This is a highly significant sector in the LGBTQI+ community and its historical background. The Castro, also known as the Castro District, located in Eureka Valley, San Francisco, was among the first openly gay neighborhoods in America and is recognized globally as a symbol of LGBTQI+ activism.
This history can be seen clearly all over the city, from rainbow flags displayed outside buildings to the famous Rainbow Honor Walk, which pays homage to and honors individuals who played instrumental roles in the LGBTQI+ struggle for equal rights. There is also the GLBT Historical Society Museum and Archives, which is centered around LGBTQI+ history and culture in America.
Another one of Castro’s main attractions is the Castro Street Fair, which has been celebrating the creativity of the community since the early 1970s. During the fair, the streets are filled with organizations, live entertainment, and artists promoting important causes within the LGBTQI+ community, and all the proceeds from the fair are donated to charity.
Read on for our list of the best and most fun things to do in Castro, San Francisco
The 99 Most Popular Things To Do In Castro District, San Francisco
99. California Historical Society
4.4 (23 reviews)
Credit: California Historical Society, Google Maps
Location: 678 Mission Street San Francisco CA
Tel: 415 357 1848
Web Address: http://californiahistoricalsociety.org/
98. San Bruno Mountain
4.7 (24 reviews)
97. Davidson, Mount
4.7 (49 reviews)
96. Kirby Cove
4.6 (76 reviews)
95. Hawk Hill
4.9 (92 reviews)
94. Sigmund Stern Recreation Grove
4.8 (117 reviews)
Location: San Francisco CA
Tel: 415 252 6252
Web Address: http://sterngrove.org/
93. Chinese Historical Society of America Museum
4.5 (143 reviews)
Credit: Chinese Historical Society of America Museum, Google Maps
Location: 965 Clay Street San Francisco CA
Tel: 415 391 1188
Web Address: http://chsa.org/
92. China Beach, San Francisco
4.5 (199 reviews)
91. Museum of Craft and Design
4.3 (208 reviews)
Credit: Museum of Craft and Design, Google Maps
Location: 2569 3rd Street San Francisco CA
Tel: 415 773 0303
Web Address: http://sfmcd.org/
90. Angel Island
4.5 (210 reviews)
89. The Beat Museum
4.4 (224 reviews)
Credit: Lawrence Marcus, Google Maps
Location: 540 Broadway San Francisco CA
Tel: 800 537 6822
Web Address: http://kerouac.com/
88. Cartoon Art Museum
4.2 (310 reviews)
Credit: Cartoon Art Museum, Google Maps
Location: 781 Beach Street San Francisco CA
Tel: 415 227 8666
Web Address: http://cartoonart.org/
87. Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco
4.7 (331 reviews)
Location: 50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Dr San Francisco CA
Tel: 415 750 3600
Web Address: http://famsf.org/
86. Museum of the African Diaspora
4.4 (371 reviews)
Credit: Museum of the African Diaspora, Google Maps
Location: 685 Mission Street San Francisco CA
Tel: 415 358 7200
Web Address: https://moadsf.org/
85. Randall Museum
4.7 (404 reviews)
Credit: Abby Boudreau, Google Maps
Location: 199 Museum Way San Francisco CA
Tel: 415 554 9600
Web Address: http://randallmuseum.org/
84. Aquatic Park
4.7 (486 reviews)
Location: 700 898 Beach Street San Francisco CA
Tel: 415 298 8826
Web Address: https://nps.gov/safr/planyourvisit/aquaticparkcove.htm
83. Hyde Street Pier
4.6 (582 reviews)
Credit: Wally Gobetz, License, Flickr
Location: 2905 Hyde Street San Francisco CA
