On the hunt for fun things to do in San Francisco at night with kids?
If so, this list is for you! I’ve lived in California for more than 20 years, and San Francisco is one of my favorite cities to visit.
While there are many ways for adults to experience San Francisco’s nightlife, it can be a little tougher to find family-friendly options. But rest assured, if you are trying to figure out what to do in San Francisco at night with kids, there are actually plenty of cool things to experience, and many of them won’t cost a penny! I am excited to share this list with you.
Top 5 Picks: Things to Do in San Francisco at Night with Family
If you are just looking for a quick list of the can’t miss, very best family-friendly things to do in San Francisco at night, here are our Top 5 recommendations.
► Wander along the waterfront at Pier 39 for great nighttime shopping, dining, activities, and views of the city lights
► Explore the famous prison after dark on the Alcatraz Night Tour
► Play vintage pinball and arcade games at Musée Mécanique (free admission!) at Fisherman’s Wharf
► Take a sunset cruise on San Francisco Bay
► Visit Ghirardelli Square for some chocolatey treats
Keep reading for more details on these top fun things to do in San Francisco at night, plus lots more ideas to help you plan your trip!
Family-Friendly Things to Do in San Francisco at Night
From Alcatraz to arcade games, here are 18 fun things to do in San Francisco after dark.
1. Big Bus San Francisco Panoramic Night Tour
The best way to see the city lights is on a sightseeing tour, and the Big Bus San Francisco Panoramic Night Tour is one of the best things to do in San Francisco at night with kids.
Beginning at Fisherman’s Wharf, the double decker Big Bus tour climbs the popular neighborhood of Nob Hill, and then makes its way across the San Francisco Bay Bridge to Treasure Island for the chance to see the city’s skyline lit up at night.
The two-hour San Francisco Night Tour features live commentary from a tour guide who points out all the sites along the way! If you are staying at a hotel in Union Square (or just want to check out Union Square at night), a courtesy shuttle back to Union Square is provided at the end of the tour.
2. Ride the Cable Cars
Did you know that the San Francisco cable cars are the only moving National Monuments in the entire country?
No trip to San Francisco would be complete without hopping on a cable car! And riding it at night brings a whole new perspective to the city. Plus, lines are shorter in the evening, and it is much less crowded when you ride the cable cars at night.
Two of San Francisco’s three cable car lines come into the Fisherman’s Wharf area: the Powell-Hyde and the Powell-Mason lines. Both originate in Union Square. The California line runs the other way, originating in the Financial District.
At $8 per ticket, cable car rides can be expensive, so if you plan to use other San Francisco public transit, purchase a Muni passport that provides unlimited access.
The cable cars provide transportation around the city 365 days a year including holidays, and typically run until 10:30 pm or later, making this one of the great things to do at night in San Francisco with kids.
3. Take a Bay Cruise
Viewing San Francisco from the bay is one of the best ways to take in the city’s beautiful skyline lit up at night. We loved this San Francisco City Lights Sail, a nighttime sailing tour along the San Francisco waterfront that includes drinks!
There are several other great options for evening cruises. The San Francisco Bay Sunset Cruise is a relaxing way to see the city lights of San Francisco at night. This 2-hour cruise is fully narrated and you can purchase alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks on board.
There is nothing more quintessentially San Francisco than witnessing the sun go down by the Golden Gate Bridge!
Another great nighttime bay cruise option with kids is the Escape from the Rock cruise around Alcatraz. This 90-minute cruise follows the same path as other bay cruises, however, this one includes additional time and information about Alcatraz as it circles the island.
Keep in mind, San Francisco gets chilly at night, especially out on the water! Be sure to bring a warm jacket and possibly even gloves depending on the time of year. We took this tour at night in November, and even bundled up it was cold!
► Click here to explore discount San Francisco Bay Cruise tickets
4. Alcatraz Night Tour
Arguably one of San Francisco’s most famous landmarks, Alcatraz Island is a must-do excursion when visiting San Francisco. The Alcatraz Night Tour puts a creepier spin on this destination. My son and I did this tour and it was a very unique experience (though not as scary as he was hoping)!
The infamous prison once housed Al Capone, Machine Gun Kelly and the Birdman of Alcatraz. Today, it is run by the National Park Service and you can tour the old prison and the island’s grounds.
The night tour allows you to see what it was like to be inside this former federal prison after dark. Since they limit the number of people on the night tour, you have more space to move around and get a feel for the stories and events that happened there. There are also additional programs and talks offered on the night tour.
Like every trip to Alcatraz, you’ll also get to enjoy the short ferry ride to the island, which is located in the middle of San Francisco Bay. Taking the tour at night means you’ll have the added bonus of getting to see the Golden Gate and Bay Bridge lights, as well as the city skyline all lit up at night.
► Check out the Alcatraz Night Tour and San Francisco Bay Cruise
5. Visit Fisherman’s Wharf and Pier 39
Though technically two different destinations, Fisherman’s Wharf and Pier 39 are adjacent to each other on the waterfront.
