What are the nearest attractions to Marina District?

Attractions near Marina District: Cow Hollow Fort Mason Palace of Fine Arts

What else should I know about attractions in San Francisco?

As well as visiting the Marina District, check out these trip ideas to make the most of your visit: Exploratorium Exhibit Developer Diane Whitmore's Guide to San Francisco Where to Find the Best Views of the Golden Gate Bridge 6 Books About San Francisco to Read Before Your Next Trip

Marina District, San Francisco - All You Need To Know BEFORE You Go

The Basics

The Marina is included on most San Francisco sightseeing tours, as it sits on the northern edge of the city between Fisherman’s Wharf and the Golden Gate Bridge. Bike, bus, and Segway tours pass along Marina Boulevard to show visitors the views of Alcatraz Island and the bridge. Other nearby attractions include the Palace of Fine Arts and Fort Mason.

Things to Know Before You Go

Chestnut Street is the main commercial strip, with trendy bars, eateries, and shops concentrated between Divisadero and Fillmore streets.
There is metered and free street parking available, but pay attention to posted signs about prohibited parking during street cleaning or other times.
Bring a jacket or other warm layers; when the fog rolls in from the Pacific, it gets chilly fast.

Trip ideas

6 Books About San Francisco to Read Before Your Next Trip

Travel writer Madigan Talmage-Bowers called the Bay Area home for nearly 10 years. Here are her favorite SF-related reads to add to your to-read stack.

How to Prepare for Whale Watching in the San Francisco Bay

Make the most of this seasonal event with our top tips from a naturalist guide.

10 Fun Things to Do When Alcatraz Tickets are Sold Out

Don't despair if you can't get tickets to Alcatraz—San Francisco has more than enough alternative tours and attractions to keep you busy.

Unique Souvenirs to Bring Home from San Francisco

There’s no shortage of unique finds, delicious treats, and wacky wares for you to choose from in San Fran.

8 Best Weekend Getaways from San Francisco

Hit the road for coastal towns, Sonoma wineries, lakes in the Sierra Nevada foothills, and more—all less than a 4-hour drive from SF.

An Exploratorium Employee's Guide to San Francisco

When exploring a new city, there's nothing quite like getting tips and advice from someone who calls it home. That's why, in this series, we turn to the locals who know just as much about what can't be missed as they do about the unexpected delights that make a place so special.

Where to Find the Best Views of the Golden Gate Bridge

Admire from the water, sure, but don’t overlook these other options either.

An Insider's Guide to San Francisco's Chinatown

Tour guide Dorothy Quock knows San Francisco’s Chinatown by heart. Here’s her guide for getting to know the place in which she was born and has lived most of her life.

An Insider’s Guide to LGBTQ San Francisco

Tour company owner Kathy Amendola on San Francisco Pride, the Castro, and where you can honor LGBTQ history in SF.

Know Before You Go: Tips for Visiting Alcatraz

Perched on a rocky island in the San Francisco Bay, Alcatraz once housed such legendary criminals as Al Capone. Today, the former prison is an extremely popular National Historic Landmark. Here are the top things to know when planning your visit.

Guide to Marin County: Sausalito, Muir Woods, and More

From hiking and biking trails to cheese and wine tastings, quaint towns to inviting beaches, here’s what not to miss in Marin.

Visiting San Francisco for the First Time? Here's What to See and Do

San Francisco enchants newcomers with walkable neighborhoods, green urban spaces, and an offbeat personality. Here’s a guide for your first visit.

Must-Visit Museums in San Francisco

From San Francisco Museum of Modern Art to Exploratorium, here are the top museums in the city.

How to Get Off the Beaten Path in San Francisco

San Francisco’s eccentricities run deep, but you have to know where to find them.

Art Lover's Guide to San Francisco

From San Francisco Museum of Modern Art to the Asian Art Museum, here's where to go.

When to Get There

On sunny weekends, do as the locals do: Take a walk along the water followed by lunch on Chestnut Street, or enjoy the nightlife scene and mingle with the neighborhood’s generally young crowd. The early morning hours and sunset offer great light for photographs of the bay and Golden Gate Bridge. July and August are usually foggy, while September and October are the sunniest months.

Golden Gate National Recreation Area

Most of the Marina’s green spaces are part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, which is under the umbrella of the National Park Service and includes the Presidio, Fort Mason, and Crissy Field. Don’t miss the chance to discover the natural beauty, historical landmarks, and cultural attractions of these coastal sites.

Marina District