Finding SFO's hidden gems (therapy pigs included)
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Play your cards right and you might meet LiLou at SFO one day. Photo: Justin Sullivan / Getty Images
With fall travel on the rise, more people will be spending time at San Francisco International Airport — myself included. But how can a traveler best pass the time there if delays or layovers loom?
The big picture: Hours in an airport can be a drag, but thankfully SFO is considered one of the nation's premier airports, full of hidden gems. To help you avoid becoming that traveler shamelessly sprawled and napping across gate seats, here are a few of its lesser-known amenities.
SFO Museum: Thoughtfully curated exhibitions are tucked in between gates and shops across the airport.
- Current galleries spotlight the Black women who spearheaded Afrofuturism; the evolution of telephones from the late 1800s to the 1990s; the cultural legacy of Filipino immigrant Ricardo Ocreto Alvarado; and glass artwork by Indigenous sculptor Preston Singletary.
Observation deck: Enjoy 180-degree views of the airfield free of charge at SkyTerrace, located pre-security in Terminal 2 and open 10am–6pm Friday through Monday.
- Food and beverages are permitted.
Nap rooms: Catch some shuteye by reserving a nap room or shower suite on Level 3 of the Dianne Feinstein International Terminal.
- Nap rooms are available to rent 24/7 for a minimum of three hours or overnight, with fees starting at $150.
Yoga rooms: Work out those kinks in your neck with some free light stretching at facilities near Gate C2 in Terminal 1, Gate E6 in Terminal 3 and the walkway between the C and D gates in Terminal 2. Open 4am–11pm daily.
Video Arts Room: Watch some thought-provoking films, all 10 minutes or less, at this gallery located pre-security on the departures level of the International Terminal. Open 8am–10pm daily.
- The current program celebrates National Hispanic Heritage Month, including a documentary of a former soccer star and a short film exploring New York's sonidero community.
Sensory Room: Designed for neurodivergent travelers but open to all, this space features textured walls, dim lighting, a cocoon and more.
- Find some calm in the quiet area or alleviate preflight jitters by getting comfortable in a full-scale aircraft interior in there as well. The room, open 5am–11pm daily, can be found post-security in Harvey Milk Terminal 1 near Gate C2.
WAG Brigade: Cuddle with SFO's most adorable representatives — if you can find them!
- The WAG Brigade comprises animals trained to provide emotional support and stress relief to travelers. Sadly, I have not yet had the chance to come across the troop, which includes multiple dogs and a piggy.
Alaska Airlines Lounge: Buy a $65 pass for access to the airline's new lounge in Terminal 2. You'll find Alaska's iconic recliners, phone booths and food — including the famous made-to-order pancake machine.
- Though the previous lounge's sourdough cart is no more, the treats bar features Bay Area cookies and candy from Oakland Fortune Factory, Jelly Belly and Ghirardelli.
Flashback: SFO opened in 1927 as the Mills Field Municipal Airport of San Francisco.
- At the time, it operated on a dirt airstrip in a cow pasture valued at less than $9,000 and served just 19 passengers in its first month.
- Today, over 53 million passengers travel through SFO every year.