18 Best Things to Do in San Francisco at Night

Take in Views from a Sunset Cruise

End your long day of sightseeing with a relaxing sunset cruise on San Francisco Bay. Red and White Fleet offers a 90-minute sailing daily, during which you'll have the chance to sail past Alcatraz Island and underneath the Golden Gate Bridge and Oakland Bay Bridge. Adventure Cat Sailing Charters has a similar 90-minute experience, giving guests the chance to sail in sailboat under the Golden Gate Bridge — each ticket also includes a free drink per person. Whichever cruise you choose, remember to bring along a jacket, as it can get quite chilly on the water at night.

Embrace the City's Rich Comedy Scene

San Francisco is home to some of the greatest comedy clubs in the country, including the Punch Line, which brings in legends like Dave Chappelle, Jerry Seinfeld, Margaret Cho, and Dana Carvey, among other big names; Cobb's Comedy Club, frequented by Michael Ian Black, Dave Attell, and Michelle Wolf; and The Setup, home to a more underground comedy scene.

If you prefer improvisational comedy, head to the Shelton Theater's Secret Improv Society show, which is based entirely off audience suggestions and is reminiscent of "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" The same theater also hosts stand-up comedy shows by local, independent artists during its Cheaper Than Therapy sessions, which are also worth checking out.

If you're short on time, opt for Dylan's Comedy Bus Tour for a BYOB 90-minute tour of San Francisco aboard a minibus, led by local comedians who share their best jokes and stories about the city as you make your way around town.

Go to a Roller Disco Party at the Church of 8 Wheels

For something a bit more quirky and retro, head to the Church of 8 Wheels, where you'll get to live out your roller disco fantasies in a former church on Tuesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights alongside area locals. Don't worry about packing your skates—you can rent some for a small fee—or being a skating pro, as lessons are available on Fridays and Saturdays ahead of the skate night festivities. Check the website for more info on schedules and events and lean into the Church's mission: to spread the joy of skating throughout the land.

Explore Jack Kerouac's San Francisco

Literary enthusiasts should stop by City Lights Booksellers and Publishers, the legendary North Beach bookstore where Jack Kerouac and his Beatnik buddies used to hang out in the 1950s. Visit Vesuvio Cafe, located just across Jack Kerouac Alley and still a San Francisco institution for local artists, writers, poets, musicians, and anyone who is fan of the writer, as well as Allen Ginsberg, Dylan Thomas, and some of his other contemporaries. If time allows, learn all about this fascinating group and the world they lived in around the corner at The Beat Museum.

Have a Drink at a Ritzy Hotel Bar

Kick off your evening at the swanky, swoon-worthy JCB Tasting Lounge at The Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco, where this jewel box of a lounge seats about a dozen people in an eye-popping setting of black and gold, animal prints, and glittering crystal. Order a glass of passionate, provocative No. 9 sparkling wine or flirt over the flamboyant, sensual (and oh-so-yummy) No. 69 Pinot Noir. When this place fills up all its Baccarat crystal glasses, it won't accept another single soul, no matter how much you beg, so make reservations to avoid disappointment.

For a gorgeous view from slightly less opulent surroundings, you can't beat the Top of the Mark at the InterContinental Mark Hopkins San Francisco hotel, offering creative cocktails and epic views from its perch on the 19th floor since 1939. 

See the Lights on the San Francisco Bay Bridge

At sunset, the otherwise utilitarian San Francisco Bay Bridge transforms into a sparkling, LED light sculpture. Computer programs create incredible patterns that span the bridge and there are a few different places to best take in the view, whether you want to watch from the Embarcadero between the Ferry Building and the bridge or look down on the lights from the top of Telegraph Hill's Coit Tower. 

Explore Alcatraz at Night

Touring Alcatraz during the day can be hot, cramped, and take away from valuable time elsewhere. But visiting the storied prison at night extends your daytime sightseeing opportunities and gives you a chance to experience special programs and activities not typically offered during the day. You'll also be the only group on the island, which can add to the slightly mysterious charm of this unique 2.5-hour guided tour. 

