San Francisco Travel Guide

San Francisco, California — Attractions

Golden Gate Bridge

The rust-colored towers, graceful suspension and supportive cables of the Golden Gate Bridge make this famous symbol of San Francisco the most photographed bridge in the world, and visible from almost any high point in the city, although it is often shrouded in rolling fog. Spanning the two-mile (3km) mouth of the bay, it was the longest suspension bridge in the world at the time of its completion in 1937 and was built to withstand winds of more than 100 mph (161km per hour). During high winds it can sway up to 27ft (8m) in each direction. One of the great engineering accomplishments of the 20th century, the bridge claims to have used enough wire in its construction to stretch around the earth several times. Walking across the bridge, under the towers that loom 65 storys above the water, is one of the best ways to experience the immensity of the structure and affords beautiful views of the San Francisco skyline, the bay and its islands. Golden Gate Bridge is also a favorite with the suicidal and the sidewalks are dotted with crisis-counselling phones.

Region/City Name: San Francisco
Address: Highway 101 North
Phone Number: (415) 921 5858
Website: www.goldengatebridge.org
Transport: Golden Gate Transit buses 10, 60, 70 or 80 depart daily for Marin County from the Transbay Terminal. Muni buses 28 and 29 also stop at the bridge toll plaza
Hours: Access for pedestrians is on the east sidewalk during daylight hours only from sunrise to sunset (April to October from 5am to 9pm, November to March from 6am to 6pm). The bridge is open 24 hours for motorists
Admission: A $6 toll is collected from cars when driving south towards the city

Alcatraz

Out in the middle of San Francisco Bay, Alcatraz Island, or 'The Rock', is one of Golden Gate National Recreation Area's most popular destinations. The notorious escape-proof island with its dreaded maximum-security prison once held the likes of Al 'Scarface' Capone, George 'Machine Gun' Kelly and the 'birdman of Alcatraz', Robert Stroud. With sheer cliffs surrounded by the icy waters of San Francisco Bay, known for its treacherous tides and currents, it was regarded as the perfect place to detain the country's most-wanted and dangerous criminals who were isolated in dark solitary confinement cells. There have never been any successful escapes from The Rock. Visitors can explore the prison as well as learn about its history: from its discovery as a pelican nesting ground, its location as a military outpost, and the years between 1933 and 1963 as an off-limit federal penitentiary. It was also inhabited by Native Americans before being declared a Recreational Area and protected bird sanctuary. Thousands of tourists flock here each year and take the excellent self-guided audio tours that contain commentary from former guards and prisoners about life on the island. There is also a slide show and a tour of the island's ecology and bird life led by a park ranger. The view from the island looking across to San Francisco is awesome.

Region/City Name: San Francisco
Phone Number: (415) 773 1188 (ferry schedules and information), or (415) 705 1042 (park information)
Email Address: goga_alcatraz@nps.gov
Website: www.nps.gov/alcatraz
Transport: Blue & Gold Fleet boats depart throughout the day beginning at 9.30am, from Pier 41, Fisherman's Wharf. Night tours in summer and combined Angel Island-Alcatraz Island trips are also available
Hours: The last boat leaves the island at 6.30pm in summer (April to October) and 4.30pm in winter
Admission: Admission includes the ferry trip and is $26 (adults) or $16 (children). Night tours: $33. Other concessions are available. Advance reservations are strongly recommended, especially in peak season

Fisherman's Wharf

Some people love the bustle of Fisherman's Wharf, while others make a conscious effort to steer well clear of it. But for better or worse it is massively popular, attracting more visitors than any other city sight, with Pier 39 the commercial tourist epicenter. The Wharf was once a fishing port with dozens of boats anchored here. Pier 45 is still used by fishermen in the early morning hours, and fish and seafood can be bought from the Fish Alley Market. There are shops galore, fast food stands and overpriced bay-view restaurants as well as bars, markets, street performers, and an endless variety of activities for the whole family. It is also the gateway for several top attractions: trips to Alcatraz and other bay cruises leave from here; numerous museums include the Historic Ships Pier; and the USS Pampanito submarine that can be boarded from Pier 45. The entertaining colony of sea lions that reside on the floating docks at Pier 39 are one of the best attractions on the quay.

