edit San Francisco Travel Guide

• Alacatraz Decommissioned island prison in the bay. Take a tour and listen to an audio tape in English, Japanese, Chinese or other languages. The most interesting aspect of the tour is that you can go into the prison and see what it is like to be imprisoned. It might be more interesting if you've watched the movie "Escape from Alcatraz" and seen what happened in Alcatraz when it was operating as a prison. Tickets for the Ferry to Alcatraz are available at the Alcatraz Cruises website
• Fisherman's Wharf is both a "tourist trap" and a place to see amazing street entertainers, eat excellent seafood, watch sea lions, and go to the, Aquarium Marine Museums and exhibits. Working fishing boats still come into the small harbor at Jones and Jefferson, the endpoint of the Muni Historic F-streetcar. There are also small day and party boats available. The fresh breeze from the bay can provide a bracing setting.
• The Golden Gate Bridge is one of the most famous bridges in the United States and has been called one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World. The bridge spans the Golden Gate, a strait between San Francisco and Marin County to the north, and is one of the major road routes into and out of the city.
  Vehicular traffic in both directions share a single deck; yellow pylons are used to allot lanes to one direction or the other depending on traffic conditions. Observation areas and parking lots are provided on both the north and south sides of the bridge; the best way to enjoy the bridge is to park and walk across, not least because you don't have to pay a toll. Note that winds are high and it can be cold and foggy; dress appropriately.
  The masterwork of architect Joseph B. Strauss, whose statue graces the southern observation deck, the bridge took seven years to build, and was completed on May 27, 1937. Not actually golden in color -- a common misconception -- the bridge is painted a deep red-orange. Erroneous legend has it that the bridge is continuously painted, with crews starting at one end and, on getting to the other end, turning around and starting over again. In fact, the bridge is only painted once every few years, with some touchup done continuously.
• Golden Gate Park Once an area of sand dunes, Golden Gate Park is a roughly two-by-four mile long urban oasis, with windmills, bison, museums, and a carousel hidden among its charms. At 1,017 Acres, it is 174 acres larger than New York's Central Park, so unless you rent a bike, you'll want to plan which area you want to visit, especially along the East (Stanyan street) to West (the Ocean) axis. During the summer to October a free shuttle bus circulates. On Sundays only bicycles are allowed on most park roads. The number 5 bus runs along its North boundary, and the N streetcar two blocks south of its South boundary. The Conservatory of Flowers is at 2nd Avenue (4 small blocks West of Stanyan). To the South, are tennis Courts, a children's playground and its Carousel, and playing fields for Frisbee. At 8th Avenue is the Shakespeare Garden with roses and other flowers mentioned in his plays. The de Young Museum has recently reopened (see "Hide in a Museum"), although the Aquarium and Planetarium of the California Academy of Sciences, and the Music Concourse at 10th Avenue are currently being completely rebuilt. West of the de Young it is the Japanese Tea Garden at 12th Avenue, and South (at 9th Avenue) is the Strybing Arboretum. Boating on Stow Lake is at 18th Avenue. The Marx and Speedway meadows for picnicking and music festivals are near 30th. Ave. Horse riding, around the Polo field is available at 34th Avenue (currently - 2005 - closed to the public), model boating is at 35th Ave., fly-casting at 36th Avenue, and a Petanque bowling field is at 38th Ave. At 38th Avenue is also the Bison Meadow, where buffaloes roam. Golf and Archery is played at 47th Avenue. Finally, beyond 48th Avenue are the Dutch windmills that were used for Park irrigation in the past and the Beach Chalet for lunch, drinks, or dinner overlooking the Pacific Ocean and admiring brave surfers.
• Chinatown, centered around Grant Street from Bush to Columbus is part tourist trap, part an exhibit of local life. Good eating places remain, and the side streets especially have stores one wouldn't find in a mall. Stockton Street, the street paralleling Grant to to west is the main street where most locals do their shopping for groceries. Be sure to sample some of the Dim Sum and other specialties offered in the many bustling shops. However, many local Chinese prefer to eat and shop in the new Chinatowns located in other neighborhoods such as the Inner Richmond neighborhood or on Clement Street between 2nd and 12th Avenues. The Muni #1 (California) and #2 (Clement, does not run at night) buses get people from one Chinatown to the other.
• Ride a San Francisco Cable Car, or take the F-train, an electric street car running from Fishermen's Wharf along the Embarcadero, down Market street, up to The Castro.

