San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
For $30 per person, you can get a ticket to the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art and admire modern artworks. The SF MOMA offers an array of art pieces ranging from paintings to photographs, sculptures and so much more. They are also doing a KAWS pop-up, featuring characters from the collection. There is a bridge on the upper floors made of iridescent glass which is clear so you can look down and see the lower floors. It’s very pretty and poses a good photo opportunity too. You can also walk around the bookstore after. There you can browse through a fun and diverse catalogue of genres, from art books to comedy books. For example, when I went with my friend, we came across this book called ‘Dump Stupid Birds.’ They offer many different things as well, such as art and fun plushies to look through. There’s a lot of fun finds in the bookstore that make for good gifts!
SkyStar Wheel Fisherman’s Wharf
Located on Pier 39, there is a Ferris wheel you can ride for $20 (non-resident) or $16 (SF resident). Get an overview of the beautiful water, city and the pier. You go around in circles 4-5 times. It’s a fun experience and a good place for people to watch from high above. You see things you don’t notice on the ground. Afterwards, you can go on a walk along the pier and look at the shops or get a snack. The pier has yummy funnel fries for 12 bucks! You can also go by the water and watch the sea lions. This was one of my favorite parts of the pier. When I went, my friends and I gave backstories to the lions, assigning relationships and jobs. That made it even more enjoyable, and we spent a long time there.
Go on a Walking/Bus Tour of San Francisco
Public transport is a very helpful way to get around a city like San Francisco, so you can take that to your advantage and explore the entire city. For only $2.85, you can take the bus all the way from one end of the city to the other and get a ‘bus tour.’ It’s also a way to be in a space with air conditioning and not have to walk if you’re tired. This is more of an affordable and innovative way to see the city. There is so much to see and just by busing and walking around, you see massive buildings, historic architecture and, if you’re lucky, you might just have some clear skies. The bus tour provides a wider look of the city that’s easier on the legs.
People Watch at a Park
There are so many different parks in San Francisco that allow opportunities for perfect people watching. Because SF has a high-density population there is always something going on in the park to watch. Whether that’s just people walking by or seeing someone feeding ducks at the pond. It’s always busy and there is so much to see. If you want to take people watching to the next level, you or you and your friends could guess what everyone is doing there. My friends and I like to guess who’s on a first date…a little nosy, but really fun. It’s a fun game to play as you create backstories for people you don’t know.
San Francisco is such a fun city; however, it can get overwhelming as it can also become very unaffordable. I hope my recommendations helped and make your time in San Francisco enjoyable and affordable!