.com/giants/ballpark
18. Enjoy Golden Gate Park
Golden Gate Park is full of wide-open spaces, playgrounds, lakes, gardens, and fun family activities. Kids love the massive Koret Children’s Quarter playground; it has a giant slide built into a hill. Families can also rent pedal boats at Stow Lake, ride bikes, explore the botanical gardens, or visit the bison paddock.
It’s an easy place to] spend half or even a full day, especially when paired with a visit to the California Academy of Sciences. Pack snacks and have fun exploring!
- Golden Gate Park, San Francisco
- sfrecpark.org/Golden-Gate-Park
19. Spend an Afternoon at Chrissy Field
Part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, Chrissy Field is an expansive green area with views of the bay and Golden Gate Bridge. Ride bikes, walk, play on the lawn, fly a kite, or pack a picnic and enjoy an afternoon of leisure.
This waterfront park is perfect for families who want fresh air and space to play. With a flat pathway perfect for scooters or strollers and a beach area where kids can build sandcastles, Crissy Field offers a relaxed break from attraction-hopping.
There is a quaint café at Chrissy Field called the Warming Hut – once a U.S. Engineer Storehouse but transformed in 2001 into a café and gift shop run by the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy.
20. Visit the San Francisco Zoo
The first time I visited the San Francisco Zoo many years ago, I was not very impressed. But it has come a long way!
The zoo is a nice city zoo, but with some truly fantastic exhibits that kids will love! Our favorite area was the African Savanna, a 3-acre mixed-species habitat with giraffes, zebras, antelopes, and birds. There is a wildlife trail, carousel and the Little Puffer steam train, which winds through the 100-acre zoo.
Young kids will love the Children’s Zoo, which allows for close-up encounters with goats, sheep, ponies, and horses in the Family Farm. Kids can touch small mammals, reptiles, and amphibians along the Nature Trail, and crawl through tunnels in the Meerkat and Prairie Dog exhibit.
Check the zoo’s website for a daily schedule of animal feeding times.
- 1 Zoo Road, San Francisco
- sfzoo.org
San Francisco with Kids FAQs
Is San Francisco a good place to visit with kids?
Yes! San Francisco is a very family-friendly city with tons of attractions designed for younger children. From hands-on museums and playgrounds to aquariums, parks, boat rides, and iconic cable cars, there are plenty of activities that appeal to kids while still being fun for parents.
What area of San Francisco is best for families with kids?
Fisherman’s Wharf and Golden Gate Park are two of the best areas for families.
Fisherman’s Wharf offers walkable attractions and kid-friendly dining. It is where you’ll also find all of the boat tours and many attractions. This area of San Francisco provides easy access to public transportation and the cable cars. Golden Gate Park has some of the city’s best playgrounds and museums
Are San Francisco attractions stroller-friendly?
Many of San Francisco’s top attractions are stroller-friendly, including Golden Gate Park, the California Academy of Sciences, Pier 39, the Aquarium of the Bay, and Muir Woods. However, some areas of the city have steep hills and narrow sidewalks, so a lightweight or compact stroller is often easiest to use.
Is Alcatraz worth visiting with kids?
Alcatraz can be interesting for older kids, but it may be scary or boring for younger children. The audio tour discusses prison life and escape attempts, which is usually better suited for kids ages 8 and up. Families with toddlers or preschoolers may want to skip Alcatraz and focus on more hands-on attractions.
What are the best free things to do in San Francisco with kids?
San Francisco offers many free family-friendly activities, including watching the sea lions at Pier 39, visiting playgrounds in Golden Gate Park, exploring the Cable Car Museum, walking along the waterfront, and visiting Musée Mécanique (admission is free; games cost quarters).
How many days do you need in San Francisco with kids?
Three to four days is ideal for exploring San Francisco with kids at a relaxed pace. This allows time for museums, outdoor activities, and rest breaks. Families visiting for longer can add day trips like Muir Woods or Sausalito.
What is the best time of year to visit San Francisco with kids?
Late spring, summer, and early fall are great times to visit San Francisco with kids. Summer offers dry weather and school vacation, but it can be cool and foggy. Fall often brings warmer temperatures and fewer crowds, making it one of the best seasons for family travel.
I also loving San Francisco at Christmastime! Especially around Union Square, San Francisco gives me major New York City holiday vibes which is awesome.
Is public transportation easy to use with kids in San Francisco?
Yes, San Francisco’s public transportation system is easy to navigate with kids. Buses, streetcars, and cable cars are widely available, and the city also has the BART subway system which is very easy to use.
If you purchase a Muni Passport, you’ll get unlimited rides on many different forms of transportation. This is very helpful since I don’t recommend driving in San Francisco (parking is expensive!) and it also helps avoid parking challenges and having to walk up steep hills.
Are there good day trips from San Francisco for families?
Yes! Popular family-friendly day trips include Muir Woods, Sausalito, Berkeley, Half Moon Bay, and a ferry ride to Angel Island. These destinations offer nature, beaches, easy walks, and open space for kids to explore.
You can even drive down as far as Santa Cruz or Monterey, but I recommend one or two night stays for those destinations.
What should families pack for a trip to San Francisco?
The weather in San Francisco can be unpredictable! Always pack layers, comfortable walking shoes, a lightweight jacket, and don’t forget the sunscreen.
For more help planning, check out these other articles about San Francisco!
- San Francisco Museums the Whole Family Will Love
- 20 Fun Things to Do in San Francisco with Teens
- Why Every Disney Fan Should Visit The Walt Disney Family Museum
- Devil’s Slide Trail: Easy California Coastal Hike
- Day Trip to Oakland: Jack London Square & Beyond
- 15 Magical Things to Do in San Francisco at Christmastime
Final Thoughts: San Francisco with Kids
Despite the fact it sometimes gets a bad rap, San Francisco is an amazing family destination filled with so many kid-friendly attractions.
From sea lions to cable cars, the city blends fun, learning, and exploration. Whether you’re here for a day or a week, you’ll find plenty of activities that kids will love and remember fondly long after your San Francisco getaway is over.
Save These Kid-Friendly Things to Do in San Francisco for Later!
Planning a family trip to the San Francisco Bay Area? Pin the image below for future reference.
I totally get the detour to the cat cafe! That’s one of my favourite things to do especially since we moved to Asia. In Seoul, we found one cafe just 30 minutes before closing but we had to play with them a bit.
This makes me think of my trip to San Francisco several years ago. I did several things on your list like visit the aquarium, Alcatraz and Fisherman’s Wharf. I would love to make another visit because there are quite a few places I didn’t get to. The California Academy of Sciences sounds really interesting and it would be nice to get outside of the city and hike in Muir Woods .
What is your recommendation for where to stay? 2 adults, 4 kids
Hi Lee! I always recommend the Fisherman’s Wharf area for families visiting San Francisco, as it is right near many fun attractions and very safe! I would take a look at Hotel Zephyr, the Marriott, or Marriott Courtyard – all are within walking distance to the waterfront and cable cars. Enjoy!