In San Francisco, the possibilities for team building are as diverse as the city itself, offering a plethora of experiences to foster collaboration, communication, and camaraderie among colleagues.
This article covers the top team-building activities in San Francisco, from engaging in city-wide scavenger hunts to touring the famed Alcatraz prison. We explore the dynamic streets of San Francisco to showcase the top team-building activities and the power of teamwork against the backdrop of this iconic city.
Let’s dive right into the top 14 team-building activities in San Francisco:
1. cityHUNT Scavenger Hunt
cityHUNT Scavenger Hunt offers corporate team-building activities and scavenger hunts for professionals. These highly interactive scavenger hunts help boost your team’s morale while enabling greater exploration of the city of San Francisco.
Whether you’re welcoming new team members to the city or traveling with your corporate team for work, cityHUNT can help you connect with San Francisco like never before.
- Location: San Francisco & other locations
- Rating: 5.0/5.0 stars
- Customer Testimonial: “cityHUNT did an excellent job of creating a team building event tailored to the skills of our employees. I was impressed with the challenging clues and exciting activities that fostered productive communication and trust among us all. Fun was had by everyone.”
2. Subpar Miniature Golf
Tee up for a unique mini-golf experience at Subpar Miniature Golf. Navigate through a Bay Area-themed courses featuring 18 holes and challenging courses while enjoying craft cocktails and gourmet bites, promoting friendly competition and team bonding.
Subpar Miniature Golf also offers air hockey and Skee ball for a truly exciting indoor gaming experience. At Subpar Miniature Golf, you can invite your team to embrace their inner kid and enjoy all the games and activities from when they were young.
- Location: 900 North Point St F-201, San Francisco, CA
- Rating: 4.4/5.0 stars (Google)
- Customer Testimonial: “Just experienced this spot and had a blast! The mini-golf course featuring iconic SF landmarks is a cool touch. Free lockers for belongings, plus awesome options on the menu – beer, wine, boba, and food. Perfect hangout in Ghirardelli Square with family and friends!”
3. Bay Area Ridge Trail
Embark on a scenic hike along the Bay Area Ridge Trail, which offers stunning views of San Francisco Bay and surrounding landscapes. Strengthen teamwork and communication while exploring nature’s beauty together. For a more active team-building experience, consider volunteering for the Bay Area Ridge Trail to help clean up the trails and engage in local trail advocacy.
- Location: Check out the Bay Area Ridge Trail Maps for more information
- Rating: 4.5/5.0 stars (All Trails)
- Customer Testimonial: “A fabulous hike. We hiked north from Mendoza Ranch trailhead to the Coyote Lake Dam trailhead. Incredible views of the lake, nearby hills, Morgan Hill and Gilroy. Note that the AllTrails route for this BART adds an extra mile north with associated elevation gain, beyond the endpoint for the actual route. We followed the BART route and took the .9m connector route to the Coyote Dam Trailhead.”
4. Exploratorium After Dark
Immerse yourselves in interactive exhibits and hands-on activities at the Exploratorium’s After Dark events. Engage in scientific exploration, experimentation, and discovery while enjoying live music and cocktails, fostering curiosity and collaboration.
The Exploratorium After Dark event happens every Thursday evening from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. This is an adults-only event, making it the perfect Thursday night outing for corporate teams.
- Location: Pier 15 Embarcadero at, Green St, San Francisco, CA
- Rating: 4.7/5.0 stars (Google)
- Customer Testimonial: “This location is significantly larger than anticipated. Undoubtedly the most impressive science museum I’ve ever been to, boasting around 200 or more fully interactive exhibits that are thoroughly explained. Each exhibit delivers an immediate and clear impact, coupled with sufficient information for adults or older children to comprehend the reasons behind the effects.”
5. Napa Valley Wine Tastings
Take a day trip to Napa Valley for a wine-tasting adventure. Explore renowned wineries, sample exquisite wines, and indulge in gourmet cuisine amidst picturesque vineyards.
