Overview

The spectacular sparkling San Francisco, or City by the Bay is a cultural, commercial, and financial center in Northern California. Nestled on the West Coast of the U.S. at the north end of the San Francisco Peninsula, it includes a significant stretch of the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay within its boundaries. The city packs alot into its seven-mile-by-seven-mile grid covering 46.9 square miles, it is the second most densely populated major city in the states behind New York City. There are over 50 hills within the city limits, and several picturesque islands including Alcatraz, Treasure Island, and the uninhabited Farallon Islands that are nestled 27 miles offshore in the Pacific. 

The city may be small by big city standards but it packs a punch when it comes to attracting tourists with its world-renowned shopping, Michelin-starred restaurants, world-class museums, and iconic sightseeing attractions. Visitors can choose from a variety of exciting sights to visit in San Francisco, take a trip to the famous Alcatraz, eat your way through the largest Chinatown in the U.S., spend a day with the animals at San Francisco Zoo, stroll along the waterfront and take in the awe-inspiring views, spend a day at the beach, take a cable car ride through the city, walk or cycle across the iconic Golden Gate Bridge. San Francisco’s charming neighborhoods are home to some of the best retail shops in the state, there are so many shopping opportunities to be had in the state at popular destinations such as Haight-Ashbury.  

Things to see and do

Take a fascinating trip to the notorious former federal prison, Alcatraz, located on a small, rocky island of the same name in the middle of San Francisco Bay. Nicknamed “The Rock” several notorious criminals (Al Capone being one of the most famous) were incarcerated here. Take a ferry ride from Pier 33 to the infamous island and join a recorded cell-house tour voiced by former inmates and prison guards. Learn about the prison and explore the buildings and grounds. 

Fisherman’s Wharf is home to PIER 39 where the resident sea lions like to frolic and is lined with shops and restaurants. It is a festive waterfront marketplace and a must-see when visiting the city. This waterfront neighborhood is one of San Francisco’s most popular attractions such as Madame Tussauds, Ripley’s Believe It or Not, Ghiradelli Square, the Boudin Bakery, and the Aquarium of the Bay. The San Francisco Maritime National Historic Park and its Maritime Museum are also located here.

The historic Ferry Building Marketplace is located at the foot of Market Street, a public food market featuring a variety of food stalls. The food stalls act as small restaurants, snack stops, and grocery stores in a lively atmosphere. On Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 am to 2 pm, or Saturdays from 8 am to 2 pm is when the huge farmers market takes place with regional farmers and ranchers selling vegetables, flowers, meats, and other small batch bites. 

The iconic orange-colored Golden Gate Bridge is the most famous bridge in the world, a spectacular piece of architecture that stands 746 feet tall, and spans an impressive 1.7 miles across the Golden Gate Strait, connecting San Francisco to Marin County. There is a pedestrian walkway that allows crossing on foot (5 am - 6:30-9 pm depending on the season), and bikes are allowed on the western side. It is the most photographed bridge in the world and is also impressive when viewed from many excellent vantage points around the city. 

Spend a day at San Francisco Zoo, the 100-acre park is home to over 2,000 exotic, endangered, and rescued animals. Some highlights include the meerkat habitat, the 3-acre African savanna, and the expansive lemur forest. 

Take a day trip to Ocean Beach, this 3 ½ mile stretch of sand is a great place to escape the bustling city. Take a walk along the soft sandy beach, cross the Great Highway for brunch or happy hour, soak in the ocean views, and watch a sunrise or sunset. This beach is the perfect experience for expert surfers in search of the perfect wave. 

Take some photographs at the famous Haight-Asbury neighborhood, the heart of San Francisco’s hippie counterculture movement with a colorful past. A great place to soak up the 1960s nostalgia, it is home to many eclectic and colorful vintage shops, hip restaurants, music shops, and landmarks like the former Grateful Dead house at 710 Ashbury St. 

San Francisco has been the backdrop for many movies like “Mrs. Doubtfire, “The Rock”, “Tales of the City”, and some Marvel movies. The Painted Ladies are a row of fancy turreted Victorian and Edwardian houses famed for their color facades, and stunning architecture. Swing by the row of seven that are particularly recognizable, the “Seven Sisters” or “Postcard Row” are houses of 710-720 Steiner St at the corner of Hayes Street which have appeared in many of these movies in the 90s show “Full House”. 

