San Francisco is a beautiful city located in California and famous all over the world for the rolling fog that suddenly sweeps the bay even during summer; the numerous, steep hills that give the city character and make driving tricky in certain areas; the Golden Gate Bridge; the cable cars; and its diverse population with their cosmopolitan lifestyle and colorful cultural backgrounds.
Expect a healthy blend of historic and hysteric, as you walk the streets of the city that were forged by the Gold Rush in the mid-19th century.
San Francisco is perhaps most famous for its hills, having been built upon no less than forty-three of them, and for having some of the most clearly defined neighbourhoods in urban history. The Italians occupy North Beach; The Haight (Haight and Ashbury) is the hippy hangout; The Castro is the gay district; Japantown and Chinatown hold their own; while the Mission District is where you’ll find the Latino flavour.
Look out for street fairs and festivals throughout the year, which are a great way to get among the communities which dovetail San Francisco, and make it such a vibrant city.
San Francisco was also the birthplace of renowned novelist Jack London. The city was a literary hub for many great American writers, especially the Beat Generation; writers like Jack Kerouac, Allen Ginsberg, and Hunter S. Thompson captured the unique vibe of a city built around the bay.
San Fran is also a movie mecca, with many of the most successful films having roots in the city, such as, “neeeear, farrrrr, wherever, you, are…” plus some less tear/puke (remove as appropriate) inducing flicks such as Alfred Hitchcock’s film Vertigo (1958) and Steve McQueen’s, Bullitt (1968), whose famous car chase was mostly along Fillmore Street, between Broadway and Vallejo Street.
The biographical film, Milk (2008) was based in and around Castro Street, meanwhile Clint Eastwood took the initiative in Escape from Alcatraz (1979), which is based on a true story. A final nod to Phillip Kaufman’s remake of famed horror, Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978), which is not based on a true story. As far as I know.
San Francisco has a life and air that cannot be found anywhere else. Just like what the song written about it says, it is easy to leave your heart in San Francisco, and you will always long to come and take it back.
View my tips for visiting San Francisco and get the low down on where to go, what to do and how to save money.
Weather and Best Time to Go
Unpredicting the weather in San Francisco is anyone’s guess, but you can bet your bottom dollar it will involve fog of varying degrees, while roaming micro-climates dictate the daily dazzle with extraordinary effect.
Getting to San Francisco
You’ll be pleased to hear that there are plenty of opportunities to score cheap flights to San Francisco, and that the city’s international airport is located an easy 30 minutes from the downtown area. It’s also a popular stop-off for many round the world flights.
If you’re considering hitting San Francisco as part of an epic American overlander, consider that many Amtrak passes and Greyhound passes visit the city, while hiring a campervan remains an affordable way to roll up to the ‘City by the Bay’.
There are lots of West Coast USA tours that visit San Francisco. It’s well worth considering a trans-America journey. Some road trips in America will take you from San Fran to NYC (or the other way) via the southern states, Experience America attempts the same destinations via the midwest.
Getting from the Airport
San Francisco airport is located 22 km south of the city. There is a very good rail system in place to get you from the airport to northern San Mateo Country, East Bay and Milbrae Station (where a shuttle service runs between San Francisco and San Jose).
Taxis are available at a cost of around $37 to downtown San Fran or jump on a bus – they operate 24 hours a day and connect the airport to San Mateo County, parts of San Francisco and Palo Alto.
Where to Stay in San Francisco
Accommodation in San Francisco is quite expensive compared to other places in the. USA, but you can still get dorm rooms at okay. prices from around £16pppn. The Mosser Hotel is one of my top picks, it leads the charge if you are looking for a budget bed.
Getting Around
Getting around San Francisco is an attraction in itself. If I say, “San Francisco cable car” you’ll instantly get the picture.
Much of the city’s transport is operated by the San Francisco Municipal Railway (Muni), which maintains 80 routes throughout San Francisco, with stops within 2 blocks of 90% of all residences in the city. If you’re in town for a few days, weigh up the value of a multi-day Muni Passport, for unlimited travel throughout the city.
