Top 15 Places to Visit in San Francisco
Ariel View of Downtown San Francisco
San Francisco, known as the Golden Gate of California, is one of the most
vibrant, bustling, intriguing cities in a state known for individuality and
glamour. You’ll see old architecture inspired by the Spanish colonists, followed
by brand new buildings.
In a city that regularly shakes the unworthy buildings to the ground, something
else is always being built. San Francisco is also located on a peninsula,
meaning that almost any new architecture has only one direction to go: straight
up. This is the origin of the famous tall, narrow houses pressed up against each
other.
In your travels through San Francisco, there are many important landmarks
that you simply cannot miss during your stay. However, you can almost certainly find just as intriguing a time
if you simply wander around. San Francisco is surrounded by water on three
sides, and is only seven miles in length in its entirety. Yet in this small
peninsula, the city is packed full with a
population of 812,000 according to the last U.S. Census.
That population
density, as well as the vibrant culture that comes from mixing several cultures
together in a melting pot so small it might as well be a pressure cooker, is
part of what makes San Francisco such a lively, exciting city. So lets check out
the top most popular places to visit in San Francisco.
15) Lombard Street
Lombard Street has been called “The Windiest Street in the World.” Chances
are, if you’ve ever had a postcard sent to you from San Francisco, it contained
either the Golden Gate Bridge or this famous street. What is known as “Lombard
Street” is actually just a tiny section of the road—in fact, Lombard Street is
one of the first roads that was built into San Francisco from the north. Many tourists have
been startled to enter San Francisco looking for the tiny, twisty Lombard
Street, only to find themselves driving on it already, never noticing because of
the wide lanes and multiple traffic lights!
This street runs from east to west, and is one of the main avenues by which
you can travel through San Francisco. The part of the street that is famous for
the twists and turns is actually only one block long. In that one block, the
street twists eight different times, switch-backing down the hill. This is due
to the steepness of the hill, an interesting feature of San Francisco geography.
Overlook of Downtown San Francisco from Atop Lombard Street
Many of the streets are at incredibly steep angles. The Lombard Street grade is
over 25 percent. This makes San Francisco a great place for hiking, but not so
good for biking unless you’re confident about riding down hills.
14) Golden Gate Park
Golden Gate Park is to California what Central Park is to New York. It’s a
vibrant, tended oasis in a concrete jungle. There isn’t much room for gardening
and greenery in San Francisco in the tiny peninsula, where any land is
immediately snapped up by developers. Because of that, it's a refreshing
vacation for most of the locals to head down to the park. Because of the small
size of the city, the long stretch of the park is never too far away. This
not-so-hidden gem boasts redwood trees indigenous to the area, it also plays
host to a number of fantastic events, such as the yearly Opera in the Park,
which regularly draws a crowd of 25,000 people.
Lake In Golden Gate Park With Pedal Boats
Spreckels Temple of Music - Golden Gate Park
By Joe Mabel
via Wikimedia Commons
If you’re just in town for a quick trip, you don’t even need to head out of
the city in order to have a fun and athletic time. Various businesses offer
rentals of equipment all around the sides of the park.
Roller skates, inline
skates, scooters, and bicycles are all available for rental, for anyone who
wants to take some time during their San Francisco journey and experience the
fresher, more peaceful side of the bustling city.
View of the Golden Gate Bridge from the Park
13) M. H. de Young Museum of Art
If you know much about the history of California, you’ll be familiar with the
fact that there isn’t much recorded history during the era of settled America.
One of the oldest standing buildings is one of the most intriguing—the M.H. de Young
Museum of Art. The de Young was originally constructed in 1894, making it one of
the oldest surviving structures in San Francisco; while it was reconstructed in
the aftermath of the earthquake of 1906, much of the original structure still
remains.
M.H. de Young Museum of Art
By WolfmanSF
via Wikimedia Commons
The de Young hosts an extensive collection of art from many eras of human
history, including a strong sculpture gallery, a series of long hallways
decorated with impressionist art, and a sublevel containing truly ancient
artifacts. This museum hosts cultural exhibitions all year long, bringing back
many cyclical favorites. The Impressionists and Water series is a perennial
favorite in particular, and usually visits the de Young once a year.