Region/City Name: San Francisco
Address: The Embarcadero
Transport: Bus 15, 30, 32, 42 or 82X goes to the wharf, or the Powell-Mason cable car line to the last stop

North Beach

Between Russian and Telegraph Hills, North Beach is San Francisco's 'Little Italy', that has long been the central hub for anyone with alternative inclinations. During the 1950s the pleasure-seeking, non-conformist lifestyle of the Beat Generation and their rebellious literature contributed to the neighborhood's unconventional character and tourists poured into the district for 'Beatnik Tours'. Two of the Beat-era landmarks are the Vesuvio bar, and the first paperback bookstore in the US and hangout of Beat-era writers, the City Lights Bookstore. The steep stairways on Telegraph Hill lead to one of the city's most distinctive landmarks, Coit Tower, a monument to the volunteer fire fighters of the city providing superb 360-degree views of the city and San Francisco Bay. Inside the round, stone-tower murals of the Great Depression depict different aspects of life in California during the 1930s. The 'Crookedest Street in the World' winds down the steep eastern side of Russian Hill, the angle so steep that Lombard Street has to zigzag down with eight sharp turns to make any descent possible. The affluent residents inside their mansions with well-tended flowerbeds that flank the street bemoan the frequent traffic jams as thousands of visitors queue at the top and wait their turn to drive slowly down the tight curves, gathering at the bottom for photographic opportunities.

Region/City Name: San Francisco
Website: www.sfnorthbeach.org

Golden Gate Park

Of the many open green spaces in San Francisco, Golden Gate Park is the biggest and the loveliest stretching from The Haight to the Pacific Ocean, featuring gardens, lakes, numerous sporting facilities, and museums. On Sundays the main drive is closed to traffic and becomes the playground for joggers, cyclists, roller-bladers and strollers. The California Academy of Sciences includes the Natural History Museum, aquarium and planetarium (temporarily relocated to 875 Howard Street until September 2008 due to renovations). The serenity of the Japanese Tea Garden with its bridges, bonsai and fortune cookies is a favorite with tour groups. Although filled with people, the park never seems crowded and there is always a secluded space somewhere on the lawns or in the gardens.

Region/City Name: San Francisco
Address: John F Kennedy Drive
Phone Number: Park information (415) 831 2700 or (415) 321 8000 (Academy of Sciences). Japanese Tea Garden (415) 752 4227
Hours: The Academy of Sciences is open daily from 10am to 5pm. Japanese Tea Garden is open daily from 9am to 6.30pm
Admission: Park entrance is free. $10 (Academy of Sciences) plus $2.50 for the planetarium; $3.50 (Japanese Tea Garden)

Cable Cars

One of San Francisco's most endearing attractions is its network of 130-year-old cable cars, the only mobile National Historic Landmark in the country, and the world's only surviving system of cable cars. Many cities adopted the system, but all have since been replaced by more practical means of transport. The perpetuation of these clanking museum pieces was due to determination by the city's residents and today they remain at the heart of the city's character. It is an experience to ride up and down the steep gradients of the hills, hanging on while the brass bell clangs, the conductor jingles his coins and the familiar clanking of the cables pulls the car at a constant 9.5 miles (15km) per hour. Many people have difficulty believing that these six-tonne cars can work without engines and the San Francisco Cable Car Museum affords visitors a closer look at the cable-winding machinery, and the 'home base' where cars are reeled in and out on 11 miles (17km) of steel cable. The museum also houses some interesting sights, including the first cable car (1873) and scale models of different types of cable cars that were once in use in the city. The idea of the cable car system was conceived by engineer Andrew Hallidie. After watching the uphill struggle of laden horse-drawn carts, he was determined to find a kinder and more efficient means of transportation, which he produced four years later.

Region/City Name: San Francisco
Address: 1201 Mason Street (Cable Car Barn and Powerhouse)
Email Address: comments@sfcablecar.com
Website: www.sfcablecar.com
Hours: The museum is open daily from 10am to 5pm (until 6pm from April to October)
Admission: $3 per ride, each way. Day passports for the cable cars, buses and streetcars are also available. Entrance to the museum is free

