Things to Do Near SFO Airport

There are enough cool, quirky and fun attractions near SFO to make even the shortest stay one to remember. Check out these top picks and make the most out of your layover.

Art on the Fly

If you only have an hour or two between flights, you can get a major art jolt and stretch your cramped legs at the same time. The airport is teeming with art. The SFO Museum selects the rotating themed exhibitions displayed in the terminals, while the San Francisco Arts Commission sets up the permanent art collection displayed throughout the airport. The permanent collection includes Wayne Thiebaud's signature San Francisco cityscapes and Manuel Neri's life-size marble figures.

Plane Spotting on the Run

Fresh air, exercise and a view of the waterfront will leave you feeling refreshed while putting you in touch with the City by the Bay. Head for little, lovely Bayfront Park, where you can stroll or jog along the water's edge and take your pick of benches and views. Admire the blue bay, the cities on the other side and the mountains beyond. Or watch the big planes land and take off on four airport runways. Bayfront Park is one of the best places to visit near SFO for plane spotting.

Trash to Treasure

Why not tour the dump and recycling center if you have a few hours to spare? It's one of the top things to do near the San Francisco Airport, and it's not just any dump and recycling center. This is the City by the Bay, where pretty much everything is cooler than you think. Recology San Francisco has a goal of zero waste and lots of creative ideas. One unusual initiative is its Artists in Residence program. Selected local artists get free studio space at the recycling center and they have the right to sift through the stuff people have tossed out. They then use their finds in art projects. Sign up for a tour of the gallery featuring resident artists' work, the sculpture garden, the recycling facility at Pier 96 and the artists’ studios.

Retail Therapy

When the going gets tough, the tough go shopping. It may be time for some serious retail therapy if you're near SFO. Step aboard a Bay Area Rapid Transit train or BART at the airport and you'll arrive at San Bruno station five minutes later. The enormous Tanforan Mall welcomes you just outside the station. It's easier to list what the 960,000-square foot mall doesn't have than what it does. You'll find restaurants, brew houses, bakeries, books, photography studios, and big stores like Sears, Target and J.C. Penney, in addition to movie theaters.

Want to spend more time in the City by the Bay? Find hotels in San Francisco.