San Francisco
Your getaway to San Francisco
Start with the one landmark that matters: walk the Golden Gate at morning, before the crowds arrive. The Ferry Building feeds you next, oysters and sourdough and farmers hawking peaches. Ride a cable car once, not because you must, but because it is genuinely fun. Spend an afternoon wandering the Mission: murals on Balmy Alley, a burrito the locals endorse. Dolores Park gives you the skyline with your coffee and the city's mood for free. Golden Gate Park offers a Japanese Tea Garden when you want quiet and a bison paddock when you don't. North Beach at dusk means espresso, old bookstores, and maybe a slice of focaccia. Twin Peaks or Bernal Heights, pick one, and take the sunset from above the fog line. Keep one day unplanned; this city rewards turning left on a whim. You'll leave having seen the famous things and the good things, which are often different things here.
Places to love in San Francisco
Alcatraz Island
A former federal prison on an island in San Francisco Bay, now a national park site with tours of the cellhouse and grounds. Travelers visit for its notorious history and bay views.
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Golden Gate Bridge
The world-famous suspension bridge spanning the Golden Gate strait, a defining symbol of San Francisco. Travelers come to walk, photograph, and take in views of the bridge and bay.
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PIER 39
A bustling waterfront marketplace on San Francisco's Fisherman's Wharf featuring shops, restaurants, sea lions, and bay views, one of the city's top tourist attractions.
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Fisherman's Wharf
A famous waterfront tourist district known for seafood, sea lions, and bay attractions. Travelers go for the lively atmosphere, dining, and views.
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Lombard Street
A famous San Francisco street known for its steep, one-block section with eight sharp hairpin turns lined with landscaped gardens. Travelers visit to see and photograph the crooked, winding roadway and the views from atop the hill.
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Golden Gate Park
A large urban park featuring gardens, museums, lakes, and open green space stretching across western San Francisco. Travelers come to stroll, picnic, and visit the many attractions within its grounds.
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Ferry Building
A landmark marketplace and transit hub on the Embarcadero, filled with artisan food vendors and a farmers market. Travelers go for gourmet food shopping and waterfront views.
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Chinatown San Francisco
The oldest and one of the largest Chinatowns in North America, filled with markets, temples, restaurants, and shops along its historic streets. Travelers come to explore its dense cultural atmosphere, food, and architecture.
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Twin Peaks
Twin hilltops offering sweeping panoramic views of San Francisco and the Bay from one of the city's highest points. A must-visit viewpoint reached by car or a short walk.
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