The architecture and grounds are almost as impressive as the works contained
inside the de Young. One emphasis during construction of this historic building
was the fact that the de Young was constructed of natural materials, namely
copper, glass, stone, and wood. The light around the building is filtered by
many trees, creating a dappled effect that brings more natural light to the
works of art without being damaging.
12) Japantown
Most people have heard of San Francisco’s famous Chinatown. Less well-known,
but just as intriguing to many tourists is the slightly hidden Japantown. This
area deserves more recognition, and is a thriving subculture in the San
Francisco area. One nice thing
about Japantown is that while Chinatown has become relatively well known for
being a tourist location, very few people are as familiar with the Japanese side
of San Francisco. This means that your entrance to this fascinating cultural
lodestone won’t be hampered by hundreds of people with every step you take.
San Francisco's Japantown
Japantown hosts a myriad of events all year, including cultural festivals,
dances, sumo exhibitions, kimono days, concerts, and gatherings of people from
all walks of life. These gatherings are very popular, and are usually open not
only to people of Japenese origin, but to the general public as well. Also in Japantown you can find authentic sushi at a variety of different
restaurants, all within decent walking distance of each other. No matter what
kind of Japanese food you like—tempura, sushi, sashimi, udon, ramen, or soba,
you can find it in Japantown.
Japantown Pagoda
Another thing that many people enjoy about Japantown is the fact that it boasts many Asian supermarkets. These places, such
as Daiso, are great for stocking up on essentials that many Japanese people feel
are necessary, but difficult to find in the U.S.
11) Chinatown
Chinatown in San Francisco has a long and intricate history. It first developed
during the Gold Rush of the 1840s and 1850s, and the building of the railroads
that soon followed that required many thousands of Chinese laborers. The lure of gold brought thousands
out on the long and dangerous trek to California. Once there, the settlers
needed cheap labor, and turned to the large immigrant population of Chinese
people. The huge population of Chinese people around the Golden Gate lead to a
high concentration in San Francisco itself. Over time, this settlement evolved
into the Chinatown borough of the great city, with a fascinating local history.
It is the largest Chinatown in North America, and in fact, the largest Chinatown
(or, concentration of Chinese people in the same place) outside of Asia.
Garlands of Red Chinese Lanterns in Chinatown
Taking a tour of Chinatown is just the beginning, and an opportunity not to
be missed. There are walking tours, biking tours, bus tours, and the
ever-popular rickshaw tours, specifically catering to tourists who want to
experience a bit more of authentic Chinese life rather than a typical American
city cultural experience. However, what you may not know
is that the rickshaw was not invented in China. In fact, it was invented by a
white man in California around the turn of the century!
Gates to Chinatown in San Francisco
After your tour, there are many hotels located throughout Chinatown that
cater to both tourists and locals, at a variety of prices depending on how fancy
you want to get. Of course, one thing Chinatown is known for is the food. Peking
duck, orange peel chicken, and mu shu pork are all perennial favorites, and some
claim that the fortune cookie was actually invented in San Francisco’s
Chinatown.
10) San Francisco Zoo
The San Francisco Zoo is one of the best and most popular zoos in America. It
is open a full 365 days a year, from 10 in the morning to five in the evening,
and has been inspiring children and adults for decades. Even though the zoo
does cost money to get in, the price is minimal, approximately equivalent to the
price of a day at the movies. Children under the age of three are also admitted
for free. One nice boon is the fact that the zoo frequently hosts “free days”
for San Francisco residents. If you can manage to go on these days and have a
valid ID that shows a San Francisco residence, you’ll be able to attend for
free! Group rates are also available.
Updated Tiger Enclosures at the San Francisco Zoo
By Daniel Ramirez from Honolulu, USA [CC-BY-2.0],
via Wikimedia Commons
The Zoo also boasts many exhibits that are not found in any other zoo,
including Penguin Island.
