San Francisco, CA

Travel Guide

San Francisco featuring a bay or harbor and a bridge
San Francisco
San Francisco which includes heritage architecture and a city
San Francisco
San Francisco

San Francisco Travel Guide Video

The city with a beautiful bay, famous red bridge and infamous fog welcomes you to enjoy art, history, shopping and outdoor activities.

San Francisco is simultaneously romantic, exciting, relaxing and intriguing. Rent a bike, walk, ride the trolley or drive to fascinating destinations. Tour San Francisco Bay by boat for unique views from beneath Golden Gate Bridge. Stop at Alcatraz Island its former inescapable prison became famous in the film Birdman of Alcatraz.

At the bridge’s southern end is the Presidio, a former military base, now a large park with hiking trails, great bridge and shoreline views, Andy Goldsworthy sculptures, Baker Beach, the Walt Disney Family Museum and a life-size Yoda statue.

Entering the Marina District, attend a performance at the Palace of Fine Arts Theatre. Travel east to the Fisherman’s Wharf neighborhood for shopping and dining. Enjoy a chocolate sundae at Ghirardelli, a local favorite for over 150 years. Visit the San Francisco Maritime National Historic Park to see ships that sailed more than a century ago. Watch sea lions lounging on rafts near Pier 39. Continue on to the Embarcadero District. The Exploratorium at Pier 15 features interactive exhibits intertwining science, art and human perception. See the Giants play football at AT&T Park in South Beach.

Inland, shop at Union Square, drive down the very crooked Lombard Street and photograph the Painted Ladies Victorian row houses. Stand at the Haight-Ashbury corner, in the neighborhood where hippie counterculture developed in the 1960s.

Enter the Golden Gate Park to visit de Young Museum, filled with art, costumes and textiles. Explore botanical gardens, play golf or tennis, photograph the Japanese Tea Garden and wade in the Pacific Ocean.

Travel north to tall redwoods in Muir Woods, wineries in Napa and Sonoma and quaint shops in Sausalito. On a foggy day, stand atop Vista Point in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area at the bridge’s northern end and gaze south across the clouds to see Sutro Tower rising from Twin Peaks, with the rest of the city hidden. When the fog clears, San Francisco’s skyline is a gleaming gem at the end of the golden bridge.

Where to stay in San Francisco

Fisherman\'s Wharf featuring a bay or harbor

Fisherman's Wharf

4/5(38 area reviews)

Discover Pier 39, Ghirardelli Square, and the San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park in this bustling tourist hotspot. Savor seafood at family-owned restaurants and explore the sea lion colony, while enjoying convenient cable car access.

Fisherman's Wharf
Union Square which includes a high rise building and a city

Union Square

4/5(5,164 area reviews)

Major tourist destination in downtown San Francisco, Union Square boasts shopping, hotels, and theaters. Explore department stores, boutiques, and galleries, or catch a performance at various theaters. Enjoy the Dewey Monument and stunning views from nearby hotels. Easily accessible via cable car lines, buses, and subway systems.

Union Square
Downtown San Francisco featuring railway items

Downtown San Francisco

3/5(1,084 area reviews)

Serving as San Francisco's central business district, this area boasts Northern California's two tallest buildings, the Salesforce Tower and Transamerica Pyramid. Explore shopping malls like the Embarcadero Center and enjoy parks such as Sue Biermann Park, all easily accessible via Muni bus and rail lines.

Downtown San Francisco
South of Market featuring skyline, a city and city views

South of Market

3.5/5(3,655 area reviews)

Oracle Park and Chase Center are top sights in South of Market, and you should be sure to explore the popular shops. Hop aboard the metro at Yerba Buena-Moscone Station or Fourth-Brannan Station to see more sights in the area.

South of Market
Nob Hill showing a city and street scenes

Nob Hill

4.5/5(1,100 area reviews)

Luxury hotels, historic mansions, and Michelin-starred restaurants abound in this upscale area. Explore Union Square shopping district, Grace Cathedral, and the SF Masonic Auditorium for a taste of culture and history.

Nob Hill
Mission District which includes outdoor art

Mission District

3.5/5(140 area reviews)

Mission District is a destination travelers like for its bars, and you might hop aboard the metro at 16th Street Mission Station or 24th Street Mission Station to explore sights like San Francisco Public Library.