To fully experience San Francisco’s charm, hop on board one of the city’s iconic cable cars. The city’s cable car system has been in operation since the late 1800s, the cars run on tracks and are moved by an underground cable. There are three routes left in the city including the famous Powerll-Hyde Line, they travel through North Beach, Fisherman’s Wharf, Union Square, Nob Hill, Chinatown, and the Embarcadero. The familiar bells can be heard ringing from blocks away. It is the last of its kind in the U.S. and was given the title of a National Historic Landmark in 1964.

San Francisco’s Chinatown is one of the oldest and largest in the world, it hosts one of the largest Asian communities outside of Asia and is the oldest and largest in North America. Dragon’s Gate is the iconic entrance to Chinatown located at Grant Avenue and Bush Street with its three portals. Inside the gates, there are 24 blocks boasting a thriving array of exotic shops, renowned restaurants, and historical landmarks like the Tin How Temple and the Chinese Historical Society of Amerca Museum found along colorful alleyways like Ross Alley, home to the Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory. 

Golden Gate Park is a 1000+ acres of rolling hills set in the heart of San Francisco. The massive park is home to a range of attractions such as the de Young Museum, the California Academy of Sciences, the Japanese Tea Garden, and the San Francisco Botanical Gardens. The verdant park is filled with groves of trees, gardens, picnic spaces, lakes, playgrounds, sports courts, hiking trails, walking paths, cycling paths, and a century-old carousel.

Shopping

Shopping in San Francisco offers shoppers never-ending opportunities with high-quality, one-of-a-kind fashion, home decor, locally made artisan items, and unique art pieces. There are internationally famous luxury department stores scattered throughout the city as well as a great variety of independently owned shops and boutiques. It is easy to plan a whole day of shopping in San Francisco with so many different neighborhoods packed with charming local shops and pleasant surprises around every corner. The city is defined by its steep hills and crooked streets, it is quickly making a name for itself among shopaholics in the U.S. There are several areas and shopping establishments to choose from when heading out for a day of shopping in the iconic counter-cultural city. 

Check out some of the popular shopping areas such as Haight-Ashbury, which is home to a collection of vintage and thrift stores and plenty of cute gift shops and more to choose from. The range of options available here links back to Haight-Ashbury’s infamous ‘Summer of Love’ in 1967, when thousands of young hippies supported the counter-culture and took over this very neighborhood. The sprawls of vintage and thrift stores in the area serve to remind people of the neighborhood’s free-spirited nature. Picture hippie shops painted in bright neon colors with peace signs stamped everywhere. 

In the Mission DistrictMission is a lively, ever-evolving area with deep Latino roots with buildings and walls that feature beautiful bold murals of Latino life. Check out Valencia Street for some cute artsy shops, countless coffee shops, and cocktail bars. Stroll down Clarion Alley, just south of 17th Street, and gaze at the endless walls of gorgeous paintings. 

Union Square is one of the most dynamic downtown shopping areas in the entire U.S. as well as one of the largest. It is a pedestrian-friendly district decorated with beautiful historic architecture, top-name-brand like Hermes, and Gucci, and luxury department stores such as Saks Fifth Avenue, and Barney’s New York. There are shops on every corner alongside some of the finest hotels, restaurants, and theatres in the city. Union Square is the ultimate shopping destination and hub of San Fran, with so many things to check out within walking distance. Stroll down the neighborhood’s hidden alleyways and uncover some hidden treasures like Maiden Lane, which is pedestrian friendly from 11 am until 6 pm and is dotted with outdoor cafes, and upscale retailers. 

Hayes Valley is another very fashionable neighborhood located in the heart of the city. It is home to the famous Hayes Street and boasts quirky boutiques, coffee vendors, and unique artisan shops. This long stretch of road runs all the way to Golden Gate Park decorated with vibrant buildings adorned with street art, cocktail bars, boutique shops, and outdoor beer vendors.

