Things to do in Union Square

5 places to start in Union Square

Powell Street cable car turnaround

At Powell and Market Streets, operators push each cable car around on a wooden turntable by hand. Both Powell lines to Fisherman's Wharf start here.

Official site →Photo: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0

Curran Theatre

Touring Broadway shows play this 1922 theater on Geary Street, next door to the Toni Rembe.

Official site →Photo: Andreas Praefcke, CC BY 3.0

Toni Rembe Theater

American Conservatory Theater stages its main season in this 1910 playhouse on Geary Street.

Official site →Photo: Sanfranman59, CC BY-SA 4.0

San Francisco Playhouse

A small theater on Post Street where you're never far from the stage. It puts on plays and musicals year-round.

Official site →Photo: Donny Gilliland, CC BY-SA 3.0

Union Square

The plaza itself gets an ice rink and a tall Christmas tree in winter.

Official site →Photo: Aude, CC BY-SA 2.5

Hotels in Union Square

Staying over? These are the picks from our guide, Top Hotels in Union Square, San Francisco, and Dyme members see private rates on each. You can also browse every San Francisco hotel guide or search hotels on Dyme.

Hotel Nikko San Francisco 222 Mason Street, San Francisco 8.84,710 reviews 4 min walk to Powell Street Station (BART/F/J/K/L/M/N/T) View hotel → Beacon Grand, A Union Square Hotel 450 Powell Street, San Francisco 9.24,950 reviews 3 min walk to Powell Street Station (BART/F/J/K/L/M/N/T) View hotel → Hotel G San Francisco 386 Geary Street, San Francisco 8.5799 reviews 3 min walk to Powell Street Station (BART/F/J/K/L/M/N/T) View hotel → Inn at Union Square 440 Post Street, San Francisco 9.4453 reviews 4 min walk to Powell Street Station (BART/F/J/K/L/M/N/T) View hotel →

This weekend in Union Square: October 2–4

60 things on: 15 classes, 7 shows, 5 exhibitions and 5 free. Listed by day and start time.

Friday, October 2

8:00 AMPost Montgomery Center: Patricia SonninoAbstract nature mappings.Art1 Montgomery St #800View listing →9:00 AMMayme Kratz: To Know the DarkDesert debris in resin.Art210 Post St #205View listing →9:00 AMSan Francisco Private City Tour with Local GuidePrivate tour, your pace.Tour335 Powell StFrom $300View listing →10:00 AMJosé Villalobos & Regina Saura On ViewStructure meets spontaneity.Art341 Sutter StFreeView listing →10:30 AMLee Friedlander: MariaIntimate photography retrospective.Art49 Geary St #450View listing →11:30 AMChess Lessons & SocialsOutdoor chess meetups.GamesUnion SquareView listing →12:00 PMTerror Vault: SLASHED: Return to HellvilleImmersive 80s slasher horror.Games88 5th StView listing →1:30 PMCityscapes And Public Places TourSecret urban green spaces.TourSan FranciscoView listing →4:30 PMFoundations: HeelsFlirty beginner heels.Class414 Mason St #705View listing →5:00 PMUnion Square DancesFriday night dance party.PartySan FranciscoFreeView listing →5:00 PMUnion Square Dances Free Outdoor Friday Night Dance PartyFree friday dance lessons.PartySan FranciscoFreeView listing →6:00 PMUniquely Filipino Art ExhibitionFilipino art & history.Art814 Mission StFreeView listing →6:30 PMInt/Adv HeelsHeels choreography & confidence.Class414 Mason St #705View listing →7:00 PMSan Francisco Ghost Tours: Gold and GhoulsHistorical ghost walk.TourUnion SquareView listing →7:30 PMThe Spotlight Comedy Presents Secret Comedy ShowLaughs over strong drinks.Show260 Kearny StView listing →7:45 PMSan Francisco Stand-Up Comedy @ Cheaper Than TherapyIntimate basement comedy club.Show533 Sutter StView listing →7:45 PMCheaper Than Therapy: Stand-up ComedyNightly pro comedy.Show533 Sutter StView listing →7:45 PMInt Jazz FunkEnergetic dance classes.Class414 Mason St #705View listing →8:00 PMJohn HillConfessional solo storytelling.Show222 Mason StFrom $127View listing →8:00 PMHey, NothingThe Hound Tour live.Music420 Mason StFrom $37View listing →8:00 PMSecret Improv Society Live Comedy ShowUnderground improv comedy.Show533 Sutter StView listing →8:30 PMMitch Polzak & The Royal DeucesRockabilly & honky-tonk.Music691 Market StView listing →9:00 PMFall Performance Workshop: INT HEELS with Masha SavushkinaHeels training to stage.Class414 Mason St #705View listing →

