5 Wheelchair Accessible Things to Do in San Francisco

During my recent trip in California, I had the chance to visit some remarkable destinations, including Sonoma and Yosemite National Park. I also was able to return to San Francisco for the second time. San Francisco is one of California’s most iconic cities and for good reason – there are countless wheelchair accessible San Francisco attractions and sights to enjoy! 

For my most recent trip in San Francisco, I had less than 48 hours to explore the city, so I was on a mission to visit a couple attractions that I’ve always wanted to see, but never have (I’m lookin’ at you, Alcatraz!) and discover a few new things to enjoy. My quick trip in San Francisco was action-packed and a ton of fun, and I already want to return to experience more!

In this blog post, I’ll talk about five wheelchair accessible San Francisco attractions and activities that I enjoyed during my recent trip. Then at the end of this blog post, I’ll tell you about where I stayed. I hope that you enjoy learning about some of the best accessible things to do in San Francisco! 

Wheelchair Accessible San Francisco Attractions & Things to Do

From going on a food tour in the Ferry Building to touring one of San Francisco’s most famous attractions, Alcatraz, I highly enjoyed these five wheelchair accessible San Francisco attractions and would certainly recommend checking them out for yourself the next time you’re in San Francisco! 

Admire art at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art

The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art is a mind-blowing place and it was my first stop during my most recent trip to the city. I have been to some incredible art museums around the world, including the Museum of Modern Art in New York City, and after visiting San Francisco’s MOMA, I can confidently say that it is a world-class museum and one of the best art museums I’ve visited. 

From colorful paintings to interesting sculptures, there’s something for everyone here. I loved getting lost in the different worlds the artists created. There were a variety of exhibits that I enjoyed, but my favorite was a temporary exhibit by artist Yayoi Kusama, who is one of my favorite artists. No matter what kind of art you enjoy though, you’re sure to find it in this museum. 

I was also impressed by the museum’s commitment to accessibility and it exceeded my expectations. Wide ramps, clear signage, and elevators made it easy to move from floor to floor. The museum even offered complimentary wheelchairs for visitors who needed them. I felt welcomed and included, able to fully immerse myself in the art without any barriers.

Another highlight of the museum for me was the rooftop garden, a peaceful oasis amidst the bustling city. Sculptures were scattered throughout, offering a unique perspective on the surrounding cityscape. The fresh air and open space provided a nice change from the intensity of the galleries below. It was a perfect place to reflect on the artwork I had experienced and to simply enjoy the beauty of the moment.

Leaving the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, I felt inspired and energized. The museum ignited my imagination and it was a truly unforgettable experience. If you are a fan of art, this museum is a must-visit while in San Francisco! 

Visit the notorious Alcatraz prison

The number one thing that I wanted to do during this trip to San Francisco was visit Alcatraz. I have been fascinated with Alcatraz ever since I watched the 1979 Clint Eastwood movie “Escape From Alcatraz” about 20 years ago, so I was excited to finally experience Alcatraz and check out its accessibility. 

To get to Alcatraz, we had to first board a City Cruises ferry. It was wheelchair accessible for me to get on the ferry, as there was a smooth ramped entry. I sat inside for the ferry ride, which only lasted about 15 minutes. It was heated inside and a snack bar was available. 

Once we reached Alcatraz, I easily exited the ferry and was ready for the adventure. Alcatraz is at the very top of a hill and you can walk/roll to the top via paved paths, but keep in mind that it is quite steep. Instead of rolling to the top, I chose to take the tram, which was a lot easier and quicker. 

For anyone that needs help getting to the top, where Alcatraz is, they provide a tram at no cost. The tram has a ramp in the back and there is enough space for one wheelchair. I did have to ride sideways for the journey to the top, but it wasn’t a big deal. The ride was pretty smooth and easy, and it only took about ten minutes. 

Once we reached the top, we were immediately ready to begin touring Alcatraz. We were able to get a headset for an audio tour, which was surprisingly really nice. I’m usually not a fan of audio tours, but this one did a fantastic job of explaining everything in an interesting way. The former inmates and guards were the ones providing the audio, so that made it really intriguing as well. 

Overall, I was really surprised at how wheelchair accessible Alcatraz was. There was an elevator, so I could get to multiple levels of the prison, and it was spacious and smooth for me to roll around. Since Alcatraz is older (it operated from 1934-1963), I expected for accessibility to not be that great, but I was able to have a full experience as a wheelchair user. 

We toured inside Alcatraz for a little over an hour, but you can stay as little or as long as you want. Throughout the tour, I learned so much about not only how Alcatraz operated, but also about some of the prison’s most notorious inmates, including Al Capone and Robert Stroud. We were also able to see inside the cells, visitation booths, and the cafeteria area to name a few of the highlights. 

Once we finished touring Alcatraz, we visited the huge on-site gift shop and then got back on the tram, which took us to the bottom of the hill, where we boarded the ferry. I had high expectations for Alcatraz and honestly, it exceeded all of them. I can certainly see why this place is one of the country’s most famous attractions and it’s an absolute must-do in San Francisco, no matter what your abilities are. 

Watch my experience at Alcatraz in my short video below!

See the beauty of the Palace of Fine Arts 

When visiting the San Francisco area, do not miss one of the most photographed sites in the city, the Palace of Fine Arts. This monumental structure stands in the Marina District and is one of the most desired photo opportunities in the city. Its Greco-Roman style rotunda and Greek-style colonnades have become the perfect location for weddings, prom photos, and Instagram Reels/TikToks alike. 