Wine Country

The Napa and Sonoma Valleys are at the heart of the Californian wine country, producing wines that are praised by connoisseurs worldwide, from a perfect climate of sunny days and cool nights. The area is a forerunner in the latest grape-growing techniques and wine making, and many individual growers, instead of selling their grapes to the larger wineries, are producing their own excellent boutique wines. The Napa Valley is the more commercial of the two, with more wineries, spas and tourist traffic, and a better selection of restaurants and hotels. The valley also caters for classic wine country activities such as hot air ballooning or biking through the vineyards; the world-renowned wineries also offer informative tours, which provide the ultimate wine-country experience. Sonoma Valley is less pretentious and more beautiful in a rustic way, with smaller family-run cellars and fewer visitors. Although the Napa Valley is the USA's best-known wine region, Sonoma boasts more awards than their snobbish neighbor, producing intensely complex reds. The Napa Valley is a relatively compact region with more than 200 wineries offering tours and tasting. Most of the large wineries with their orderly rows of vineyards are situated along the main thoroughfare that stretches from San Francisco Bay to Calistoga in the north. But there is more to the valley than wine tasting. The small resort town of Calistoga is famous for its mineral springs and mud baths, as well as the Old Faithful Geyser that shoots boiling water and steam 60ft (18m) into the air every 40 minutes. Nearby is a Petrified Forest with redwoods, seashells and marine life that were turned to stone after volcanic ash from the eruption of Mount St Helena covered the area.

Region/City Name: San Francisco
Website: www.winecountry.com

Sausalito

Located at the north end of the Golden Gate Bridge, Sausalito is a half hour ferry ride from Fisherman's Wharf. The panoramic view of San Francisco Bay is spectacular, and Sausalito's sunny, inviting outdoor cafés and small shops overlooking the city are simply charming.

Region/City Name: San Francisco

Exploratorium

Located inside the Palace of Fine Arts, the Exploratorium is known as the museum of science, art and human perception, and is a leader in the movement to promote museums as educational centers. Named San Francisco's best museum, the Exploratorium is a fun, quirky museum of science, art, and human perception that features some 650 'please touch' exhibits. Many of its exhibits are created by visual and performing artists as well as scientists and educators. Exhibits such as the off-site Wave Organ, a unique sonic exhibit which is located on a nearby piece of land jutting out in the San Francisco Bay, can be found nowhere else in the world. It is one of San Francisco's most popular museums, drawing over 500,000 people each year and its three-dimensional pitch-black Tactile Dome inspire many visitors to approach challenges in a very different way.

Region/City Name: San Francisco
Address: 3601 Lyon Street, San Francisco, CA 94123
Phone Number: (415) 561 0360
Email Address: visit@exploratorium.edu
Website: www.exploratorium.edu
Transport: The Exploratorium has convenient access to public transportation, accessible by San Francisco Muni buses 30, 43, 28 and 29. Muni bus lines 22, 41 and 45 also stop in the vicinity. From Fisherman's Wharf take the 30 Stockton bus.
Hours: Open Tuesday to Sunday 10am to 5pm. Closed Mondays, except Martin Luther King Day, President's Day, Memorial Day and Labor Day. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
Admission: Adult $15. Children $10. Concessions available

Aquarium of the Bay

The Aquarium of the Bay features 300 feet (91m) of crystal clear acrylic tunnels through which over 20,000 aquatic animals can be viewed. The aquarium offers visitors the opportunity to come face-to-face with the Bay's largest predator, the sevengill shark, as well as touch leopard sharks, skates, rays, and sea stars. The Aquarium hosts nearly 600,00 visitors every year and provides free classes and tours to more than 13,000 Bay Area school children annually making it a wonderful attraction to the city.

Region/City Name: San Francisco
Address: The Embarcadero and Beach Street
Phone Number: (415) 623 5300
Email Address: info@aquariumofthebay.com
Website: www.aquariumofthebay.com
Hours: Open daily except 25 December. Hours may vary according to season.
Admission: Adults $15.95, Children $8. Concessions available.

Alamo Square

Anyone who has ever seen an episode of the 90s sitcom 'Full House' will know what Alamo Square looks like. It is a residential neighborhood and park in San Francisco, frequented by tourists, neighbors and dog-owners. The park features a playground as well as a tennis court. A row of Victorian houses overlooks the park, known as the 'painted ladies' and this view is often shown in the foreground of panoramic pictures of the city. On a clear day, the Transamerica Pyramid building and the tops of the Golden Gate Bridge and Bay Bridge can be seen from the park's center.

