Explore the City
San Francisco is world-famous for numerous attractions, fine dining, and exquisite shopping. The city offers Pier 39 and Fisherman’s Wharf, Treasure Island, sailing, bay cruises, historic cable cars, Twin Peaks, and much more! See below what San Francisco has to offer.
Attractions
Alcatraz Island
Take a tour for a close-up look at the site of the first lighthouse and U.S. fort on the West Coast. “The Rock” is most famous for its federal penitentiary, which housed some of America’s most notorious offenders. nps.gov
GoCar Tours
Grab your family and friends and hit the town in this awesome sightseeing GPS-guided Storytelling car®. These yellow GoCars come pre-loaded with more than 500 different attractions and points of interest throughout San Francisco. Check out spots including Pier 39, Golden Gate Park, Coit Tower, and more! gocartours.com
Aquarium of the Bay
Explore the bay up close as you journey through glass tunnels inches away from 20,000 of San Francisco’s amazing aquatic animals. aquariumofthebay.org
7D Experience
Located at Pier 39, this interactive thrill ride will have you competing against your friends. Use a laser blaster to earn points as you hit zombies and robots while riding in moving roller coaster seats. 7dexperience.com
Coit Tower
Explore Coit Tower, an emblem of San Francisco’s skyline. Visit the observation deck, which provides a 360-degree view of the city and bay, including the Golden Gate and Bay bridges. coittowertours.com
Conservatory of Flowers
Located in Golden Gate Park, check out this beautiful museum of rare and exotic tropical plants from around the world. conservatoryofflowers.org
Fisherman’s Wharf
Overlooking the San Francisco Bay and the Golden Gate Bridge, this historic waterfront still serves as a working fishing pier. View the famous sea lions, savor fresh seafood, and board excursion boats. fishermanswharf.org
San Francisco Zoo
Lions, tigers, and bears oh my! Visit the San Francisco zoo and check out all the wildlife. Stop by the Lion House, see wildlife theater shows, or walk the nature trail at the Exploration Zone. sfzoo.org
San Francisco Music Hall of Fame
Get a glimpse into San Francisco’s iconic Bay Area artists and bands in the gallery or marvel at the outdoor “Brick Walk” honoring the top music legends in San Francisco. https://www.sanfranciscomusichalloffame.com/
Lombard Street
Visit the “crookedest” street in the world while viewing the scenic gardens and iconic views of the bay.
Barbary Coast Trail
Take a historical walking tour of the Barbary Coast, connecting the city’s most historical sites. Visit a graveyard of Gold Rush ships, Italianate Victorian buildings, and so much more! barbarycoasttrail.org
Exploratorium
Located at Pier 15, explore the science, art, and human perception featuring hundreds of hands-on touchable exhibits. This Exploratorium has 1.5 acres of public space on the waterfront, expanded exhibit galleries, stores, and cafes. exploratorium.edu
California Academy of Sciences
This attraction is great for family fun. Explore the aquarium, planetarium, the natural history museum, rainforest, and 40,000 live animals all under one roof. calacademy.org
Dining
Union Square
Fino Restorante & Bar
Fine Italian classic menu with an assortment of innovative daily specials.
Johnny Foley’s Irish House
Irish bar with pints and hearty grub featuring frequent live music and dueling piano shows.
Soma
Zero Zero
Wood-fired, thin-crust pizzas and other Italian standards featuring a lively bar scene.
Financial District
EPIC Steak
The classic comfort and elegance of a traditional steakhouse meal with culinary sophistication.
Ferry Building
A foodie’s paradise with a collection of boutique restaurants with offerings from exotic to organic.
Kokkari Estiatorio
Modern Greek cuisine served with the hospitality of a proper Greek home, luring a chic crowd. Advanced reservations strongly recommended.
Van Ness Avenue
Boboquivari’s
Renowned for its delightful crab dishes and distinguished dry-aged steaks.
Harris’ Steakhouse
Award-winning menu offering acclaimed dry-aged steaks and featuring live jazz in the bar.
North Beach
Bix
Modern American cuisine served in swanky 1930’s supper club ambiance in a soaring two-story dining room.
Calzones
Bistro style Italian restaurant with traditional pizzas, pasta, and seafood offerings.
Firenze By Night
A classic Italian restaurant serving up ridiculously fresh pasta in simple sauces.
Fisherman’s Wharf
Franciscan Crab
Dine on freshly caught seafood while taking in views of Alcatraz and the Golden Gate Bridge.
McCormick and Kuleto’s
Enjoy fresh seafood, shellfish, and aged steaks with expansive views of San Francisco Bay.
Prescatore
A Tuscan-American eatery with a focus on seafood with rustic, yet chic, décor.
Pier Market Seafood
Enjoy fresh local mesquite-grilled seafood and award-winning clam chowder with waterfront views of Alcatraz.
Scomas
It can’t get any fresher. This waterfront restaurant serves seafood pulled straight off the pier from local fisherman.
Shopping
Union Square
Calling all shopaholics! The Westfield San Francisco Centre is home to numerous chains including a five-story Nordstroms and just blocks away are famed department stores such as Macy’s, Saks, Neiman Marcus, Nike, and Levis. If that isn’t enough, high-end boutique stores including Coach, Bulgari, Cartier, Louis Vuitton, Gucci, and many others line the streets. Union Square is the Mecca for shopaholics!
Chinatown Shopping
You won’t need a passport, but once you pass through the Dragon Gates, you will be transported to streets decorated with ornate lampposts and pagoda roofs. Import vendors sell everything from carved Buddhas, paper parasols, jewelry, furniture, and teas to exotic gifts. Be sure to check out the Fortune Cookie Factory tucked away on Ross Alley.
Embarcadero Center
Embarcadero Center is San Francisco’s premier destination for boutique shopping, outstanding restaurants, and popular local events. Be sure to explore the numerous art exhibits, independent film theater, and other onsite attractions. Enjoy stores like Gap, Ann Taylor, See’s Candies, and the SF Giants Dugout. Dive into San Francisco food culture at the Ferry Building Marketplace.
Noe Valley
Noe Valley is a quaint, quiet neighborhood that features a variety of specialized boutique shops. Clothing stores include Isso, Two Birds, Astrid’s Rabat Shoes for Men and Women, Peek-a-Boutique and See Jane Run. This is a great neighborhood to shop for home goods and decor, with stores like Echo Furniture, Global Exchange, Wink, and Urban Nest.
Chestnut Street
This street is filled with an eclectic mix of gift shops, restaurants, coffee houses, and well-known retailers such as Chadwick’s of London, Sunglass Hut, and Body Options. Intermingling the shopping experience is a distinctive neighborhood feel. Take a break from shopping and grab a bite to eat or take a coffee break at any of the numerous restaurants or coffee houses and take in some fun people watching.