San Francisco’s Fisherman’s Wharf isn’t just a popular stop, but some people think that it’s a rite of passage for first-time visitors and a nostalgic favorite for locals. This waterfront playground packs a little bit of everything into one bustling stretch, from ferry rides to Alcatraz, old-school arcade games, World War II ships you can actually board, magic shows, wax figures, and some of the city’s freshest seafood. It’s part classic tourist trap, part cultural landmark, and somehow, still totally fun.
Whether you’re just swinging through for the day or staying in town for a week, Fisherman’s Wharf has something for everyone. Here are a few standout experiences that are guaranteed to make your visit a memorable one.
Pier 39 By Land
Pier 39 is the center of activity and family fun on Fisherman’s Wharf. It has a seaside carnival vibe, complete with crab and chowder sidewalk stands and outdoor magic shows. There’s even a double-decker wooden carousel that was handmade in Italy.
An excellent option for inexpensive, quirky fun is Magowan’s Infinite Mirror Maze, which features bespoke artistic installations, and children under five can enter the attraction for free.
Also catering to the whole family is the Flyer Thrill Zone. At this gaming center, you can settle into a “flying theater” to virtually explore the sites of San Francisco. Or try an escape game, if you’re looking for a challenge. You can also maneuver through a laser maze, use VR, or experience a “thrill ride” in “7D” that includes laser blasters.
By Sea on Land
If you want to explore marine life without getting seasick, visit the Aquarium of the Bay. It hosts “more than 24,000 local marine animals” that you wouldn’t get the chance to see from a boat out on the sea. You can see the forbidding sevengill sharks that “guard” Alcatraz, as well as colorful jellyfish, playful river otters, and California’s state fish, the Garibaldi. (Yes, this fish is named after the Italian national hero.)
Get a feel for the skin of anemones, rays, sharks, and more in “touch pools,” all while you soak up trivia and information from the staff. This Smithsonian affiliate has much to commend it, but if you have enough time in San Francisco, consider prioritizing the Steinhart Aquarium at the California Academy of Sciences instead.
Pier 39 Seafood
Despite being a tourist center, Pier 39 offers some unequivocally good eating. At the Fog Harbor Fish House, for instance, you can enjoy sustainable, fresh seafood with stunning views of the Bay.
Their clam chowder and Dungeness Crab are highly recommended, and the restaurant received a Tripadvisor Traveler’s Choice Award in 2022.
Pier 33: Alcatraz Landing
Alcatraz is the only penitentiary you’ll want to spend time in. Originally a military fort, it gained notoriety as a maximum-security federal prison. It housed such infamous inmates as Al Capone, George “Machine Gun” Kelly, and the Birdman of Alcatraz. The prisoners were sent there for being particularly violent, disorderly, or a flight risk in other prisons, which only adds to the thrill of a visit.
So get your ride in (and back, of course) by booking online with Alcatraz City Cruises, the only source for ferry rides to the island. (Apparently, in the summer, tickets can sell out months in advance, so don’t wait to book!) The ferry leaves from Alcatraz Landing on Pier 33, and tickets are all-inclusive. They cover your entrance into the park, any selected tour option, and an audio guide from the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy.
During your visit, you can explore the prison, walk the island, and peruse historical exhibitions. Don’t forget to buy merch from the bookstores in the Barracks and in the Cellhouse Store.
We All Live in a Yellow Submarine
Off Pier 45 is the USS Pampanito, a decommissioned World War II submarine that now serves as a museum. This submarine was first commissioned in 1943, and the museum offers an educational view into the submarine service of the U.S. Navy.
According to the USS Pampanito’s website, in World War II, the marine service “represented less than two percent of all U.S. Navy personnel”. Despite this small size, “they were responsible for fifty-five percent of all Imperial Japanese tonnage sunk, including one third of their warships.”
While the museum is not large, it offers an unusual educational experience. But download the audio tour before you go; you may lose reception in the sub.
Next to the USS Pampanito, you’ll find the SS Jeremiah O’Brien. This fully restored World War II Liberty cargo ship supported the D-Day invasion at Normandy. As you’ll recall, that invasion was pivotal in liberating Western Europe from Nazi control. Today, the O’Brien is listed as a National Historic Landmark. And the ship is also “fully seaworthy”.
Musée Mécanique
For a vintage gaming experience, try Musée Mécanique. It boasts more than 300 antique arcade games and coin-operated musical machines. These reach back to pre-Pacman days and offer a ton of fun for the whole family. While the kids might not find their favorites here, they might learn something new about the arcade games that came before.
Ripley’s Believe It or Not
Near the base of Pier 45, on Jefferson Street, is the iconic Ripley’s Believe It or Not. It’s a genuine San Francisco tourist attraction, and I remember my dad taking me there decades ago. This self-proclaimed “odditorium” explores the bizarre, the rare, and the shocking. As the website puts it, this is a place “where the truth is always stranger than fiction.”
