Islands To Explore Around San Francisco

Nearly an island itself, San Francisco tends to isolate its residents from the communities around it. Branch out from your typical city life and take a trip out to one of the many islands surrounding San Francisco, from islands hosting quaint communities to those exclusively preserving wildlife.

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Treasure Island

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Perhaps the mostly widely known island around San Francisco, Treasure Island is located to the east of San Francisco, easily accessible by car via the Bay Bridge. Linked to the smaller Yerba Buena Island, these two are technically a part of San Francisco itself, home to approximately 1,800 residents in addition to a variety of small businesses and restaurants, schools, and community organizations. Treasure Island is popularly visited for events like the monthly Treasure Island Flea Market and the annual Treasure Island Music Festival. Visitors can come to explore the beach, relax at the picnic area by Clipper Cove, go tasting at one of the island’s wineries, or visit the Treasure Island Museum Association to see historical exhibits or attend a free lecture.

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© Bob Kreisel / Alamy Stock PhotoBob Kreisel / Alamy Stock Photo

Angel Island is another popular spot, located to the north of San Francisco. The entire island is in the bounds of Angel Island State Park, overseen by California State Parks. Take a private boat or a public ferry to get there, and enjoy gorgeous views of the San Francisco skyline, the Marin Headlands, and Mount Tamalpais. Popular activities on Angel Island include tours, hikes, and biking – bike rentals are available on the island. You can also visit the old United States Immigration Station, which has been converted into a museum today. While on site, visit Angel Island Cafe for food and drink, or meander on over to Angel Island Cantina for live music.

Alcatraz Island

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Once a federal penitentiary, Alcatraz Island to the north is now one of the most iconic tourist attractions in San Francisco. On the island you can enjoy a close up of the first lighthouse built on the west coast, tour the former prison, or enjoy the island’s gardens, tide pools, bird colonies, and sweeping views. To get to Alcatraz, you will need to take a round trip ferry hosted by Alcatraz Cruises, which comes with an audio tour of the island. Due to the island’s popularity, it is highly recommended to book your reservation in advance. Tours are available both during the day and at night.

Brooks Island Regional Shoreline

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Brooks Island Regional Shoreline is located in Richmond, CA, to the northeast of San Francisco. The island is 373 acres large, accessible only as part of a naturalist kayak tour through the East Bay Regional Park District. The island is a sanctuary for birds, home to over 18 species including Caspian Terns, Black-crowned Night Herons, seagulls, and ducks. There is also a variety of unusual plant life on the island, a salt marsh, and wildflowers in the spring. The peak of the island is 160 feet high, offering breathtaking views of the Bay Area.

Alameda Island

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Alameda Island is located to the east of San Francisco, also linked to Bay Farm Island. The two islands are home to the city of Alameda, a charming town filled with Victorian houses and shopping districts, featuring vintage and antique shops. Plus, the community embraces its island identity by hosting a variety of Hawaiian restaurants and tiki bars. Spend some time at Crown Memorial State Beach and enjoy great views of the San Francisco skyline. You can take the Alameda Ferry to get to the island.

Belvedere Island

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West of Angel Island, Belvedere Island is located to the north of San Francisco. The island is part of Marin County, home to a wide range of flora and fauna. Herons have been known to reside there, and a variety of plant life has been found that is common on the nearby Ring Mountain. The island is mostly rocky, with an elevation of 69 feet. Part of the town of Belvedere is housed there, and it is separated from the rest of Tiburon by Belvedere Lagoon. From the island, you can enjoy lovely views of Sausalito and Angel Island.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.