Admire the bright red-orange of the world-famous Golden Gate Bridge from picturesque Baker Beach, hike along the varied Coastal Trail in the warm light of the late afternoon sun at the ancient ruins of the Sutro Baths, or bake your very own fortune biscuit in colourful Chinatown - there are so many great San Francisco sights to discover in the Californian city. Not only should you check out the well-known places like Lombard Street, the Victorian Painted Ladies and the lively Pier 39 during your city trip, in the city of flower children there are also worthwhile insider tips and not so much visited places.
I would like to share my 21 favourite San Francisco sights and some of the best activities with you here and now. I wish you lots of wanderlust and fun while reading!
One of the picturesque piers with the Bay Bridge in the background
The Palace of Fine Arts near the Golden Gate Bridge
San Francisco sights: 21 beautiful places & activities
The Golden Gate Bridge
With its red-orange glow from afar, the world-famous Golden Gate Bridge is probably the most important of the San Francisco sights. The proud, 2,737-metre-long suspension bridge spans the entire entrance to San Francisco Bay in an impressive arch and was long considered the longest suspension bridge in the world.
On one side of the Golden Gate Bridge (on the city side), the official Welcome Centre and the Fort Point National Historic Site await your visit. On the other side (near Sausalito), the Battery Spencer viewing platform, the small Kirby Cove Beach and the Golden Gate Bridge View Vista Point entice you with super nice views of the suspension bridge. The Instagram swing at Kirby Cove Beach seems to have disappeared in 2019, which is a shame.
Personally, I find the view from the small park just below the Welcome Centre the most beautiful, together with the view from Baker Beach. I've put together some tips for you on this very special beach below. Of course, no city trip to San Francisco is complete without walking at least halfway across the Golden Gate Bridge. So what are you waiting for?
Two very nice ideas to see the impressive bridge from a slightly different angle are, for example, a sightseeing flight or a boat tour. Maybe these two tours are something for you?
→ Champagne brunch boat tour through the picturesque bay
→ Champagne flight over the bridge and the city in a seaplane
When it comes to finding accommodation near the iconic Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, the Andrews Hotel offers a delightful option for a memorable stay. Located just a short drive away from the bridge, this historic boutique hotel provides a charming and convenient base for exploring the renowned landmark and its surrounding areas. The Andrews Hotel San Francisco captures the essence of old-world charm with its European-style architecture and elegant interiors, offering a cozy and welcoming atmosphere. The comfortable and well-appointed rooms provide a comfortable retreat after a day of admiring the breathtaking views of the Golden Gate Bridge. Additionally, the hotel's central location in downtown San Francisco ensures easy access to other popular attractions, such as Fisherman's Wharf and Alcatraz Island. With its prime location and warm hospitality, the Andrews Hotel is an excellent choice for travelers seeking a memorable stay near the iconic Golden Gate Bridge.
Your city break is not complete without a walk across the bridge
Fisherman's Wharf
Around 1900, Italian fishermen settled along the northeastern coast of San Francisco, creating the bustling waterfront district of Fisherman's Wharf, which is now one of the most touristy parts of the city and, of course, one of the most famous San Francisco attractions.
When the sun is shining, there is hardly a nicer activity in the city than strolling leisurely along the various piers, believe me!
Take a souvenir photo at the famous Fisherman's Wharf sign with the crab on it and then take a leisurely stroll along Hyde Street Pier. This is part of the San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park and is home to over 100 historic ships, such as the majestic Star of Alaska. You can either take a look at these "floating museums" yourself (often with an audio guide) or explore the ships with a guide.
My tip: If you get hungry in the meantime, I recommend the traditional fisherman's dish that is served in almost all restaurants along the entire Fisherman's Wharf: Clam Chowder. A very tasty version of the clam stew, refined with a spice mixture of paprika and chilli, is served at the Boudin Bakery. This sumptuous delicacy is served in the traditional way in a round bread pot made of sourdough. Hmm, delicious!