Tel: 415 447 5000
Web Address: http://nps.gov/safr/index.htm
82. The Marine Mammal Center
4.7 (600 reviews)
Location: 2000 Bunker Road Sausalito CA
Tel: 415 289 7325
Web Address: https://marinemammalcenter.org/
81. Children’s Creativity Museum
4.6 (603 reviews)
Location: 221 4th Street San Francisco CA
Tel: 415 820 3320
Web Address: http://creativity.org/
80. Lake Merritt
4.6 (650 reviews)
79. Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive
4.5 (663 reviews)
Credit: Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive, Google Maps
Location: 2155 Center Street Berkeley CA
Tel: 510 642 0808
Web Address: http://bampfa.org/
78. The Contemporary Jewish Museum
4.2 (681 reviews)
Credit: Fery Suryadi, Google Maps
Location: 736 Mission Street San Francisco CA
Tel: 415 655 7800
Web Address: http://thecjm.org/
77. Rodeo Beach
4.7 (741 reviews)
76. Ferry Plaza Farmers Market
4.7 (742 reviews)
Location: One Ferry Building #50 San Francisco CA
Tel: 415 291 3276
Web Address: https://cuesa.org/markets/ferry-plaza-farmers-market
75. Grandview Park
4.8 (773 reviews)
Location: 1705 14th Ave San Francisco CA
Tel: 415 831 2700
Web Address: https://sfrecpark.org/Facilities/Facility/Details/Grandview-Park-Trail-400
74. Point Bonita Lighthouse
4.7 (825 reviews)
Location: San Francisco Bay entrance in the Marin Headlands Sausalito CA
Tel: 415 331 1540
Web Address: http://nps.gov/goga/pobo.htm
73. Yerba Buena Center for the Arts
4.5 (837 reviews)
Location: 701 Mission Street San Francisco CA
Tel: 415 978 2787
Web Address: http://ybca.org/
72. Misión San Francisco de Asís
4.6 (952 reviews)
Location: 3321 16th Street San Francisco CA
Tel: 415 621 8203
Web Address: http://missiondolores.org/old-mission/visitor.html
71. Marshall’s Beach
4.8 (993 reviews)
Web Address: https://nps.gov/goga/index.htm
70. Transamerica Pyramid
4.4 (995 reviews)
Location: 600 Montgomery Street San Francisco CA
Web Address: http://transamericapyramidcenter.com/
69. San Francisco City Hall
4.5 (1,148 reviews)
Location: 1 Dr Carlton B Goodlett Pl San Francisco CA
Tel: 415 554 4000
Web Address: http://sfgov.org/cityhall/contact-us
68. SS Jeremiah O’Brien
4.7 (1,226 reviews)
Location: Pier 45 San Francisco CA
Tel: 415 544 0100
Web Address: http://ssjeremiahobrien.org/
67. Top of the Mark
4.4 (1,273 reviews)
Credit: Top of the Mark, Google Maps
Location: 999 California Street San Francisco CA
Tel: 415 616 6916
Web Address: https://topofthemark.com/
66. Children’s Fairyland
4.5 (1,292 reviews)
Location: 699 Bellevue Ave Oakland CA
Tel: 510 452 2259
Web Address: http://fairyland.org/
65. Glen Canyon Park
4.7 (1,317 reviews)
Credit: SooMin Lee, Google Maps
Location: Elk Street and Chenery Street San Francisco CA
Tel: 415 831 2700
Web Address: https://sfrecpark.org/511/Glen-Canyon-Park
64. The Wave Organ
4.2 (1,446 reviews)
Location: 83 Marina Green Dr San Francisco CA
Tel: 415 528 4444
Web Address: https://exploratorium.edu/visit/wave-organ
63. University of California, Berkeley
3.3 (1,473 reviews)
Location: Berkeley CA
Tel: 510 642 6000
62. Swan Oyster Depot
4.6 (1,594 reviews)
Location: 1517 Polk Street San Francisco CA
Tel: 415 673 1101
61. Baker Beach
4.7 (1,596 reviews)
60. War Memorial Opera House
4.7 (1,637 reviews)
Credit: Doug Timoney, Google Maps
Location: 301 Van Ness Ave San Francisco CA
Tel: 415 621 6600
Web Address: https://sfwarmemorial.org/