Penguin Island
By BrokenSphere (Own work) [GFDL or CC-BY-3.0],
via Wikimedia Commons
Other attractions include an Australian Walkabout, a Grizzly Gulch where actual
Grizzly Bears, which are the state animal of California, can be observed.
Additional attractions include a Lion House, a
Wetland exhibit, Bear County, Koala Crossing; and even a Lemur Forest.
9) Cable Cars
Perhaps one of the most iconic sights to see in San Francisco is something
that is always on
the move. The famous cable cars, once the preferred method of transportation all
around San Francisco, still operate on a daily schedule. In fact, many residents
prefer them to other forms of transportation such as automobiles. They are part of the local metro
system, and many residents appreciate not having to drive their cars up and down
the incredibly steep hills of certain portions of town. Some parts of the roads
have grades reaching over 25 percent, and many older cars cannot handle the
strain. Cable cars, on the other hand, travel up and down these roads with ease,
because of the systems that make them they work.
Cable Car Taking Passengers Up Extremely Steep Road
Cable cars are a viable system of transportation along many San Francisco
streets, but they are also a great way to experience much of the city at a local
level. Another great thing about taking cable cars is that they provide
excellent photo-taking opportunities because the cars do not move as fast as
many cars, making it very easy to see something that looks interesting
and stop immediately to check it out. San Francisco is notorious for having very
little parking, which makes cable cars a great way to avoid the expensive nightmares
of trying to find and pay for a parking space.
8) Castro & Market
This is a destination for those with a little more taste for something
unconventional. For some, this may be the first and only stop on a fascinating
trip through an often-ignored part of history and culture. For others, it may be
a big red- rainbow-flag warning to stay away at the risk of inhaling too much
glitter.
Intersection of Castro and Market Street
I, Sailko [GFDL or CC-BY-SA-3.0],
via Wikimedia Commons
The Castro, as the intersection of Castro & Market streets is known, is home
to a very thriving, very popular gay and lesbian social scene. This area has
been proud of the distinction for decades, and every street corner boasts
massive rainbow flags. In addition to bookstores and historical markers dealing
with the subject of the gay & lesbian struggle for rights against oppression.
The Castro also has a thrilling social scene with restaurants, bars, clubs, and
coffee shops open at all different hours of the day.
Another View of Castro Street Corner
I, Sailko [GFDL or CC-BY-SA-3.0],
via Wikimedia Commons
This area is also home to Dolores Park, one of the nicer parks and concert
venues in San Francisco. Yearly, it hosts the Dyke March, part of the Gay Pride
Parade that runs all down Market Street and is one of the largest GLBT*A events
in the world.
Delores Park
By User:Victorgrigas
via Wikimedia Commons
This area is also home to knitting stores, bakeries, and one of the best ice
creameries in the state, the Bi-Rite Creamery.
7) California Academy of Sciences
Don’t let the name of this attraction fool you. While this sounds like an
avocation for touring a dry, boring science building of a school, the truth is
far from it.
Exterior of California Academy of Sciences
By WolfmanSF
via Wikimedia Commons
The California Academy of Sciences (CAS) is a fascinating building located in
Golden Gate Park. While many eco-friendly buildings are now boasting solar
panels on the roofs, San Francisco’s California Academy of Sciences goes a step
beyond this. The rooftop is a full-fledged garden, all solar-powered, and
integrates the building itself with the surrounding areas of the Golden Gate
Park. The rooftop has seven hills, united with the rest of the hills, and hosts
1.7 million native plants as part of its fantastic Living Roof. There are
wildflowers, strawberries, and many other familiar plants located along this
unique exhibit. The exhibit is dual edged, in that having a living roof helps to
insulate the building and keep climate control energy costs significantly lower
than a traditional steel or concrete roof.
Rainforest Recreation Inside The California Academy of
Sciences
By TheDailyNathan
via Wikimedia Commons
Inside, The CAS has a re-creation of a rainforest in its own macroclimate,
leading viewers up many levels to the top layers of the forest itself, letting
them observe many natural species in an ecosystem just as if they were in there native
habitat. It also has life-size re-creations of dinosaurs, as well as exhibits of
marine life, coral reefs, and a shark lagoon. For adults who don’t want to
compete with throngs of children, there are excellent exhibits that happen in
the “night life” section, integrating science with drinks and socializing after
hours.
