San Francisco

From Mission burritos and North Beach espresso to Lands End trails and the Castro, here are our local picks for eating, exploring, and staying in San Francisco.

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San Francisco is one of the most rewarding US cities to explore, and this local guide brings together the best things to do, where to eat and where to stay in one place. Highlights include the Golden Gate Bridge, the island prison of Alcatraz and the cable cars climbing the city’s famous hills, with Mission burritos and North Beach espresso along the way. Below you will find a set of hand-picked local recommendations across sights, restaurants, hotels and tours, which you can filter by category and budget to plan the perfect trip, whether you have a weekend or a week.

San Francisco at a glance

Ideal stay: 3 days
Best time to visit: September and October
Highlights: the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz
Where to stay: Union Square or the Marina
Local picks: hand-chosen recommendations
Getting around: cable cars, Muni and BART, plus walkable (hilly) neighbourhoods

Where to stay in San Francisco

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San Francisco Bay

Alcatraz Island

The ferry from Pier 33 out to the former federal penitentiary is one of the most memorable half-days in the city, and the award-winning cellhouse audio tour, narrated in part by former inmates and gua

Haight-Ashbury

Amoeba Music

Amoeba grew from a single Berkeley shop in 1990 into an independent California institution, and the cavernous Haight Street location is a pilgrimage for record diggers. You’ll find hundreds of thousan

Tenderloin

Brenda’s French Soul Food

Why it matters: Brenda’s is the work of chef-owner Brenda Buenviaje, a Filipina-American raised in New Orleans who built a devoted following for her Creole and Southern cooking. The menu leans into he

★ 4.5

North Beach

Caffe Trieste

Opened in 1956 by Italian immigrant Giovanni ‘Papa Gianni’ Giotta, Caffe Trieste is often called the West Coast’s first true espresso house and remains the beating heart of North Beach’s Italian coffe

★ 4.4

Golden Gate Park

California Academy of Sciences

This is four attractions in one: a four-story rainforest dome, the Steinhart Aquarium, the Morrison Planetarium, and a natural history museum, all beneath a famous living roof. It’s a full half-day an

North Beach

City Lights Booksellers & Publishers

Founded in 1953 by poet Lawrence Ferlinghetti and Peter D. Martin, City Lights was the country’s first all-paperback bookstore and remains fiercely independent, still publishing under its own imprint.

The Castro

Cruisin’ the Castro Walking Tours

Why it matters: Cruisin’ the Castro has been women-owned and operated since 1989, one of the longest-running walking tours of San Francisco’s most storied LGBTQ neighborhood. Guides are local resident

Golden Gate Park

de Young Museum

The de Young holds American, Oceanic, and African art collections along with strong touring exhibitions, all in a striking copper-clad building in the park. A local secret: the Hamon Tower observation

Ferry Building, North Beach, Mission & Japantown

Edible Excursions

Why it matters: Edible Excursions is a woman-run business, started by Lisa Rogovin in 2004 and locally owned ever since. The tours walk you through neighborhoods like the Ferry Building, North Beach,

Mission District

El Rio

Why it matters: El Rio has been queer-owned and operated since 1978 and, by its own account, throws more than 150 benefit events a year for underfunded nonprofits, teachers, trades workers, and BIPOC

Embarcadero

Exploratorium

The Exploratorium practically invented the hands-on science museum, and hundreds of tinker-with-it exhibits about light, sound, and perception still make it one of the most playful spots in the city f

Castro

Fabulosa Books

Why it matters: Fabulosa is an LGBTQ-owned bookshop in the heart of the Castro, and it runs Books Not Bans, a program that ships queer titles to schools and youth groups in places where such books are

Embarcadero

Ferry Plaza Farmers Market

Why it matters: Running since 1993 and operated by the nonprofit Foodwise, this market exists to link city shoppers directly with California’s sustainable growers and food makers while funding food-ed

Presidio

Golden Gate Bridge Welcome Center

The city-side welcome center is the classic spot to take in the Golden Gate Bridge up close, with exhibits, a 1933 test tower and easy access to the pedestrian walkway. It’s free to visit, though park

North Beach

Hotel Boheme

A tiny 15-room hideaway on Columbus Avenue, Hotel Boheme leans into North Beach’s literary past with rooms named for Beat writers like Kerouac, Ginsberg and Burroughs. The vintage-jazz-club styling is

Pacific Heights

Hotel Drisco Pacific Heights

Perched on a quiet residential hill in Pacific Heights, Hotel Drisco is an independent boutique hotel that trades a downtown location for old-world calm and neighborhood charm. Rooms lean toward under

Russian Hill

Ina Coolbrith Park

Tucked into the steep steps of Russian Hill, this little terraced park is an easy-to-miss local secret with a surprising payoff: a clear view toward Coit Tower, the bay and the Bay Bridge. It’s named

Presidio

Inn at the Presidio

Why it matters: the Inn at the Presidio sits inside the Presidio, a 1,500-acre national park site stewarded by the Presidio Trust, and it runs as a certified sustainability champion with LEED Gold and

Before you go

Things we recommend sorting before any trip. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

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Book your trip to San Francisco

Find the best hotels and book tours and experiences, all in one place.

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San Francisco travel FAQ

How many days do you need in San Francisco?

About three days lets you see the Golden Gate Bridge, visit Alcatraz and explore neighbourhoods like the Mission and North Beach.

Where is the best area to stay in San Francisco?

Union Square is central and well connected by transit, while the Marina offers a quieter base near the waterfront.

What are the best things to do in San Francisco?

Browse the local picks above, from the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz to the city’s neighbourhoods, restaurants and where to stay.

What is the best time to visit San Francisco?

September and October are typically the warmest and clearest months, though San Francisco is worth visiting year-round — bring layers for cool evenings.