59. Tonga Room & Hurricane Bar
4.2 (1,713 reviews)
Credit: Seulki Noh, Google Maps
Location: 950 Mason Street San Francisco CA
Tel: 415 772 5278
Web Address: http://tongaroom.com/
58. John McLaren Park
4.6 (1,770 reviews)
Location: 100 John F Shelley Dr San Francisco CA
Tel: 415 831 2700
Web Address: https://sfrecpark.org/454/McLaren-Park-Trails
57. USS Pampanito
4.6 (1,781 reviews)
Location: San Francisco CA
Tel: 415 775 1943
Web Address: http://maritime.org/
56. Angel Island State Park
4.7 (1,842 reviews)
Location: Tiburon CA
Tel: 415 435 1915
Web Address: http://parks.ca.gov/
55. Buena Vista Park
4.6 (1,868 reviews)
Credit: Ken Lund, License, Flickr
Location: Buena Vista & Haight St San Francisco CA
Tel: 415 831 5500
Web Address: https://sfrecpark.org/Facilities/Facility/Details/Buena-Vista-Park-155
54. Grace Cathedral
4.6 (2,051 reviews)
Location: 1100 California Street San Francisco CA
Tel: 415 749 6300
Web Address: http://gracecathedral.org/
53. Rosie the Riveter National Historical Park
4.6 (2,169 reviews)
Credit: Bryan Goff, Google Maps
Location: 1414 Harbour Way S #3000 Richmond CA
Tel: 510 232 5050
Web Address: http://nps.gov/rori
52. Sutro Baths
4.7 (2,178 reviews)
Location: 1004 Point Lobos Ave San Francisco CA
Tel: 415 426 5240
Web Address: https://nps.gov/goga/planyourvisit/cliff-house-sutro-baths.htm
51. Tadich Grill
4.5 (2,180 reviews)
Credit: Tadich Grill, Google Maps
Location: 240 California Street San Francisco CA
Tel: 415 391 1849
Web Address: http://tadichgrillsf.com/
50. Bay Area Discovery Museum
4.7 (2,210 reviews)
Location: 557 McReynolds Road Sausalito CA
Tel: 415 339 3900
Web Address: http://bayareadiscoverymuseum.org/
49. Madame Tussauds San Francisco
4.3 (2,344 reviews)
Credit: Robert Vee Velarde, Google Maps
Location: 145 Jefferson Street San Francisco CA
Tel: 415 757 2707
Web Address: https://madametussauds.com/san-francisco/en/
48. San Francisco – Oakland Bay Bridge
4.5 (2,467 reviews)
Location: San Francisco Oakland Bay Bridge San Francisco CA
Web Address: https://baybridgeinfo.org/
47. 16th Avenue Tiled Steps
4.7 (2,525 reviews)
Location: 16th Ave San Francisco CA
Web Address: http://16thavenuetiledsteps.com/
46. Conservatory of Flowers
4.7 (2,545 reviews)
Location: 100 John F Kennedy Dr San Francisco CA
Tel: 415 831 2090
Web Address: http://conservatoryofflowers.org/
45. USS Hornet – Sea, Air and Space Museum
4.8 (2,595 reviews)
Location: 707 W Hornet Ave Alameda CA
Tel: 510 521 8448
Web Address: https://uss-hornet.org/
44. Fort Point National Historic Site
4.7 (2,807 reviews)
Location: 201 Marine Dr San Francisco CA
Tel: 415 504 2334
Web Address: http://nps.gov/fopo/planyourvisit/hours.htm
43. City Lights Booksellers & Publishers
4.7 (2,923 reviews)
Location: 261 Columbus Ave San Francisco CA
Tel: 415 362 8193
Web Address: https://citylights.com/
42. Asian Art Museum
4.6 (3,052 reviews)
Location: 200 Larkin Street San Francisco CA
Tel: 415 581 3500
Web Address: http://asianart.org/
41. The Walt Disney Family Museum
4.6 (3,089 reviews)
Location: 104 Montgomery Street San Francisco CA
Tel: 415 345 6800
Web Address: http://waltdisney.org/
40. Legion of Honor
4.7 (3,094 reviews)
Location: 100 34th Ave San Francisco CA
Tel: 415 750 3600
Web Address: https://legionofhonor.famsf.org/
39. Battery Spencer
4.8 (3,122 reviews)
Location: Conzelman Road Sausalito CA
Tel: 415 561 4700
Web Address: https://nps.gov/places/000/battery-spencer-overlook.htm
