A ten-minute ferry ride from San Francisco, Treasure Island is one of the Bay Area's more curious reinventions. The artificial island was dredged out of the bay in 1936 for the 1939 Golden Gate International Exposition, then taken over by the Navy in 1942. At its peak, around 12,000 military personnel a day passed through the base, and Hollywood even used it as a backdrop for films including 'The Caine Mutiny' and 'Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade'. The Navy left in 1997, and the island has been slowly turning into a neighbourhood ever since, with roughly 8,000 new homes planned alongside what's already there.
What's there now makes it well worth a half-day trip. Eight parks dot the roughly 400 acres, and 22 miles of waterfront trails circle the island (which is joined to the natural Yerba Buena Island), with 14 miles of bike paths planned. Cityside Park has made local 'things to do in 2026' lists for its landscaped gardens and picnic spots, while Panorama Park on Yerba Buena offers 360-degree views and the 'Point of Infinity', a 69-foot sculpture by Hiroshi Sugimoto. The Rocks Dog Park is fenced and off-leash friendly, and Clipper Cove is the quieter pick for a sandy shoreline walk and some birdwatching – pelicans, egrets and cormorants all show up. Cyclists can ride the Bay Bridge Trail over from Oakland to Yerba Buena, though it's famously windy.
The eating and drinking scene is small but characterful. Aracely Café does brunch and lunch daily in a garden setting, blending Californian and Argentinian flavours. Mersea Restaurant pairs seasonal dishes with big bay views and live music from Friday to Sunday, first-come first-served. After dark, the Gold Bar Distillery – housed in the former Pan Am airport terminal, all Art Deco and 1930s jazz lounge vibes – pours award-winning whiskey with live jazz on Friday nights, and runs cocktail-making classes from $79. Treasure Island Wines, the island's first urban winery, pours artisanal Californian tastings on weekends.
Be aware of a couple of practical realities: there are no hotels on the island yet, so you'll be heading back into San Francisco to sleep, and the wind plus typical SF fog can make it feel much colder than you'd expect – bring layers. It's also worth timing your ferry back for sunset; the views of the city skyline and the Golden Gate Bridge from the water are the best part of the trip.
Treasure Island suits travellers who've already done the Golden Gate and Fisherman's Wharf and want something low-key and local: a flat walk or bike ride, a long brunch, a distillery cocktail, and that postcard skyline from the deck of a ferry.
