Fisherman's Wharf San Francisco: 11 Top Things to Do (by a Local)

Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco is one of the most-visited neighborhoods in one of the most visited cities in America. While it has plenty of attractions designed to help tourists part with their cash, Fisherman's Wharf is a can't-miss destination with lots of enjoyable places to explore for tourists and locals alike. If you know what to do and where to look, you'll surely find authentic San Francisco experiences in the mix.

As a Bay Area local myself for the better part of two decades, I never regret spending a couple of hours returning to Fisherman's Wharf to see the sights, shop, explore, and eat some food. During my pre-kid days, my husband and I lived just up the hill from the Wharf and would pass through fairly regularly on our errands and outings.

We now return often with our kids whenever we want to play tourist in our hometown. As a result, we've experienced the neighborhood's offerings with all ages from babies and toddlers to teens.

Whether you are visiting San Francisco with kids or exploring the city on an adults-only getaway, here are a local's best tips and recommendations for what to do and see in Fisherman's Wharf.

Introduction to San Francisco's Fisherman's Wharf

San Francisco's Fisherman's Wharf is located on the north waterfront of the city. The neighborhood is roughly bordered on its southern edges by Russian Hill, North Beach, and the Embarcadero area. It stretches approximately from Pier 39 in the east to Ghirardelli Square in the west.

The neighborhood was originally where Italian-American fisherman docked their boats and brought in fresh catch. Seafood still plays an important role in the local food offerings, and a number of the attractions in the neighborhood are maritime-related.

How to Get to Fisherman's Wharf

Because of its central location, getting to Fisherman's Wharf is pretty convenient for most travelers to the city. A lot of San Francisco visitors stay in hotels in the Fisherman's Wharf area already. There are many lodging options in the neighborhood, so getting to the sights of the Wharf may be as easy as walking.

Travelers who come into the city by cruise ship can usually walk to all the Fisherman's Wharf sights as well. Most ships berth at Pier 27 or 35, which are an easy 10-20 minute stroll along the flat waterfront to the major attractions.

Related: Best Kid-Friendly Hotels in San Francisco

For travelers staying in and around Union Square, the other major locus of hotels in the city, Fisherman's Wharf is accessible via several modes of public transportation in San Francisco. These include cable cars (more on that later) and Muni buses. The F-Market street car line also comes right into the neighborhood from the Financial District.

It's also incredibly easy and cheap to hop in an Uber or Lyft rideshare from a number of home bases in the city.

Parking can be quite expensive and hard-to-find in Fisherman's Wharf. Unless you are coming from a day trip drive market and have no other real choice, I usually recommend leaving your car behind. That said, we drive into the area often ourselves and have had great luck finding a reasonably-priced space in the last couple of years if we plan and book in advance using the SpotHero app.

Fishermans Wharf vs. Pier 39: What's the Difference?

A lot of tourists and even locals confuse Fisherman's Wharf and Pier 39 and sometimes use the terms interchangeably. What's the difference?

Pier 39 is a single pier of shops, restaurants and attractions within the larger Fisherman's Wharf neighborhood area. Pier 39 is a destination in its own right, with plenty to do and see in a single spot. But most visitors rightly explore beyond just the Pier when visiting.

How to Save Money Visiting Fisherman's Wharf

Because it is a popular tourist destination, a visit to Fisherman's Wharf can get expensive if you plan to do a lot of the paid attractions. But the area can be done on the cheap too, as there is a lot to explore and take in visually without paying a dime.

If you do plan to do several paid attractions in the neighborhood (or all over the city of San Francisco), you can likely save money by purchasing a combination pass of some sort. My favorites are the two options from City Pass San Francisco (CityPass San Francisco and (San Francisco C3)) and and either the All-Inclusive pass or the Explorer pass. from Go City.

Top 11 Things to Do at Fisherman's Wharf

It would take more than a full day to do everything in Fisherman's Wharf, so use the map above to help create your own itinerary that minimizing walking and backtracking through the attractions in the area that interest you most. I've also included recommended places to eat and my favorite hotels in the area if you choose to make the neighborhood your home base.

