- Our list of the best things to do in San Mateo, California, features the top 973 nearby activities — including 339 great attractions with user approval ratings of 90% or more!
- San Mateo, CA has a variety of great sights and experiences nearby. Top categories include: Outdoor Places, Food & Drink, Entertainment & Shows, and Sights & Landmarks.
- The results below include the top 21 things to do within the city of San Mateo, CA , followed by 952 popular activities in nearby cities, including San Francisco, Pacifica, Half Moon Bay, Berkeley, Los Altos, San Carlos, South San Francisco, Palo Alto, Oakland, Cupertino, Sausalito, Mountain View, Sunnyvale, San Leandro, Alameda, Fremont, Hayward, Newark, San Bruno, Union City, Castro Valley, Redwood City, Belmont, Daly City, Santa Clara, Menlo Park, Burlingame, San Ramon, Tiburon, Richmond, Dublin, Saratoga, Pleasanton, Milpitas, Lafayette, Danville, Lodi, Santa Ynez and San Rafael
Showing 1-10 of
1637
0.0 Miles
Kids bolster their tech skills with a series of classes on fast and efficient typing and programming
0.3 Miles
Nestled in the urban San Mateo, The San Mateo Japanese Garden is a welcome breath of peace. Strolling through the garden, sitting in the Japanese pagoda, and admiring the koi pond are some of the things visitors love the most.
3.1 Miles
At over 6 miles, Sawyer Camp Trail is a favorite for locals to enjoy scenic views or a bit of exercise. The paved rolling path is perfect for joggers and bikers, as well as those interested in breath-taking photo opportunities.
0.2 Miles
Showcasing local jazz musicians, B Street & Vine offers guests Italian dining with live music. It has over 17 choices of bruschetta to choose from. The prosciutto with figs and mascarpone is a crowd favorite.
3.1 Miles
91%
272 votes
Crystal Springs Rd & Skyline Blvd, San Mateo, CA 94401
MoreLess Info
A popular paved trail wide enough for two-way traffic, Sawyer Camp Trail at Crystal Springs Reservoir is designed for hikers, joggers, and bicyclists, and horseback riders. The trail features restrooms at either end as well as picnic areas.
0.1 Miles
Central Park, City of San Mateo is public outdoor recreational park. It is highlighted by a large gazebo and Japanese tea garden, and it also features lighted tennis courts, a playground and a baseball field.
1.7 Miles
87%
252 votes
1961 Coyote Point Drive, San Mateo, CA 94401
MoreLess Info
Visitors enjoy picnicking, swimming, bicycling, and boating at Coyote Point Recreation Area. The Magic Mountain Playground is a castle theme with a large dragon feature, making it one of the most fun playgrounds in the country!
1.8 Miles
Offering an interactive opportunity for visitors to meet animals, CuriOdyssey offers unique programs, events, and exhibits to the public. Events include animal shows ever weekend, highlighting a different animal each time, and community days.
1.4 Miles
A 500-mile trail along the bay, San Francisco Bay Trail takes visitors through recreational points of interest including beaches, parks, marinas and fishing piers. The relatively flat trail can be used for biking, walking, skating and dog walking.
0.2 Miles
The Japanese Gardens rests within the San Mateo Central Park and was designed by the landscape architect Nagao Sakurai of the Imperial Palace of Tokyo. Guests can enjoy a bamboo grove, koi pond, and tea house.
1.6 Miles
Part of the larger Shoreline Park, the new Seal Point Park offers views of the San Francisco Bay with windsurf and kayak launch areas. The site is also home to a three acre off-leash dog park along with multiple walking and biking trails.