6) Alcatraz
Not many cities advertise a prison as part of their most sought-after
exhibits, but San Francisco does. Then again, very few cities have played host to one of the most famous
prisons, perhaps THE most famous prison, in the world. Alcatraz has been made
into a movie several times, and has captured the public’s imagination over the
years. This island prison, located a mile off of San Francisco’s shore through
choppy, frigid waters, has long been the subject of song and legendary stories
of escape.
View of Alcatraz Island from Downtown San Francisco
The island is very plainly visible from San Francisco’s shores on even the
foggiest of days, close enough to serve as a thrilling reminder to residents and
tourists alike that the old prison that is a tourist attraction now, used to
house some of the most ruthless and dangerous criminals in the entire United
States.
Close-up of Alcatraz Island on a Foggy Day
There have been no prisoners in Alcatraz for many years, but the element of
interest in this stoic prison still remains. It is inexpensive to take a ferry from one of San Francisco’s
piers to the island during the day, securing a trip for just a single person or
for a group where group rates are available. Indeed, many high schools in the area and in the surrounding area
of California take yearly trips to Alcatraz. On these field trips students are
shown just how small the cells were, the impenetrability of the walls, and the rank conditions in
which many prisoners had to live in.
Cell Block Inside Alcatraz Prison
Just off of Alcatraz is the much lovelier Angel
Island which is a popular destination for hikers. In the classic film, 'Escape
From Alcatraz', this is the island that the men escaped to after floating away
from Alcatraz island on a raft made out of glued together rain jackets.
5) Pier 39 & Fisherman’s Wharf
When you’re looking for places to visit in San Francisco, Pier 39 and
Fisherman’s Wharf should be at the top of your list. These two are very close to
each other, though not actually associated or connected in any way. Fisherman’s
Wharf is an area where historically, fishmongers brought their daily catch in
from the sea to sell it to the people who would come from miles around just to
see what they’d brought in from the ocean.
Fisherman's Wharf
Today, it serves very much the same purpose is it did years before. The fish
markets are the best places to buy fresh fish in the entire city, and the
surrounding restaurants are almost all focused on seafood and on eating it as
freshly as possible. Many fish sandwiches are accompanied with locally made San Francisco sourdough bread.
San Francisco's Pier 39
Pier 39 is one of the many piers that jut into the ocean from the
Embarcadero which is the street that circles part of the coast of San Francisco, where it
meets the ocean. This pier, unlike many others in the immediate vicinity, does
not actually host ships coming in for most of the year. Instead, it is a home
for many dozens of shops and restaurants, a street- performing community, and a
community of sea lions that frequently sun themselves alongside the dock.
4) Muir Woods
If you’re looking for things to do of a more athletic, challenging nature,
you may want to head just outside of San Francisco's city limits during your visit. In just a
few minutes, you can enjoy the gorgeous and scenic Muir Woods, a state park
located just north of San Francisco in Marin County. This stunning park is home
to Mount Tamalpais as well as several surrounding, smaller mountains. Home to
many old-growth redwood trees, Muir Woods is a fantastic place to walk, hike,
picnic, scoot around on bicycles, or ride horses.
Bridge in Muir Woods
Muir Woods was named for John Muir, a noted conservationist who traveled all
over the country in an effort to get California and other states to adopt more
of a National Parks system. He was also responsible for Yosemite National Park.
Muir Woods hosts many activities for children, adults, and seniors, and costs
just $7 for entrance.
Giant Redwood Trees - Muir Woods National Park
The $7 entrance fee includes the entire enormous state park of hundreds
of acres. Before visiting Muir Woods, make certain to check the weather so that
you don’t experience problems that could have been easily prevented that could
possible lead
to injury, or being stranded far from anyone who could help you.
3) Haight & Ashbury
When you think of San Francisco culture, the chances are that you will think
of one of two things. One of those is the Gay & Lesbian scene such as the
Castro district, which has been made famous recently in many movies and TV
programs. The other cultural phenomenon people associate strongly with San
Francisco is the hippie culture.
