Get out there and take in the city.

Local Activities

Put simply, there’s a lot to do in San Francisco. Concert venues, parks, cafes, restaurants, bars … it’s all at your fingertips.

Union Square
The center of it all. Shopping and entertainment dominate Union Square, a hot spot for tourists visiting San Francisco.

The de Young
One of San Francisco’s most visited museums, the de Young offers fine art lovers works by masters in painting, textiles, sculpture, and other disciplines from across the globe. The museum opens up for free on Friday nights with music performances that span world, classical, pop, and other music genres.

Golden Gate Park
For such a compact and populated city, San Francisco sports a number of green spaces, including the famous Golden Gate Park. Most visitors are surprised by the sheer size of Golden Gate Park, which is 20% larger than New York City’s Central Park, consisting of over 1,017 acres of land. Featuring stunning views of the Golden Gate Bridge and the San Francisco Bay, as well as hiking paths at Land’s End and throughout a large swath of San Francisco, Golden Gate Park is frequented by tourists and residents alike, and it’s one of the best places for a run. It also has a great Opera in the Park series that you’ll definitely want to check out.

World-class Performing Arts
SFCM is within walking distance of the San Francisco Symphony, San Francisco Opera, San Francisco Ballet, and SFJAZZ. It’s never been so easy to catch shows featuring the world’s greatest talent. SFCM students often get free tickets to concerts and rehearsals.

The Ferry Building
The Ferry Building, off of Embarcadero Drive, is one of San Francisco’s calling cards. Not only is it a stop for ferries that run all around the Bay Area, it is also home to a popular farmers’ market on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday mornings. Don’t miss the artisanal cheese and fresh-baked bread.

International Food
San Francisco is well known for being an international cultural hub. Chinatown, Japantown, Little Saigon, Little Italy—these communities have made their mark on the city and, as a result, the city has blossomed into a vibrant ecosystem of ideas and expression. San Francisco’s ethnic neighborhoods offer some of the best, most authentic foods in the country. Be sure to check out the restaurant scene and find your own special dish.

Picnic at Crissy Field
Crissy Field, right on the water, with a great view of the Golden Gate Bridge, is the perfect spot for an afternoon picnic. Pack some food, a hoodie, a frisbee, and bring some friends—you’ll be glad you did.

The Giants
We’re proud of our home team. The San Francisco Giants have been at the top of their game recently and we couldn’t be happier. Baseball games at AT&T Park are always fun, so get some friends together and see if you can catch a foul ball. Our Brass Ensemble has been known to perform the National Anthem before games.

Oakland and Berkeley
Let’s not forget—two great cities lie just to our east. Cross over the bay on public transportation and, all of a sudden, you’re exploring new neighborhoods with completely different vibes. Downtown Berkeley and Oakland have plenty of restaurants and nightlife.

Hiking in Marin County
If you’re a hiker, take a short trip across the Golden Gate Bridge. Marin County offers the occasional respite one needs from the hustle and bustle of the city. Go hiking, grab a bite near the water, or take a leisurely stroll around one of the most relaxing areas in Northern California.

The list of fun and interesting things to do in and around San Francisco never ends. So ask around. You won’t regret it.