The famous sign with the crab
Hyde Street Pier with the boats for sightseeing
Traditional Clam Chowder at the Boudin Bakery
Clam & Crab Chowder - both are super delicious!
The Boudin Bakery serves all kinds of sourdough products.
The Musée Mécanique
On the edge of the large market square, diagonally behind the Fisherman's Wharf sign, you'll find the cool Musée Mécanique with its impressive collection of now over 300 slot machines and mechanical amusement machines. Absolutely retro!
If you're a big fan of these machines, plan to spend a little more time here. The Musée Mécanique is not a classic museum, you can actually use all the pinball machines, the historic fortune-telling boxes, the kiss-o-meter and so on!
The Kiss-o-Meter in the Musée Mécanique
San Francisco sights: Pier 39
Super touristy, and on top of that kitschy, but still a very cool place at Fisherman's Wharf, is the bustling Pier 39. Countless souvenir shops, cafés, restaurants and even a real little fairground with a colourful circus tent can be found here on the wooden planks.
The real attraction, however, are definitely the sea lions that populate the old jetties here in large numbers!
Even from a distance you can hear the animals, which can weigh up to 450 kilograms, and actually smell them. If the crowds at the railing directly in front of the sea lions are too much for you, just go up the steps behind them. You'll get a much better view from the upper balcony than from below anyway.
Discover the USA and California in a wonderfully individual way with Journaway!
My tip: Here at Pier 39 there is a very cool branch of the Bubba Gump Shrimp Company chain with super good seafood dishes in a casual atmosphere. I can fully recommend the Lt. Dan's Surf & Turf in particular, together with a delicious blueberry lemonade. At the entrance to Pier 39, there is also a small Ben & Jerry's ice cream parlour, my favourite!
You can hear and smell the sea lions from the street.
The lively Pier 39 - a real little hustle and bustle
Back there, the infamous fog rolls in
Pier 39 is lively and colourful
The delicious blueberry lemonade at Bubba Gump Shrimp
Ghirardelli Square
As you stroll along the various piers, be sure to take a detour to Ghirardelli Square. This historic place, built in 1895, is located about 100 metres from the coast on a small hill at the height of the Fisherman's Wharf sign.
In the super nobly restored courtyard of a former chocolate factory (Willy Wonka sends his regards), you'll find a handful of pretty little boutiques and very good restaurants between red brick walls, from whose terraces you can enjoy an absolutely beautiful view of the San Francisco Bay.
At the Cheese School of San Francisco, you can not only buy high-quality cheese, but also learn many interesting facts about its production!
I highly recommend the Hot Fudge Sundae with brownies and cream in the Ghirardelli Ice Cream & Chocolate Shop, which is truly forbidden. At the entrance to the shop, the nice salespeople always hand out small samples of the famous chocolate. The filling of the "milk chocolate & caramel" variety melts so delicately on your tongue!
My tip: Here in Ghirardelli Square, there are regular events worth recommending. There is often live music in the evening, which creates a truly unique atmosphere, especially in summer. Before your city trip, take a look at the events calendar so that you can plan your visit better.
Ghirardelli Square is the courtyard of a former chocolate factory.
The forbidden Hot Fudge Sundae with caramel sauce
A good night's sleep right on Fisherman's Wharf
If you want to treat yourself to a really great hotel on your San Francisco holiday, then the Fairmont Heritage Place right on Ghirardelli Square is the perfect place for you. Above all, the inviting roof terrace promises an incredibly beautiful view of the bay around the clock.
A much cheaper option is the HI San Francisco Fisherman's Wharf Hostel. In the single rooms, you'll have your peace and quiet, but if you feel like it, it's easy to make friends with other travellers in the cosy common rooms. Plus, at breakfast you even have an unobstructed view of the Golden Gate Bridge - totally beautiful!
