Beyond the Stadium

Things to Do

Alcatraz, Golden Gate Bridge, Napa Valley day trips, Muir Woods redwoods, and Fisherman's Wharf — and the dozens of Bay Area experiences World Cup visitors will want to book before they fly. Browse the curated picks below or jump into Viator's full Bay Area catalog.

The Big Six

Anchor Sights

The Bay Area spans San Francisco, Marin, and the East Bay — three distinct landscapes within an hour of each other. These six are the anchors worth planning a day around.

🏝️
Alcatraz Island
Pier 33, San Francisco. Ferry + audio tour ~$47 adult. The famous island federal prison — Al Capone, Birdman, 14 escape attempts. Book 2–3 weeks ahead in summer; night tours are the most atmospheric. Evening audio tour strongly recommended.
🌉
Golden Gate Bridge
US-101, San Francisco/Marin. Free to walk or bike across. 1.7 miles one way — allow 45–60 min on foot. Walk from the SF side (parking lot off Lincoln Blvd); rent bikes at Fisherman's Wharf and ride across to Sausalito.
🌲
Muir Woods National Monument
1 Muir Woods Rd, Mill Valley. Old-growth coastal redwood forest 12 miles north of the Golden Gate. Adults $17. Mandatory shuttle reservation from Sausalito/Marin City required in summer — book at recreation.gov. Cathedral Grove section is the highlight.
🔭
SFMOMA
151 3rd St, San Francisco. Adults $30, free the first Thursday of each month 1–9pm. 10-story Snøhetta-expanded museum with Rothko, Warhol, Frida Kahlo. SOMA location — easy BART access.
🌿
Golden Gate Park
Fulton St to Lincoln Way, SF. 1,017 acres — larger than Central Park. Free walking/cycling. California Academy of Sciences inside (adults $45); de Young Museum (adults $30, free the first Sunday of each month). Japanese Tea Garden ($12 adult).
🦁
Oakland Museum of California
1000 Oak St, Oakland. Adults $20, free the second Sunday of each month. Best museum for understanding California's art, history, and natural science in one building. BART Fruitvale or Lake Merritt stations.

Tours & Experiences

Curated Picks

Top-rated Bay Area tours and experiences on Viator. World Cup dates sell out fast, so book ahead.

See All Bay Area Tours on Viator ↗
500+ tours, activities and experiences across Bay Area

Family + Sport

Stadiums & Attractions

⚽
Levi's Stadium (Santa Clara)
4900 Marie P DeBartolo Way. World Cup host venue. VTA light rail from downtown San Jose (Santa Clara Station, 5-min walk). From SF: Caltrain to Mountain View + free shuttle, or Caltrain to Santa Clara + walk/rideshare. Allow 90 min from SF.
🔬
California Academy of Sciences
55 Music Concourse Dr, Golden Gate Park. All-in-one: aquarium, planetarium, natural history museum, and living rainforest. Adults $45, children $35. Free the third Wednesday of each month (timed entry required). Book ahead.
🧪
Exploratorium
Pier 15, Embarcadero. 650+ interactive science exhibits — the original hands-on science museum. Adults $39.95, children $29.95. Thursday evenings after 6pm: adults only, $20. Embarcadero waterfront location.
🐬
Monterey Bay Aquarium
886 Cannery Row, Monterey. 2 hours south — the best aquarium in North America. Adults $60, children $40. Open Ocean exhibit with bluefin tuna and sea turtles. Full-day excursion from SF or San Jose.

Neighborhoods

Walk-the-Streets Bay Area

San Francisco's neighbourhoods are each 10–15 minutes apart by Muni or BART — no car needed for the city core.

🌊
Fisherman's Wharf & Embarcadero
Jefferson St & The Embarcadero. Free to walk. Pier 39 sea lions (free viewing), ferry building food hall, Ghirardelli Square. Touristy but entertaining. Alcatraz ferries depart from Pier 33.
🌈
Castro & Mission District
Castro St + Valencia/Mission St. Free. Castro is the historic LGBTQ+ neighbourhood — Harvey Milk's camera shop site, Castro Theatre. Mission has the best taquerias in the US and vibrant Latin American street murals (Clarion Alley, free).
🎨
Haight-Ashbury
Haight St & Ashbury St. Free. 1960s Summer of Love epicenter — vintage shops, record stores, Grateful Dead house (710 Ashbury, exterior free). Golden Gate Park is at the end of the street.
🥟
Chinatown SF & North Beach
Grant Ave + Columbus Ave. Free. America's oldest Chinatown; North Beach is the Italian-American neighbourhood — City Lights Bookstore (free), Vesuvio Bar, and the best cappuccinos west of Rome at Caffè Trieste.
⛵
Sausalito (Marin County)
Ferry from Ferry Building ($15 each way). Car-free day trip — waterfront restaurants, houseboats, and the best view of San Francisco from across the bay. Bike from the Golden Gate Bridge (3 miles downhill).

Match-Day-Friendly

Quick Hits

Under 90 minutes — all reachable from downtown SF by Muni, BART, or ferry.

🌉
Golden Gate Bridge Walk (90 min)
Free. Bus 28 or 29 from Fisherman's Wharf to the south trailhead. Walk to the first tower and back — views of the bay, Marin headlands, and SF skyline.
⛴️
Sausalito Ferry (1.5 hr round-trip)
$15 each way. 30-min ferry ride from the Ferry Building. Walk the waterfront, grab a fish taco, ferry back. Best on a clear morning.
🐟
Ferry Building Food Hall (45 min)
1 Ferry Building, Embarcadero. Free to enter. Cowgirl Creamery, Blue Bottle Coffee, Hog Island Oyster. Saturday farmers market 8am–2pm fills the surrounding plaza.
🦁
Pier 39 Sea Lions (30 min)
Free. K-Dock at Pier 39. 600–900 California sea lions haul out year-round. Peak viewing November–July. Best viewing from the upper observation deck on the west side of the pier.

During the Tournament

Other Live Sports

Other notable sporting events happening in or near this metro during the FIFA World Cup window (Jun 11 – Jul 19, 2026). Use these to plan around match days. MLS is paused May 25 – Jul 16 for the World Cup, so most domestic soccer is dark.

Find Tickets on TicketNetwork ↗
Resale marketplace — search by team, venue or date for any event below.
Fri-Sun Jun 12-14
Giants vs. Chicago Cubs · Oracle Park, SF — ~45 mi north of Levi's Stadium
Tue-Thu Jun 23-25
Giants vs. Athletics · Oracle Park, SF — A's return to the Bay Area after relocation
Fri-Sun Jun 26-28
Giants vs. Atlanta Braves · Oracle Park, SF
Sun Jun 28
NASCAR Cup — Toyota/Save Mart 350 · Sonoma Raceway — ~55 mi north of Levi's Stadium
Tue Jul 14 (Philly)
MLB All-Star Game · Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia — Marquee MLB date during the WC. Not local — Philly trip required.