San Francisco is often called "Everybody’s Favorite City," a title earned by its scenic beauty, cultural attractions, diverse communities, and world-class cuisine. Measuring 49 square miles, this very walk-able city is dotted with landmarks like the Golden Gate Bridge, cable cars, Alcatraz and the largest Chinatown in the United States. A stroll of the City’s streets can lead from Union Square to North Beach to Fisherman’s Wharf, with intriguing neighborhoods to explore at every turn. Views of the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay are often laced with fog, creating a romantic mood in this most European of American cities.
Attractions
| The Golden Gate Bridge is a California icon gracing San Francisco Bay. It is the most photographed site in the city, with the orange structure backed by blue water, or in many cases, peaking through low lying cloud. At night, the flood-lit structure is equally striking. |
| The historic and notorious Alcatraz penitentiary, located on Alcatraz Island in San Francisco Bay, is one of America's most infamous prisons. It operated for almost thirty years, closing in 1963 and re-opening as a tourist attraction in 1973. Some of America's most well-known criminals were inmates here, including Al Capone and the "Birdman," who would later form the basis for the fictional movie The Birdman of Alcatraz. |
| Fisherman's Wharf is one of San Francisco's most popular tourist areas. If this is your first visit to the city and you only have a day or two to see the sights, Fisherman's Wharf is one of the best places to visit. This old section, once the Little Italy of San Francisco, is known for its shops, restaurants, and beautiful setting along the waterfront. It's a fun place to stroll around and get a taste for the city. From here, you can also take a sightseeing cruise for spectacular views of the city, or organize a fishing charter. |
| You may have been to Chinatown in other cities, but San Francisco's Chinatown is a whole other realm. It is both the largest Chinatown outside of Asia and the oldest of its kind in North America. Almost completely destroyed in the 1906 earthquake, Chinatown was rebuilt entirely in the Chinese style and was soon even more attractive than before the disaster. |
| The California Academy of Sciences, in Golden Gate Park, is an architectural marvel as well as a multifaceted museum. This state-of-the-art "green" building with a sustainable design has a 2.5-acre Living Roof, covered with native plants and even rolling hills to match the natural surroundings. The roof also has solar panels to generate electricity, and the soil acts as natural insulation. The walls are largely made of glass allowing for natural light. Inside is an incredible natural history museum, planetarium, aquarium, rainforest, and more. |
| Another very popular trip, offering a chance to see one of America's great national treasures, is a Tour to Yosemite National Park. This is a must for nature lovers who want to see the famous sites of El Capitan and Half Dome and walk among the Giant Sequoias of Mariposa Grove. |
| The best option for the traditional, no fail, explore-at-your-own-pace sightseeing tour is the Big Bus San Francisco Hop-On Hop-Off Tour. This double decker bus tour, with guided narration, allows you to get on and off at the major tourist spots and is a great way to get acquainted with the city while learning a little history and seeing the highlights. |
Dining
| Devil’s Teeth Baking Company SF doesn’t have a defining breakfast food like bagels or breakfast tacos, but the breakfast sandwich at Devil’s Teeth is almost as iconic. Even if you’re coming from Union Square or close to Pier 39, it’s worth making the trek out to this bakery in the Sunset just for this. There will be a line, but it moves fast, and once you get your sandwich you can go a few blocks down to Ocean Beach to eat while the rest of the city wakes up. |
| Swan Oyster Depot At Swan, they keep things simple, with fresh oysters, cracked crab, and pretty much every other delicious raw sea creature you could want. If you’re not sure about what you’re doing, just ask someone behind the counter. Even though there’s always a line, you won’t be rushed by anyone who works there, so you can take your time, order accordingly, and eat while you weigh the pros and cons of smuggling oysters back home in your suitcase. |
| Scoma’s Restaurant Scoma’s is one of the only places in Fisherman’s Wharf that locals go out of the way for (the other is In-N-Out). And there aren’t many better ways to start an afternoon walking up and down far too many hills than by coming to this restaurant that looks like a 1960s houseboat to get some chowder, a whole roasted crab, and a bunch of beers. Just make sure to roll up your sleeves before you start eating. |
| Trattoria Contadina Trattoria Contadina is as good as it gets when it comes to old-school Italian food. The menu has the classics like veal saltimbocca and housemade gnocchi with tomato cream that are exactly what you want from a place like this. It’s a five-minute walk uphill from Little Italy, but you’ll feel less like you’re in a ’90s rom-com dinner scene and more like you’re actually eating a real meal than pretty much anywhere on Columbus Ave. Plus, you can pick your favorite celebrity headshot on the wall after you order - but not Cheers-era Kirstie Alley, she’s our favorite. |
Sports
| San Francisco's Major League Baseball team is the Giants (playing in the National League), who first played in New York (where they originated in the 1880s) before coming to San Francisco. The Giants played in San Francisco's iconic Candlestick Park from 1960 to 1999, but they moved to Oracle Park in 2000. To catch the Giants at a home game, head to beautiful Oracle Park. This stadium is centrally located and can be accessed by public transportation. Even when the Giants aren't in town, you can still enjoy Oracle Park with a behind-the-scenes tour . |
| San Franciscans cheer for the Golden State Warriors, the NBA champions based in Oakland. First formed in Philadelphia in 1946, the team became the San Francisco Warriors in 1962 and by 1971, they represented the entire state and relocated to what is now the Oracle Arena in Oakland. |
| The San Francisco 49ers hold the honor of being the city's very first professional major-league sports team. The 49ers played their home games in San Francisco from 1946 to 2013, first at Kezar Stadium in Golden Gate Park and then at Candlestick Park. In 2014, the team moved 40 miles south to a spacious new home at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara. |
Culture
There are too many theatres, clubs and venues to write about in this culturally vibrant town. At any time of the year you will find everything from major concert performances, Broadway plays, comedy and music clubs, all the way to ballet and opera. There truly is something for everyone at any time in San Francisco.
| Festivals: There are festivals to explore year round in San Francisco. With a vibrant and diverse culture there is always something exciting goin on and here are a few local favorites:
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Wine Country
Less than 1.5 hours from San Francisco, Napa Valley and Sonoma Valley are the two best-known and largest grape-growing areas in California. Many people day trip to this area to enjoy the scenery and stop in at some of the sites along the way. Situated at the southern end of the valley of the same name, some 52 miles from San Francisco, Napa is one of the largest Californian towns north of San Francisco.
| Napa Valley: More than 400 wineries dot the fertile soils of Napa Valley, one of the world’s premier wine regions and famous for its prized Cabernet Sauvignon. Stroll through the vineyards, talk with the winemaker, or sip award-winning wines with dramatic views of the valley floor. Discover tasting experiences that go beyond the norm when you visit the wineries of Napa Valley. |
| Sonoma Valley: Sonoma Valley is the perfect wine country destination for wine enthusiasts, both novice and seasoned alike. With 100+ wineries – from striking castles and garden chateaus to modern lounges and Mediterranean-style villas – Sonoma Valley offers a unique wine tasting experience for everyone and is the birthplace of California wine. Sonoma Valley’s rolling vineyards are nestled between two mountain ranges offering exquisite and peaceful beauty. |
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