San Francisco Travel Guide

1. Hang out in the Mission

The Mission District is one of the oldest neighborhoods in San Francisco; in fact, the oldest building in the city is located here (Mission San Francisco de Asís, built in 1791). The neighborhood is the epicenter of the city’s Mexican community and has long been an alternative artist enclave as well. After a busy day, relax in Dolores Park for great views of the city, grab a drink at the cool bars, and dig into incredible Mexican food. There’s an eclectic food scene in general in the area, including several Michelin-starred restaurants.

2. Ride the cable cars

Riding the cable cars is an excellent way to tour the city and experience the various neighborhoods of San Francisco. Originally built in 1823, the city’s cable cars are the last manually operated system in the entire world. Of the 22 lines that were originally created in the 19th century, only three are still in operation. They are fun to ride and will save you lots of time since the city is so hilly. A one-way fare on a cable car is $8 USD and a single-day pass is $13 USD.

3. Visit Lombard Street

This is the world’s windiest street. Surrounded by gardens and flowers, it’s made up of eight hairpin turns. The roads were made this way during the 1920s when people in San Francisco were beginning to drive around in automobiles. Since many of the city’s famous hills were too steep to navigate, the idea of using a curved street to help vehicles move downhill was embraced. This took the hill’s incline from 27% to 16%. Today, you can watch cars and bikers navigate the sharp turns as tourists gawk at them.

4. Head up Coit Tower

Perched atop Telegraph Hill, this art deco tower was built in 1933. Standing 180 feet (55 meters) tall, it’s home to over 25 murals and offers a panoramic view of the city. The murals here were painted in 1934 by local artists and depict life in San Francisco during the Depression. The tower became a San Francisco Designated Landmark in 1984 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2008. It’s free to visit the ground floor, though if you want to take the elevator to the top and see more artwork on the second floor it’s $10 USD.

5. Head to Chinatown

After New York City, this is the most famous Chinatown in the United States (it’s also the oldest and the biggest). Immigrants from China first arrived on the West Coast in the 1850s and set up shop in San Francisco. Due to racial segregation, this neighborhood became predominantly Chinese. Though mandatory segregation ended decades ago, the area has remained predominately Chinese and thus has some of the best places to eat Chinese food in the city, as well as wonderful teahouses, bars, souvenir stalls, and fortune cookie makers. Many of the buildings are modeled after traditional Chinese architecture, including the Bank of America. The Sing Chong Building was one of the first buildings in the city to be rebuilt after the earthquake in 1906. You can get an in-depth look at the area with a food and history walking tour of Chinatown.

6. Take a harbor tour

Take an afternoon cruise of the bay to see the city from the water. There are many tour companies available, but a budget way to see the harbor is to take the public ferries starting at $7 USD (prices vary depending on which route you take). Same views, lower price. The Oakland & Alameda route takes an hour to complete the round-trip route from the Downtown San Francisco terminal. It stops at Main St in Alameda and in Oakland. If you really want to do a tour, go with Red and White Fleet. Their tours start at $38 USD for a one-hour tour.

7. Hang out in the Castro

Since the 1960s, the Castro has been known as the LGBTQ district of San Francisco. The area has lots of trendy restaurants serving local and seasonal food, as well as the GLBTHistorical Society Museum ($10 USD admission) and the Rainbow Honor Walk, a walk of fame for LGBTQ members who left a significant impact on society. Plus, there are a plethora of lively bars and clubs that cater to the LGBTQ community (but are fun for everyone!).

8. Explore Haight-Ashbury

The birthplace of America’s counter-culture, the Haight was ground zero during the summer of 1967, a.k.a. The Summer of Love. Hippies used to live here (including Janis Joplin and the Grateful Dead), but yuppies have since moved in, buying up all the colorful Victorian homes and replacing head shops with high-end boutiques, chic restaurants, and hip cafés. Flower Power Walking Tours run in-depth and informative hippie history tours throughout the neighborhood for $25 USD.

9. Take a walking tour

Free SF Tours runs daily free walking tours that can show you the main sights of the city. You’ll not only get to learn about the city but you’ll have access to an expert local guide who can answer all your questions. Just be sure to tip at the end! For more in-depth paid tours, check out Take Walks.