Region/City Name: San Francisco
Transport: Alamo Square is served by several Muni Bus lines including the 5, 21, 22, and 24.

Chinatown

A dragon-draped archway at the intersection of Bush and Grant streets marks the entrance to Chinatown in San Francisco, the oldest Chinatown in the United States and the largest Chinatown outside of Asia. Chinatown draws more tourists than the Golden Gate Bridge with its streets teeming with fish and vegetable stalls, herbal shops, temples, and eateries. There are some fantastic restaurants such as Lichee Garden, Hunan Home's, and R&G. Museums include the Chinese Historical Society of America and Chinese Culture Center, making Chinatown an absolute must-see.

Region/City Name: San Francisco
Address: Intersection of Bush and Grant Streets

Lombard Street

Known as the 'Crookedest Street in the world', Lombard Street features eight sharp hairpin turns. The road was designed in 1922 in order to reduce the 72 degree slope of the hill and make it more usable for cars as well as pedestrians. The speed limit is a mere 5mph (8 km/h) on the crooked section, which is about a quarter of a mile (400m) long. The crooked section of the street is reserved for one-way traffic traveling downhill and is paved with red bricks. Tourists are known to literally queue to drive down this famous road, making it a definite must-see when visiting San Francisco.

Region/City Name: San Francisco
Address: Between Hyde and Leavenworth Streets

Ripley's Believe it or Not! Museum

Visitors at the Ripley's Believe It Or Not Museum can be mystified and thrilled at the rare, the bizarre and the totally unexplained in the many interactive and state-of-the-art exhibitions throughout the museum. Children will be gob-smacked and this is a must for families traveling with kids in San Francisco.

Region/City Name: San Francisco
Address: 175 Jefferson Street
Phone Number: (415) 202 9850
Email Address: Sanfran@ripleys.com
Website: sanfrancisco.ripleys.com
Hours: Mid-June to Labor Day: Sunday to Thursday from 9am 11pm, Friday and Saturday from 9am 12am. Rest of the year: Sunday to Thursday from 10am 10pm.; Friday and Saturday from 10am 12am
Admission: $14.99 (adults); $8.99 (children). Admission prices exclude tax

Boardwalk Casino Arcade

Located in the Santa Cruz district, the Boardwalk Casino Arcade is a fantastic amusement park full of state-of-the-art video games and other great arcade games to entertain just about every child of every age.

Region/City Name: San Francisco
Address: 400 Beach St, Santa Cruz
Phone Number: (831) 426 7433
Hours: Open Monday to Friday from 11am 10pm; Saturday to Sunday from 19am 7pm

Oakland Zoo

Boasting a plethora of over 300 wonderful animals, the Oakland Zoo is a must for animal lovers and children. Highlights include a children's park, picnic area, wildlife theater, carousel and a miniature railway. The children's zoo allows kids the opportunity to get close to the animals and even pet them.

Region/City Name: San Francisco
Address: 777 Golf Links Road, Oakland
Phone Number: (510) 632 9525
Website: www.oaklandzoo.org
Hours: Open daily from 10am 4pm
Admission: $11 (adults); $7.50 (children). Children under 2 are free

Randall Museum

The Randall Museum, also known as the Science and Nature Museum, provides plenty of enjoyable and exciting learning opportunities and experiences for children of all ages. The museum also features animals, such as birds, mice and snakes and children can even get to handle these animals as part of the educational experience. Workshops and programs are also available to children and adults.

Region/City Name: San Francisco
Address: 199 Museum Way
Phone Number: (415) 554 9600
Email Address: info@randallmuseum.org
Website: www.randallmuseum.org
Hours: Open Tuesday to Saturday from 10am 5pm
Admission: Free

Children's Fairyland

This ten-acre entertainment park on the shores of Lake Merritt features carousel rides, puppet shows and displays of other fairy-tale characters from well-loved stories where stories come to life. Children of all ages will love a trip to Children's Fairyland where they can let their imaginations run wild.