While there are many excellent wineries to choose from in Napa Valley — and we encourage you to make the most of your trip — one winery you don’t want to miss is Beringer Vineyards. Located just an hour outside of San Francisco in St. Helena, Beringer Vineyards offers a stunning setting and top-notch tasting to kick off your Napa Valley wine tour on the right note.
- Location: 2000 Main St, St Helena, CA 94574
- Rating: 4.3/5.0 stars (Google)
- Customer Testimonial: “We visited here on a recommendation for a veranda tasting and it was simply wonderful. The wines were absolutely delicious and explained brilliantly. The accompanying cheeseboard is a must to include and getting to take the physical board with you as a souvenir is a lovely touch. We really enjoyed our time here and can see why it’s constantly winning awards due to the beauty of the property, the knowledge of the team and their outstanding customer service!”
6. Clay by the Bay Pottery Studios
Get creative and attend a pottery class with your team at Clay by the Bay Pottery Studios. Collaborate with your team to design and build unique sculptures using various materials, promoting teamwork, innovation, and artistic expression.
Clay by the Bay offers both one-time and ongoing pottery classes, with many six-week course options to help your team build lasting and functional pottery skills.
- Location: 747 Beach St, San Francisco, CA
- Rating: 4.7/5.0 stars (Google)
- Customer Testimonial: “I’ve taken two 6-week classes at Clay by the Bay, and it’s been a wonderful experience. The instructors are thoughtful and extremely knowledgeable. I seriously look forward to class as the highlight of my week.”
7. Golden Gate Park Tours
Glide through Golden Gate Park on a guided Segway tour with Golden Gate Park Tours. Explore the lush gardens, scenic trails, and iconic landmarks of Golden Gate Park while bonding with your team. Plus, from the park, you can enjoy panoramic views of San Francisco’s natural beauty.
- Location: Check-in desk located behind Temple of Music next to bike rentals, 82 Hagiwara Tea Garden Dr, San Francisco, CA
- Rating: 4.8/5.0 stars
- Customer Testimonial: “Totally worth the price. Excellent tour with off-roading and a brief history of the park during the ride. Guides took time to make sure everyone was comfortable and knew how to manuever. Received a discount on our next ride which we will definitely do again soon! I’ve lived here for 3 years and learned so much about my beloved GGP!”
8. Alcatraz Night Tour
Take your team on a day trip out to Alcatraz Island to learn all about one of California’s most iconic and notorious landmarks. Embark on a memorable night tour of Alcatraz Island, where you’ll explore the infamous prison under the cloak of darkness. Engage in guided storytelling, historical insights, and team reflection in this eerie yet captivating setting.
For the more superstitious out there, the Alcatraz Night Tour offers the chance to explore one of the most allegedly haunted locations in San Francisco.
- Location: Pier 33, San Francisco, CA
- Rating: 4.7/5.0 stars (Google)
- Customer Testimonial: “It was such a great experience. We took the night tour, and I highly recommend it! The tour was self-guided, and we went at our own pace. The hospital wing opened up at 6 p.m., and it definitely added another lever to the experience. The water was very choppy on the bay, but the ferry over and back was smooth. All food and beverages on board are good, and cash isn’t accepted.”
9. Cozymeal Cooking Classes
Sharpen your culinary skills with a team-building cooking class at Cozymeal. Collaborate with your colleagues to prepare gourmet dishes under the guidance of professional chefs, fostering communication and teamwork in the kitchen.
Cozymeal cooking classes are designed to accommodate home chefs of all experience levels, from beginner to expert. Plus, this event’s location is flexible and can be hosted either at a Cozymeal facility or at your own business office (as long as you have a working kitchen!).
- Location: 95 3rd St 2nd Floor, San Francisco, CA
- Rating: 4.9/5.0 stars (Google)
- Customer Testimonial: “Our team had an amazing experience with Chef Dirk. We had a group of 16 and wanted to do something special but different during our annual holiday gathering so we choose a team building cooking class. We choose the Italian Pasta, and everyone had so much fun. Chef Dirk was awesome!”
