San Francisco, that hilly and diverse city on the California coast! We visited here on our Route 66 Road Trip, which was quite a detour from our main route. We stopped here to visit relatives and explore this fascinating city. And it was definitely worth it!
San Francisco’s icon and landmark is the world-famous Golden Gate Bridge. It’s massive and legendary, and it looks even more stunning in person than on postcards!
But San Francisco offers much more than just the Golden Gate Bridge. There are many different and interesting neighborhoods, parks, hilly roads, beautiful houses, history, and, of course, the iconic cable cars navigating the hilly terrain.
Here are some highlights from our experiences:
Golden Gate Bridge
Although this list isn’t in any particular order, the Golden Gate has to come first. It’s the city’s landmark, and we believe that when people think of San Francisco, for most, the first image that comes to mind is this bridge.
When we had the chance, we had to drive across this famous bridge. And it’s definitely worth it, as on the other side of the bridge, there are great viewpoints offering vistas of the bridge and the city. We found the best place to admire the bridge from this viewpoint. There are also walking trails in this area, one of which leads down to the sandy beach, offering another fantastic view of the bridge.
Chinatown
San Francisco’s Chinatown is the oldest in North America and one of the largest outside of Asia. This neighborhood is definitely a recommended destination when visiting the city. Chinatown has a cozy atmosphere, and it’s enjoyable to wander along its streets. Here, you’ll find plenty of restaurants, bakeries, herb shops, souvenir shops, stylish murals, and scents that transport you away from California.
Lombard Street
Lombard Street is a winding street in San Francisco, familiar from many movies. This 400-meter-long street with tight curves is one of the city’s most famous tourist attractions. The street is one-way, driven from the top down, and it’s lined with beautiful flower beds along the way. For pedestrians, there are stairs on both sides of the street, as the winding section is reserved for cars only.
Golden Gate Park
Golden Gate Park is a large park area that stretches from the Haight-Ashbury neighborhood to the Pacific Ocean. The park contains numerous attractions such as museums, art, various gardens like the Japanese Tea Garden, a couple of old windmills, and much more. A day could easily be spent here, and there would still be much left to see.
Sausalito
Sausalito is a small waterfront town located across the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco. The town is beautiful, with its own small-town atmosphere. This is a great place to enjoy a more upscale atmosphere if the hustle and bustle of the big city starts to wear you down.
The Cliff House ja Sutro Baths
San Francisco sits on the shores of the Pacific Ocean, and these places offer stunning views of the sea. The Sutro Baths are the ruins of a bathhouse built in the late 1800s, which had seawater pools. The Cliff House was once a resort for the wealthy but has seen hard times. The original wooden building was destroyed in a fire, replaced by a grand 8-story edifice, which also burned down just ten years after completion. The current building has been in place since 1909.
Fishermanโs Wharf ja Pier 39
Fishermanโs Wharf is an old fishing area, but today, the harbor is one of the city’s most popular tourist destinations, with many restaurants and various shops. The area is very pleasant, perfect for strolling around and admiring both the Golden Gate and Alcatraz.
Pier 39 is also a very cozy area, with a large wooden pier full of shops and restaurants, and here you can also marvel at the sea lions lounging on the docks.
Union Square
San Francisco’s downtown area is located in the Union Square neighborhood and along Market Street. This would be an excellent location to choose a hotel, as it’s convenient to get around the city from here, both on foot and by public transportation. We stayed with relatives, so we don’t have specific accommodation recommendations for this reason. Here you’ll also find excellent shopping opportunities, a comprehensive selection of restaurants and cafes, and of course, nightlife.
A few other San Francisco attractions worth exploring:
- The Painted Ladies – Elegant and colorful Victorian houses
- Twin Peaks – Beautiful views over the city
- Haight-Ashbury – A neighborhood steeped in hippie history
- Alcatraz – Historic prison island
- Mission District – A trendy neighborhood
San Francisco is a charmingly diverse city, and each neighborhood has its own distinct atmosphere. It’s worth visiting several neighborhoods and immersing yourself in different vibes. The city caters to both urban adventurers and nature lovers, satisfying a wide range of travelers’ needs by offering something for everyone.