Yes, it is touristy, but you can’t visit San Francisco without checking the area out! Shop, dine, visit San Francisco’s famous sea lions, and enjoy free daily shows by local street performers and musicians or explore a variety of attractions.
Some of the fun and family-friendly activities at Pier 39 include the Flyer, the San Francisco Carousel, Frequent Flyers (giant trampoline for kids), and an Escape Room.
Walk out to the end of the pier for some of the best views of Alcatraz, Angel Island and the bridge. Over by Fisherman’s Wharf, treat yourself to some of that world-famous sourdough bread at Boudin Bakery’s flagship location, the “oldest continually operating business in San Francisco.” It was founded here is 1849.
6. Hang Out with Cats at KitTea
Do your kids love cats? Then this is the place for you!
A visit to a cat café was not on our original itinerary, but a Facebook ad popped up on my phone and next thing you know my son and I are sipping tea and playing with string on the floor with six other people and a roomful of cats!
To be fair, we love cats. And visiting a cat café has been on my travel wish list for a long time. (How Facebook knew that, I’ll never know!) Best of all they are open late, so this was the perfect activity to do at night.
KitTea also offers special movie nights and Cats on Mats yoga nights, so check out their website if you’re interested in paying the kitties a visit while in San Francisco.
KitTea is divided into two spaces: a regular café where you can watch the cats through a window, and a cat lounge where you can go in and get hands-on with the cats. Included with admission to the lounge ($25) is an unlimited offering of four handpicked Japanese green teas.
If $25 sounds steep, just think of it as a donation. It takes a lot of litter, kibble and vet bills to care for all those awesome rescue cats! Many of whom are adoptable, by the way.
Kids are welcome, but must be 6-years or older on weekdays and 9-years or older on weekends. Kids (and adults) of any age are welcome on the cafe side, which has a large viewing window of the Cat Lounge. They are open until 9 pm.
► Click here to find out more about visiting the Cat Lounge at KitTea!
7. Go on a Ghost Tour
If you have kids thrilled by ghost stories and mysteries, you will definitely want to take a ghost tour!
The Haunt offers a family-friendly Haunted San Francisco Ghost Tour through Chinatown and Gold Rush alleys.
Armed with ghost hunting gear like a Spirit Box, dowsing rods, and your own EMF detector, you’ll unearth stories of forgotten graves, the devastating Great Earthquake of 1906, and the residual hauntings that persist.
At any moment, your EMF meter might signal paranormal activity, and you’ll investigate further with your ghost hunting tools. This guided tour is considered family-friendly and not too scary. It is a really cool activity to try if you are visiting San Francisco with teens.
If you are traveling without kids, you may also enjoy the San Francisco Ghosts Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl. This fun tour combines a classic ghost tour with a pub crawl in San Francisco, with stops at paranormal spots along the way!
8. Hang Out at Musée Mécanique
The Musee Mecanique collection includes over 300 vintage and novel coin operated machines. It’s a must-see attraction for vintage game lovers and history buffs, and a fun way to show your kids what games were like before Xbox.
Items include coin-operated pianos, antique slot machines, hand-cranked music boxes, and various vintage arcade games. The arcade games are all in working condition and can be played.
Admission is free, but you’ll have to bring some quarters if you want to play any games.
9. San Francisco Love Tour
See the best of San Francisco from aboard a 1970s VW hippie bus. It is truly a unique and fun way to see San Francisco!
Complete with shag carpet and 70s music, San Francisco Love Tours takes you around the city to see the major sights and roots of San Francisco’s hippie culture.
The vans take only up to 6 people at a time, so it’s a special experience and the small vehicle can go places that big tour buses cannot.
The night tour will allow you to see some of the city’s famous sites after dark, including Chinatown, Golden Gate Park, Lombard Street, and the Castro, in a unique and memorable way.
► Check out these cool retro vans on the San Francisco Love Tour
10. Visit Top Museums After Dark
If you’re a kid at heart and happen to be in town on a Thursday – this is one of the best things to do in San Francisco at night! I say kid at heart, because nighttime hours at these two museums are for adults only.
The Exploratorium opens to adults only every Thursday night from 6 pm to 10 pm. Unplug and play with more than 700 interactive exhibits exploring science, art, and perception. Journey through total darkness at the museum’s twisting, turning, Tactile Dome. You can even grab a drink.
Similarly, the California Academy of Sciences hosts “NightLife” for adults 21 and over only every Thursday night. Every week there’s a different theme. Everything that’s open during the day is open during NightLife, including the amazing Rainforest. You can also see the California Academy of Sciences planetarium show for just $5. Shows are at 6:30, 7:30, 8:30, and 9:30 pm.
11. Go to the Theater
The city of San Francisco has one of the world’s most renown theater and arts scenes. San Francisco’s theater district has a number of theaters and there’s always something amazing going on. The Orpheum Theatre – known as “Broadway in San Francisco” – is perhaps one of the best places to catch a show. We also recently saw a great Broadway show at the San Francisco Playhouse, located right in Union Square.
