San Francisco, US: A Short Travel Guide

San Francisco is a bustling metropolis in Northern California. Nicknamed "The City by the Bay," it’s famous for iconic US landmarks and steep hills dotted with Victorian style houses. With its unique blend of history, natural beauty, and cultural experiences, it’s one of the most intriguing cities to visit in the United States. In this travel guide, we share our top things to do in San Francisco as well as great places to stay, eat, and drink.

View from Battery Spencer

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Check out our video about San Francisco to see the best things to do through our camera!

Best Things To Do In San Francisco

• Climb to Twin Peaks

• See Alamo Square & the Painted Ladies

• Get lunch at the Ferry Building Marketplace

• Visit the Exploratorium

• Stroll around Fisherman’s Wharf (Ghirardelli Square, the Musée Méchanique, & Pier 39)

• Explore the sights of Golden Gate Park (Bison Paddock, Queen Wilhelmina Garden, California Academy of Sciences, de Young Museum, Japanese Tea Garden, Botanical Garden, & Conservatory of Flowers)

• Explore the Presidio for its panoramic vistas of the Golden Gate Bridge (Our favorite views include Veterans Overlook, the historic Fort Point, the Postcard viewpoint, and the views along the Batteries to Bluffs hiking trail)

• Bike tour to Sausalito

• Tour the Mission District (Dolores Park & street art at Clarion Alley & Balmy Alley)

• Explore the Marin Headlands

• Cruise the Bay & tour inside Alcatraz

• Eat & Drink in North Beach (Little Italy)

Download our Google Map with all the places to go, eat, drink, and stay here.

Alamo Square & Painted Ladies

Places To Stay In San Francisco

• San Remo Hotel ($): Good budget option in a great location, with common shared areas that are kept clean

• Francisco Bay Inn ($$ - where we stayed): Renovated hotel with comfy beds and clean rooms in a good location (walking distance from Fishermen's Wharf)

• Hotel Caza Fisherman's Wharf ($$$): Beautiful hotel near Ghirardelli Square, with free bikes, private parking, an outdoor swimming pool and a fitness center
  

Golden Gate as seen from Marin Headlands

Places To Eat And Drink In San Francisco

• Bobo's: fine dining restaurant with good steak and crabs

• Bob's Donut & Pastry Shop: famous donut shop

• Caffe Trieste: famous poets café

• Capo's: good pizza

• Cholita Linda (Ferry Building): good tacos and nice outdoor patio

• Chubby Noodle: lovely noodle restaurant

• Fog Harbor Fish House: good clam chowder at Pier 39

• Ghirardelli Chocolate Experience: famous San Francisco chocolate factory

• Golden Star Vietnamese Restaurant: great Vietnamese food in the heart of Chinatown

• Himalayan Cuisine SF: good Nepali and Indian food

• Hog Island Oyster Co. (Ferry Building): popular oyster bar at the water

• La Taqueria: lovel tacos in Mission (can be a queue)

• Madrone Art Bar: Great late-night bar for dancing

• Mister Jiu's: popular high-end Chinese restaurant in Chinatown (but very pricey)

• Molinari Delicatessen: good sandwiches

• Napa Valley Burger Company (Sausalito): gourmet burgers

• Original Joe's: great Italian food

• Pakwan Restaurant: good Pakistani food in Mission District

• Poggio Trattoria (Sausalito): great Italian food

• Sam’s Pizza & Burgers: great burgers

• San Francisco Brewing Co.: local beers to try

• Santeria: good Mexican restaurant in Mission District

• Sotto Mare: famous for its fish soup

• The Baked Bear: come for the ice cream sandwiches

• The Showdown: good local bar

• The Trident (Sausalito): waterfront restaurant with high-end food & drinks

• Tony's Pizza Napoletana: best pizza in SF

• Torraku Ramen - Lombard: great Japanese food

• Vesuvio Cafe: the Beat Generation hangout café

"traditional" clam chowder

Map San Francisco

Find all the places to go, eat, drink, and stay in San Francisco on Google Maps, follow and save the list, do the following:

1. Tap on the link to open it (click button below)

2. Tap Follow. This list will now be added to the group of lists you follow.

3. Optional: To unfollow a list someone shared with you, tap the list Saved.
   

If you follow the list we made, all our saved places of San Francisco will show up in Your Places. The places will also appear as suggested locations in Google Maps.

Save Google Maps Places

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Use These Websites To Save Money On Your Trip To San Francisco

• Booking.com for places to stay

• Skyscanner for cheap flights

• GetYourGuide for local tours

• Rentalcars.com for affordable car rentals

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Are you having a hard time planning your trip to San Francisco? Get our Interactive Travel Planner to keep it all organized.

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Need more travel inspiration? Check out our other destinations and articles about the US:

• Las Vegas

• Yellowstone National Park

• Grand Teton National Park

• Valley of Fire State Park

• Seattle

• Vashon Island

• Leavenworth