The history of this odditorium has its own interesting facts. It was founded by LeRoy Robert Ripley, an amateur anthropologist who made sensationalist displays of items from his travels. Crucially, he had also been a cartoonist for The New York Globe, and it was there that he drew his first “Believe It or Not!” cartoon, which evolved into an immensely popular series with a significant impact.
Apparently, in 1929, one of the cartoons made this controversial observation: “Believe It or Not, America has no national anthem!” Although “The Star Spangled Banner” had been a popular patriotic song, it was not until 1931 that President Hoover officially made it the national anthem. The people at Ripley’s attribute that to the impact of their founder.
Madame Tussauds Wax Museum
Madame Tussauds Wax Museum, also on Jefferson Street, is “The World’s Greatest Wax Museum,” or so it says on their website.
The museum chain is famous for the realism of its wax figures and the lack of barriers around its displays. Instead, props are set out so you can pose with the figures.
You can expect to see figures of big-name actors, athletes, and musicians. So strike a pose next to Anne Hathaway, Steph Curry, Beyonce, or even Taylor Swift (without the drama of getting tickets to her Eras Tour).
What makes the San Francisco franchise unique, though, is the local angle of its displays. You can meet the likeness of Mark Zuckerberg, whose company, Meta (a.k.a. Facebook), is based in the Bay Area. A special section called the “Spirit of San Francisco” features wax replicas of people who have shaped this city and been shaped by it. (Did you know Robin Williams made his start performing comedy in San Francisco?)
Classic San Francisco Food
Just off Pier 45 is the highly lauded Bistro Boudin. Committed to preserving local culinary traditions, their breads deserve your attention since they have the Original San Francisco Sourdough. It’s mind-blowing to learn that a continuous sourdough starter (“the mother dough”) has been used there for nearly two hundred years, which came in with the 49ers during the Gold Rush.
The Franciscan Crab Restaurant is also a popular choice when you’re feeling peckish. It has a vintage vibe with an Art Deco twist and offers great views.
The Exploratorium
One of San Francisco’s truly phenomenal offerings for educational fun is The Exploratorium. Art and science meet in this interactive “public learning laboratory,” where you can control the speed of air blowing over water to create waves, cast shadows in vibrant colors, and examine Bacteriopolis, a wall of visible bacteria.
You can also see living “HeLa” cells that can divide endlessly. These controversial cancer cells were taken without permission from a woman named Henrietta Lacks (thus the name, HeLa), as was common practice at the time. Due to their durability and ability to divide endlessly, they have been used extensively and to significant effect in biomedical research.
The Exploratorium was founded by the physicist Frank Oppenheimer. Frank was the younger brother of J. Robert Oppenheimer, the “father of the atomic bomb.” (He actually worked on the Manhattan Project under his brother.) Inspired by European science museums, Frank devoted the later years of his life to creating this museum, where ideas could be explored and not just explained.
San Francisco Maritime National History Museum
San Francisco Maritime National History Museum is a park with a maritime museum and a historic fleet of six vessels. For those of you with seafaring knowledge, these vessels are a steam ferryboat, a square-rigged cargo ship, a scow schooner, a regular schooner, a steam schooner, and a steam tug. For those of you who, like me, need a little extra help understanding those terms, pick up your tickets at the Hyde Street Pier ticket booth.
You can explore these vessels and learn more about the seafaring history of the Pacific Coast. Don’t skip the Visitor’s Center on the mainland at 499 Jefferson Street!
Escapology and Umbrella Alley
Turn inland from the Wharf, onto Bay Street, for an escape game at Escapology. There are a number of different escape rooms you can try to solve, including Murder Mansion, Narco, and Antidote, which are just a few of the games that get rave reviews.
While in the area, take some time and pass under the umbrella and balloon ceiling of Umbrella Alley. The walls are vibrantly painted with interactive street art, so you can become part of the murals.
Time for One More Meal
If you’re still not full from visiting any of the establishments we mentioned earlier, you might want to swing over towards Ghirardelli Square. Visit The Buena Vista Cafe for their Irish coffee, which is delicious. The food is good too, but the Irish coffee has achieved a level of fame all its own.
For fine dining, try the nearby Restaurant Gary Danko. The menu is derived from classic French cuisine, with a Mediterranean and American twist, and they take pride in using local ingredients. You may need to book your reservations well in advance, though! This one’s not just for the tourists. For the quality of both the food and service, it has earned a Michelin star.
Alternatively, Scoma’s Restaurant is another excellent option. The seafood stands out, as you might expect from a restaurant with the tagline, “Local Fishermen’s Fare – Since 1965.”
In Ghirardelli Square, there is famous chocolate to try (as you can tell by the name), as well as the delicious restaurant The Palette Tea House. It, too, gets a positive review in the Michelin Guide for its dim sum. There is so much to do (and eat!) around Fisherman’s Wharf. I hope this guide helps you to make the most of your time, whether you spend that time by land or by sea.
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