Attractions
San Francisco sightseeing is a hugely rewarding experience and,
if you enjoy walking between the sights, a physically demanding
one, too. Few cities have hills as steep as this, but mercifully
the cable cars are a practical and fun way to travel up and down
the rises.
There are a number of world class sights: take a stroll around
Golden Gate Park, while enjoying glimpses of the iconic Golden Gate
Bridge; then catch a cable car up the steep hills to Chinatown, and
the stunning Aquarium, before taking a long lunch at Fisherman's
Wharf, the city's most popular attraction.
Perhaps the best of sightseeing in San Francisco is simply being
in the city and experiencing its welcoming atmosphere while
enjoying the charming architecture and splendid natural
scenery.
If you're planning a very full day of sightseeing, consider the
Go San Francisco card which provides a range of discounts and
preferential access to attractions. Prices start from $20 per day:
www.gosanfranciscocard.com.
Golden Gate Bridge
The rust-coloured towers, graceful suspension and supportive
cables of the Golden Gate Bridge make this famous symbol of San
Francisco the most photographed bridge in the world, and visible
from almost any high point in the city, although it is often
shrouded in rolling...
see full detailsAlcatraz
Out in the middle of San Francisco Bay, Alcatraz Island, or 'The
Rock', is one of Golden Gate National Recreation Area's most
popular destinations. The notorious escape-proof island with its
dreaded maximum-security prison once held the likes of Al
'Scarface' Capone, George 'Machine Gun'...
see full detailsFisherman's Wharf
Some people love the bustle of Fisherman's Wharf, while others
make a conscious effort to steer well clear of it. But for better
or worse it is massively popular, attracting more visitors than any
other city sight, with Pier 39 the commercial tourist...
see full detailsNorth Beach
Between Russian and Telegraph Hills, North Beach is San
Francisco's 'Little Italy', that has long been the central hub for
anyone with alternative inclinations. During the 1950s the
pleasure-seeking, non-conformist lifestyle of the Beat Generation
and their rebellious literature contributed to the neighbourhood's
unconventional character...
see full detailsGolden Gate Park
Of the many open green spaces in San Francisco, Golden Gate Park
is the biggest and the loveliest stretching from The Haight to the
Pacific Ocean, featuring gardens, lakes, numerous sporting
facilities, and museums. On Sundays the main drive is closed to
traffic and...
see full detailsCable Cars
One of San Francisco's most endearing attractions is its network
of 130-year-old cable cars, the only mobile National Historic
Landmark in the country, and the world's only surviving system of
cable cars. Many cities adopted the system, but all have since been
replaced by...
see full detailsSausalito
Located at the north end of the Golden Gate Bridge, Sausalito is
a half hour ferry ride from Fisherman's Wharf. The panoramic view
of San Francisco Bay is spectacular, and Sausalito's sunny,
inviting outdoor cafés and small shops overlooking the city
are simply charming....
see full detailsAlamo Square
Anyone who has ever seen an episode of the 90s sitcom 'Full
House' will know what Alamo Square looks like. It is a residential
neighbourhood and park in San Francisco, frequented by tourists,
neighbours and dog-owners. The park features a playground as well
as...
see full detailsChinatown
A dragon-draped archway at the intersection of Bush and Grant
streets marks the entrance to Chinatown in San Francisco, the
oldest Chinatown in the United States and the largest Chinatown
outside of Asia. Chinatown draws more tourists than the Golden Gate
Bridge with its...
see full detailsLombard Street
Known as the 'Crookedest Street in the world', Lombard Street
features eight sharp hairpin turns. The road was designed in 1922
in order to reduce the 72 degree slope of the hill and make it more
usable for cars as well as pedestrians....
see full detailsGhirardelli Square
Just as you'll find gold at the end of the rainbow, there is
surely chocolate at the end of the cable car line in San Francisco.
Ghirardelli Square, located on Fisherman's Wharf, is occupied by
shops, restaurants, art galleries, and of course the...
see full detailsCoit Tower
This 210 feet-high (64 m) tower in North Beach is the best
vantage point in the city, and a great way for new arrivals to get
their bearings. The art deco tower is the centrepiece of Pioneer
Park, and was a bequest of...
see full detailsHaight Ashbury
Legend has it that the 1960s hippy movement and resulting
American counter-culture kicked off in the Haight Ashbury area.
That was more than 50 years ago, but the bohemian atmosphere of
this area prevails, with plenty of shops selling vintage clothing,
hemp based accessories,...
see full detailsUnion Square
This central plaza is the modern face of San Francisco,
surrounded by Macy's, Saks, Bloomingdale's, and the Levis flagship
store, plus iconic hotels and quaint historical buildings. Along
the west side, up the steep incline of Powell street, the famous
cable cars run down...
see full detailsSan Francisco MOMA
The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) is one of the
country's premier modern art centres, featuring important works of
Diego Rivera, Picasso, Jackson Pollock, Clyfford Still, Henry
Matisse, Paul Klee, Jeff Koons and iconic photography from Ansel
Adams. With the recent donation...
see full detailsAsian Art Museum of San Francisco
San Francisco has close ties with Asia, a legacy reflected in
its sizeable Chinese and Japanese communities. The Asian Art Museum
collection was funded and developed to honour this heritage. Housed
in the magnificent former San Francisco city library building, this
is the largest...
see full details