10. Eat at the Ferry Building

This iconic historic building on the San Francisco waterfront used to be one of the busiest transportation terminals in the world. Today, it’s home to a massive food marketplace and is my top place to eat in San Francisco. This place is a foodie dream. Inside, you’ll find restaurants and food vendors selling specialty food items as well as butchers, cheesemongers, a wine bar, and more. On the weekdays, food stands set up outside the building and on the weekends, there’s a big farmer’s market. Come here with an appetite!

11. Visit Crissy Field

This park located near the Golden Gate Bridge used to be a US Army airfield. After its closure in 1974, it was derelict for years until it reopened in 2001 as a park. Today, it has a beach, some restaurants, piers where you can see locals fishing, and plenty of green space to relax. It offers sweeping views of the harbor, making it a laid-back place to come in the summer to have a picnic, lounge in the sun, read a book, and watch life go by.

12. Explore Japantown

This is the largest remaining Japantown in the United States. There are two large malls here full of shops featuring uniquely Japanese items and a ton of restaurants. New People is a 20,000-square-foot complex dedicated to bringing Japanese culture to the community through events, arts, fashion, and more. The Peace Plaza is a relaxing spot to enjoy the greenery and admire the Peace Pagoda that opened in 1968. In this part of the city, you’ll find amazing sushi, Japanese food, Korean food, and kitchen ingredients. Shabu Sen has amazing ramen, and Yama-chan has delicious onigiri (rice balls) and takoyaki (octopus balls). To learn more about the food and the neighborhood, you can take a food tour with Edible Excursions for $130 USD (they have a specific Japantown tour, as well as other food tours around the city). Tours last around 3 hours.

13. Explore Fisherman’s Wharf

Fisherman’s Wharf, Pier 39, and Ghirardelli Square cover numerous blocks along the waterfront and visiting this area is one of the most popular (touristy) things to do in the city. There are street performers, souvenir shops, and tons of overpriced restaurants. This is a good place to wander and explore for people watching, but don’t eat here. The food is overpriced and, to be honest, not that good. If you want to try some of the mouthwatering seafood that San Francisco is famous for, I liked Waterbar and the Anchor Oyster Bar.

14. See Muir Woods

Named after famed naturalist John Muir, Muir Woods is the closest place to San Francisco where you can see giant redwood trees (it’s just 17 miles/27 kilometeres outside of the city). You don’t get to encounter the huge, iconic redwoods (which are sequoias and further away at Sequoia National Park), but if you’re looking to see something close to the city, this is as good as it gets. Admission is $15 USD in addition to either a parking reservation ($9.50 USD) or a shuttle reservation ($3.75 USD round-trip). You can also do a guided tour with Get Your Guide for $89 USD (including transportation).

15. Explore Oakland

Just across the Bay Bridge, Oakland is considered the Brooklyn to San Francisco’s Manhattan. In recent years, Oakland has developed a niche for craft beer and specialty restaurants. There are tons of bars and breweries, and they even have their own “Ale Trail” if you want to wander the city and sample its best drinks. You can also visit Oakland Redwood Regional Park, Lake Merritt, or catch a baseball game at Oakland Coliseum. There’s a lot you can do in Oakland and you can easily spend a day or more here!

16. Visit the Beat Museum

Dedicated to the Beat Generation (the 1950s counter-culture), here you’ll find original manuscripts, rare books, letters, and more from authors like Jack Kerouac and Allen Ginsberg. Founded in 2003, the museum has over 1,000 pieces of memorabilia including Ginsberg’s typewriter and a first edition copy of Kerouac’s novel The Town and the City. They also hold regular events (and walking tours) so check the website to see if anything is happening during your visit. Admission is $8 USD.

17. Visit Berkeley

Across the bay and close to Oakland is the city of Berkeley, home to music, hippies, students, and the University of California – Berkeley. Here you’ll find a plethora of vegan and vegetarian restaurants, street performers, and eclectic shops (including booths selling jewelry and other goods on the streets). Don’t miss the University of California Botanical Garden, which has over 10,000 plants! Admission is $18 USD and advance reservations are required. You can also check out the UC Berkeley campus, take the elevator to the top of the Campanile clock and bell tower for incredible views of the San Francisco Bay and the surrounding area (admission is only $5), or visit The Lawrence Hall of Science with its interactive exhibits for kids and adults (admission is $20).