Saturday, October 3

9:00 AMSan Francisco Private City Tour with Local GuidePrivate tour, your pace.Tour335 Powell StFrom $300View listing →9:45 AMFoundations: BalletSaturday morning dance sessions.Class414 Mason St #705View listing →10:00 AMJosé Villalobos & Regina Saura On ViewStructure meets spontaneity.Art341 Sutter StFreeView listing →11:00 AMLee Friedlander: MariaIntimate photography retrospective.Art49 Geary St #450View listing →11:00 AMMayme Kratz: To Know the DarkDesert debris in resin.Art210 Post St #205View listing →11:00 AMInt Bollywood Funk ChoreoBollywood funk grooves.Class414 Mason St #705View listing →12:00 PMTerror Vault: SLASHED: Return to HellvilleImmersive 80s slasher horror.Games88 5th StView listing →12:15 PMInt/Adv Street JazzFierce weekend dance training.Class414 Mason St #705View listing →3:00 PMDrake Album Debate & Listening PartyRooftop album listening & debate.Party23 Geary StFrom $20View listing →3:45 PM2026 Fall Performance WorkshopIdol training to stage.Class414 Mason St #705From $365View listing →5:45 PMBeg/Int Jazz FunkStage-ready dance crew.Class414 Mason St #705View listing →6:00 PMSF’s “Terror Vault” 1874 Halloween Haunt Opening WeekendImmersive slasher haunted house.Games88 5th StView listing →7:00 PMSan Francisco Ghost Tours: Gold and GhoulsHistorical ghost walk.TourUnion SquareView listing →7:45 PMSan Francisco Stand-Up Comedy @ Cheaper Than TherapyIntimate basement comedy club.Show533 Sutter StView listing →7:45 PMCheaper Than Therapy: Stand-up ComedyNightly pro comedy.Show533 Sutter StView listing →8:00 PMSecret Improv Society Live Comedy ShowUnderground improv comedy.Show533 Sutter StView listing →8:00 PMMahjong NightMahjong meets nightlife.Games260 Kearny StView listing →8:30 PMCandela VivaLive cumbia & salsa night.Party691 Market StView listing →

Sunday, October 4

9:00 AMSan Francisco Private City Tour with Local GuidePrivate tour, your pace.Tour335 Powell StFrom $300View listing →10:00 AMNew Season, New ScheduleWeekly dance classes for everyone.Class414 Mason St #705View listing →11:00 AMBeg Belly DanceWelcoming movement class.Class414 Mason St #705View listing →12:00 PMTerror Vault: SLASHED: Return to HellvilleImmersive 80s slasher horror.Games88 5th StView listing →1:45 PMInt Belly DanceEgyptian belly dance troupe.Class414 Mason St #705View listing →2:00 PMDracula: A Feminist Revenge Fantasy, ReallyDarkly comedic horror adaptation.Show450 Post StFrom $25View listing →2:00 PMJewels in the SquareFree outdoor performances.ShowSan FranciscoFreeView listing →3:45 PMINT CONTEMPORARY Performance Workshop with Annabelle SchultzeContemporary dance floor energy.Class414 Mason St #705View listing →3:45 PMInt ShuffleShuffle-break fusion workshop.Class414 Mason St #705View listing →5:00 PMSalsa Styling 4-Week Deep DiveFull-body salsa styling.Class414 Mason St #705View listing →6:00 PMSF’s “Terror Vault” 1874 Halloween Haunt Opening WeekendImmersive slasher haunted house.Games88 5th StView listing →7:00 PMSan Francisco Ghost Tours: Gold and GhoulsHistorical ghost walk.TourUnion SquareView listing →7:45 PMSan Francisco Stand-Up Comedy @ Cheaper Than TherapyIntimate basement comedy club.Show533 Sutter StView listing →7:45 PMCheaper Than Therapy: Stand-up ComedyNightly pro comedy.Show533 Sutter StView listing →

On all weekend

No set start time for these, so go when it suits you.

Chinamaxxing exhibitionInternet culture art show.Art151 Powell StView listing →MondoChromaticChromatic geometric group show.Art39 Grant AveView listing →Terror Vault 1874 Halloween HauntImmersive haunt in historic mint.Games88 5th StView listing →The Creative Impulse: Post War Art in AmericaPost-war abstract expressionism.Art272 Post StView listing →Yerba Buena Gardens Festival 2026Free outdoor arts festival.Show700 Mission StFreeView listing →

More San Francisco neighborhoods

• The Mission District
• SoMa
• Civic Center
• North Beach
• The Financial District
• The Marina District