🌉 Icons of the Bay
- Golden Gate Bridge: The world's most beautiful bridge. Walk or bike across it to Sausalito, or view it from Baker Beach for a dramatic angle from the water's edge.
- Alcatraz Island: The infamous federal prison once held Al Capone. The audio tour is award-winning and chilling. The ferry ride offers great skyline views.
- Cable Cars: The world's last manually operated cable car system. Take the Powell-Hyde line for the classic view of the bay as you crest Russian Hill.
- Fisherman's Wharf & Pier 39: Touristy, yes, but the sea lions are adorable and the clam chowder in a sourdough bread bowl at Boudin is a classic comfort food.
🏙️ Neighborhood Guide
SF is a city of villages, each with a distinct vibe.
- The Mission: The city's oldest neighborhood, famous for its Latino roots, incredible murals (check out Balmy Alley), and the sunny delights of Dolores Park. It's also the home of the Mission Burrito.
- Chinatown: The oldest and largest Chinatown in North America. Enter through the Dragon Gate and get lost in alleys filled with herbal shops, dim sum parlors, and temples.
- Haight-Ashbury: The birthplace of the 1967 Summer of Love. It still retains a bohemian vibe with vintage clothing stores, record shops, and Victorian houses.
- North Beach: The "Little Italy" of SF and the historic center of the Beat Generation. Visit City Lights Bookstore and grab an espresso at Caffe Trieste.
- Castro: The LGBTQ+ capital of the world. It's vibrant, colorful, and historically significant.
🍽️ A Foodie's Paradise
San Francisco has more restaurants per capita than any other US city.
- Mission Burrito: A massive flour tortilla filled with rice, beans, meat, and salsa. Try La Taqueria or El Farolito.
- Dim Sum: For a classic cart experience, go to Yank Sing. For a modern take, try Mister Jiu's.
- Seafood: Swan Oyster Depot is a counter-only classic for fresh oysters and crab. Be prepared to wait in line.
- Ferry Building Marketplace: A food hall featuring the best of Bay Area artisan food: cheese, bread, coffee, and more. The Saturday farmers market is legendary.
🌳 Nature in the City
- Golden Gate Park: Larger than Central Park in NYC. It houses the California Academy of Sciences, the de Young Museum, the Japanese Tea Garden, and bison paddocks.
- Lands End: A rugged trail on the city's northwest corner offering dramatic views of the ocean, shipwrecks, and the Sutro Baths ruins.
- Twin Peaks: Offers a 360-degree view of the city. It's the best spot to see the layout of SF's grid streets.
💎 Hidden Gems
- 16th Avenue Tiled Steps: A beautiful mosaic staircase in the Inner Sunset district.
- Wave Organ: An acoustic sculpture on a jetty in the marina that makes music from the movement of the tides.
- Sutro Forest: A magical eucalyptus cloud forest in the middle of the city, perfect for a misty hike.
