From family-friendly tourist spots to epic ongoing events, these things to do with kids in San Francisco are absolute staples. Read on for a comprehensive breakdown of kid-friendly activities, events, and attractions in SF—We’ve done our best to include prices and locations, but be sure to read more about each activity on its respective website for more specific information about visiting with kids.
1. Thrive City
Thrive City hosts ongoing free family activities throughout the year, many of which coincide with holidays or city events. From summer movie nights to free winter ice skating, you’ll find some wonderful gems on their calendar for all ages and interests.
💲 Price: Free
🪪 Ages: all ages
🗓️ Dates: Ongoing
📍 Location: 1725 3rd St, San Francisco (Mission Bay)
🌐 Learn more: Thrive City website
2. Dear San Francisco
Club Fugazi is a beloved SF social club with a long history of excellent performances. Their current endeavor, Dear San Francisco, is absolutely not to be missed! Embark on an exhilarating acrobatic journey through the city’s history, told through acrobatics, hoop diving, choreography, hand-balancing, spoken word, and more.
💲 Price: $35-69
🪪 Ages: 5+
🗓️ Dates: Year-round
📍 Location: 678 Green St, San Francisco (North Beach)
🌐 Learn more: Club Fugazi
3. Golden Gate Park Bandshell concerts
Golden Gate Park’s Bandshell presents bringing dozens of free concerts almost year-round. All performances are free and family-friendly, with the impressive Golden Gate Bandshell as the backdrop.
💲 Price: Free
🗓️ Dates: March-November
📍 Location: 75 Hagiwara Tea Garden Dr, San Francisco (Golden Gate Park)
🌐 Learn more: Read our article for an up-to-date concert lineup
4. Circus Bella
Circus Bella is a local circus troupe that puts on free, open-air performances. You can expect to see exciting acts including a clown, juggling and unicycle, contortion, aerial rope, balance board, hula hoops, bottle walking, Chinese pole, and more.
💲 Price: Free
🗓️ Dates: Summer and fall
📍 Location: Pop-ups in San Francisco/Bay Area
🌐 Learn more: Circus Bella
5. Candlelight concerts
Witness the magic of Candlelight at some of the city’s most beautiful venues. This worldwide phenomenon is suitable for everyone over the age of 8, paying tribute to a wide array of musical artists, from Pop to Rock and KPop to Reggeaton. Music comes to life performed by talented musicians by the light of thousands of flickering candles. Young and mature aficionados alike will appreciate the experience.
💲 Price: Various price options
📆 Dates: Year-round
🌐 Learn more: Candlelight Concerts schedule and tickets
6. We Call It Ballet
This LED ballet performance of The Sleeping Beauty is good for ages 8 and up. See talented local dancers don glowing costumes in a memorable ballet showcase.
💲 Price: Various price options
🗓️ Dates: Ongoing
📍 Location: Brava Theater Center, San Francisco
🌐 Learn more: We Call It Ballet schedule and tickets
7. Mini golf
- Stagecoach Greens: ($10-16, San Francisco) A Boom-and-Bust mini golf course at Parklab Gardens, which also offers tipis and bungalows for rent and plenty of food trucks across the street at SPARK Social SF.
- Holey Moley ($14-26, San Francisco): This kooky new mini golf course has replaced Urban Putt in SF’s Mission District. It’s full of ’80s and ’90s pop culture references and has a ton of good food and drinks.
8. Escape rooms
- The Escape Game ($45, San Francisco): Offers locally-inspired escape rooms including a popular Alcatraz-themed prison break puzzle, at various difficulty levels.
- Palace Games ($53-106, San Francisco): A local favorite for escape rooms with high production value, including the Great Houdini Escape Room.
- EscapeSF ($33-45, San Francisco): One of the more affordable escape rooms in SF with high-tech automation and fun themes.
9. Musée Mécanique
One of the world’s largest private collections of coin-operated mechanical instruments, located at Pier 45 at Fisherman’s Wharf. The museum is free but you’ll need to bring coins to operate the machines
💲Price: Free
📍Location: Pier 45, Fisherman’s Wharf
🌐 Learn more: Read our article about Musée Mécanique
10. House of Air
This indoor trampoline and “adrenaline park” is a must for those hyperactive kids who love to tumble and play. They have special kids’ zones for the littlest jumpers.