San Francisco is located on the tip of a peninsula between San Francisco Bay and the Pacific coast. It has a population of around 800,000 and is 7 miles by 7 miles (11 km by 11 km) in size. San Francisco is blessed with a mild climate. In most months, you can expect the temperature be in the 60s or 70s. Be prepared for cool weather, even in the summer. The hackneyed quote -- often mistakenly attributed to Mark Twain -- ("The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco.") is a bit exaggerated, but it's true that the hottest selling items in San Francisco's tourist shops are always sweaters. Don't be afraid of a cool Pacific air or fog, though. Everybody's Favorite City's refreshing air and radiant skies are reason enough to visit.

San Francisco was founded in 1776 by the Spanish and has been a vibrant city ever since. Known today for its mixing of cultures, its liberal outlook, and its beautiful sights, it remains one of America's top tourist destinations.

A good book on the tumultuous early history of San Francisco is Herbert Asbury's ("Gangs of New York") "Barbary Coast", which details the years from the gold rush in 1849 to the earthquake in 1906.

The name of the city used to be Yerba Buena.

San Francisco is just one of the cities which makes-up the entire San Francisco Bay Area. The areas to the east of the Bay Bridge, north of the Golden Gate Bridge, and cities and towns south of San Francisco are technically separate localities, each with their own city government and public transportation systems. Moreover, San Francisco is a city-county in itself, that is, none of the other nearby cities are part of that county.

Culture

It is important to remember that San Francisco is one of the most open-minded and progressive big cities in the country. With this open-mindedness comes a variety of languages, skin tones, sexual orientations, and hair colors; it is all a part of the joy of San Francisco, and as a visitor it is something that you have to learn to accept and welcome.

By plane

There are three airports in the San Francisco Bay Area:

• San Francisco International (IATA: SFO) located about 10 mi (16 km) south of the city),
• Oakland International (IATA: OAK) in the East Bay),
• San Jose International (IATA: SJC) in Silicon Valley, about 1 hour south of San Francisco.
  

Oakland and San Jose tend to offer more discount airline flights, while San Francisco Airport attracts more international flights and can be more convenient for those staying in the city.

San Francisco and Oakland Airports are connected to downtown SF by the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) system, which costs about $5. Taxis are considerably more expensive: a taxi from SFO to the city can easily cost upwards of $40, and over $60 from OAK. Shared vans will cost around $14. If you plan to drive from a car rental area near the SFO airport to downtown San Francisco, you can take the 101 freeway.

Note that taxi and van prices from San Jose to San Francisco are significantly higher.

Passengers arriving in SFO can walk (5 minutes from United's terminals) or take a free airport shuttle (AirTrain) to the BART station. From Oakland Airport, you must take a bus to the BART station. The cost of this bus is $2, and it takes 10-15 minutes. From Oakland Airport BART has direct trains to San Francisco, with a 5-15 minute frequency.

BART trains head directly to downtown San Francisco, from where taxis and the MUNI can take travelers to their final destination.

The San Jose airport is served by a free shuttle to both VTA Light Rail and Caltrain. Passengers arriving in San Jose can use Caltrain to reach San Francisco directly. Caltrain also links with the BART system at the Millbrae intermodal station. Be aware that public transportation within the South bay is not as developed as around San Francisco.

Private pilots should consider Oakland (ICAO: KOAK) rather than SFO, as the separate general aviation field there is more accommodating to light aircraft.

By train

Amtrak serves the Bay Area with long-distance and intercity trains, but none of its trains actually enters San Francisco. Instead, passengers must transfer at the Amtrak station at Emeryville in the East Bay to an Amtrak California Thruway bus that crosses the Bay Bridge to San Francisco's Amtrak stop at 101 The Embarcadero (near the Ferry Building). Travelers on some Amtrak routes can also transfer to BART trains at the Richmond or Oakland Coliseum stations (see below). Alternatively, riders approaching the Bay Area from the south may transfer to Caltrain at San Jose's Diridon Station for a direct ride to Fourth and Townsend Streets in San Francisco. Amtrak can be contacted at +1 800 872-7245.

