There is always so much to see and do in San Francisco, and of course it is a beautiful city. It is famous for its cable cars, Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz, just to name a few top attractions. So let’s see what makes this famous city so popular for tourists.

  1. Accommodation – you are spoilt for choice when it comes to accommodation, but be aware that hotels are quite expensive. We stayed at the Orchard Hotel, which is within easy reach of Union Square. A cable car stop is also just a few steps from its front door. It really does depend on your budget as to where you stay, but our suggestion would be somewhere in the vicinity of Union Square, as it gives you easy access to the shopping district and transport.
  2. Fisherman’s Wharf – the wharf is a hub of restaurants and shops, and a main tourist spot. We thought it was a little tired on our last trip compared to other visits, and the quality of some of the restaurants was not that good. However, it is still a great place to visit and soak up the sights and sounds of the waterfront.
  3. Pier 39 – this is technically part of Fisherman’s Wharf, but we think this is the better tourist spot. There are plenty of shops to wander through, and a great selection of restaurants. You can easily spend a good morning or afternoon wandering around the pier. One of the main attractions are the sea lions that habitat the area. There are plenty of them sunning on the pontoons and they provide some great photo opportunities.
  4. Golden Gate Bridge – you can’t visit San Francisco without crossing that bridge! If you take a Hop-on Hop-off bus trip, it will take you across the bridge and stop at the View Vista Point, where you will get some stunning views of San Francisco across the bay.
  5. Lombard Street – no visitor to San Francisco should miss out on Lombard Street. You can catch a Cable Car on the Powell/Hyde line, which will drop you at the top of the street, and then you can take your time getting to the bottom. Great photo opportunity for all those keen photographers.
  6. Hop-on Hop-off Bus – we think that wherever you can find a hop-on hop-off bus, you should do one round trip. They give you a good overview of the city and you get a feel for the location of tourist sites and how to get to them. Well worth it.
  7. Alcatraz – this is a very busy tourist destination and could be run a little more efficiently. Please buy your tickets on-line, and choose the Early Bird Tour. It makes all the difference to your time on the island, because once the additional tours start turning up it becomes very crowded.

Travel Tips

  • BART – the railway system in San Francisco where you can buy passes according to how many days you are staying. Easier to buy them on-line before you arrive, and then validate them when you get there.
  • Muni Buses – the bus and streetcar system is worth looking into. You can buy Muni Passports giving several options depending on how long you are staying. These passes allow you on the cable cars as well, so it is a much cheaper alternative than buying tickets per ride.
  • Cable Car rides are one way tickets only so can work out to be quite expensive. You can buy a one day pass, but the cheaper alternative would be to buy a Muni Bus pass as above, and use it on the cable cars as well.

Travel Alerts

  • San Francisco is a safe city, but always be aware of pick pockets in any country. Keep your belongings well guarded and close to you.

Travel Adventures

  • Cable Car Museum – a fascinating place to visit. You can actually watch the huge engines pull the cables that run the cars.
  • Golden Gate Park
  • Coit Tower – go to the top of the tower for some fabulour panoramic views of San Francisco and the bay area.
  • Palace of Fine Arts – worth a look as the gardens are quite beautiful.
  • China Town – lots to see and do but if you have limited time other attractions should take priority.
  • The Painted Ladies – these grand homes were a sign of wealth during the California Gold Rush. They are a little out of the way from other tourist attractions, but if you have the time then add them to your schedule.