San Francisco Travel Guide, California

San Francisco is known as America’s most loved cities. It’s located on the San Francisco Bay and nestles among the hills of Northern California and it is a relatively small city, about 800,000 residents live here.

San Francisco has a breathtaking beauty. There are gorgeous vistas to be seen from its high hills, there are quaint harbors, waterfronts and docks, majestic sailboats to be seen everywhere, parks, fountains, gardens and old buildings make each excursion a pleasure. Ponds, lakes, zoos and aquariums are also easily found.

The neighborhoods of San Francisco retain strong cultural, political, and ethnic identities. Locals know this pluralism is the real life of the city. Experiencing San Francisco means visiting the neighborhoods: the Haight Ashbury district, which in the 1960s was the center of America’s Hippy movement, the colorful Mission District, the gay Castro, countercultural Haight Street, swank Pacific Heights, ever bohemian North Beach and the lively Chinatown, a monument to the contributions the Chinese immigrants of the past and their descendants of today have made to the city.

• Flights
• Hotels
• Packages
• Cars
• Cruises
• Travel Deals

RoundtripOne Way

From:To:
Depart:Return:
Adults:12345Kids:01234Seniors:012345Class:EconomyBusinessFirst

City:Check-In:Check-Out:
Adults:12345Rooms:12345Kids:01234

From:To:
Depart:Return:
Adults:12345Rooms:12345Kids:01234Seniors:012345

Pick-Up:Drop-Off:Pick-Up Date:Drop-Off Date:

Cruiseline:Any cruise lineCarnival Cruise LineCelebrity CruisesCosta CruisesCrystal CruisesCunard Line Ltd.Disney Cruise LineHolland America Cruise LineNorwegian Cruise LinePrincess CruisesRadisson Seven SeasRoyal CaribbeanSeabourn Cruise LineSilversea CruisesLength of stay:Any Cruise Length1-2 Nights3-6 Nights7-9 Nights10-15 Nights15 and more NightsDestination:Any DestinationAfricaAlaskaAsiaBahamasBermudaCanada/ New EnglandCaribbeanEastern CaribbeanExotic CaribbeanSouthern CaribbeanWestern CaribbeanCosta RicaEuropeMediterraneanNorthern EuropeTransatlanticWestern EuropeHawaiiLatin AmericaMexicoBaja CaliforniaGulf of MexicoMexican RivieraPanama CanalSouth AmericaSouth PacificAustraliaNew ZealandTahitiWestern U.S.Pacific CoastMonth:Any MonthApr-2025May-2025Jun-2025Jul-2025Aug-2025Sep-2025Oct-2025Nov-2025Dec-2025Jan-2026Feb-2026Mar-2026

While wandering through Chinatown's streets and alleys, don't forget to look up. Above street level, many older structures have ornate balconies and cornices. The architecture on the 900 block of Grant Avenue and Waverly Place is particularly noteworthy, though some locals decry it and similar examples as inauthentic adornment meant to make their neighborhood seem "more Chinese."

San Francisco's charms are great and small. You wouldn't want to miss Golden Gate Park, the Palace of Fine Arts, and the Golden Gate Bridge. But a walk down the Filbert Steps or through Macondray Lane or a peaceful hour spent gazing east from Ina Coolbrith Park can be equally inspiring.

Be sure to take day trips to Monterrey Santa Cruz and Big Sur to appreciate the wonders of Northern California. You’ll be charmed by the beautiful Spanish architecture, a reflection of California’s Hispanic heritage. But if you are not in for day trips than just relax and go surfing, sailing and swimming, than eat at some of the world’s best seafood restaurants in San Francisco. And if you want to shop, there are few places where you’ll find a greater variety than here.

You muse ride on San Francisco’s great attraction, the cable cars and drive on its winding streets but touring on foot is the best way to experience this diverse metropolis. You’ll be thrilled with what you see: the city’s magnificent Victorian houses, its museums, buildings, art treasure and its striking architecture.

San Francisco has been a well-known tourist destination for decades. There is an endless array of activities to choose from so whether you're looking to tour the legendary penitentiary of Alcatraz, sample Dungeness crab in a local bistro, drive through a gargantuan Redwood tree, or ride the cable cars for a panoramic view of the city, you can do it all. The options are wide open so go ahead and take it all in, in San Francisco.

email to a friendAsk our travel experts a question about San Francisco
ask now

Things about San Francisco you may be interested in

• San Francisco Guide Books
• San Francisco Reviews
• San Francisco Travel tips

 

+ list your site

 

ReviewsTravel TipsWrite a reviewWrite a travel tip

 

 

Read our members' reviews about San Francisco

• San Francisco
  review by adam posted more then 30 days ago
  San Francisco generally is considered one of the most charming cities in the US, and I totally agree with that. It's a very popular tourist destination, with same reasons. I've found the city appealing, since it's quite liberal, prosperous, multiculturally diverse with picturesque...
• Short visit in San Francisco
  review by MadSuh posted more then 30 days ago
  We drove up to San Francisco, which is usually a really boring drive. Driving up the 5 is just terribly slow and the landscape never changes, yikes. We did stop the first time while still on the 101 to pump some gas, and I don't know how, but apparently we never ended up pumping. Probably the...
• City tour in San Francisco
  review by stef posted more then 30 days ago
  After a long walk from downtown of SF to the North Beach on Fisherman's Wharf, we decided to take a city tour. From the plenty of opportunities we choose the most friendly one: the Mr. Toad's Tour, with an exciting american Vintage touring car (1929 Model). The guide was very nice telling funny...

view all

 

Read our members' travel tips about San Francisco

• Cafe Du Soleil
  travel tip by MadSuh posted more then 30 days ago
  The best thing is that you can sit on the terrace and enjoy both the sun and one of the best places for a breakfast. They have good coffee and delicious cakes. You can stay on the sun and have your breakfast and also have a break...
• DeLessio
  travel tip by zsoldicsa posted more then 30 days ago
  The most delicious cake I've ever tasted was here in San Francisco in a little pastry shop on Market Street: DeLessio. At first I didn't even find the bakery, it so hidden, but already as I stepped in I was overwhelmed with the sweet,...
• Ferry Building
  travel tip by zsoldicsa posted more then 30 days ago
  I think Ferry Building is one of the nicest places in San Francisco, which is a great thing knowing that the whole city is so great! The building was finished in 1903 and it was the center to wager the boats and ferries that crossed...

view all

 

 

Community

Members Who Have Been to San Francisco

See who has been to San Francisco and ask them a question (membership required)

MadSuh ask a question add to friends

hudson88 ask a question add to friends

david79 ask a question add to friends

lilmia1986 ask a question add to friends

 

show all

 

Community Galleries About San Francisco

Browse our members' San Francisco galleries to get a better impression of the place

view gallery

view gallery

view gallery

 

show alladd gallery

 

 

the best travel deals provided by TravelZoo...