1. Aquarium of the Bay

If you only have time to do a very few things in and around Fisherman's Wharf, the Aquarium of the Bay is probably my top pick for families, especially those with younger kids. The Aquarium focuses on the species found in the Bay Area and was truly educational - even for me!

It's small and can be done in an hour or two leaving you plenty of time to do other activities on the Wharf. The highlight is definitely the underwater tunnels where you can see sharks and scuba divers. My kids didn't want to leave these spaces the last time we visited.

Admission pre-purchased in advance online is $28 for adults and $20 for kids 4-12 (kids 3 & under are free). An additional discount is available if you are purchasing 3+ tickets together (select the Family Combo ticket option). If you live in one of the 9 San Francisco Bay Area counties, make sure to take advantage of the local's discount (15% off), available only in person. Aquarium of the Bay is an attraction included on all the products sold by CityPass or Go City, so it's a good buy as part of a combination ticket too.

2. Watch the Sea Lions on Pier 39

The world's most famous sea lions arrived in San Francisco in 1989 around the time of the big earthquake and have now made the floating docks around Pier 39 their permanent home. Make a little time to watch them hanging out, swimming, and occasionally - battling for territory.

Their smell is memorable, so be prepared! Be aware as well that their numbers can ebb and flow dramatically depending on the season and the particularities of the bay ecosystem, but you are nearly guaranteed to see some.

3. Alcatraz

Known for housing some of the country's most infamous criminals before it closed in 1963, Alcatraz is a fascinating and iconic San Francisco stop. Getting there requires some pre-planning, as there are limited boats that make the trip. Spots do sell out during the summer tourist season and on busy weekends, so buy in advance.

One mistake that visitors always make is not dressing appropriately for a visit. The Rock is cold and windy almost all year round. Bring layers and even fleeces or coats on chillier days. (There is a reason why there are so many shops selling $10 hoodies and sweatshirts in Fisherman's Wharf - tourists are often underdressed!)

Day tour tickets are $47.95 for adults and teens ages 12+ and $29.15 for kids 5-11. Buy only from official concessioner AlcatrazCruises.com, as booking on other tour sites simply means overpaying resellers for the exact same thing. A family pack is available for 2 adults and 2 kids at a small savings. All tickets include a free audio tour. Plan for about a half day to make the trip at a leisurely pace.

4. Cruise the Bay

Although hopping the boat to Alcatraz is a blast for older kids, it isn't exactly a destination that most toddlers will enjoy. If you have younger kids with shorter attention spans who might still need to be back in time for a nap, I'd still recommend getting out on the water to see the amazing bay views and the Golden Gate Bridge.

An alternative to Alcatraz for the younger set (or anyone with mobility issues that might make touring Alcatraz difficult) is a short bay cruise. There are several providers in the neighborhood running different tours.

Blue & Gold Fleet run a one hour cruise that takes you near Alcatraz and under the Golden Gate Bridge. Tickets are pricey at $39 for adults, $33 for teens 12-17, and $28 for kids 5-11, but can be a good deal when purchased as part of a combination pass.

Competitor Red & White Fleet also offers similar cruises at a similar price point (slightly cheaper for teens). So be sure to check both companies to find a cruise time that works with your overall plans.

5. Eat Your Way Across the Wharf

One of the best things about a San Francisco vacation is the food! Fisherman's Wharf has plenty of chain restaurants that you should probably avoid, but there are lots of memorable food choices there too.

Make time for anything sourdough at Boudin Bakery. Clam chowder in a bread bowl is the traditional dish, but you can also purchase loaves in the shape of animals and more to take home as a souvenir or gift. The main location on Jefferson Street has the most offerings, but you can always grab a quick bite at the smaller restaurant on Pier 39.

Fisherman's Wharf is also home to a large number of seafood restaurants well-known especially for Dungeness crab. Many also feature Italian ingredients and flavors as a result of the neighborhoods Italian immigrant history. If you have time for a sit down meal, I highly recommend giving one a try. Famed restaurants include Fog Harbor Fish House, Scoma's, Cioppino's, Pier Market Seafood, and several others.