Mission District
Holiday Inn Golden Gateway by IHG
Holiday Inn Golden Gateway by IHG
3.5 out of 5
1500 Van Ness Ave, San Francisco, CA
The price is NT$3,708 per night from Jul 13 to Jul 14
NT$3,708
NT$4,364 total
Jul 13 - Jul 14
includes taxes & fees
Book a stay at this business-friendly hotel in San Francisco. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast (surcharge), and a 24-hour fitness center. Our guests praise the pool ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (4,256 reviews)
A total surprise
"I enjoyed my stay, but was shocked when I checked in, I was not assigned the room with two beds I had requested initially. On top of that, I was asked for a deposit of five hundred dollars."

Reviewed on 2025/7/10

Holiday Inn Golden Gateway by IHG
Hotel Riu Plaza Fisherman's Wharf
Hotel Riu Plaza Fisherman's Wharf
4 out of 5
2500 Mason St, San Francisco, CA
Fully refundableReserve now, pay when you stay
The price is NT$3,761 per night from Jul 14 to Jul 15
NT$3,761
NT$5,627 total
Jul 14 - Jul 15
includes taxes & fees
Book a stay at this eco-certified hotel in San Francisco. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and a 24-hour fitness center. Our guests praise the breakfast and ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (6,521 reviews)
"I liked this place but like everyone else who is trying to save a buck in this economy, they overlook the little things. The window was very dirty. The air conditioning units look and sound like they came out of the 90's, it sounded like a truck driving by every time the compressor kicked on. The ..."

Reviewed on 2025/7/10

Hotel Riu Plaza Fisherman's Wharf
Hyatt Regency San Francisco
Hyatt Regency San Francisco
4 out of 5
5 Embarcadero Center, San Francisco, CA
The price is NT$4,959 per night from Jul 13 to Jul 14
NT$4,959
NT$7,176 total
Jul 13 - Jul 14
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4-star eco-certified hotel in San Francisco. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast (surcharge), and room service. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (1,727 reviews)
"Love this hotel. The staff here is always fantastic! Amy at the front desk was so kind and funny, Tonny in valet was also helpful, kind and a pleasure to talk to. I look forward to our next stay!"

Reviewed on 2025/7/8

Hyatt Regency San Francisco
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Kasa The Addison San Francisco
Kasa The Addison San Francisco
4 out of 5
2263 Sacramento St, San Francisco, CA
Stay at this 4-star aparthotel in San Francisco. Enjoy free WiFi, memory foam beds, and an in-room coffeemaker. Popular attractions Lombard Street and Pier 39 ...
8.4/10 Very Good! (9 reviews)
Great amenities and good location
"The location is great, but very expensive. We like having a kitchen and laundry facility. There is no fan provided, so be prepared in warmer months. The bathroom door is frosted glass and does not reach the ceiling."

Reviewed on 2025/4/26

Kasa The Addison San Francisco
Cozy and Affordable Homes in Santa Ana
Cozy and Affordable Homes in Santa Ana
2 out of 5
5 Santa Ana Ave, Daly City, CA
Stay at this apartment in Daly City. Popular attractions San Francisco Zoo and Serramonte Center are located nearby.
6.4/10 (24 reviews)
"Overall a great place to stay. It was very clean and the bad was very comfortable. Having a private bathroom is a luxury. My only dislike was the paper thin door which didn't block out any sounds in or out."

Reviewed on 2025/5/13

Cozy and Affordable Homes in Santa Ana
Maddux Homes near Westlake
Maddux Homes near Westlake
2.5 out of 5
752 Maddux Dr, Daly City, CA
Stay at this apartment in Daly City. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and an in-room coffeemaker. Popular attractions Golden Gate Park and San Francisco Zoo are ...
"The best thing was parking. It was super easy. As long as no other car take up the designated parking spot in front of the grass (which no one did). I rented a car, and I mean, if you're visiting the Bay Area you should rent a car. The main issue I had was that the shower drain was clogged. Other ..."

Reviewed on 2024/12/30

Maddux Homes near Westlake
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Popular places to visit

Reviews of San Francisco

4.3
Top Destination
5 - Excellent
5897
5 - Excellent 48%
4 - Good
4594
4 - Good 37%
3 - Okay
1339
3 - Okay 11%
2 - Disappointing
305
2 - Disappointing 2%
1 - Terrible
145
1 - Terrible 1%

1/5 - Terrible

Verified traveler

I have lived here for 25 years and it’s become a filthy dirty stinky place to be I can’t wait to move away from San Francisco.

4/5 - Good

Verified traveler

San Francisco has beautiful things

5/5 - Excellent

Mr.NEH

love the city.

4/5 - Good

Verified traveler

Even though we were there during Covid and there weren’t many businesses open, we still had a wonderful stay.

3/5 - Okay

Mojo

Getting harder to enjoy. COVID an issue when I was there.

4/5 - Good

Verified traveler

I love SF !

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