26 Things to Do on Treasure Island (And Why the Best of San Francisco Happens Here)

With the best of San Francisco happening on Treasure Island, we’ve pulled together 26 things to do any day of the year. Eat and drink with skyline views, explore new parks, get out on the water, bike on trails you won’t find anywhere else, or catch live music and monthly community events. 

All of it sits in the middle of the Bay, just an 8-minute ferry ride from downtown San Francisco. Here’s your guide for the year ahead.

1. Ride the Treasure Island Ferry

Start your adventure right. Hop on the Treasure Island Ferry from San Francisco’s Ferry Building for an 8-minute scenic cruise across the Bay. With service seven days a week and stunning skyline views, it’s a beautiful way to begin your Island experience. Pro tip: Time your ride for sunset and watch the city light up from the water. 

2. Sip Whiskey at Gold Bar Distillery & Tasting Room 

Step into the Art Deco glamour of the 1930s at Gold Bar Whiskey Distillery & Tasting Room, housed in the historic Pan Am terminal. Sample craft whiskeys and enjoy panoramic views of the Bay Bridge and Golden Gate. Plus, if the kitchen is open, don’t skip the Lobster & Crab “Millionaire” Corndog, a local favorite.

3. Explore Cityside Park 

Spend the day at the Island’s newest waterfront park featuring expansive lawns, coastal gardens, BBQ stations, and stunning views of San Francisco. Designed with a mix of open green space and thoughtfully planted gardens, the park invites both active afternoons and unhurried time outdoors. It’s a favorite spot for picnics, family gatherings, and watching sailboats glide across the Bay.

4. Brunch at Aracely Cafe 

Discover this hidden gem featuring a spacious garden patio, cozy fireplaces (inside and out), and fresh, seasonal California cuisine. Aracely Cafe serves brunch and lunch daily with Sightglass coffee, creative dishes like their famous eggs benedict on fried quinoa, and tri-tip sandwiches that’ll have you planning your return trip. The outdoor space is dog-friendly and perfect for lingering over weekend brunches. 

5. Kayak or Paddleboard in Clipper Cove 

Bring a kayak or stand-up paddleboard and explore the calm, protected waters of Clipper Cove. Well-suited for beginners or anyone seeking a peaceful paddle with incredible city views, this “Unique Gem of San Francisco Bay” offers steady winds, no current, and zero commercial traffic.

6. Dine with a View at Mersea Restaurant & Bar 

“Come for the view, stay for the food” is their tagline, and they deliver. Mersea sits along the waterfront with container-style architecture and world-class cuisine, and is consistently ranked among the top three restaurants in San Francisco on Tripadvisor. Perfect for special occasions or treating yourself any day of the week. They also feature live music on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday to keep the energy high.

7. Take a Cocktail Class 

Want to level up your at-home mixology skills? Rated one of the best experiences in the city, Gold Bar Distillery & Tasting Room’s interactive cocktail classes are not to be missed. Learn to craft three signature cocktails, master professional bartending techniques, and discover the hidden history of Treasure Island, all while sipping premium spirits. They even set a Guinness World Record with 991 people stirring cocktails simultaneously in May 2025!

8. Play Padel or Pickleball at Bay Padel 

The Bay Area’s first padel and pickleball club has landed on Treasure Island. Bay Padel combines the fast-paced action of these trending racquet sports with a welcoming atmosphere for players of all levels. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or picking up a paddle for the first time, you’ll find your game here.

9. Catch the Sunset at Vista Point 

The west coast of Treasure Island offers unobstructed views of the San Francisco skyline, and Vista Point is where the magic happens. Bring a blanket, grab some takeout, and watch the sun paint the city gold. 

10. Explore the Treasure Island Museum

Dive into history at the Treasure Island Museum, where free exhibits tell the story of the 1939 Golden Gate International Exposition, the Island’s naval heritage, and its transformation into San Francisco’s newest waterfront neighborhood. Open weekdays 9am-7pm and weekends 11am-7pm. 

11. Groove to Sunset DJ Nights 

Every Sunday, Gold Bar Distillery & Tasting Room hosts Sunset DJ Nights featuring resident DJ Marc Stokes spinning deep, soulful house music as the sun sets over the San Francisco skyline. Sip craft cocktails and enjoy gourmet bites while the rhythm moves you. It’s the ultimate Sunday vibe to close out your weekend in style.

12. Weekend Wine Tasting  

Stop by Treasure Island Wines, the Island’s long-standing urban winery, for a weekend tasting featuring grapes sourced from premium California vineyards. It’s an easy, relaxed way to spend an afternoon and explore small-batch wines.

13. Bike the Bay Bridge Path 

Ride the 2.2-mile Bay Bridge Trail (Alexander Zuckermann Bike Path) from Oakland to Yerba Buena Island, one of the most unique bike rides in the Bay Area. From there, continue down Macalla Road onto Treasure Island with panoramic water views along the way. For the return, a free shuttle van is available to make the climb back up easy. 

