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San Mateo County, San Mateo County, CA
SightseeingLocal Gem

San Mateo County

· San Mateo County, CA

Why you should go…

The San Mateo County/Silicon Valley Convention and Visitors Bureau is the official destination marketing organization for San Mateo County, California, doing business as The San Francisco Peninsula. It provides official area visitor guides, maps and trip-planning resources covering the county's coastline, Silicon Valley communities and proximity to San Francisco. The nonprofit bureau is based in Burlingame, California.

  • #tourism
  • #travel guide
  • #bay area
  • #coast
  • #silicon valley

Good to know

General sightseeing guidance

Habits that pay off across this whole category, not rules for this one venue. Always check the official site for the specifics.

  • The forecast is part of the ticket

    Haze, low cloud, and rain flatten a view. Clear-day visits are worth rearranging your plans for.

  • Golden hour sells out first

    Sunset slots at observation decks and cruises are the first to go, so book those further ahead.

  • Dress a layer warmer

    It is always breezier up high and out on the water than it feels at street level.

  • Timed entry is common

    Plenty of landmarks release tickets in windows rather than at the door, so check before you walk over.

What's around here?

The closest stops to San Mateo County, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

  • Sightseeing
    Local Gem

    Half Moon Bay

    Free

    Visitor guide for Half Moon Bay and the San Mateo County coastside, from downtown shops to coastal trails.

    9.1 mi awayMore like this

  • Museums
    History Buff

    Filoli

    $25–$50

    A 1917 Georgian Revival mansion and 16-acre English Renaissance garden estate open for house tours, garden walks and hiking trails.

    13 mi awaySwitch it up: Museums

  • Museums
    Rainy-Day Pick

    de Young Museum

    Under $25

    Browse American art, textiles and works from Africa and Oceania in a copper-clad museum in Golden Gate Park.

    14 mi awaySwitch it up: Museums

  • Tours
    Outdoor Adventure

    Ride California

    $50+

    Guided electric bike tours through scenic California coastal towns on premium pedal-assist e-bikes.

    14 mi awaySwitch it up: Tours

  • Sightseeing
    Iconic

    Haight-Ashbury

    Free

    Stroll past Victorian houses, boutiques and record stores in the San Francisco neighborhood of the 1967 Summer of Love.

    14 mi awayMore like this

  • Sightseeing
    Iconic

    Painted Ladies

    Free

    See the row of pastel Victorian houses on Steiner Street from the lawn of Alamo Square, with the downtown skyline behind them.

    14 mi awayMore like this