Amtrak routes serving the Bay Area are:

• The California Zephyr runs daily between Chicago and Emeryville with connections to/from the east coast.
• The Coast Starlight runs daily between Seattle, Portland, Emeryville, and Los Angeles. Travelers from San Diego should take the Pacific Surfliner to Los Angeles and connect with the Coast Starlight. To reach San Francisco, either transfer to Caltrain in San Jose or to the Amtrak bus in Emeryville.
• The Capitol Corridor runs 12 times daily (9 on weekends and holidays) between Sacramento and Emeryville. Some trains also serve San Jose but Caltrain (see below) is a better bet between San Jose and San Francisco. The most convenient transfer to San Francisco is actually to BART at Richmond's station, north of Emeryville, while the Oakland Coliseum station is another option on trains continuing south of Emeryville.
• The San Joaquins runs 4 times daily between Bakersfield, Stockton and Emeryville. Travelers on the San Joaquins can continue on to San Francisco via the Amtrak bus at Emeryville or by transferring to the BART at the Richmond station.
  

Caltrain operates a regional rail service from San Jose to its San Francisco terminal at Fourth and Townsend. The service also runs between San Jose and Gilroy during rush hour. Caltrain is very useful for travel between San Francisco and cities of the Peninsula, Silicon Valley or South Bay. On weekdays Caltrain provides two trains per hour for most of the day but run more during commute hours, including "Baby Bullet" limited services that cruise between San Francisco and San Jose in 57 minutes; on weekends and public holidays trains run hourly, except that after 10PM only one train runs, leaving at midnight. The 4th & Townsend terminal is served by Muni Metro (see 'Get around' below) giving connections to the rest of the city. Fares vary depending on how far you go. Tickets must be purchased before boarding the train from ticket vending machines at all stations or from ticket clerks at staffed stations. Tickets are checked on the trains and anyone found without a ticket is liable to a substantial fine. Caltrain can be contacted at +1 510 817-1717.

Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) provides a regional frequent rail service connecting much of the East Bay and Contra Costa County with San Francisco and the San Francisco Airport through the Transbay Tube. BART operates five routes, of which four reach San Francisco; there are three or four trains per hour on each route. In the East Bay and outer parts of San Francisco BART runs mostly on elevated track; in downtown San Francisco it runs in a subway under Market Street, and several underground stations provide easy access to downtown areas and simple transfers to Muni Metro, also running in a sub-Market subway. BART also meets Caltrain at Millbrae. Bicycles are allowed on BART except between the Embarcadero and Oakland City Center stations during commute hours. Fares vary depending on distance traveled. You should check the map at your departure station and buy a ticket for at least the correct amount. The minimum amount that a trip will cost is $1.40. You will need to insert your ticket into barriers when entering and exiting the system. If there is still value left on the ticket when you exit, the ticket will be returned to you and you can re-use it, increasing its value as necessary. BART can be contacted at +1 415 989-2278.

By bus

Greyhound has frequent intercity service from San Francisco. The station is inside the Transbay Transit Terminal, First and Mission streets.

Several regional bus systems serve San Francisco from the immediate suburbs:

• AC Transit, from Oakland, Berkeley, Alameda, and other East Bay cities
• samTrans, from San Mateo County
• Golden Gate Transit, from Sonoma and Marin counties
• Vallejo Transit, from Vallejo
  

By boat

In many ways a boat is the ideal way to approach San Francisco. The city's spectacular site is best appreciated from the water, and from the deck of a boat the bay and its bridges and islands can be viewed as a whole. Cruise ships and private yachts are regular visitors to San Francisco, but the passenger ferries that regularly link other Bay Area cities to San Francisco are probably more practical for most visitors.

Ferries run to San Francisco from Larkspur, Sausalito and Tiburon in Marin County, from Vallejo in Solano County and from Alameda and Oakland in the East Bay. In San Francisco the ferries dock at one or both of Fisherman's Wharf and the Ferry Building. For more information:

• Golden Gate Ferries, serving Larkspur and Sausalito, can be contacted on +1 415 923-2000
• Blue and Gold Fleet, serving Sausalito and Tiburon, can be contacted on +1 415 705-5555
• BayLink Ferry, serving Vallejo, can be contacted on +1 707 648-4349
• Alameda Oakland Ferry, serving Alameda and Oakland, can be contacted on +1 415 705-5555
• Harbor Bay Ferry, serving (a different location in) Alameda, can be contacted on +1 510 769-5500

By car

There are four major highway approaches to San Francisco. 101 North comes up the eastern side of the SF peninsula and is the most direct route from the south, although it often backs up with traffic. I-280 North is a more scenic route into the city, but it is a little more out of the way than 101. I-80 approaches the city from the east over the San Francisco Bay Bridge. From the north, take 101 South over the Golden Gate Bridge.