Since the middle of the century and especially during the Vietnam War, San Francisco has had a
massive population of hippie life. This includes the homeless, though in recent
years the homeless population of the city has been drastically reduced. One area
inspired by the culture of the protests of the 60s and 70s that is still
thriving today exists on Haight Street, primarily around the cross-section with
Ashbury.
Haight and Ashbury Street Shops
By Brocken Inaglory
via Wikimedia Commons
This stretch is home to quirky, alternative stores, incense shops, head
shops, odd bookstores, and clothing shops that deviate from the typical retail
shops that can be seen in other cities. Goodwill
shops dot the area, and San Francisco has one of the largest record stores in the world, Amoeba Records. The
area has been cleaned up immensely since the days of the old protests, which
means that it is now quite safe to walk around. However, if you are planning to
bring young children, it is recommended that you keep a tight eye on them and
perhaps a hand in theirs at all times. This is, of course, recommended no matter
where you are taking your children on vacation.
The other aspect of “The Haight,” as it is known among the locals, is that it
is quite easy to buy things at that location that are not easy to find. For
example, the bookstores are often jam-packed with rare poetry, old rare books,
and things that are impossible to locate anywhere else. Limited editions of
records and novels and collectibles are all found easily at Haight Street.
2) The Exploratorium
If you’re planning to bring children to San Francisco when planning your
vacation, you should absolutely take time out of your schedule to plan a visit
to the Exploratorium. If you’re not bringing children but have an excited and
curious mind, you must make time to visit the Exploratorium.
Interior of the Exploratorium
By Amy Snyder
via Wikimedia Commons
This San Francisco landmark is a place where children and adults can learn
about science. While this may sound dry and dusty, there is a reason this
remains one of the most popular locations in a fascinating, intriguing city.
It’s worth noting that the scientific learning that takes place at the
Exploratorium is not based on lectures, classes, or note-taking. Instead, it is
all based, as the name suggests, on exploration. Visitors are encouraged to put
their hands into strange substances to learn about the molecular makeup, to
scream into sound chambers, to hit hydraulic balls at the wall as fast as they
can, to take lie-detector tests to learn about human stress responses, and to
enjoy many more exhibits. This is a great way to spend a day if you’re thinking
of things to do in San Francisco, and can keep your children (and yourselves)
entertained for hours.
1) Golden Gate Bridge
The Golden Gate Bridge adorns every postcard and dominates many stories about
the city of San Francisco. Here’s a bit of trivia you can share when someone
asks you, “Why is the Golden Gate Bridge red? Shouldn’t it be golden?” It is not
a misnomer. The bridge was never intended to be golden. That word in the title
refers to San Francisco itself. When Spanish explorers first discovered the
peninsula, they named the area the Golden Gate to America. Therefore, it was
never the Gate Bridge of Gold, but the Bridge to the Golden Gate.
Golden Gate Bridge
The bridge is approximately a mile and a half long, and any trip to San
Francisco should include a trip across. If you don’t want to pay the Southbound
toll of $6, consider an expedition walking or biking across. One side of the
bridge is specifically for walkers, the other for bikers.
View of the Golden Gate Bridge from Marin County Side
Beware high winds, as
San Francisco is known for a breezy climate at best, and fog on most days.
Foggy Golden Gate Bride
Golden Gate Bridge at Night Time
By Daniel Schwen,
via Wikimedia Commons
Final Thoughts
When you’re planning your visit and looking for things to do in San
Francisco, there are many options. Many of these, such as Chinatown, the Castro
district, the Haight, and Alcatraz, reflect the complicated, fascinating
cultural history of this storied city. These places show scars of old battles,
but have spent many decades being healed and making that old pain into something
extraordinary. Other places, like the DeYoung Museum, Muir Woods, the California
Academy of Sciences, and the Exploratorium, make use of the intellectual and
forward-thinking nature of native San Franciscans. Whether your vacation to the
Golden Gate includes all 15 or just one of the items on this list, you will
discover a culture in San Francisco that you’ve never seen before.
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