If you are visiting San Francisco at Christmas, take your kids to see the Nutcracker, the iconic holiday ballet. The Nutcracker actually made its American debut in San Francisco in 1944. Since then, it has been a holiday tradition every year in San Francisco.
There’s also the San Francisco Symphony, the San Francisco Ballet, and many more live theater options.
12. 7D Experience
At the end of Pier 39 you’ll find the 7D Experience, an interactive experience with full motion seats, a giant 3D screen, and laser blasters. The 7D Experience combines a thrill ride with laser blasters for a fun game that lasts about 10 minutes. There is also a Laser Maze Challenge you can try.
13. Museum of 3D Illusions
The Museum of 3D Illusions was founded is a place where you can let your imagination run wild! They have 40+ 3D illusions that produce eye-popping pics, inspired by cartoons, art, current events, movies, and more! You can look forward to flying on a magic carpet next to the Golden Gate Bridge, walking on the edge of the mountain, or even surviving the top of the skyscraper.
The Museum of 3D Illusions is a great place for people of all ages to experience one of a kind interactive art exhibits that also make for fantastic photo opportunities. It is open until 8pm on the weekends, so you can spend an hour or two there in the evening.
14. Night Segway Tour
A cool way to explore San Francisco with older kids or teens is taking a nighttime Segway tour. We loved the San Francisco Sunset Segway Tour.
Zip through the streets and feel the cool evening air as you discover the city on this guided tour! The Electric Tour Company also offers a night tour that goes through Chinatown and Little Italy – two of the coolest neighborhoods to zoom through at night! Enjoy panoramic views of Alcatraz, the Golden Gate Bridge, Washington Square Park, Coit Tower, North Beach, and Ghirardelli Square.
Most tours run for around two and a half to three hours and include a training session on how to operate the vehicle safely. After that, a guide will lead the way on a fun and interesting city tour.
15. The Escape Game
With two locations – one in the Financial District and one on Fisherman’s Wharf – The Escape Game San Francisco is San Francisco’s #1 escape room and immersive adventure.
There are five 60-minute adventures to choose from – Gold Rush, Special Ops, The Heist, Prison Break and Playground. We did the Gold Rush room; it was very challenging and super fun, and gave us a good chance to work together and bond solving problems and decoding the clues.
16. Take Your Kids Ice Skating
If you are visiting San Francisco during the holidays, consider taking your family ice skating! There are two major rinks in San Francisco operating during the holidays.
- The Safeway Holiday Ice Rink in Union Square: This is probably the most popular of all the San Francisco Bay Area outdoor ice skating rinks. Families can skate in San Francisco’s iconic plaza beside a gorgeous tree and surrounded by festive lights and the sounds of the holiday season. If you’ve ever visited Rockefeller Center in New York City during the holidays, you’ll definitely get that same vibe in Union Square!
- The Holiday Ice Rink at Embarcadero Center: Located adjacent to the Hyatt Regency and across from San Francisco’s historic Ferry Building, the Holiday Ice Rink at Embarcadero Center offers views of the Bay Bridge and waterfront.
17. See a Baseball Game
Nighttime baseball games are a fun tradition anywhere, but the Giants’ expansive ballpark is particularly enjoyable. Grab a hot dog and a pint of beer and join in on the fun! The team also hosts a few different special events throughout the summer.
You can click here for tickets and to find more information on the San Francisco Giants.
18. Visit Ghirardelli Square
If you love chocolate (like me!) then I have saved the best for last.
A San Francisco landmark since 1862, this former chocolate factory is now a three-level shopping and restaurant center. The main showpiece of Ghiradelli Square is its store, where you can buy ice cream and desserts in the soda shop, and chocolate souvenirs at the Ghiradelli store.
Ghirardelli Square was a must-see stop for us, but to be honest, now that Ghiradelli chocolates are available everywhere (like, even Target) and Disney California Adventure park in Anaheim even has a replica of their shop near Cars Land, it’s kind of lost its uniqueness and charm.
That said, I still love visiting Ghiradelli Square at night for an ice cream or frozen mocha in the summer, or hot cocoa in the colder months. It’s the perfect way to end a great day in San Francisco!
Final Thoughts: What to Do in San Francisco at Night with Kids
San Francisco is an incredibly popular destination to visit in California for family travel. And while it is packed with family-friendly spots to explore during the day, there are also many cool activities to keep you busy well into the evening.
I’ve spent a lot of time in San Francisco with my family! Even at night, it is perfectly safe if you stay in busy areas. And the nice thing is they are mainly batched in the “touristy” parts of town (but of course stay alert and keep your kids close after dark).
So whether you are looking for a cultural experience or the chance to explore some of San Francisco’s iconic attractions after dark, there are many plenty fun things to do at night in San Francisco to fill your itinerary.
► Travel Insight
Save money exploring San Francisco museums and attractions with a San Francisco CityPASS which gives you discounted admission to the California Academy of Sciences and Blue & Gold Fleet San Francisco Bay Cruise, plus admission to 2 more attractions of your choice from a list of popular options.
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