38. Fort Funston
4.8 (3,132 reviews)
Location: Fort Funston Road San Francisco CA
Tel: 415 561 4700
Web Address: https://nps.gov/goga/planyourvisit/fortfunston.htm
37. Pacifica State Beach
4.6 (3,675 reviews)
Location: 5000 Pacific Coast Hwy Pacifica CA
Tel: 650 738 7381
Web Address: http://parks.ca.gov/
36. Yerba Buena Gardens
4.6 (3,699 reviews)
Location: 750 Howard Street San Francisco CA
Tel: 415 651 3684
Web Address: http://yerbabuenagardens.com/
35. Robert W. Crown Memorial State Beach
4.5 (3,958 reviews)
Location: 8th St Otis Dr Alameda CA
Tel: 510 544 3175
Web Address: https://parks.ca.gov/
34. Aquarium of the Bay
4.2 (4,011 reviews)
Location: PIER 39 The Embarcadero & Beach Street San Francisco CA
Tel: 415 623 5300
Web Address: http://aquariumofthebay.org/
33. California Academy of Sciences
4.6 (4,015 reviews)
Location: 55 Music Concourse Dr San Francisco CA
Tel: 415 379 8000
Web Address: https://calacademy.org/
32. Washington Square
4.5 (4,175 reviews)
Credit: Leonora (Ellie) Enking, License, Flickr
Location: Filbert St & Stockton St San Francisco CA
Tel: 415 274 0291
Web Address: https://sfrecpark.org/
31. San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park
4.6 (4,389 reviews)
Location: San Francisco CA
Tel: 415 447 5000
Web Address: http://nps.gov/safr
30. San Francisco Cable Car Museum
4.7 (4,557 reviews)
Credit: Bernard Spragg. NZ, License, Flickr
Location: 1201 Mason Street San Francisco CA
Tel: 415 474 1887
Web Address: http://cablecarmuseum.org/
29. Crissy Field
4.7 (5,060 reviews)
Location: 1199 E Beach San Francisco CA
Tel: 415 561 4323
Web Address: http://parksconservancy.org/visit/park-sites/crissy-field.html
28. Musée Mécanique
4.7 (5,798 reviews)
Location: Pier 45 San Francisco CA
Tel: 415 346 2000
Web Address: https://museemecanique.com/
27. San Francisco Botanical Garden
4.8 (5,995 reviews)
Location: 1199 9th Ave San Francisco CA
Tel: 415 661 1316
Web Address: https://sfbg.org/
26. de Young Museum
4.6 (6,231 reviews)
Credit: Leonora (Ellie) Enking, License, Flickr
Location: 50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Dr San Francisco CA
Tel: 415 750 3600
Web Address: http://deyoung.famsf.org/
25. Lands End Lookout
4.8 (6,898 reviews)
Location: 680 Point Lobos Ave San Francisco CA
Tel: 415 426 5240
Web Address: https://store.parksconservancy.org/collections/lands-end
24. Exploratorium
4.7 (7,501 reviews)
Location: Pier 15 Embarcadero at Green Street San Francisco CA
Tel: 415 528 4444
Web Address: http://exploratorium.edu/
23. Marin Headlands
4.8 (8,153 reviews)
Location: Sausalito CA
Tel: 415 331 1540
Web Address: http://nps.gov/goga/marin-headlands.htm
22. San Francisco Zoo
4.4 (10,916 reviews)
Credit: Catedrales e Iglesias/Cathedrals and Churches, License, Flickr
Location: Sloat Blvd & Upper Great Hwy San Francisco CA
Tel: 415 753 7080
Web Address: http://sfzoo.org/
21. Coit Tower
4.6 (11,112 reviews)
Credit: Bernard Spragg. NZ, License, Flickr
Location: 1 Telegraph Hill Blvd San Francisco CA
Tel: 415 249 0995
Web Address: http://sfrecpark.org/destination/telegraph-hill-pioneer-park/coit-tower/
20. Japanese Tea Garden
4.5 (11,567 reviews)
Location: 75 Hagiwara Tea Garden Dr San Francisco CA
Tel: 415 752 1171
Web Address: http://japaneseteagardensf.com/
19. Mission Dolores Park
4.7 (12,466 reviews)
Credit: Ken Lund, License, Flickr