💲 Price: $18-30 per hour
🪪 Ages: 3+
📍 Location: 926 Mason St, San Francisco (Presidio)
🌐 Learn more: House of Air
11. California Academy of Sciences
The Academy of Sciences as we know it has been around since its 2008 remodel, but its origins go back to 1853. Kids will love Claude the albino alligator, the four-story indoor rainforest aflutter with free-flying birds and butterflies, and the Penguins and Pajamas sleepover series.
💲Price: $30-38, free for kids under 3
📍Location: 55 Music Concourse Dr, San Francisco (Golden Gate Park)
🌐 Learn more: Read our article about the California Academy of Sciences
12. Exploratorium
The Exploratorium isn’t your average museum experience – in fact, they’ve been making their own interactive exhibits since 1969. Explore and play with over 650 fun exhibits for all ages.
💲Price: $20-30, free for kids under 4
📍Location: Pier 15, San Francisco (Embarcadero)
🌐 Learn more: Exploratorium
13. Children’s Creativity Museum
Here’s an interactive museum geared towards kids twelve and under. Exhibits include an Innovation Lab for creating flying machines and critters, an Animation Studio teaching the basics of stop-motion animation, and a Storybook Park with a sensory alphabet and reading tree.
💲 Price: $20
🪪 Ages: under 13
📍 Location: 221 4th St, San Francisco (Yerba Buena Gardens)
🌐 Learn more: Children’s Creativity Museum
14. Aquarium of the Bay
This aquarium in San Francisco is home to over 20,000 marine animals including sharks, octopus, jellyfish, otters, and more. Enjoy walk-through tunnels and other exciting exhibits as you learn all about these fascinating creatures.
💲 Price: $20-30, free for kids under 3, family bundles available
🪪 Ages: All ages
📍 Location: Pier 39, San Francisco
🌐 Learn more: Aquarium of the Bay tickets
15. San Francisco Zoo
Quit monkeying around and make sure to check up on your favorite animals! Popular exhibits at the San Francisco Zoo are the Outback Trail, Grizzly Gulch, Penguin Island, the Lion House, and the Insect Zoo.
💲 Price: $15-25, free for kids under 2
🪪 Ages: All ages
📍 Location: Sloat Blvd &, Upper Great Hwy, San Francisco
🌐 Learn more: San Francisco Zoo
16. Walt Disney Family Museum
This fascinating museum in the Presidio is dedicated to the legacy of Walt Disney. Learn about his life and extensive career through exhibitions of his awards, a giant model of Disneyland, and more.
💲Price: $20-35, free for kids under 6
📍Location: 104 Montgomery St, San Francisco (Presidio)
🌐 Learn more: Walt Disney Family Museum tickets
17. Maritime National Historic Park
Explore maritime history along the Pacific coast at Hyde Street Pier, where you can board and explore a fleet of historic ships. Don’t forget to check out the USS Pampanito, a U.S. Navy submarine.
💲Price: $15, free for kids under 16
📍Location: 2905 Hyde Street, San Francisco (Fisherman’s Wharf)
🌐 Learn more: SF Maritime National Historic Park
18. Little Free Libraries
Have you seen these adorable tiny libraries around the city? Global nonprofit Little Free Library (LFL) is a worldwide phenomenon, and we’re lucky enough to have 50 of the tiny libraries here in San Francisco.
🌐 Learn more: Read our article about SF’s Little Free Libraries
19. SF Public Libraries
The SF Public Library system is a great resource for kids and adults of all ages. Most local branches have free kids’ programming, reading circles, and much more.
🌐 Learn more: Read our article about the most beautiful SF Public Library branches
20. 826 Valencia
This local nonprofit supports under-resourced students and teachers with an emphasis on improving writing skills.
🌐 Learn more: 826 Valencia
21. Playgrounds
San Francisco has some of the best playgrounds in the nation, and the City’s children have a total of 179 play areas to enjoy. Some of the most exciting recently-renovated ones include the George Christopher Playground in Diamond Heights and the Willie “Woo Woo” Wong Playground in Chinatown.