10. San Francisco Zoo
The San Francisco Zoo, nestled within the lush landscape of the city’s western edge, offers a captivating blend of wildlife conservation, education, and recreation. Spanning over 100 acres, it houses over 2,000 animals from around the world, providing immersive exhibits that both entertain and educate your team.
Beyond animal encounters, the zoo features educational programs, interactive exhibits, and conservation initiatives, making it a vital hub for wildlife conservation efforts and a beloved destination for families and animal enthusiasts alike.
- Location: Sloat Blvd &, Upper Great Hwy, San Francisco, CA
- Rating: 4.4/5.0 stars (Google)
- Customer Testimonial: “What a wonderful experience. Almost all the animals were out. We went around 2pm and stayed till it closed. The animals were very vocal around this time. At least that was our experience. We will be going again next weekend.”
11. House of Air Trampoline Park
Bounce into action at House of Air, San Francisco’s premier trampoline park. Engage in high-flying fun with trampoline dodgeball, slam dunk basketball, and aerial stunts, promoting team spirit and friendly competition. The House of Air also features a café to keep your team hydrated and energized during your exciting day at the trampoline park.
Plus, the House of Air hosts exercise classes as well, offering a fun group activity for your team that also helps them jumpstart healthier lifestyles.
- Location: 926 Mason St, San Francisco, CA
- Rating: 4.0/5.0 stars (Google)
- Customer Testimonial: “I went to one of the evening workout classes here, AMAZING! This place is truly so fun. I enjoyed House of Air so much I’m already planning to bring my friends with me next time!”
12. San Francisco Sympony
Experience the magic of live music with a performance by the San Francisco Symphony.
Live symphonies foster a shared experience among team members, creating a sense of unity and camaraderie as they collectively enjoy the music together. The emotional and intellectual engagement stimulated by the performance can spark meaningful discussions and connections among colleagues, breaking down barriers and strengthening relationships.
- Location: 201 Van Ness Ave, San Francisco, CA
- Rating: 4.8/5.0 stars (Google)
- Customer Testimonial: “What a beautiful concert hall! I saw the artist Maxwell, who performed with The San Francisco Symphony Orchestra as his musical accompaniment. It was the concert I never knew I needed to see! His voice and songs, along with the flawless performance by the Symphony, were a perfect match!”
13. The Haunt SF: Ghost Hunting Tour
Take your team on a frightening adventure through the streets of San Francisco with The Haunt SF Ghost Hunting Tour. Complete with modern ghost hunting gear like an EMF detector and led by experienced ghost hunters, these tours will challenge your views of reality and open your eyes to the many haunted locations found across the Bay Area.
- Location: Transamerica Pyramid, 600 Montgomery St, San Francisco, CA
- Rating: 4.8/5.0 stars (Evendo)
- Customer Testimonial: “Jamie was our tour guide & he was excellent. Very informative and took his time to guide us throughout S.F. Though we didn’t see any ghosts we did get a few warm to hot readings on our (energy detector provided by Jamie) & a few light posts flickering.”
14. Sea Trek Kayak and SUP
Ready your sea legs because you and your team are going on a water paddling adventure with Sea Trek Kayak and SUP. Offering kayak and stand-up paddleboard (SUP) rentals, Sea Trek allows visitors to choose between self-guided rentals and guided tours.
- Location: Bay Model Visitor Center, 2100 Bridgeway, Sausalito, CA
- Rating: 4.8/5.0 stars (Google)
- Customer Testimonial: “Wonderful casual and fully equipped place that I visit frequently to kayak on the San Francisco Bay out of Sausalito. 90% of the time I see seals and 100% of the time I have fun going about 30 minutes one direction and turning around. Looking forward to the next time! Oh and the staff are knowledgeable and friendly.”
