# Things to see in San Mateo, California (United States): 29 places and when to go

> San Mateo, California is a city in United States with around 626,000 inhabitants, and this site lists 29 places in and around it, mainly Nature (10), Wildlife (8), Food and drink (5). The best known are Mavericks Beach, San Mateo–Hayward Bridge and Half Moon Bay. The best time to come is March to October; also possible: November to February. In June there are 14 h 35 of daylight, and in December, 9 h 25. Here is what there is, when to go, how to get there and what else is nearby.

- Address: https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/san-mateo/
- Reviewed on: 2026-10-08
- Language: en

## In a nutshell

- **Where:** United States · 37.5569, -122.3131
- **Population:** About 626,000
- **Places:** 29 places on this site, in the town and around it.
- **What people come for:** [Nature](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/naturaleza/) (10) · [Wildlife](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/fauna/) (8) · [Food and drink](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/gastronomia/) (5) · [History](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/historia/) (4) · [Museums and art](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/museos/) (3) · [Beaches](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/playa/) (3)
- **Best time:** March to October.
- **Also possible:** November to February.
- **Nearest airport:** SFO San Francisco, 8.9 km as the crow flies

## What to see in San Mateo, California

The places in and around San Mateo, California, best known first, each with its own page: what it is, when to go and what is next to it. Distances are from the centre, as the crow flies.

- [Mavericks Beach](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/mavericks/): Surfing location in Northern California, United States · 18 km
- [San Mateo–Hayward Bridge](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/san-mateo-hayward-bridge/): Road bridge across San Francisco Bay in San Mateo County, California, United States · 10 km
- [Half Moon Bay](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/half-moon-bay/): Bay of the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Mateo County, California, United States · 16 km
- [Hiller Aviation Museum](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/hiller-aviation-museum/): Aerospace museum in San Carlos, California · 7.2 km
- [USS Thompson](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/uss-thompson/): 1919 Clemson-class destroyer · 14 km
- [Carolands](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/carolands/): Historic house in California, United States · 5.2 km
- [Martins Beach](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/martins-beach/): Beach in San Mateo County, California, United States · 22 km
- [Miramar Beach, California](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/miramar-beach/): Sandy beach in San Mateo County, California, USA · 15 km
- [Our Lady of the Wayside Church](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/our-lady-of-the-wayside-roman-catholic-church/): Church building in Portola Valley, United States of America · 20 km
- [Coyote Hills Regional Park](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/coyote-hills-regional-park/): Park in Fremont, California, US · 20 km
- [CuriOdyssey](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/curiodyssey/): Non-profit organization in the USA · 3.8 km
- [Edgewood County Park](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/edgewood-park-and-nature-preserve/): Natural preserve in San Mateo County, Calif · 11 km
- [Fitzgerald Marine Reserve](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/fitzgerald-marine-reserve/): Marine reserve in California on the Pacific Ocean · 18 km
- [Half Moon Bay State Beach](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/half-moon-bay-state-beach/): State beach in San Mateo County, California, USA · 16 km
- [Point Montara Light](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/point-montara-light-station/): Lighthouse in California, United States · 18 km
- [Pulgas Ridge Open Space Preserve](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/pulgas-ridge-open-space-preserve/): Public recreation area in San Mateo County, California, United States · 8.9 km
- [Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/russian-ridge-open-space-preserve/): Open space preserve in San Mateo County, California, United States · 27 km
- [Thornewood Open Space Preserve](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/thornewood-open-space-preserve/): Park in the Santa Cruz Mountains of San Mateo County, California, United States · 19 km
- [Windy Hill Open Space Preserve](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/windy-hill-open-space-preserve/): Regional park in San Mateo County, California, United States · 23 km
- [Woodside Store](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/woodside-store/): Museum of a store built in 1854 in Woodside, California · 14 km
- [Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/niles-essanay-silent-film-museum/): Film museum in the Niles District of Fremont, California · 29 km
- [47 Hills Brewing Company](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/47-hills-brewing-company/): Brewery · 13 km
- [Bay Area Ridge Trail](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/bay-area-ridge-trail-04-san-francisco-and-peninsula/): Trail circling the San Francisco Bay Area · 7.5 km
- [Chump's Reef](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/chump-s-reef/): Reef · 17 km

And the other 5, by what you come to do:

- **Food and drink**: [Devil's Canyon Brewing Company](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/devil-s-canyon-brewing-company/), [Hop Dogma](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/hop-dogma/), [Jettywave Distillery](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/jettywave-distillery/), [La Nebbia Winery](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/la-nebbia-winery/)
- **History**: [Zaballa House](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/zaballa-house/)

## When to go to San Mateo, California

The best time to visit San Mateo, California is **March to October**; also possible: November to February. This comes from its own places: a month counts as the town's best time when it is the best time for half of what there is to see.

| Mes | Época | Hours of daylight |
| --- | --- | --- |
| January | Possible | 9 h 41 |
| February | Possible | 10 h 36 |
| March | Best time | 11 h 43 |
| April | Best time | 12 h 59 |
| May | Best time | 14 h 01 |
| June | Best time | 14 h 35 |
| July | Best time | 14 h 21 |
| August | Best time | 13 h 27 |
| September | Best time | 12 h 14 |
| October | Best time | 11 h |
| November | Possible | 9 h 56 |
| December | Possible | 9 h 25 |

In June there are 14 h 35 of daylight, and in December, 9 h 25. In June, 29 of the 29 places are at their best.

When to go to United States in general, with its festivals and peak seasons, is in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/#cuando-ir).

## Getting to San Mateo, California

The nearest main airport is San Francisco International Airport (SFO, San Francisco), 8.9 km as the crow flies. How to get around United States (train, car, bus) is in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/#moverse), and what to sort out before you leave is in [its checklist](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/#antes-de-salir).

- [Where it is](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=37.5569%2C-122.3131)
- [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=37.5569%2C-122.3131)

## Other towns nearby

- [Oakland, California](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/oakland/): 44 places · 25 km
- [San Francisco](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/san-francisco/): 64 places · 25 km
- [Mountain View](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/mountain-view/): 25 places · 27 km
- [Berkeley, California](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/berkeley/): 38 places · 35 km
- [pescadero](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/pescadero/): 7 places · 39 km
- [Walnut Creek](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/walnut-creek/): 13 places · 47 km

And all of United States, in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/).

## Frequently asked questions

### What is there to see in San Mateo, California?

The best known: [Mavericks Beach](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/mavericks/), [San Mateo–Hayward Bridge](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/san-mateo-hayward-bridge/), [Half Moon Bay](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/half-moon-bay/), [Hiller Aviation Museum](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/hiller-aviation-museum/), [USS Thompson](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/uss-thompson/). In all, 29 places in the town and around it, all on your trip map from day one.

### When is the best time to visit San Mateo, California?

March to October; also possible: November to February. In June there are 14 h 35 of daylight, and in December, 9 h 25.

### How do you get to San Mateo, California?

The nearest main airport is San Francisco International Airport (SFO), 8.9 km away. From there, [directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=37.5569%2C-122.3131) opens the route on the map.

### How do I add it to my trip?

Create a trip with San Mateo, California as the destination and these 29 places are on your map, each with its category. The ones you like go into a day's plan with one tap, and Kokai reminds you when you pass nearby.

Data from [OpenStreetMap](https://www.openstreetmap.org/copyright), licensed under the ODbL, from [Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/), CC0, cities from [Natural Earth](https://www.naturalearthdata.com/) and airports from [OurAirports](https://ourairports.com/data/). Daylight hours are calculated from the latitude. More in [credits](https://kokai.app/en/aviso/#creditos).