Another excellent option is the Metro Hotel San Francisco on the-metro-hotel.sanfranciscotravelhotel.com , situated in the vibrant Lower Nob Hill neighborhood. This boutique hotel offers a unique blend of modern design and historic charm. With its comfortable rooms, personalized service, and a rooftop terrace boasting panoramic views of the city, the Metro Hotel provides an ideal retreat for visitors seeking a cozy and intimate stay.
For those looking for a sophisticated and eco-friendly option, the Orchard Hotel SF on orchard-hotel.sanfranciscotravelhotel.com is an exceptional choice. Located near Union Square, this environmentally conscious hotel offers contemporary rooms with eco-friendly amenities. The Orchard Hotel prides itself on sustainability while providing guests with a luxurious experience. Its central location allows for easy access to popular attractions and world-class shopping.
Whether it's the classic Italian charm of Villa Florence San Francisco on villa-florence.sanfranciscotravelhotel.com , the boutique allure of the Metro Hotel San Francisco, or the eco-conscious luxury of the Orchard Hotel SF, these hotels offer a range of options to suit different preferences. Each of these establishments guarantees a comfortable and memorable stay in the captivating city of San Francisco.
The view of the Golden Gate Bridge from Fisherman's Wharf Hostel
The cosy common room in the Fisherman's Wharf Hostel
Where in the world are you sleeping tonight?
The US Federal Prison Alcatraz
Who doesn't know Alcatraz?! The former maximum security prison sits enthroned on an 8.5-hectare rocky island in San Francisco Bay and is definitely one of the top San Francisco sights. While from 1861 to 1963 numerous prisoners spent their lives in jail about 2 kilometres from the mainland, today you can visit Alcatraz as a museum.
The audio tour, which takes you through the oppressive rooms with the original voices of some of the inmates from back then, will give you goose bumps more than once. It's an excursion you definitely shouldn't miss!
Tours to Alcatraz Federal Prison depart daily every 30 minutes with a short ferry ride from Pier 33. Theoretically, you can also buy tickets directly here, but unfortunately they are usually booked up to months in advance. So if a visit to Alcatraz is really important to you, make sure you book online as soon as possible before your trip. How about this combination of a visit to the prison island and a bike tour over the Golden Gate Bridge?
→ Alcatraz Prison Island & Bike Tour over the Golden Gate Bridge to Sausalito
A visit to Alcatraz should not be missed on this city trip.
The cells on Broadway in the US federal prison Alcatraz
The view from Alcatraz Island over to the mainland
The former administration building of the prison
And this is what it looks like in the cells
Tickets for a visit are often booked up months in advance
San Francisco sights: the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market
Every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, the colourful Ferry Plaza Farmers Market takes place right next to the beautiful Ferry Building. Here you'll find homemade delicacies and Californian treats, regional organically grown fruit and vegetables, colourful cut flowers, wonderfully fragrant herb pots and much more of what makes a real Farmers Market. Lots of little tasters at numerous stalls included!
I was also very impressed by the Ferry Building itself. While it already looks very majestic from the outside, countless shops, restaurants, cafés and boutiques entice you to take a relaxed stroll inside. In the Ferry Building you won't find the typical souvenir shops with mostly kitsch and junk like at Pier 39, for example, but really great shops with really beautiful products.
A stroll in the Ferry Building is perfect for a rainy day, or to look for souvenirs for your loved ones back home!
My tip: If you happen to be in San Francisco on a weekend, make sure to visit the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market on a Saturday, as it's much busier than during the week. If you're lucky, you might even see some of San Francisco's famous chefs sizzling up delicious dishes at their stalls. Or how about a food tour through the market and across the delicatessens in the Ferry Building?
→ Farmers Market & Ferry Building Food Tour
Ferry Plaza Farmers Market
Opening Hours: Tuesday & Thursday from 10am - 2pm
Saturday from 8am - 2pm
There is even an additional market in front of the Ferry Building.
