San Francisco Travel Guide

 
by goodfish
 
  •   San Francisco
    by goodfish
  • Golden Gate Bridge
      Golden Gate Bridge
    by vichatherly
  • JumpingKristini and friends, San Francisco, USA
      JumpingKristini and friends, San...
    by Jumping
  • Alcatraz Island in the Bay
      Alcatraz Island in the Bay
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  •   San Francisco
    by mingomatic
 

Pro

Karnubawax profile photo

  IT"S SAN FRANCISCO! Beautiful views, eclectic neighborhoods, amazing people, great spirit 


Con

karenincalifornia profile photo

  Tough city for driving around - even for a local. Homeless situation is #1 problem and needs to be fixed. 


In a nutshell

Geisha_Girl profile photo

  The charm,cultural diversity, and beautiful skyline will make you want to come back for more..... 

 

Explore San Francisco

Things to Do  

Golden Gate Bridge

Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco

 306 Reviews  The Golden Gate Bridge is the longest suspension bridge in the world and one of the major symbols of the United States. Walking across the Bridge on a clear day gives you some different -- and sometimes spectacular -- views of San Francisco and the Bay. However, it's generally foggy and cool, so... 

Lombard Street

Lombard Street, San Francisco

 162 Reviews  Was it San Francisco or is it America? Whatever the answer, Americans do love their stuff on wheels; from one to whatever number you come up with (mostly two and four) you'll certainly see some stange things going around on the roads. San Francisco certainly had its share, an abundance even. Oddball... 

Hotels  

Argonaut Hotel - A Kimpton Hotel

 4 Reviews and 1834 Opinions  There's no doubt this hotel, provides a level of luxury and convenience, that many travellers will... 

White Swan Inn

 4 Reviews and 413 Opinions  While a bed and breakfast, it is more private. We loved it! Comfortable, big room. Well staffed.... 

Restaurants  

Boudin Bakery & Café

Boudin Bakery & Café, San Francisco

 25 Reviews  Try Boudin on the wharf, they are bread makers that has a nice restaurant on the lot. Big picture windows face the bay and there are good sights. Here is a clipping of their story Real Flavor. Real History. In 1849, the Boudin family struck culinary gold. Wild yeasts in the San Francisco air had... 

The Stinking Rose

The Stinking Rose, San Francisco

 37 Reviews  If you are a fan of garlic this is the place for you. Everything on the menu at The Stinking Rose is loaded with Garlic. This a tourist restuauant but the food is pretty good which makes it a place that locals frequent too! The Stinking Rose looks quite small from the outside, but once inside it... 

Nightlife  

Night Clubs

Night Clubs, San Francisco

 24 Reviews  Liquid's resurrection is Pink, the brainchild of two French hipsters one of which is DJ Franky Boissy who spins Latin House and Deep, sexy house. The cool ambiance is heightened by rose scented candles lit for the entire evening lending it a rosy glow and perfuming the air in the process. French... 

Transportation  

Cable Cars

Cable Cars, San Francisco

 150 Reviews  Ah yes, those cable cars that have made San Francisco famous. Once threatened with extinction they have been retained as a mechanical dinosaur from the past and don't the visitors just love them. Of course, no local in his right mind would think about using them because the queues are long, waiting... 

B.A.R.T

B.A.R.T, San Francisco

 69 Reviews  There train system is not as extensive as in other cities. It mainly is in the downtown/ business area. It does not really go to the tourist or residential areas. One line the F does go to Fishermans Wharf. As a tourist you probably will have little use for it. For business travelers staying in the... 

Shopping  

Shopping Centers / Malls

Shopping Centers / Malls, San Francisco

 30 Reviews  The Shops at Tanforan is actually far from the Downtown area and is located in the City of San Bruno in San Mateo County but if you want to shop like what a local bay area native does, without the crowds and this Mall is your best bet. Although I prefer to Shop at the Huge Serramonte Mall in Daly... 

Union Square

Union Square, San Francisco

 27 Reviews  Place to be for all your shoppers. A lot of hotels surround the area. You'll find an open square to hang out. Tons of tourist walking around. Louis Vutton, Saks Fifth Avenue, local shops around and just beyond the square. Bring your credit cards. Check out the Streets of San Francisco Trolley... 

Local Customs  

S.F. Nicknames / Pride

S.F. Nicknames / Pride, San Francisco

 14 Reviews  When you refer to San Francisco as Frisco or San Fran, you're marking yourself as an outsider. No one here calls it that, and those abbreviations grate on our ears. We say San Francisco or The City. And while we're on the subject, the name of our state is California. Absolutely no one calls it... 

Warnings Or Dangers  

Areas to Avoid

Areas to Avoid, San Francisco

 98 Reviews  So ma school got some new computers and i searched my neighborhood Sunnydale and landed here don't be afraid of sf it aint bad. yea there some bad area, but if you a torrisr you won't run in bad areas. and if ya do don't be noticibal just act like it yo neighborhood. but stay out the sunydale people... 