On foot

Walking can be an enticing option to get from one neighborhood to another, so long as you are aware of where you are and keep your street smarts-- San Francisco is a city of friendly neighborhoods, but it is also "big city" --be aware of your surroundings and keep in mind the dangers that commonly accompany a city of San Francisco's size. Streets which often go straight up and down hills may make driving difficult, but make for breathtaking views (as well as good exercise) for the pedestrian. There are many stairway walks scattered throughout the city when the streets are too steep. You can find maps that include hiking trails, bikeways, and the grade pitch of all streets marked in varying colors by how steep each segment is, that can help you orient to city walks suitable to your ability and temperament. Note that locals rarely use the designations "street" or "avenue," except in differentiating the numbered streets and avenues. Numbered roads designated "Street" are located south of Market in Downtown, Castro, Noe Valley, and Mission. Roads designated "Avenue" put you in the Richmond and Sunset districts.

Highlight walks include:

• Chinatown: Grant from Bush to Broadway.
• Beach: Along Ocean Beach (Richmond, Sunset),
• Telegraph Hill: Greenwich and Filbert steps on the east side of Telegraph Hill, both strenuous and unforgettably beautiful, with cottages and a flock of wild parrots to enjoy along the way up to the Coit Tower.
• North Beach: Columbus from North Point in Fisherman's Wharf, through North Beach, and then onto Montgomery (the two intersect at the TransAmerica Pyramid) to Market
• Haight Ashbury: Haight between Stanyan and Divisidero
• Cow Hollow: Union Street between Bush and Fillmore is one of the finer residential neighborhood shopping streets
• Mission: Mission between 15th and Cesar Chavez streets. Note: The mission district is a bit unsafe. Take care and caution walking through this area.
• Pacific Heights: Fillmore between Pine and Broadway.
• Fillmore between Geary and Turk
• The Castro: Castro Street between 17th and 24th Streets
  

By public transit

San Francisco's Municipal Railway or Muni runs a network of local transport that covers most areas of touristic interest well. An all day Muni Passport good on all Muni vehicles, including Cable Cars costs $11. Other passports and passes are available for longer periods: a 3-day pass costs $18, while a 7 day pass costs $24. The passports come in the form of scratch cards; be sure to scratch off the appropriate dates before using. Passports, as well as maps of the public transport system, can be purchased from the information booths at San Francisco airport, the Cable Car ticket booth at Market and Powell, and many other locations. Muni can be contacted by calling +1 415 673-6864. A portable wallet-sized map of San Francisco, called PocketBay, and all its public transit (MUNI, BART, Caltrain) is also available at stores around the city or through their website.

90 minutes of travel on the Muni system (Metro, F-line, Buses), except the Cable Cars costs $1.50 (since September 1st '05); be sure to get and keep a transfer ticket when you pay for your first ride; you may be asked to show your transfer ticket (or pass) by fare inspectors at any time. Cable Cars are $5 per one-way, single-vehicle ride, or $10 per day. You can not transfer to or from the bus or street cars, but you can transfer to another cable car. Before 7AM and after 5PM, Seniors pay $1. San Franciscans who use the cable cars for commuting to work can buy MUNI passes at a reduced cost.

Components of the Muni are:

Streetcar at foot of Market

• Muni Metro is a modern light rail system. It connects to BART and the CalTrain terminus at 4th and King and serves much of the city. Tickets can be purchased from ticket vending machines before boarding; if the stop does not have such a machine and you do not have a ticket, you must board through the front door and buy one from the driver.
• Streetcar Line F uses historic streetcars, some from other US cities and painted in the colors of those cities that once operated cars of that type, and others from the Italian city of Milan. The line runs from Fisherman's Wharf south along the waterfront Embarcadero to the ferry building at the foot of Market Street, then up Market Street on the surface to the Castro district. Board through the front door and buy tickets from the driver.
  

Cablecar at Powell & Market

The world-famous Cable Cars run on three lines in the steep streets between Market Street and Fisherman's Wharf. These cars are a fun ride, especially if you get to stand on the running board, if a bit impractical for everyday use (though residents of Nob and Russian Hills do, in fact, use them on a daily basis). The cable car is such an attraction that, especially on weekends, it takes longer to wait in line to ride up Powell St than it does to walk the short but sloping distance. Board through any door or just grab a pole on the running boards; tickets are checked and sold by a uniformed conductor. Do not buy tickets from anyone off the car except for clearly marked ticket booths - scam artists are common.