Location: Dolores Street & 19th Street San Francisco CA
Tel: 415 831 2700
Web Address: http://sfrecpark.org/destination/mission-dolores-park/
18. Muir Woods National Monument
4.8 (13,891 reviews)
Location: Mill Valley CA
Tel: 415 561 2850
Web Address: https://nps.gov/muwo/index.htm
17. Golden Gate National Recreation Area
4.7 (16,646 reviews)
Location: Mill Valley CA
Tel: 415 561 4700
Web Address: http://nps.gov/goga/index.htm
16. Palace of Fine Arts
4.7 (19,305 reviews)
Location: 3601 Lyon Street San Francisco CA
Tel: 415 376 1704
Web Address: http://palaceoffinearts.com/
15. The Painted Ladies
4.4 (19,314 reviews)
Location: Steiner St & Hayes St San Francisco CA
14. Oracle Park
4.7 (23,229 reviews)
Location: 24 Willie Mays Plaza San Francisco CA
Tel: 415 972 2000
Web Address: https://mlb.com/giants/ballpark
13. Ghirardelli Chocolate Experience
4.5 (23,338 reviews)
Location: 900 North Point Street Streete F301 San Francisco CA
Tel: 415 447 2846
Web Address: https://ghirardelli.com/StoreLocations-SanFranciscoSquare
12. Ferry Building
4.6 (27,760 reviews)
Credit: Sergei Gussev, License, Flickr
Location: 1 Ferry Building San Francisco CA
Tel: 415 983 8000
Web Address: https://ferrybuildingmarketplace.com/
11. Union Square
4.4 (29,937 reviews)
Credit: Sergei Gussev, License, Flickr
Location: 333 Post Street San Francisco CA
Tel: 415 486 4800
Web Address: http://visitunionsquaresf.com/
10. PIER 39
4.6 (104,648 reviews)
Location: The Embarcadero San Francisco CA
Tel: 415 705 5500
Web Address: https://pier39.com/
Our Top picks
9. Harvey Milk Plaza
4.5 (12 reviews)
Credit: Gotrees4, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: San Francisco CA
Web Address: https://harveymilkplaza.org/
8. Pink Triangle Memorial
4.3 (69 reviews)
Credit: Ryan Gessner, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 2454 Market Street San Francisco CA
Web Address: http://pinktrianglememorial.org/
7. Rainbow Honor Walk
4.6 (75 reviews)
Credit: Jay Galvin, License, Flickr
Location: 499 Castro Street San Francisco CA
Web Address: http://rainbowhonorwalk.org/
6. Rainbow Crosswalk (San Francisco)
4.6 (242 reviews)
Credit: JamesInOregon, License, Flickr
Location: 4114 18th Street San Francisco CA
5. GLBT Historical Society Museum
4.6 (383 reviews)
Credit: Gerard Koskovich, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 4127 18th Street San Francisco CA
Tel: 415 777 5455
Web Address: http://glbthistory.org/museum/
4. San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
4.7 (12,410 reviews)
Location: 151 3rd Street San Francisco CA
Tel: 415 357 4000
Web Address: https://sfmoma.org/
3. Alcatraz Island
4.7 (32,131 reviews)
Location: San Francisco CA
Tel: 415 561 4900
Web Address: http://nps.gov/alca/index.htm
2. Golden Gate Park
4.8 (41,758 reviews)
Credit: Wayne Hsieh, License, Flickr
Location: San Francisco CA
Tel: 415 831 2700
Web Address: http://sfrecpark.org/parks-open-spaces/golden-gate-park-guide/
1. Golden Gate Bridge
4.8 (60,303 reviews)
Credit: Sergei Gussev, License, Flickr
Location: Golden Gate Bridge San Francisco CA
Tel: 415 921 5858
Web Address: http://goldengatebridge.org/
Final Words:
Thank you for reading our list of the best things to do in Castro District, San Francisco! We hope it helped you plan the perfect itinerary for your next trip to this fantastic destination. Happy travels!
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