San Francisco walking tour & city guide
Steep hills, cable cars and the Golden Gate.
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San Francisco squeezes an astonishing variety into a small, hilly peninsula: Victorian houses, the oldest Chinatown in North America, bay views from every hilltop and the most famous bridge in the world, often wrapped in fog.
The waterfront and Union Square
Fisherman's Wharf and Pier 39, where sea lions bask on the docks, are the starting point for many visitors, with ferries to Alcatraz Island nearby. From there, ride or walk alongside the historic cable cars up and over the hills to Union Square, the city's shopping hub.
The Ferry Building, at the foot of Market Street, is a beautifully restored terminal filled with local food producers, and the Embarcadero promenade runs along the bay with views of the Bay Bridge.
Neighborhoods on foot
Chinatown's Grant Avenue, entered through the Dragon Gate, is lined with shops, bakeries and temples. Next door, North Beach is the city's Little Italy and the former home of the Beat poets, with Coit Tower on Telegraph Hill above it. Lombard Street's famous zigzag block of hairpin bends is nearby.
The Mission District is known for its colorful murals and taquerias, Haight-Ashbury for its 1960s counterculture history, and Alamo Square for the 'Painted Ladies', a row of Victorian houses with the skyline behind.
The Golden Gate
Walking or cycling across the Golden Gate Bridge, opened in 1937, is unforgettable, as is the view from the Presidio and Crissy Field. Pack layers: summer fog can make July surprisingly cool, while September and October are often the warmest months.
Top sights in San Francisco
- 1
Golden Gate Bridge
Walk or cycle across the iconic red suspension bridge.
- 2
Alcatraz Island
The former federal prison in the bay, reached by ferry.
- 3
Cable cars
The last manually operated cable car system in the world.
- 4
Pier 39 and Fisherman's Wharf
The lively waterfront with its famous sea lions.
- 5
Chinatown
The oldest Chinatown in North America.
- 6
Lombard Street
The famously crooked street on Russian Hill.
Food markets & where to eat in San Francisco
Ferry Building Marketplace
Local cheeses, oysters, bread and coffee in a historic terminal.
Fisherman's Wharf
Clam chowder in sourdough bowls and crab stands.
Mission District taquerias
Home of the oversized 'Mission-style' burrito.
North Beach
Italian cafés and restaurants in the city's Little Italy.
Chinatown bakeries and dim sum
Egg tarts and dumplings on and around Grant Avenue.
Food to try in San Francisco
Sourdough clam chowder bowl
Creamy chowder served in a hollowed-out sourdough loaf.
Mission burrito
A huge burrito packed with rice, beans and fillings.
Dungeness crab
A local favorite, especially in winter.
Irish coffee
Popularized in the US by a bar near Fisherman's Wharf.
Opening hours and prices change often. Please check with each place before you visit.
Plan your trip to San Francisco
Enjoyed the walk? Here is everything you need to see it for real.
- Hotels in San FranciscoCompare places to stay and prices.
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