Other public transportation options include:

• Buses--both diesel and electric--serve the rest of city. Board through the front door and buy tickets from the driver.
• BART has eight stations in San Francisco, making it a nice way to get between well-trafficked parts of the city, especially downtown and the Mission. BART gets you also across the Bay to Berkeley and Oakland and to the airport. For more information on BART, see the 'Get Here' section above.
• CalTrain has four stops within San Francisco. Other than the 4th and Kings terminal, these are at 22nd St., Paul Ave., and Tunnel Ave, none of which are particularly attractive for visitors. Of interest to visitors who wish to travel Caltrain outside of city is the University Avenue station in Palo Alto, across the street from the campus of Stanford University. For more information on CalTrain, see the 'Get in' section above.
  

By bike

If you have strong legs, bicycles can be a convenient form of transportation in San Francisco. The City is fairly small -- about 7 miles square (18 km²) -- and it's fairly quick to get from one end to the other. But much of the terrain is hilly and hard to pedal up. Do not be misled by maps depicting the city's strict, regular street grid, as even the straightest of San Francisco's streets might include steep hills or even staircases instead of a roadway.

Downtown, SoMa, and the Sunset and Richmond districts are relatively flat. There are a number of bike paths and bike routes on city streets; the San Francisco Bike Coalition keeps a lot of information about them.

By taxi

Taxis in San Francisco are, for a large city, surprisingly inefficient and expensive, starting at $3.10 just for getting in the door. Except for taxi stations at or near downtown business hotels, or cruising just a few major arteries, taxis can be hard to find and hail -- and calling for a cab can mean a 30-45 minute wait, if the cab shows up at all. Now, if you're anywhere near Union Square and are holding shopping bags, just by standing on the curb and hailing passing cabs will usually get you one quite quickly. It is significantly easier to catch a taxi on weekdays, not including Friday night. If you are heading to the airport, your best bet is to call ahead with a specific pickup time to one of the many taxi companies (Yellow by far has the most cabs and they all accept credit card).

By car

Perpetually-clogged traffic, a confusing system of one-way streets, expensive parking, and a fleet of meter-maids who enforce parking laws with zeal can make driving in downtown extremely frustrating; visitors to the city should seriously consider alternatives to automobiles when possible. In addition traffic from the Golden Gate bridge uses surface streets either along CA-1, 19th Avenue or US-101 on Lombard and Van Ness.

The most difficult problem with your car in San Francisco will be parking. Parking throughout the city is extremely scarce. Most parking garages, particularly downtown are also quite expensive. San Francisco has some of the strictest parking laws and enforcement in the country. For day trips into the city, consider a park-and-ride at a Peninsula Caltrain station or at an East Bay BART station.

Finding your way around

Cross streets: As San Francisco streets are numbered (100 per block) from the beginning of the street, It is best when asking directions to ask for a cross street or neighborhood name. For instance, if you are at the intersection of Haight Street and Clayton Street, and you ask the driver of the 33 Stanyan bus "Does this bus go to Market Street?" it will get you a yes, but the bus won't get you downtown, it will get you south from that intersection to Market and 18th in the Castro district.

Numbered streets and avenues: San Francisco has both numbered streets, in the Mission, the Castro, Noe Valley, and SoMa, and numbered avenues in the Sunset and the Richmond. Mixing numbered streets and avenues when asking directions may leave you miles from your destination. This can be confusing, as San Franciscans will not say "Street" or "Avenue" unless it is required to avoid ambiguity. Thus, "I live on Fifth Avenue" but "I live near Fifth and Geary." Street signs generally don't have "Street" or "Avenue" either; they just say "GEARY" or "MASONIC".

 

San Francisco has a mild climate, with wet, mild winters and dry summers. In most months, you can expect the temperature be in the 60s or 70s degrees Fahrenheit (between 15 and 25 degrees Celsius). Be prepared for cool humid weather, even in the summer (except September), when persistent fog often envelops the city.

San Francisco's sharp topography has created a series of microclimates. For instance, there is more fog on the western side of the city, closer to the ocean. There can also be large variances in rainfall between different parts of the city thanks to the tall hills in the center of the peninsula (generally with more rain taking place on the western side, while the eastern side experiences more sunlight).

As with many other major cities in the world, San Francisco also has its share of problems. The distinct areas that one should be cautious in are around the southeast and midwest sections of the city, such as Bayview-Hunters Point, Western Addition (Fillmore), Tenderloin (northwest of Civic Center), Lakeview, Sunnydale, and parts of the Mission district. The South of Market (SoMa) district used to be considered somewhat shady; however, recent development have transformed it into a rather hip neighborhood with plenty of art galleries (such as the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, or SFMOMA) and clubs.