14. Walk Buckeye Grove to Panorama Park

Follow the gently winding path up Buckeye Grove for one of the Island’s most rewarding walks. The route leads to Panorama Park, where elevated viewpoints open up to sweeping views of the Bay, downtown San Francisco, and the bridges. It’s a short walk with a big payoff and a favorite for golden hour. 

15. Visit The Rocks Dog Park 

Your furry friend deserves a Bay Area adventure, too. The fenced off-leash dog park at Avenue of the Palms and 9th Street is where local pups socialize against one of the most scenic backdrops in San Francisco. With dogs welcome at Mersea’s patio, Aracely Café’s garden, and throughout the Island, Treasure Island ranks among the most dog-friendly neighborhoods in the entire city, making it the purr-fect destination for you and your four-legged companion. 

16. Experience Public Art: From Point of Infinity to Canopy of Sky 

Treasure Island and neighboring Yerba Buena Island have become an open-air art gallery. On Yerba Buena Island, visit Panorama Park to see Hiroshi Sugimoto’s stunning 69-foot “Point of Infinity” sculpture with 360-degree views of the Bay Area. Back on Treasure Island at Cityside Park, marvel at Ned Kahn’s “Canopy of Sky,” a mesmerizing 28-foot kinetic sculpture featuring 7,000 translucent polycarbonate discs that shimmer and rustle in the wind, transforming fog and breeze into a living work of art.

17. Stroll Along the Shoreline

Enjoy an easy stroll along the paved waterfront path near Cityside Park. This flat, stroller- and kid-friendly walk offers uninterrupted Bay views and arguably some of the best perspectives of the San Francisco skyline in the entire city. 

18. Beach Day at Clipper Cove Beach 

Pack a picnic and head to the sandy beachfront within Clipper Cove, accessible off Treasure Island Road. The calm waters are great for swimming (when weather permits), building sandcastles, or just lounging with a book while soaking in those Bay views. 

19. Photograph the Bay Bridge 

Treasure Island is a photographer’s paradise, offering unique angles of the Bay Bridge that you can’t find anywhere else. From golden hour to blue hour and nighttime light trails, every time of day offers a different perspective on the city.

20. Laugh at Comedy Nights 

Join the fun at Mersea Restaurant & Bar’s comedy nights the second Friday of each month at 7pm, where the Bay Area’s top comic talent brings the laughs while you enjoy delicious food and cocktails. Come early for a full dinner or grab drinks and snacks during the show for an unforgettable evening out.

21. Go Birdwatching Along Clipper Cove

Bring binoculars or just your phone camera and head toward Clipper Cove, where calm waters and restored shoreline habitat attract pelicans, egrets, cormorants, and seasonal migratory birds. It’s a quiet, surprisingly active stretch of the Island and one of the best places to notice how much wildlife shares the Bay. 

22. Watch the Bay Lights from Treasure Island 

When the Bay Lights are illuminated, Treasure Island offers some of the clearest and least crowded vantage points to see the installation stretch across the Bay Bridge. Head toward the waterfront facing downtown after dark and take it in from a distance that lets the full scale of the lights come into view. 

23. Friday Night Jazz 

In the mood for jazz? Stop by Gold Bar Whiskey Distillery & Tasting Room on Friday nights for live jazz paired with classic whiskey flights and sunset views. The recurring series runs from early evening into the night and offers an easy, upbeat way to kick off the weekend with music, cocktails, and a relaxed Island crowd.

24. Hunt for Architectural Treasures 

Embark on a self-guided architectural tour of Treasure Island’s historic landmarks, beginning with Building 1 (1 Avenue of the Palms), the Art Deco Administration Building that once served as Pan Am’s China Clipper terminal and has appeared in films like The Parent Trap and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. Continue to Buildings 2 and 3, former 1938 airplane hangars used as film soundstages, including scenes from The Matrix. Together, these three structures are the only remaining buildings from the 1939 Golden Gate International Exposition, offering a direct link to the Island’s World’s Fair past.

25. Be Part of the Community

From outdoor concerts to seasonal celebrations, art walks, and special events at Cityside Park, Treasure Island’s community calendar is constantly evolving. Wine tastings, live music, and pop-up markets are all part of life in this vibrant waterfront neighborhood, bringing Islanders and visitors together throughout the year.

26. Plan Your Return Trip 

One visit won’t be enough with all the Island has to offer. With new restaurants, shops, homes, and attractions opening as part of Treasure Island’s massive redevelopment, there’s always something new to discover. Whether you make it a monthly ritual or your new favorite weekend escape, you’ll be planning your next visit before you’ve even caught the ferry back. 

Getting There

By Ferry: Treasure Island Ferry from San Francisco Ferry Building (8 minutes) 

By Bus: Muni Line 25 from Salesforce Transit Center (10 minutes) 

By Bike: Access via the Bay Bridge bicycle path from the East Bay

By Car: Exit Treasure Island/Yerba Buena Island from the Bay Bridge (free parking available)