San Francisco

San Francisco is the 4th biggest city in California but often doesn't seem it as it still has an old-fashioned look and feel about it, with many areas looking much like they did a hundred years ago. The Pacific Coast Highway will take you right through the city and out the other side, but if you've never visited then it would be a crying shame not to take a few days out and explore some of the sights.

Major attractions include:

Alcatraz Island
A visit to the island which held one of America's most noted and feared prisons is a must in San Francisco. Everyone wants to see the prison which inspired such movies as Escape from Alcatraz and of course The Birdman of Alcatraz, and the visit will not disappoint. Put in a plea for good weather as the ferry ride to Alcatraz gives great views of the bay and the city in the all-too-brief 15-minute crossing.

Allow a half-day to take full advantage of the visit, as you can join a tour of the island led by a park ranger to learn all about the plants and the wildlife. Check on the schedule when you arrive, as there are also talks and demonstratons at set times, and you should take in as much as you can. The main tour of the prison is a self-guided audio tour, which is included with the admission price and includes powerful accounts by former inmates and guards about life – and death – in Alcatraz. Evening tours are especially good, with the bonus of terrific night-time city views on the return ferry.

Booking Tickets
Booking in advance is recommended, even during quiet times of the year, as this is one of San Francisco's most popular attractions. Tickets for the ferry and admission to the island can be booked online in advance at the Alcatraz Cruises website

Cable Cars
Visit San Francisco and not take a cable car? Oh, come on. You can get your ticket on board so just jump on, especially if you're heading up one of the steep San Francisco streets. It's not laziness. It's culture! San Francisco's cable cars are the only things that move that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Chinatown
One of the most enjoyable and fascinating Chinatowns in the whole of the United States (sorry, New York), a visit here can take you at least a day. You'll want to eat lunch and dinner here, of course, and allow time to see the various museums and cultural centers, temples and shops, not to mention the Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory for a free tour. Check our recommendations for the best Chinatown restaurants here.

Cycling
Read Rich Grant's account of Cycling Round San Francisco Bay.

Fisherman's Wharf
San Francisco's Number One visitor attraction, and OK, it is touristy, but it mixes that with still being a genuine fishing wharf. Don't listen to what other people say about it, go and find out for yourself. You may love it, you may hate it, but it's an essential part of any visit to San Francisco. You can dine in fancy seafood restaurants or just eat street food and watch the buskers, then go buy a tacky t-shirt.

The Golden Gate Bridge
Drive it, walk it, cycle it, or even take the local bus (which stops at the Toll Plaza), but whatever you do, don't miss it – as if you could. Your first view of the Golden Gate Bridge is like seeing the Grand Canyon or the Eiffel Tower for the first time – unforgettable. This beautiful structure took four years to build, and it was opened in 1937. Try to get over to the Marin County side for the great view back towards San Francisco, the city by the bay.

Golden Gate Park
The Golden Gate Park isn't by the Golden Gate Bridge but is west of Haight-Ashbury and covers a massive 1017 acres. Within that there are several separate attractions, including the Japanese Tea Gardens, the Conservatory of Flowers, The Beach Chalet, Buffalo Paddock, de Young Museum, Shakespeare Garden, Stow Lake, a golf course, and the Strybing Arboretum and Botanical Gardens.

San Francisco Sightseeing Tours

Whale Watching
See the Whale Watching in California page. Chinatown

Cycling
Read Rich Grant's account of Cycling Round San Francisco Bay.

Fisherman's Wharf
San Francisco's Number One visitor attraction, and OK, it is touristy, but it mixes that with still being a genuine fishing wharf. Don't listen to what other people say about it, go and find out for yourself. You may love it, you may hate it, but it's an essential part of any visit to San Francisco. You can dine in fancy seafood restaurants or just eat street food and watch the buskers, then go buy a tacky t-shirt.

The Golden Gate Bridge
Drive it, walk it, cycle it, or even take the local bus (which stops at the Toll Plaza), but whatever you do, don't miss it – as if you could. Your first view of the Golden Gate Bridge is like seeing the Grand Canyon or the Eiffel Tower for the first time – unforgettable. This beautiful structure took four years to build, and it was opened in 1937. Try to get over to the Marin County side for the great view back towards San Francisco, the city by the bay.

Golden Gate Park
The Golden Gate Park isn't by the Golden Gate Bridge but is west of Haight-Ashbury and covers a massive 1017 acres. Within that there are several separate attractions, including the Japanese Tea Gardens, the Conservatory of Flowers, The Beach Chalet, Buffalo Paddock, de Young Museum, Shakespeare Garden, Stow Lake, a golf course, and the Strybing Arboretum and Botanical Gardens.

San Francisco Sightseeing Tours

Whale Watching
See the Whale Watching in California page.

Custom Search