Saturday is always the busiest day
Flowers, herbs, fruit, vegetables & co. at the Farmers Market
Chinatown
I already liked these very special quarters in New York and Singapore, but here in San Francisco, Chinatown really has me hooked. The striking house fronts glow in bright colours, Chinese lanterns stretch like pearls on a string across the busy streets, and artistic street art adorns various building walls.
The entrance to this exotic wonderland is the imposing Dragon's Gate at the intersection of Bush Street and Grant Avenue. Be sure to take plenty of time for a stroll and poke your nose into the old pharmacies with their fascinating Chinese medicinal powders and the many traditional shops.
Want to try some real Cantonese cuisine? Then you've come to the right place in San Francisco's Chinatown. The aroma of roast beef and Peking duck wafts over you as you walk down the street. The small tea rooms, which you will also find in large numbers along the streets, invite you to a traditional tea ceremony. Here you can also take part in a very cool food tour:
→ Walking Food Tour through the lively Chinatown.
Well, if these streets aren't absolutely amazing!
Chinese lanterns hang everywhere
The Dragon's Gate marks the entrance to Chinatown
Some really cool street art can be found here
The Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory
A small speciality in San Francisco's Chinatown is the tiny Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory. In this small family-run business, you can not only watch the "bakers" making fortune biscuits, and buy the Chinese sweet in numerous variations, but you can even have your very own fortune biscuit baked with an individual message inside.
A fortune biscuit with a personal message - if that's not a perfect gift for a loved one back home!
You'll find the Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory at 56 Ross Alley, just about a 5-minute walk from Portsmouths Square. The little wonder shop is open from Thursday to Sunday between 9am and 6pm. There is no entrance fee to look over the production process, but the staff will be very happy if you buy a little something after your visit.
A visit to the Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory
I could spend hours wandering the streets here.
How about a ceremony in a tea room?
The Coastal Trail: Sutro Baths, Lands End & Baker Beach
Three places that come together harmoniously to form my absolute favourite walk around San Francisco: the beautiful Coastal Trail. If you want to experience it exactly like this, you should take at least a whole afternoon and evening for it. The public bus will take you from numerous stops near you to the Dutch Windmill on the edge of the huge Golden Gate Park in no time.
From here, it's just a stone's throw to the wide Ocean Beach, the starting point of your walk!
Walk up to the Cliff House and Sutro Heights, and take another look back at Ocean Beach. See all the colourful kites people fly here? Just a few metres further on, you'll come across the first highlight of the Coastal Trail: the old ruins of the Sutro Baths.
It's worth pausing here for a moment: When the sea is calm, the afternoon sun reflects beautifully in the large pool; when the waves are strong, the angry ocean breaks against the stone wall with truly breathtaking fountains of spray. I don't know if bathing in the ancient ruins is allowed. In any case, the Sutro Baths offers an abundance of dreamlike photo motifs due to the reflections and the picturesque coastal landscape!
Starting point of your hike: the wonderfully wide Ocean Beach
The ruins of the old Sutro Baths
On narrow paths to the Lands End Labyrinth
The next four kilometres lead you along narrow paths along the coast. At many points you can step out onto large rocky plateaus and enjoy breathtaking views along the coast. Small trails lead to tiny beaches. Sometimes you can even see the Golden Gate Bridge peeking around the corner in the distance.
The Lands End Maze, so famous on Instagram, is also on your walk!
Choose your pace so that you reach Baker Beach just before sunset. From this beach you have one of the most beautiful views of the Golden Gate Bridge. You will be absolutely impressed, I promise! Sit on the warm sand, watch the hustle and bustle of the beach, and admire the bright red-orange of the bridge in the light of the setting sun. Can there be a more perfect evening in San Francisco?
The last part of the trail (I think this section is officially no longer part of the Coastal Trail) leads you directly to the Golden Gate Bridge. After about 20 minutes you reach the bridge in the dark, beautifully illuminated. It's amazing! The public buses take you safely and comfortably back to the city.
Can you see the Golden Gate Bridge peaking over there?
