If you’re thinking of a trip to San Francisco you’ll need to know what there is to do. Here is our pick of the top 10 things to do in San Francisco.
Don’t miss…
1. Fisherman’s Wharf and the view of the Bay
2. Golden Gate Bridge
3. A trip to Alcatraz
4. The hustle and bustle of Chinatown
5. Riding the Cable Cars
6. The view from Coit Tower
7. Shopping at Union Square
8. Walking the Financial District
9. The sights of Nob Hill
10. San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
Fisherman’s Wharf and the view of the Bay
Sea Lions at Pier 39, San Francisco, California
Fisherman’s Wharf is one of my favourite places in San Francisco, entirely due to the resident sea lion population at Pier 39. On my first visit to San Francisco I had no idea they were there. We were doing the standard tourist wandering about and I saw a sign ‘sea lions this way’. I expected it to be part of an aquarium or something and was delighted when I walked round the corner and saw, heard and smelled a mass of jostling sea lions on what used to be part of a marina. Actually the seeing and hearing are very cool but the smell is somewhat less desirable. You do get used to it after a bit…..
Apart from the sea lions, Fisherman’s Wharf has shops, restaurants, street performance and sometimes live music. There is an aquarium, a Ripley’s Believe it or not and there is still some commercial fishing done out of the Wharf. It is a great place to amble around, eat an ice cream and be a tourist.
Golden Gate Bridge
This iconic bridge connects San Francisco to Northern California and is a fabulous sight, both from a distance and up close. There are various tours and an exhibition, but I just like to go out onto the Bridge and enjoy being on an engineering marvel. If you get a fog free day head straight for the bridge – you can see a long way!
The Golden Gate Park is also well worth a visit, but please note, this is not the green space immediately adjacent to the Bridge, but is a vast park most of 4 miles to the South. There is tons to do here with all manner of different gardens, a fabulous children’s play area, a museum and even a buffalo paddock. Your best bet for getting to the Park is to either catch a cab or use the Muni (municipal railway). Their website is the best resource for planning your journey, or your hotel can advise.
Alcatraz
View of Alcatraz Island, San Francisco
The island prison in San Francisco bay is fabulously atmospheric. The tour is lots of fun and the boat trip allows for great views of the Bay. The boat leaves from Fisherman’s Wharf and you can take various trips of different durations. It is worth booking your trip in advance as popular sailings do get booked up. Make sure you wear comfortable shoes with a grip as some of the footing on the island is uneven and even if the day is lovely when you set off, bring layers including a waterproof jacket as it can get chilly in the wind and if the fog comes in.
Chinatown
I love San Francisco’s Chinatown. It has a hive like feel – very busy and hectic with plenty going on and all manner of stuff to look at. I like to just amble around and soak up the atmosphere in a disorganised fashion, but if you want to plan your sightseeing a little more, the sanfranciscochinatown website is great. Otherwise, your best bet is to start at the Chinatown Gate where Grant Avenue and Bush Street intersect, and meander along Grant Avenue, being sure to explore some of the side streets, especially Stockton Street where the markets are.
Riding the Cable Cars
As someone who has spent a reasonable chunk of her adult life living and travelling in quite large cities, I did not expect to be particularly interested in what is essentially a piece of public transport infrastructure. However, the cable cars do have a lot of charm and I did enjoy rumbling up the steep streets in them. Watching them being turned around on the turntables is also fun. The one at Powell and Market Streets is a good place to head for.
The View from Coit Tower
Coit Tower, Sanfracisco
The 210 foot high art deco Coit Tower stands at the top of Telegraph Hill. It is well worth visiting the Tower just to look at the murals which I think are fabulous. However, the main draw here is the fantastic view. Try and go on a clear day if you can. It is not far from Fishman’s Wharf to Coit Tower. I enjoy the walk via the Filbert Street stairs, but it is reasonably steep. If a bit of a workout is not for you, hop on the bus that goes from Fisherman’s Wharf.
Shopping at Union Square
Union Square is shopping central in San Francisco. All the big department stores have branches on or adjacent to the Square. You can find Macy’s, Neiman Marcus, Saks and Barneys on Union Square itself. Nearby at the junction of Powell and Market Streets you will find the San Francisco Westfield Center, a massive indoor mall containing many, many shops including Nordstrom and Bloomingdales. For a smaller mall, head out of Union Square along Post Street towards the Financial District and you will find the Crocker Galleria which has plenty of cafes and restaurants along with a variety of shops.
Also well worth a look is Maiden Lane, a gated street between Kearney and Stockton Streets, closed to traffic during the day. It is home to many high end boutiques as well as San Francisco institution, Gump’s and San Francisco’s only Frank Lloyd Wright designed building, currently trading as Xanadu Gallery. I like to stop at one of the cafes here, you can sit outdoors and people watch.
If you are looking for a particular store or type of store, the best website I have found is unionsquareshop.com.
The Financial District
View of the Financial District, San Francisco
The Financial District is the area within Market, Kearney and Jackson Streets, stretching down to The Embarcadero. The highlights here are the building at 555 California Street and the Transamerica Pyramid.
555 California Street was San Francisco’s first skyscraper and used to be the headquarters of the Bank of America. The massive brown granite structure is the second highest in the city, the Transamerica Pyramid being the highest. If you have heard about a restaurant with fabulous views on the 52nd (top) floor of 555 California, it closed quite a while back and I can find no reference to a new opening in that space which is a shame.
I think the Transamerica Pyramid is a fantastic building. It’s distinctive shape is visible from all over San Francisco and it is a great landmark. Like 555 California however, you can’t get in. They do have a visitor center and shop if you want to learn something about the history of the building or have a need for a souvenir.
When you reach The Embarcadero, you will see the Ferry Building which has now been converted into a covered market, with tons of stalls, shops, restaurants and cafes. This is a great place to get something to eat and drink.
Nob Hill
Nob Hill is a fabulous place to amble around and look at the architecture. It was originally home to the San Francisco elite until their mansions were destroyed in the fire of 1906. The Pacific Union Club survives and as well worth a look (from the outside, members only) as are the historic hotels, The Fairmont Hotel and the Mark Hopkins Intercontinental. The restaurant and bar at the top of the Mark Hopkins, Top of the Mark, is an excellent place to stop and enjoy the views.
Nob Hill is also home to Grace Cathedral which, despite its Gothic appearances to the contrary, was only finished in 1964.
If the cable cars have grabbed your imagination, you can visit their powerhouse at the Cable Car Museum, also in Nob Hill.
San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
This is a fantastic museum. I love the rooftop sculpture garden, the 20th Century American artists exhibition and the work of local San Francisco bay area artists. The building itself is really interesting, especially the view from the steel catwalk, high above the atrium floor with views into the sculpture garden. Their website has all the information regarding getting there and exhibitions.