Catch a Baseball Game at Oracle Park

Nighttime baseball games are a ​fun tradition anywhere, but catching a game at Oracle Park, formerly known as AT&T Park and home of the San Francisco Giants, is particularly enjoyable, especially if you're visiting with the whole family in tow. Grab a hot dog and a pint of beer and join in on the fun. The expansive ballpark also hosts a few different special events and concerts throughout the summer. 

Visit Treasure Island for This View

Treasure Island is possibly the best place in town to watch the city lights come out at sunset. The tiny island is a fun place to explore during the day, with bikes, cocktails, and a winery, but you won't believe the photos you'll be able to get of the San Francisco skyline once the sun falls below the horizon each night. To get there, take the Bay Bridge toward Oakland and exit halfway across. 

Escape to the Marin Headlands

If you're interested in snapping more breathtaking sunset photos, this photo was taken from the Marin Headlands, located on the northwest side of the Golden Gate Bridge. The city lights behind the bridge are truly magical. To get there, go north across the Golden Gate Bridge, exit just past the north vista point and turn left to drive up the hill.

Walk Along Pier 7

Hidden away from other touristy spots in San Francisco, you'll find Pier 7 along the waterfront between Washington Street and Broadway. A short walk to the end of it gives a beautiful city lights view, and there are plenty of benches where you can relax and enjoy a perfect San Francisco evening, crowd-free. 

Climb to the Top of Coit Tower

Head to the top of historic Telegraph Hill, where you'll find San Francisco's 210-foot Coit Tower. While the ground floor of the tower sports colorful murals painted by local artists, the top level offers beautiful views of the glittering skyline. Pro tip: This view is very similar to what you can see from the top floor of the parking garage above the police station on Vallejo Street.

Photograph the Transamerica Pyramid at Night

Whether you love it or hate it, San Francisco's iconic Transamerica Pyramid has always had a unique profile in the city. You can get some of the most iconic SF photos by shooting it from one of the city's many hilltops, set against the lights of Berkeley across the Bay.

Stroll Through the Streets of Chinatown

As soon as the sun goes down, Chinatown nearly turns into a ghost town. The few people who walk through it never seem to look up to see all the neon-lit signs or the glowing, red lanterns against the twilight blue sky. Don't be dull like everyone else. Take the short walk along Grant Avenue from Bush Street to Columbus just after the sun goes down—and don't forget to look up.

Take a Segway Tour at Night

Why let your feet get tired when you can use a Segway human transporter to explore the cityscape at night? An evening tour with the San Francisco Electric Tour Company is more fun than you can imagine. Tours begin in Chinatown and cover the Embarcadero and Little Italy.

Go Ghost-Hunting

The San Francisco Ghost Hunt promises to introduce you to San Francisco's most notorious ghosts on a 90-minute lantern-lighted walk through Pacific Heights. Tours are led by Christian Cagigal, a Bay Area magician and actor, so you know you'll be properly entertained. The Haunt offers 90-minute ghost-hunting adventures through Chinatown and the Jackson Square Historic District, focusing on the city's darker side. Guests also have the chance to use EMF monitors to detect paranormal activity during the tour.

Visit a Museum After Hours

Many of San Francisco's best museums offer late-night entry at least once a week. The California Academy of Sciences offers late-night admission every Thursday from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., while the de Young Museum, one of the city's best art museums is open late on Friday from 5:30 p.m. to 8:45 p.m. Most museums' late-night programs include special talks and performances or sometimes food and drink.

See a Concert at The Fillmore

This historic concert venue opened in 1954 and has hosted the likes of the Grateful Dead, Led Zeppelin, and The Who, among many others. The landmark Geary Boulevard venue still showcases both rock legends and up-and-comers, making it a uniquely San Franciscan way to spend an evening.