6. Ship Watch at San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park

Learn all about San Francisco's seafaring history at the San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park. One of several national park sites in San Francisco run by the National Park Service, it is home to several historic ships moored on the Hyde Street Pier. It also includes the nearby Maritime Museum and Aquatic Park cove, as well as the World War II submarine USS Pampanito.

Tickets to enter the pier are $15 for adults and kids 15 and under are free to tour the historic ships with adults. (Pampanito submarine tours are a separate fee, operated by the San Francisco Maritime National Park Association.) Start at the visitor's center then head out to the ships. Don't forget to pick up Junior Ranger booklets for any little ones along for the trip. On warm days, families will enjoy the small beach in the park too.

The offerings are actually spread out over a few blocks so be sure to map the specific part of the park you want to visit carefully.

7. Pier 39 Carousel

If you have young kids, walk to the end of Pier 39 for a ride aboard a gorgeous two story historic carousel. The top level fills first, so make a dash up there quickly if you want the horses with views.

Rides have gotten a little pricey in recent years at $7 per person, so budget accordingly! But I nevertheless recommend this carousel as a must-do with younger kids that can be paired easily with sea lion spotting steps away.

8. Ride a Cable Car

A trip to the city by the bay wouldn't be complete without hopping aboard a cable car, right? 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). Be sure to make time for a ride and plan for lines at the two turnarounds.

At $8 one way ($9 starting July 1, 2025), cable car rides don't come cheap, so if you plan to use other San Francisco public transit, purchase a Muni passport that provides unlimited access.

9. Ghirardelli Square

A lot of visitors to Fisherman's Wharf get so overwhelmed by the scene in and around Pier 39 that they don't make it down to the other end of their neighborhood. But for those that do, the payoff is pretty sweet!

At that end of the Wharf is Ghirardelli Square, where the famed chocolate brand was founded. While the chocolate is made elsewhere now, there is still plenty of chocolate to eat and buy. Make time for a signature hot fudge sundae. See my complete guide to Ghirardelli Square for all the offerings.

10. SkyStar Wheel

One of the newer additions to the Wharf area is SkyStar, a 150 foot observation wheel that relocated from Golden Gate Park in 2023. Gondolas seat groups of up to 6 people and slowly revolve around several times, offering views of the Golden Gate Bridge, Bay Bridge, Alcatraz, and much of downtown San Francisco (including Coit Tower, the Transamerica Pyramid, and more).

San Francisco's famous fog (lovingly nicknamed Karl) can sometimes spoil the views, so I recommend watching the weather and timing your visit for when the weather clears up (most often in the afternoon). Pre-purchased online tickets are handily good for any time within a 30 day window - no need to pre-book a time slot like many similar attractions. Tickets are currently $19/adult and $13/kids ages 3-12 for the 12 minute ride, with small discounts for San Francisco residents.

11. Musee Mecanique

Last but certainly not least is a place my family has been spending more and more time on our Fisherman's Wharf visits of late. Musee Mecanique is a museum that houses historic mechanical marvels, from antique pinball machines to truly weird and wacky music boxes and early animatronics. It's best known for having a working version of Laffing Sal, a creepy lifesized moving clown animatronic that was a staple at amusement parks in the 1930s.

Admission is completely free and all machines are coin operated (usually 25-50 cents per play). There is a healthy collection of 1980s and 1990s arcade games as well, so Gen-X and Millennial parents can re-live their own childhoods while playing a few old favorites with their kids. You can pop in for 5 minutes or stay for hours, so I find it's a truly flexible attraction.

Need more San Francisco travel advice and tips from a local?

• 21 Very Best Things to Do in San Francisco with Kids
• 25 Free Things to Do in San Francisco
• Flying to San Francisco: Bay Area Airport Guide
• 24 Hours in San Francisco: One Day Itinerary

Disclosure: The Aquarium of the Bay provided my family with complimentary media passes on one visit many years ago for review purposes. We have done all other activities in the area at our own expense. As always, all opinions are my own.