Region/City Name: San Francisco
Address: 699 Bellevue Avenue, Oakland
Phone Number: (510) 238 6876
Website: www.fairyland.org
Hours: Winter: Friday to Sunday 10am 4pm; Spring and fall: Wednesday to Sunday 10am 4pm; Summer: Monday to Friday 10am 4pm, Saturday and Sunday 10am - 5pm
Admission: $7 each

Coit Tower

This 210 feet-high (64 m) tower in North Beach is the best vantage point in the city, and a great way for new arrivals to get their bearings. The art deco tower is the centerpiece of Pioneer Park, and was a bequest of Lillie Hitchcock Coit with the intention of adding beauty to the city she has always loved. Visitors should come early as the 360 degree views and wonderful photo opportunities make this a must-visit site for visitors and it gets crowded during peak times. The hill is accessed via Lombard Street, itself a very popular attraction.

Region/City Name: San Francisco
Address: 1 Telegraph Hill Blvd (at Greenwich St)
Phone Number: (415) 362-0808

Haight Ashbury

Legend has it that the 1960s hippy movement and resulting American counter-culture kicked off in the Haight Ashbury area. That was over 50 years ago, but the bohemian atmosphere of this area prevails, with plenty of shops selling vintage clothing, hemp based accessories, and tie-dye shirts, alongside imaginative boutique shops. There are also lots of bars and live music venues, particularly along famous Fillmore Street, and charming boutique hotels. The area is also famous also for its 'painted lady' Victorian houses. The Haight, as it's commonly known, borders Golden Gate Park so is a natural base to explore this natural treasure.

Region/City Name: San Francisco

Union Square

This central plaza is the modern face of San Francisco, surrounded by Macy's, Saks, Bloomingdale's, and the Levis flagship store, plus iconic hotels and quaint historical buildings. Along the west side, up the steep incline of Powell street, the famous cable cars run down to Fisherman's Wharf, while on the other side, Grant avenue leads directly into the heart of Chinatown. The Square is a natural meeting place and a popular departure point for walking and bus tours. You can also find the discount ticket booth here, and enjoy the café pavilion with outdoor seating. Note the gorgeous statue of Victory atop the central plinth.

Region/City Name: San Francisco

San Francisco MOMA

The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) is one of the country's premier modern art centers, featuring important works of Diego Rivera, Picasso, Jackson Pollock, Clyfford Still, Henry Matisse, Paul Klee, Jeff Koons and iconic photography from Ansel Adams. With the recent donation of the 1,100-piece Fisher Collection, SFMOMA now ranks alongside the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the Tate Modern in London as essential pilgrimage sites for lovers of 20th century art. The museum café and art shop are destinations in their own right, while the SFMOMA's iconic building, constructed in 1995, is a work of art in itself. Grab a free audio tour headset on the way in - the excellent commentary will greatly enhance your appreciation of the works.

Region/City Name: San Francisco
Address: 151 Third Street (between Mission and Howard)
Phone Number: (415) 357-4000
Hours: Monday - Tuesday 11:00 a.m. - 5:45 p.m. Wednesday Closed Thursday 11:00 a.m. - 8:45 p.m. Friday - Sunday 11:00 a.m. - 5:45 p.m.
Admission: Adults $15, students $9

Asian Art Museum of San Francisco

San Francisco has close ties with Asia, a legacy reflected in its sizeable Chinese and Japanese communities. The Asian Art Museum collection was funded and developed to honor this heritage. Housed in the magnificent former San Francisco city library building, this is the largest museum in the western world dedicated to Asian art, with over 17,000 Asian art treasures drawn from 6,000 years of history. The museum is well known for its exceptional special exhibitions, the most recent of which Shanghai, the highlight of the Bay Area-wide collaboration running throughout 2010 in honor of San Francisco's sister city.

Region/City Name: San Francisco
Hours: TuesdayWednesday 10am - 5pm; Thursday (February through September) 10am to 9pm; FridaySunday 10am to 5pm; Monday closed
Admission: Adults: $12, youth $7, children free

Muir Woods

The closest remaining stand of Redwoods to San Francisco, Muir Woods National Monument is a great half-day excursion from the city to pay homage to these soaring giants of the forest. It's incredible to think that each tree grew from a seed no larger than that of a tomato's. Redwoods grow to over 380 feet (115 m), although Muir Woods' tallest tree is 258 feet (79 m). The park itself is a haven for wildlife and there are numerous longer hikes departing from the shorter ring path that most visitors amble around.

Region/City Name: San Francisco
Phone Number: (415) 388-2595
Website: www.nps.gov/muwo/index.htm
Hours: Open every day 8am to sunset
Admission: $5