Where to Walk

San Francisco's Waterfront Parks and Piers

130 acres of waterfront splendor await visitors to Crissy Field. Travel a waterfront walking trail that passes through the Crissy Field Marsh, which is also a bird sanctuary, and along a wilderness beach, to the Warming Hut. This gift store and cafe is dwarfed by the towering Golden Gate Bridge. Grab a beverage and enjoy stunning views over the bay and along the city‘s northern coastline.

Marina Green

This 74-acre waterfront park runs all the way from the Presidio to Fort Mason and is bordered to the south by the city’s Marina district. As the name suggests, the Green is a large grassy field. Locals love to picnic, work out, and play sports here. Marina Green also allows you to walk along the actual marina, which is full of sailboats from all over the world, while enjoying panoramic views of the Golden Gate Bridge and the Marin Headlands across the bay.

Aquatic Park

Located just at the western edge of Fisherman’s Wharf, Aquatic Park sports amazing views of Alcatraz, the Golden Gate Bridge, and the Marin Headlands beyond. Look for swimmers in the water, as the local Dolphin Club trains here daily.

A historic pier that branches off from Fisherman’s Wharf at Taylor Street, Pier 45 is home to several waterfront restaurants as well as a couple of historical treasures. The first of these is the USS Pampanito, a lovingly restored World War II-era submarine that is open to the public. Right next door, the Musée Mécanique has an impressive collection of penny-operated antique mechanical arcade games. 

Pier 43

It's worth taking a step away from the crowd on Fisherman’s Wharf to take in some fresh air and water views at Pier 43. Alcatraz and Angel Island are both directly north of here. The historic pier is home to a Ferry Arch that was originally built in 1914 to help load and unload cargo from the Belt Line Railroad onto bay ferries. The pier was rebuilt in 1996 and the arch was restored in 2003.

PIER 39

Once a working fishing pier, PIER 39 is now San Francisco’s most popular visitor attraction. Two stories of shops and restaurants, plus the Aquarium of the Bay, are located here. Some of the city’s best street performers frequent the pier. PIER 39’s top attraction might be the colony of sea lions that have taken over the docks adjacent to it, allowing visitors to get a close look at these impressive mammals. 

Built between 1914 and 1916, Pier 35 used to be San Francisco’s main cruise ship terminal. The pier is open to the public and is now home to the historic SS Jeremiah O'Brien, which is one of the few survivors of the D-Day armada that landed off the coast of Normandy, France in 1944. The vessel is now a museum dedicated to the “Liberty Ships” of World War II and holds artifacts from that era.

Pier 33

Better known as Alcatraz Landing, Pier 33 is the point of departure for ferries to America’s most famous former prison. The pier itself offers nice views out into the San Francisco Bay. Visitors can also check out the scale tactile models of both Alcatraz and Pier 33 located near the ticket booth.

Pier 27

San Francisco’s main cruise ship terminal, Pier 27 is a magnificent feat of modern architecture. The pier is home to Cruise Terminal Plaza, a 2.5-acre open space that features a lush lawn and dozens of benches where visitors can relax, enjoy the views of Yerba Buena and Treasure Islands, and watch the cruise ships come in and out of port. 

Home to the Exploratorium, a giant interactive science museum, Pier 15 is one of the most visited places on the waterfront. With over 700 exhibits, including the famous Tactile Dome, the all-ages museum is also home to its own waterfront restaurant and cafe.

Pier 7

A hidden treasure on the San Francisco waterfront, Pier 7 is an authentic fishing pier originally constructed in 1901. Rebuilt in 1990, the all-wood pier features copper streetlights and benches, as well as real fish cleaning stations that are used by locals. The end of the pier, which stretches 840-feet out from the shore, offers an iconic view of the downtown skyline.

San Francisco’s 1898 Beaux Arts Ferry Building is one of the top architectural landmarks of the city. A bustling hub that connects ferry riders with other forms of transit, it’s also a major culinary destination. The building is home to several waterfront restaurants as well as dozens of small foodie businesses—everything from fresh oysters to local bakeries. On Saturdays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays, it’s also a giant farmer’s market!

Pier 14

A 630-foot-long cement walking pier located just south of the Ferry Building, Pier 14 is one of the most charming places to snap some photos of the city skyline. Up close views of the Bay Bridge and Yerba Buena Island also await visitors here, and plenty of comfy benches and public art make the space feel welcoming to all. 

Home to the giant Cupid’s Span sculpture by husband-and-wife artists Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen, Rincon Park is a welcoming green space along San Francisco’s downtown waterfront. Benches and outdoor tables allow for relaxing, backed by views of the majestic San Francisco Bay Bridge, which stretches across the sky almost directly overhead.

Red’s Java House

A landmark SF eatery that first opened in the 1930s, Red’s Java House still serves up classic eggs and pancakes breakfasts, burgers on sourdough bread, and daily lunch specials that attract locals and visitors alike. Also offering a full bar and a large waterfront patio with dramatic Bay Bridge views, it's a popular place to gather before a Giants game.

Brannan Street Wharf

Located between Piers 32 and 38, Brannan Street Wharf is a green space that is home to a nice seating area with benches, picnic tables, a lush lawn, and open views across the water to the East Bay. The park also features a series of “tidal columns” that rise and fall with the water level. They reach up to 20 feet high during King Tides!

Opened in 2024, five-acre China Basin Park is one of San Francisco’s most celebrated green spaces. The waterfront park stands out not just for its unique location right across McCovey Cove from Oracle Park, but for the fact that it is home to an actual sandy beach. A brand-new bike path also skirts along the edge of the park, connecting downtown and SoMa with the Dogpatch and Bayview neighborhoods.

Bayfront Park

Also opened in 2024, Bayfront Park is both a recreational area and a buffer against sea rise for the Mission Bay neighborhood. The five-acre waterfront park has a California native plant garden, as well as a state-of-the-art bio-retention garden that captures stormwater runoff and recycles it into the soil. Enjoy views of the SF skyline from an interesting angle, as well as a look at the open water and the East Bay beyond. Located on the east side of Chase Center, Bayfront Park makes for the perfect meet-up spot before or after a basketball game or concert.

Crane Cove Park

Home to a public beach where locals launch kayak and paddleboard excursions into the bay, Crane Cove Beach is located in the Dogpatch neighborhood. The seven-acre park is also home to a YMCA, a large children’s playground, and public grills for barbecuing. The best kept secret of Crane Cove Park might be Dogpatch Paddle's onsite sauna, where you can warm up after a day out on the water!