People to Avoid

People to Avoid, San Francisco

 75 Reviews  The most honest advice one can give about visiting SF..... don't look like a tourist. Dress like you live here, walk like you live here, don't walk around with a map in your face, and have some common sense. If you cant handle that, stick to pier 39. 

Tourist Traps  

Fisherman's Wharf

Fisherman's Wharf, San Francisco

 90 Reviews  I maintain there are two kinds of tourists: those who want a unique experience and seek to immerse themselves in the local experience, and those who don't put much thought into what makes a place interesting beyond the convenience experiences set up for them that the tourism industry thrives off of.... 

Be Aware!

Be Aware!, San Francisco

 25 Reviews  BE AWARE!! If your looking for camera lens and accessories dont go or even bother to enter to this camera shop one shop next to the Wax Museum opposite of Boudin restaurant in Pier 39 in San Fransisco..All of their discounts and promotion are hoax and they will tell tale you a big lies about the... 

What to Pack  

Clothes For Layering

Clothes For Layering, San Francisco

 55 Reviews  Backpacks are excellent for putting your camera as well as some of the souvenirs you buy along your visits to the shops. Make sure you bring a beanie, scarf, sweatshirt, sweater and a nice warm jacket. The weather can be very cold around the pier. 

Sweater / Jacket

Sweater / Jacket, San Francisco

 43 Reviews  Bring warm clothes with you. San Francisco is located on the water, and even on the hottest summer day, the fog can roll in quickly. When that happens, the wind comes up, and the temperature can plummet as much as 20 degrees in a short time. There's a famous quote that's attributed, mistakenly, to... 

Off The Beaten Path  

Day Trips

Day Trips, San Francisco

 51 Reviews  One of the northern missions, this was originally part of Mission Dolores in San Francisco. Founded in 1817 as a sanitarium for Indians afflicted with European diseases, it was named for the patron saint of healing. This is still an active church and school. The phone number is that of the gift... 

SF Views

SF Views, San Francisco

 48 Reviews  Along the ridgeline of the Pacific Heights Neighborhood are two neighborhood parks, Lafayette and Alta Plaza, both of which are popular places for residents to walk their dogs and for homeless to sleep. Lafayette Park is at a peak, with a view over the Marina District and San Francisco Bay. Having... 

Sports & Outdoors  

Candlestick Park / SF 49'ers

Candlestick Park / SF 49'ers, San Francisco

 12 Reviews  Originally built for the San Francisco Giants (who moved to Pac Bell or SBC Park) in 2000, Monster Park has been the home of the 49ers since 1971. Although Candlestick Park was built for the Giants, the Beatles played their last concert ever there on August 29, 1966, and the NFL’s 49ers have won so... 

Favorites  

Golden Gate Bridge

Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco

 64 Reviews  They are two vista points at the Golden Gate Bridge, the nearest one just before crossing the bridge is the south vista point and the farthest one is upon exiting the bridge via US 101 going to the Marin Headlands is the north vista point. If you are a cheapskate, then just find parking at the south... 

The Place

Plan a San Francisco vacation with reviews, tips and photos posted by real travelers and San Francisco locals

Experience San Francisco
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The People

4,084 Members Live Here
 
Advice from the Locals
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 San Francisco - Paris of the West - As much as I love to travel and see all of the incredible places and things the world has to offer, flying home to San Francisco never fails to take my breath away. The green hills, the blue waters of... 

4,084 members live in San Francisco

 

Questions and Answers

Lorys79 profile photo

Q:  Hi could you please suggest some nice restaurant or good place for a drink in rcastro union square? Where can we find a place for... 

TooTallFinn24 profile photo

A: My favorite place for a drink in Union Square is the Burritt Room. The bar is located within the Crescent Hotel at 417 Stockton Street. Its a classic bar and is... 

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Top San Francisco Writers

1

Bagdad by the Bay

atufft profile photo

 If Herb Caen, famed Pulitzer Prize winner and devoted SF Chronicle gossip columnist, had envisioned the Iraqi War, no doubt he would have dubbed San Francisco something other than Bagdad by the Bay as... 

2

San Francisco - My Favorie City - By Default

Karnubawax profile photo

 You're looking at one of San Francisco's trendiest new neighborhoods! It's the Divisadero Street corridor, or what some folks call the "NOPA" district... NOPA being an acronym for "North of the... 

3

SFO ... a declassé love letter

davequ profile photo

 And a tribute to Chet Helms San Francisco (like Paris) is beyond words and cliches. It sometimes feels impossible to come up with something adequate to describe a town like this and most of it has... 

4

San Francisco: Why this heart never leaves

Geisha_Girl profile photo

 I was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area. As soon as I was legally able to, I headed out of town and tried my stint at various major cities around the country. LA, Honolulu, New... 

5

I Left My Heart...

SFHulaGIrl profile photo

 Actually, I left my heart in Los Angeles, but have been living in the Bay area for the past 9 years due to my job. I'm here, but I've never found my niche here. It doesn't feel like home, even after... 

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Travel Editors for San Francisco

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