Alternatively, a popular cycle route for visitors to the city is to rent a bike and cycle across the Golden Gate Bridge to Sausalito and then catching the ferry back.
Or for the best city sightseeing tours check out GetYourGuide or Viator.
Best Things to See and Do in San Francisco
Here are some of the most famous tourist attractions that you should see on your trip to San Francisco. You could consider buying a San Francisco CityPass, which includes entry to some of the city’s most popular attractions.
The Golden Gate Bridge
Hands up if you can name San Francisco’s most famous landmark? Ten bonus points if you said the Golden Gate Bridge. Its orange vermilion uprights are kept up to scratch by a 38 painters and 17 ironworkers, who get to grips with the 1.7 miles of pure, world-class bridginess.
Any visit to San Francisco must include the Golden Gate Bridge. This suspension bridge that connects the city to the county of Marin across the Golden Gate is the icon that is most associated with San Francisco.
If you do not have a fear of heights will find walking across the bridge to be a very interesting experience. The sights upon the bridge are breathtaking, especially when the fog comes rolling in.
Alcatraz Island
Alcatraz Island is the number 1 attraction in San Francisco and it’s not hard to understand why. It is enigmatic, it’s got a mystery vibe to it and its history is fascinating to comprehend. You can see the Island of Alcatraz from any San Francisco Hills. Alcatraz Island doesn’t look that far, yet its prisoners were convinced the city was out of reach.
Alcatraz needs little introduction, but we know a man who will give you one. Alcatraz Island, or the Rock, as it is more popularly known, is a military and federal prison island right in the middle of San Francisco Bay.
Historically, it is significant for being the site of the first working lighthouse on the western coast. The Rock, however, gained its notoriety more for being the prison that held the likes of Al Capone and Robert Stroud, and is reputed to be a prison from which it is impossible to escape.
Now, it is one of San Francisco’s most popular tourist attractions as well as birdlife sanctuary. Pat Mahoney is a former prison guard, and narrates the award-winning 42 minute audio guide, which is an absolute must.
An Alcatraz tour really is pretty much mandatory when visiting San Francisco. Because visitors get there by ferry, a limited number of tickets are available daily. In the summer, it’s not rare for tickets to sell out a week in advance. So please, plan ahead!
Lombard Street
While you’re notching up city icons, don’t miss flower-lined Lombard Street in the Marina District, famous for eight tight hairpin turns
Fishermans Wharf
At Fisherman’s Wharf you’ll find the ever-popular Pier 39, a lively waterfront marketplace. If you pick up a whiff in the air, follow your nose to the nearby colony of California sea lions that call the floats to the west of the pier their home.
Elsewhere, it’s a short walk to the Wax Museum, Ripley’s Believe It or Not! and the local crab vendors selling fresh crab and shrimp cocktails. Checkout my guide to the best chowder in San Francisco.
Live Sports
In need of a good grunt? Search out tickets to either of San Francisco’s major league sports teams: the 49ers laying it down the touchdowns at Candlestick Park; or the Giants smashing it out of the ballpark at the AT&T Park in South Beach – one of the best sports stadiums in the US.
Quirky San Francisco: Musée Mécanique
While visiting San Francisco, chances are you’ll find yourself strolling past seafood stands and souvenir shops around Fisherman’s Wharf. If you feel like taking a break from the crowds and having a little fun while doing so, head to the Musee Mecanique.
You’ll step inside a vintage arcade that will make you feel like you just walked in a different era. The place is packed with old games, intricate miniature models, mechanical fortune tellers, and all kinds of artifacts from way, way back. You’ll need a small buckets of quarters!
Chinatown
San Francisco’s Chinatown is a bustle area with lots of Chinese shops and restaurants, with some of the tastiest cuisine in California.
Haight Ashby
The trendy neighbourhood of Haight Ashby is a must visit destination on any San Fran itinerary. This super cool area has tons of shops, bars, thrift shops and parks.