Built for the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition, which was a historic World’s Fair-style event, the wheelchair accessible paved pathways here are perfect! I was able to park close by on a metered, accessible street spot and roll all the way down to the lagoon area. There were plenty of swans in the water that provided the perfect backdrop for my photos. I was also able to roll down to the central rotunda and was amazed at the beauty of this place. I took way too many pictures, but I thoroughly enjoyed all the photo ops in this area. 

Since the Palace of Fine Arts is located just a little over two miles west from Fisherman’s Wharf, it is the perfect add-on to your itinerary. So, bring your cameras and your best smile because this is one spot that you shouldn’t miss. 

Eat your way around the Ferry Building 

What better way to get a taste of a destination’s food scene than doing an accessible food tour? During my recent trip to San Francisco, I was excited to find Edible Excursions, a food tour company that has been in business since 2004. That’s quite a while, so I figured they must be good. And I was definitely right!

Lisa, our tour guide, was very punctual and met us at the Ferry Building to begin our walking/rolling tour. She was super sweet and handed me a bag with a few tasty treats inside as soon as we met. As she discussed the history of the Ferry Building and the San Francisco food scene, I could tell that she had a true love of food and more importantly, an appreciation for the people of San Francisco that make the food. 

Throughout our tour, Lisa was great to point out the accessible restrooms, and knew where all the curb cuts and ramps were to make it easy to maneuver around the marketplace. There are nearly 50 local artisans inside the Ferry Building and Lisa had an immediate plan of where we should go for some excellent bites. 

Over the course of an hour and a half, I ate my way through some scrumptious chicken patties from Peaches Patties, which were savory pastry filled delights with Jamaican curry seasoned chicken inside, and even some handmade chocolate confections from Recchiuti, which were so delicious. I also had the best French macarons that I have ever eaten in my life from Miette. Miette has been named one of the top ten pastry shops in the world by Conde Nast Traveler and I now know why. Señor Sisig was another favorite eatery of mine and it had Filipino fusion food. My mouth is watering just remembering it. 

I really loved how our tour guide, Lisa, walked with us from place to place, talking about what we like and don’t like to eat, discussing the history of the foods and restaurants that we were visiting, and she made it so much fun along the way. I’ve done a few food tours in other destinations and this one with Edible Excursions was by far my favorite. I loved every single thing that I ate and Lisa was just the best. 

If you are looking for an accessible thing to do in San Francisco and are a foodie like me, I’d highly recommend going on an Edible Excursions food tour. And tell Lisa hello and that I sent you! 

Enjoy a show at the Orpheum Theatre

When in San Francisco, seeing a show at the historic Orpheum Theatre is a must! This theatre is absolutely stunning and is located in the Civic Center district of San Francisco. The Orpheum is known for hosting a variety of performances. Shows include Broadway, musical concerts, and dance productions among other public events. 

Wheelchair accessible seating can be found in two areas of the Orchestra level. These seats can be found in the Integrated Row R and also at Platform Row CC, which is in the rear of the Orchestra section. In these sections, you can remain in your wheelchair if you desire or you can transfer into a venue provided chair. If you do decide to transfer into one of their provided seats, your wheelchair will be stored as close to your row as possible by a theatre staff member. Wheelchair accessible seats may be purchased by calling Audience Services at 888-746-1799, or at the Theatre Box Office. Please note that there are no elevators to the upper levels. 

While enjoying the show, if an accessible restroom is needed, fully accessible men’s and women’s restrooms can be found via the elevator at the left of the main entrance (next to the VIP area) and taken to the basement level. Also be aware that arriving early is a good idea, as the metered street parking spaces are limited, but there are also public parking garages nearby. The lobby opens 90 minutes prior to show time and the theatre opens 30 minutes prior to show time.

Where to Stay: Hotel Zoe Fisherman’s Wharf

While in San Francisco, I stayed at Hotel Zoe Fisherman’s Wharf. This hotel, as the name suggests, is in a great location in Fisherman’s Wharf, one of the city’s most iconic neighborhoods. Fisherman’s Wharf has fantastic restaurants (I’d highly recommend eating at Scoma’s!) and shops, and it’s just a fun area to check out. 

In my wheelchair accessible room, there was one queen sized bed. The room was on the smaller side, but I had enough space to maneuver around. 

In the bathroom, there was a pull-under sink, grab bars by the toilet, and a roll-in shower with smooth entry. A fold-down seat was also provided in the shower. The bathroom was spacious and worked perfectly for my accessibility needs. 

Hotel Zoe also had a really nice outdoor courtyard, which I enjoyed relaxing in. You could sit out here and relax on a nice evening or enjoy a glass of wine perhaps. The hotel actually provides s’mores kits for guests, so I made some s’mores on the fire. Is there anything better than s’mores?! I think not. 

I enjoyed my stay here and the hotel worked well for my needs. I also loved that it was in a great location! If you are interested in learning more about Hotel Zoe Fisherman’s Wharf or want to book a room, just go to their website by clicking here. 

San Francisco is a special destination and I had a phenomenal trip checking out some of the best wheelchair accessible San Francisco attractions and things to do! I hope that this blog post will be helpful for you when you’re planning your own accessible getaway to the city. 

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*Thank you to Visit California for working with me on this trip and showing me the best of wheelchair accessible San Francisco! While my experiences were complimentary, all opinions expressed are authentic and my own.

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