A dreamlike sunset at Baker Beach
One of the most beautiful views of the bridge from Baker Beach
What a wonderful afternoon on the Coastal Trail
The Painted Ladies
The Painted Ladies are definitely on your city trip list for the most beautiful San Francisco sights, right? The Victorian wooden houses, painted in delicate pastel colours, charm countless visitors every day on the edge of Alamo Square, a pretty little park. You can easily reach Alamo Square with the MUNI buses on lines 5, 21 and 24.
By the way, the term Painted Ladies was used in the 19th century (when the row of houses was also built) as a slang term for prostitutes, as these ladies always wore conspicuously strong and colourful make-up.
The Victorian wooden houses from the 19th century
The Cable Cars & the San Francisco Cable Car Museum
Very typical for San Francisco, and really fun, are the historic cable cars. For me, the most beautiful route with breathtakingly steep climbs, descents and great views of the bay is the Powell & Hyde line. If you buy a day pass, you can get off and on as often as you like.
Since there are already many interesting stops on this line - there are three in total in San Francisco - such as Lombard Street, Union Square and the colourful Chinatown, the 20 euros for the day pass is definitely worth it. A single ride also costs around 5 euros.
Try to get a seat in the very front and on the outside of the footboards. Cruising over Nob Hill and Russian Hill in San Francisco is an unforgettable experience!
The starting and ending points of the Powell & Hyde Line are also well worth seeing. There is a large turntable where the historic cable cars are still turned manually. By the way, the waiting time for a ride is longest here. On the other hand, street musicians often play music there to shorten the time for the tourists. So if you're in a hurry and you're not that interested in the spectacle of filming, it's better to go one or two stops further and get on there!
My tip: There is also a very special stop on the Powell & Hyde line: the San Francisco Cable Car Museum. Here on Nob Hill, you can have the ride technology explained to you in detail and learn many interesting facts about the history of the cable cars.
Back there is the turntable at the beginning of the Powell & Hyde line
San Francisco sights: Lombard Street
As just mentioned with the cable cars, one stop on the Powell & Hyde line is the world-famous Lombard Street. Eight narrow serpentine curves have to be negotiated over a total length of 145 metres. If you count the first and last (not quite complete) bends, there are even ten!
The whole of Lombard Street is actually much longer, but only this short section at Russian Hill is so spectacular. Beautifully lined with countless flowers, trees and bushes, the street is said to be the most winding in the world, although that's probably not entirely true.
Lombard Street is said to be the most winding road in the world
The Twin Peaks Vista Point
A very beautiful viewpoint in San Francisco is the Twin Peaks Vista Point, also called Christmas Tree Point on Google Maps. From the two 281-metre-high twin hills you can enjoy a fantastic view of the entire Bay Area with the skyline in the distance. The easiest way to reach Twin Peaks Vista Point is with your own rental car. Access is via Twin Peaks Boulevard, which winds around the two mountains in tight curves.
Alternatively, you can also reach the Twin Peaks on foot, which is what I did. It's a good 2 kilometres from the famous Castro Theatre in the Castro district. In retrospect, however, I would have found it nicer not to walk through the area alone, but perhaps to get some information about the surroundings. The entertaining walk leads through some very interesting corners and picturesque city forests. You could book a guide here:
→ Three-hour city walk from Castro to the Twin Peaks
My tip: If you have a few hours to spare on your holiday, the Castro district is also well worth exploring. In addition to the Castro Theatre I just mentioned, the flair here with the rainbow-coloured zebra stripes and the numerous cafés and bars is exceptional. The lively district between the Mission District and Twin Peaks is considered San Francisco's lesbian and gay quarter. Haight Ashbury, the hippie district, is also wonderfully colourful and nice to stroll around. For more tips on this part of town, see Travelbloke's San Francisco travel tips.
If you have time, the colourful Castro neighbourhood is also worth a visit.
Union Square
When people talk about Union Square in San Francisco, they are not just referring to the 10,500 square metre park in the middle of the skyscrapers of downtown, but also the entire district around it. If you're in the mood for shopping during your city trip, there's nowhere better than Union Square.