Fillmore Street located in the Pacific Heights neighborhood is another standout shopping destination that is home to Margaret O’Leary the local knitwear sensation. MIO is also located here, the store has showcased fashion and accessories from international designers across Europe and Asia since 2986. San Francisco’s Japantown and the Japan Center Malls are located just down the street, this multilevel shopping mall is filled with unique imported goods like cast iron and bronze teapots.

Dining

San Francisco is a culinary wonderland with a myriad of cultures combined to create a hotbed of culinary talent and award-winning cuisine. The 7-by-7 metropolis is home to a whopping 39 Michelin stars awarded to 28 restaurants. San Francisco and the Bay Area also feature an enviable collection of one, two, and three-star restaurants, which is more so than any other destination in the Americas. This culinary mecca is right up there with some of the most iconic cities in the entire world, the stunning city offers a bevy of famous eats and experiences that you cannot get anywhere else.

The restaurant and food options span numerous neighborhoods with unforgettable dining experiences. A few things San Fran is known for are the oldest Chinatown in America, North Beach’s 113-year-old family-run Liguria Bakery, spectacular sushi in Japantown’s Peace Pagoda, Mission-style burritos, San Fran sourdough bread, and Dungeness crab to name a few. The city has award-winning Burmese dining and vibrant Malaysian cuisine among other options making it one of the most interesting places to eat in America.

San Fran's dining scene is what foodies dream of, and being a city that is surrounded by fertile fields for growing fresh produce, world-class vineyards, and healthy seas the chefs in the city cook with the freshest natural ingredients. Some of the world’s most talented chefs reside in San Francisco and all of these talents combined have created some true San Francisco originals such as cioppino, the martini, the Irish coffee, and Boudin's sourdough bread. The food, beer, and wine scene here is bursting with flavor and there are many places to indulge in some of the most exquisite dining experiences around. There is a wide range of different cuisines and culinary specialties to choose from in every neighborhood you explore in San Francisco. There are causal street food vendors, luxurious dining establishments, waterfront seafood restaurants, and beachside bars where you can opt for everything from tasting menus to chef’s table dinners, and exquisite a la carte selections. 

Nightlife

San Francisco boats a sparkling nightlife scene, exploring the endless possibilities and neighborhoods of the City by the Bay after hours is a fun time indeed. San Fran offers some spectacular events and establishments for a good night out on the town, think spooky night tours, club hopping, dive bars, theatre shows, bustling bars, an adult night at the museum after dark, and scenic night tours around the Bay.

The city has quite a vibrant, diverse, eclectic nightlife scene especially in its numerous nightclubs, with many attractions that visitors should check out after dark. San Francisco boasts an outstanding symphony, class and contemporary ballet, and numerous opera companies for a sophisticated night out. It features a thriving theatre community notably the American Conservatory Theater which presents classic and new works at The Geary Theater by Union Square. At the impressive Orpheum Theatre on Market Street Broadway, fans can catch a show. There are numerous magnificent museums in the city that offer some unique opportunities for a special night out.

The city’s history as a music scene during the Summer of Love and decades after still exist in places like The Great American Music Hall and the legendary Fillmore put on some rowdy rock concerts with indie bands. Other venues such as the Bottom of the Hill, Amnesia Beer, and Music Hall present R&B and hip-hop concerts. After all the city was the place where several bands and musicians such as the Grateful Dead, Carlos Santana, Jefferson Airplane, and Journey established themselves. There are open mic nights at Hotel Utah Saloon, gay dance clubs, karaoke emporiums, salsa dancing, and more. San Francisco has a bevy of bustling bars with upscale bars serving up craft cocktails, longstanding local neighborhood watering holes that have been around for decades, and some of the most renowned tike bars in the state, there is something to cater to everyone. 

The Mission District is known for its artistic spirit brimming with bohemian bars and serving up artisanal cocktails. The bustling streets of Union Square are the place to be for a night at luxurious upscale lounges, and rooftop terraces with stunning views of the city’s glistening skyline. The historic Castro District is home to inclusive bars and clubs, while North Beach is where soothing jazz clubs and vintage speakeasies can be found down narrow streets and hidden alleyways. The vibrant streets of Chinatown offer visitors late-night dim sum spots and other hidden gems to explore at night. Together these interconnecting San Francisco neighborhoods weave a vibrant place to party. The city’s spirit shines bright in whatever neighborhood you choose to spend your evening.