Best things to do in San Francisco
Find out more about those top places in San Francisco
Beyond New York, San Francisco is undoubtedly America’s most iconic city with a host of attractions famous the world over. While most visitors arrive in this northern Californian city for the Golden Gate Bridge and the island prison of Alcatraz, they stay for its progressive attitudes and buzzing neighborhoods. San Francisco was where the hippie revolution of the 1960s began and its legacy is still visible in Haight-Ashbury, as the streets are lined with anarchist bookshops, marijuana dispensaries and tie-dyed locals. For LGBT travelers, the Castro district is a trip through the past, present and future of gay rights in San Francisco while the Mission neighborhood, famed for its street murals, is a melting pot of artistic creativity and Latino culture. What is more, San Francisco’s Chinatown is one of America’s oldest and biggest with its authenticity giving most visitors a surprising sense of culture shock. Beyond the droves of tourists that inundate San Francisco’s star attractions, it is a city of hidden gems that rewards exploration.
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Golden Gate Bridge
When the Golden Gate Bridge was named as one of the modern wonders of the world, it was the longest suspension bridge in the world. It was open to the public as a tourist attraction site in 1937. The famous Golden Gate Bridge can be found between Marin County and San Francisco Bay.
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Alcatraz Island
Off the shores of San Francisco is the Alcatraz island. The island is not just an ordinary island as it has played important roles in the history of the country. It has a lighthouse, a military standard fortification, and a military prison. It even had a federal prison from 1934 to 1963. Today, Alcatraz Island is well visited by many people from all parts of the world.
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Fisherman's Wharf
The Fisherman’s Wharf is a very popular site for tourist attraction and it receives numerous visitors every year. At the site, you’ll find sea lions in their habitat and get tours round ships that have been that played important roles in history. Also, there are many stalls around the place where you can get souvenirs and the delicious crab and clam chowder in sourdough bread bowls.
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Golden Gate Park
For those looking to treat themselves to a nice and relaxing time, the Golden Gate Park in the place to go. The urban park has 1,017 acres of land to itself and its development was started in 1871 by the San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department.
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Lombard Street
A large part of the street was a part of the United States Route 101 but it is most popular for the way it was designed. The street features a steep one-block section that opens out to 8 different turns.
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Muir Woods National Monument
Famous for the huge redwood trees that grow there, the Muir Woods National Monument is a spot for tourists all around the world. The National Monument can be found in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. In Muir Woods, there are trails that lead to Bohemian Grove and Cathedral Grove. Also, one can get a nice view of the tops of the trees in the woods by following the Ben Johnson and Dipsea trails. From these trails, one can also see the Pacific Ocean Mount Tamalpais which is all the way in Mount Tamalpais State Park.
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Painted Ladies
This place flaunts America’s history and architectural prowess in its unique way. The Edwardian and Victorians buildings were repainted to in three colors to flaunt their architectural details. These buildings were later called the painted ladies.
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The Walt Disney Family Museum
This museum was raised in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area honoring Walt Disney. Here you’ll find bits from the life of the great man himself, Walt Disney. Also, you'll find out the origins of some of the greatest shows to have ever aired on TV today.