The Ferry Building
The Ferry Building is a significant historical building that was once the embarkation point for travelers going to and from the San Francisco, at a time when the Golden Gate Bridge did not as yet exist and the ferry is the only way by which anyone can reach the city. Currently, the Ferry Building now serves as a grand shopping and dining arcade as well as an office building.
Union Square
The Union Square is the commercial heart of San Francisco, where the city’s hotels, inns, restaurants, shopping malls and high-end retail outlets are most concentrated. It is a paradise for shopaholics; almost anything can be found in Union Square. Among the stores located here are the flagship stores of Macy’s, Bloomingdales, Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, and many others.
The Presidio
The Presidio was once a military fort used by the US Army, which the Army had in turn seized from the Spanish government in 1886. It is a huge military complex that housed many notable military figures in its time. It is now a park that is popular for its lovely views of the San Francisco Bay.
Other
Journey to the swanky quarters of Nob Hill, or stretch out beneath the windmills in Golden Gate Park.
There are lots of fantastic museums in San Francisco including the Museum of Modern Art which features celebrated artists, such as Jackson Pollock. View my guide to to the best free museums in San Fran.
For an eyeful of the state’s famous Redwood trees, look no further than Muir Woods, which can be reached via a shuttle service from Sausalito Ferry Terminal for just $3 return.
Union Street is the obligatory urban strip for shopping til you pop, or scoffing til you drop. Pick up a free guide of the Union Street Guide, for some insight into the 200 plus shops and over three dozen eateries that fill in the gaps between the strip’s clubs and bars. Just to clarify, I did say “strip’s clubs”.
Do not forget to ride San Francisco’s world famous cable car when you go and visit these landmarks.
Events in San Francisco
Keeping up with the Shakedown? Here’s a quick round-up of diary dates for San Francisco:
• February: Chinese New Year Festival & Parade
• June: Union Street Festival
• June: Gay Pride
• July: Fillmore Street Jazz Festival
• September: San Francisco Fringe Festival
• September: Chocolate Festival
The Gay Pride and Chinese New Year Festival are particularly noteworthy. They both attract people from around the world, so it’s worth considering these when you’re thinking ahead for accommodation or interesting times to visit the city.
Food and Eating Out
Foodies congregate around the Ferry Building at the foot of Market Street for a variety of gourmet food. Meanwhile, Ike’s Place at 3489 16th Street is gathering a reputation for its monster sandwiches, while Lori’s Diner flies the flag for the all-American diner in four separate locations across SF. For a walk on the spicy side, jump into Little Delhi for a twist of North Indian cuisine, and cap it off with a sweet treat from the Bi-Rite Creamery & Bakeshop at 3692 18th Street.
Crime & Safety
Although San Francisco is very swanky and also super touristy, there are also a lot of homeless people here with drug issues so extra caution is needed especially at night.
Places to Visit Near San Francisco
Beyond the city limits, you’re in the heart of America’s West Coast.
Just a stones throw from Silicon Valley, home to every tech giant from Apple to Google, and eBay to Facebook. Los Angeles is a popular city to visit too. Meanwhile, the gorgeous Napa Valley offers premium vineyards, and — you guessed it — mud baths.
The Yosemite National Park and its fabulously verdant neighbours are easily reached — especially aboard the Bundu Bus — as are the crystal blue waters of Lake Tahoe (or consider tying them both in with the imaginatively titled Yosemite & Tahoe.
For wine lovers, a day trip to Napa Valley and Sonoma are recommended.
Plan Your Trip to San Francisco
So there we have it, for ‘The City by the Bay’ and one of the USA’s most liberating cities, both in terms of history and everyday vibe.
Remember, this is the city that made the Summer of Love possible, when thousands of Flower Children descended on the city to hand out flowers and bring about an era of tie-dye.
So, all that’s left for me to do, is take you by the hand, and walk off into the sunset with a flower in our hair, and not a care in the world. Peace, man.
View more of my United States travel tips.