🌐 Learn more: Read our article about the best SF playgrounds
22. Salesforce Park
Did you know that Salesforce Park hosts a ton of free activities every week, including exercise classes and family play time? Check out Toddler Tuesdays and the Recess Cart for families.
📍Location: 425 Mission St, San Francisco (Downtown)
🌐 Learn more: Read our article about Salesforce Park
23. Presidio Tunnel Tops
The brand-new Presidio Tunnel Tops finally opened after years of anticipation. Look for their schedule of family-friendly activities or just go to enjoy the sights!
📍Location: 210 Lincoln Blvd, San Francisco (Presidio)
🌐 Learn more: Read our article about Presidio Tunnel Tops
24. Local hikes
Kids who love nature will have a blast on some of the Bay’s easier hiking and walking routes.
25. Neighborhood slides
- Seward Street Slides: For decades, thrill-seeking adults and children alike have enjoyed these legendary slides hidden near the Castro. The Seward Street Slides were designed by a 14-year old girl named Kim Clark, who grew up nearby.
- Esmeralda Slide Park: In the late 1970s, Esmeralda Slide Park was officially unveiled in Bernal Heights with two 40-foot metal slides. It’s a hidden neighborhood gem, complete with a sweet garden and great views, created by neighborhood volunteers.
26. Day trips
- Pinnacles National Park ($30 vehicle entrance fee, Paicines): Volcanic eruptions created this unique national park 2 hours south of San Francisco. With over 30 miles of trails, it’s a great spot to keep going back to. You can do a strenuous hike that takes you through rocky terrain, or an easy walk through the grasslands.
- Filoli Estate & Gardens ($15-25, free for kids under 5, Woodside): This historical estate and gardens in Woodside cover 16 immaculate acres, having been beautifully maintained for over a century. They often have seasonal programming that’s especially great for kids.
- Inverness Shipwreck (Free, Inverness): The S.S. Point Reyes is an old abandoned fishing boat that’s been stranded on a sand bar in Inverness for several decades. There’s an old dirt trail that takes you near it, and even a small picnic area. Bring your best waterproof shoes!
- Wilder Ranch ($10 vehicle fee, north of Santa Cruz): Wilder Ranch State Park, just a few minutes south of Davenport, is a 7,000 acre ranch from the late 1800s converted into a museum and nature preserve. This historic site sits along the Santa Cruz County coastline and is home to spectacular views, hikes, sea caves, and wildlife.
27. San Francisco beaches
Warning: The beaches in San Francisco are unsafe for swimming (and even wading) due to powerful sneaker waves and rip currents – so be sure to keep your kids close. However, they are great for watching the sunset or enjoying a beach picnic!
- Ocean Beach (Free, San Francisco): This stunning beach along the west coast of the city is perfect for bonfires (March through October), but remember that the water is extremely unsafe.
- Baker Beach (Free, San Francisco): Watch the sunset or enjoy a picnic at this beach with views of the Golden Gate Bridge. Be advised that the northernmost part of the beach is clothing-optional.
28. Gardens
- SF Botanical Garden (Free for SF City & County residents, general admission is $3-13 & free for kids under 5): The SF Botanical Garden boasts nearly 8,000 types of plants across 55 acres.
- Conservatory of Flowers (Free for SF City & County residents, general admission is $3-13 & free for kids under 5): A national, state, and local landmark that has curated their famous collection of plants since 1875 with giant water lilies and rare plants.
- Japanese Tea Garden (Free for SF City & County residents, general admission is $3-13 & free for kids under 5): The oldest public Japanese garden in the United States, with a koi pond and tea house.
29. Seasonal classes and activities with SF Rec & Parks
San Francisco is full of amazing activities and resources for just about any hobby you can think of – and SF Rec & Parks knows it. They offer excellent programming for children and adults every season including pickleball, tennis, ceramics, photography, sewing, and more.
💲Price: All-ages activities ranging from free up to $400
🌐 Learn more: Read our article for everything to know about SF Rec & Parks recreation programs
30. Tide pooling
Tidepooling is a fun activity for kids and adults alike, but remember: you’re a guest in these critters’ habitat, so try not to disturb whatever you find and always watch your step. Be sure to visit at low tide, and watch out for sneaker waves.
🌐 Learn more: Read our guide to Bay Area tide pooling