Six huge department stores, including Nordstrom, Macy's and Bloomingdale's, are located here in the immediate vicinity of countless boutiques, luxury shops and the big clothing chains such as H&M, American Eagle Outfitters, Forever 21 & Co.
My tip: On the roof of the Macy's shopping centre, a branch of the Cheesecake Factory not only tempts you with sinfully delicious cheesecake variations, but also with a sensational view over Union Square Park and the surrounding skyscrapers. If you're lucky, you'll get one of the coveted tables on the rooftop terrace outside. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you!
The best place to go shopping is Union Square.
Union Square Park amidst numerous skyscrapers
San Francisco sights: the Coit Tower
A great 360-degree panorama of Fisherman's Wharf, including Pier 39 and the entire harbour area, and of course in all other directions, can be seen from the 64-metre-high Coit Tower. You can climb the art deco lookout tower on Telegraph Hill daily from 10am to 6pm (May to October). From November to April, the tower closes one hour earlier, at 5 pm.
In addition to the recommended view, there are also over 27 colourful murals by local artists to admire. In addition, numerous wild parrots live around the Coit Tower, which have meanwhile achieved a certain fame and are really cuddly!
Sausalito & the Muir Woods National Monument
A very worthwhile half-day to day trip takes you out of the city centre of San Francisco, across the Golden Gate Bridge, and into the fascinating nature amidst the huge coastal redwoods of the Muir Woods National Monument conservation area. Only relatively few specimens of the Sequoia sempervirens sequoia, the tallest tree species on earth, still exist in California. You can admire them here.
The stately giant trees of the Sequoia sempervirens can grow to a height of 115 metres and be up to 1,100 years old!
Short hiking trails to beautiful vantage points lead through Muir Woods National Monument. I was on the road without a guide, but in retrospect I would have liked to have a person by my side who could have explained more about the fascinating trees and the nature around them. That's why I recommend this tour, a nice combination of the protected area with the cute coastal town of Sausalito:
→ Muir Woods National Monument & Sausalito including entrance fee.
My tip: Sausalito is also a super cute little town with a very special coastal charm. So if you have time, take a leisurely stroll through the colourful streets with their pastel-coloured wooden houses. Don't miss at least three scoops of the forbiddingly delicious Lappert's Ice Cream on the main street!
The Sequoia sequoias are the tallest trees on earth.
Beautiful viewpoint in Muir Woods National Monument
The view upwards is breathtaking
Nice restaurant on stilts in Sausalito
Sausalito exudes real coastal charm
The California Academy of Sciences & Golden Gate Park
Did you know that the Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, with its five kilometres in length and 800 metres in width, is even bigger than Central Park in New York? Here, not only do small green forests and very well-kept, beautifully planted lawns attract numerous visitors and recreation seekers, but also a few real San Francisco sights: the Japanese Tea Garden, the Conservatory of Flowers, the M. H. de Young Museum, the city's Botanical Garden and also the highly recommended California Academy of Sciences.
At the California Academy of Sciences you'll find a planetarium, a man-made rainforest, and many huge aquariums with interesting sea creatures!
This relatively new museum of natural history is a very fascinating place. It was pouring with rain when I visited, so I didn't even have to feel guilty about missing anything outdoors. But even if the sun is shining around the clock on your holiday, which I hope it is, you should definitely take a look at the California Academy of Sciences. You can find tickets with priority admission and no queuing here:
→ Preferential admission without queuing for the Natural History Museum.
The California Academy of Sciences in Golden Gate Park
An absolutely fascinating museum of natural history
Also visit the Conservatory of Flowers in Golden Gate Park.
I hope I was able to give you a first overview of the 21 most beautiful San Francisco sights for me. Are you planning your first trip to the City of Flowers or are you a repeat offender? Even if you still have unanswered questions, feel free to leave a comment here on my travel blog, I'd love to hear from you!
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