Top things to do in San Francisco
Attractions, tours and activities in San Francisco
Recommended museums in San Francisco
Where to discover culture and the arts in San Francisco
San Francisco: the city's best neighbourhoods
Find a great area to stay in San Francisco
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Mission
2 miles from city centre
Bookshops, bicycles and street art galore! Nothing embodies the ever-changing aura of SF like the Mission. As multicultural as it gets, find mouth-watering tacos, next to tropical fruit stalls, and cones of artisanal ice cream (hello, Bi-Rite). Rent a bicycle and ride from hip Valencia to Dolores Park, where many a sun-kissed afternoon is spent.
Places to stay from £39 per night
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Downtown San Francisco
In the city centre
The hustle doesn’t quit in Downtown. From the wee small hours to midnight, this district is alive and kicking. Whether it’s the morning bustle of business commuters, the afternoon energy of urbanites or night owls plumbing the clubs, get swept away in a true city feel. You can shop and eat on every corner – and take the tram to any area.
Places to stay from £21 per night
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Chinatown
0.4 miles from city centre
The oldest Chinatown in North America – and the largest Chinese community in the US – blends tradition with tourism. Look around and see what you find. Indulge in dim sum, shop exotic balms, and inspect the live chickens. Stop to smell the Chinese five spices (fennel, cloves and ginger anyone?), and let the discord of Stockton Street entreat.
Places to stay from £41 per night
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Fisherman's Wharf
1.4 miles from city centre
You’ll have plenty of company as you pick through the sights and sounds of the family-friendly Fisherman’s Wharf. Street performers, eclectic cafes and bowls of chowder fight for your attention. The sea lions of Pier 39 are an all-age affair, as is the maritime museum of historic ships at Hyde Pier. Ferry across to the notorious Alcatraz prison.
Places to stay from £61 per night
About San Francisco
Including tips for the best time to visit San Francisco
San Francisco buzzes with an energy that guarantees anyone a good time. From hip neighbourhoods and historic buildings, to beautiful beaches and pristine parks, there’s no end of things to do in The Golden City.
Indulge your shopping habit in Union Square, where high-end boutiques line wide streets along which vintage cable cars trundle. A few blocks from here is Chinatown – eight blocks of interesting sights that will keep you entertained for the afternoon.
Running along the waterfront between Bay Bridge and Fisherman’s Wharf, the Embarcadero is renowned for top attractions like Pier 39 and the Ferry Building, an iconic landmark known for its top-notch restaurants and food stalls. This scenic boulevard is also where boats depart for Alcatraz Island, located just over a mile (almost two kilometres) offshore. This former federal prison was once home to notorious inmates like Al Capone and ‘Birdman’ Robert Stroud. You can hear all about their lives, and stories of escapes and scandals during an audio-guided tour of the site.
Back in the Bay Area, it’s impossible not to spot the iconic Golden Gate Bridge, which can be crossed by car, bike or on foot. In any case, a whole other world of beauty awaits on the other side. Muir Woods, an isolated canyon filled with ancient redwood trees, is well worth visiting, as is the seaside town of Sausalito – famous for its cute boutiques and sweeping views of San Francisco Bay.
Tonight
From £62 per night
This weekend
From £124 per night
Next weekend
From £120 per night
| Most popular time to visit | October–December |
| Cheapest time to visit | January–March |
| Local currency | US$10 = £8.04 |
| Language | |
| Average weekend price | £115 per night |
| Average weekday price | £112 per night |
| Typical stay | 2 nights |
Points of interest in San Francisco
Stay near the top sightseeing spots in San Francisco
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Golden Gate Bridge
4.2 miles from city centre
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Union Square
In the city centre
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Alcatraz
2.7 miles from city centre
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Lombard Street
1.2 miles from city centre
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Castro District
2.5 miles from city centre
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San Francisco City Hall
0.9 miles from city centre
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Exploratorium
2.5 miles from city centre
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Ghirardelli Square
1.5 miles from city centre
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Ferry Building
0.9 miles from city centre
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Intersection of Haight & Ashbury streets
2.5 miles from city centre
San Francisco reviews
What other travellers say about San Francisco
Actually a great city for tourism.
8 April 2024
Actually a great city for tourism. But lately too many homeless in the street / people who using drugs or smoke marijuana in some location really make a not so comfortable experience.. The government should do something about it.
I love San Francisco for the convenience of walking around...
5 April 2024
I love San Francisco for the convenience of walking around and having plenty to do all day. They have plenty of beautiful parks and locations to enjoy the views and sights of San Francisco. There are so many museums and attractions, and so much to learn about the area and it’s cultures and environment. This visit San Francisco looked and felt so much cleaner than a year ago that I visited. My family walked to many places feeling safe.
Beautiful multi cultural city, you have the harbour, the...
3 April 2024
Beautiful multi cultural city, you have the harbour, the bridge, alcatraz, fishermans wharf, union square for shopping and eating. We did the movie tour of the city for the 2nd time =,wonderful tour with each stop/ city sector in San Fran connected to movie scenes locations that you can relate to. Makes the experience special. Would def recommend. We also did the ferry to Sausilito, lovely Town on the water with souvenir shopping + restaurants and cafes and great view back to the city. We caught the bus back across the Golden Gate bridge .. recommend that you get $13USD day pass that covers cable cars and buses for the day. The ferry would be additional cost $14 so to save money you could get bus there and back.
It was fun taking my partner who had just moved to CA to see...
2 April 2024
It was fun taking my partner who had just moved to CA to see San Francisco. We went to a concert but were able to walk around for a few hours before on Pier 39. She loved seeing the otters and sea lions. It was a great day. Disappointed in some of the shops closing or changing, but overall, you can't go wrong with a visit to San Francisco. We also enjoyed going to China Town. We will be back!
The hotel itself was very nice.
30 March 2024
The hotel itself was very nice. The parking situation on the other hand was terrible. We were in line for valet parking an additional hour. Because of the parking, I will definitely think twice before staying at this hotel.
There's so much history and beautiful scenery and...
29 March 2024
There's so much history and beautiful scenery and architecture. In a week we touched on the high point places to see and visit, but it's just scratching the surface. Incredible dining, easy to get around for an urban city. Down side, some places were a bit dirty, and it is expensive.
Popular places to stay in San Francisco
Stay in some of the best accommodation San Francisco has to offer
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Perfect Location - 4BD,1BA - Restored Redwood Home North Beach, San Francisco
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