San Francisco attracts a large homeless population, the largest per capita in America. If someone begs from you, you may either politely say that you do not have any change or just keep walking, and he or she will generally leave you alone.

Pickpocketing can be expected, as with any other large city. Be especially cautious on crowded MUNI buses and during the busy holiday shopping season.

Smoking

Smokers beware: as in the rest of California, smoking is illegal in bars, restaurants, and other public places. Bay Area people can be particularly vocal about your personal habits. Be aware of nonsmoking areas, and try to be courteous about smoking in other places. They will probably not bother you about standing and smoking outside a restaurant or bar. However, smoking is not dead in San Francisco —there are a small number of bars that take advantage of loopholes in the law, and cater to the short-of-breath. The Zeitgeist (a motorcycle-themed dive bar) on Valencia in the Mission District is one of the better known. The Eagle (a gay biker/leather-themed bar) and the Lone Star (a gay bear-themed bar) both feature large outdoor smoking patios.

On the other hand, smoking marijuana is remarkably well-tolerated by American standards. If you are visiting from elsewhere in the U.S., you may be very surprized to find that pot is really not considered to be a problem by San Franciscans, and even by The City's police. In fact, a law was passed in 2006 officially making marijuana THE lowest priority for the SFPD. This does not mean that you should smoke pot just anywhere -- as with cigarettes, it is considered improper etiquette to smoke weed in crowded areas. However, if you're at a concert, it is impolite not to share your green (don't worry; there will be plenty passed your way in return). Also, please be advised that coastal Northern California produces some of the finest and most potent pot on earth. You may be alarmed by its intensity.

• Lombard Street. The (nearly) twistiest street in America, between Hyde & Leavenworth (a similar street is located along Vermont Street, next to McKinley Square in the Potrero district). You can get a view from it on the Powell & Hyde cable car line.
• 22nd Street. Between Vicksburg and Church and Filbert Street. between Leavenworth and Hyde - At a 31.5% grade, these streets share the honor of steepest streets in San Francisco.
• Angel Island Island in the bay that housed Asian immigration (exclusion) camp, becoming the "Ellis Island of the West". Ferry over and rent a bicycle or walk around this beautiful island that is now a park.
• Palace of Fine Arts. Located in the Marina District the Palace of Fine Arts is a Beautiful building. It was designed by Bernard Maybeck and was completed for the 1915 Panama-Pacific Exposition. The architecture is that of Roman and Greek. Beautiful woman sculptured into the building dramatically holding up the pillars. Although the Palace of Fine Arts has fallen slightly ill to lack of repair it is still a major site to behold.
• Coit Tower. Built in 1933 on top of Telegraph Hill, a former signaling point for sailing ships, Coit Tower is dedicated to the San Francisco firefighters. Its shape is reminiscent of a fire nozzle. At 250' high, it is a healthy hike from the Embarcadero (steps at Greenwich and Montgomery) or from North Beach. Muni bus #39 goes from Washington Square to the top.
• Twin Peaks, Twin Peaks Boulevard (north of Portola Drive, just east of Laguna Honda). The small parking area at the northern tip of Twin Peaks Boulevard (875' above sea level) has the best view of San Francisco and the Bay Area that you can get within the city limits. Not many services, and the tour buses can get backed up here during the day, but it's a great place to really appreciate the City from above. Temperatures up there can be quite a bit lower than in the rest of the city, so bring a jacket. Muni bus #37, a scenic ride from the Haight-Ashbury or Castro and Market streets, gets you close, so you only have to climb about 120' up.
• Treasure Island. A human-made island half-way between San Francisco and Oakland connected to Yerba Buena Island which the Bay Bridge passes through (The widest tunnel in the world). Excellent views of San Francisco & Oakland skylines can be had from driving around this recently deactivated Navy station. Accessible by Muni bus line 108.
• Mission District. Containing one of the oldest structures in the City - the Mission Dolores Church - as well as superb City views from Dolores Park, the Mission is an offbeat tourist destination where Hispanic families mingle with Hipster night-owls, artists, lesbians, and just about every one else in this eclectic neighborhood. The walls of many buildings are painted with a fantastic collection of murals about Mexican culture.
• Presidio. The Presidio was founded in 1776 and was the longest-running military post in the U.S. before closing as base in 1994. It is now a part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, or Parks at the Golden Gate. At the end of 2005, about 2,500 people lived in the Presidio, a unique situation of housing in a national park. Part of their drinking water comes from Lobos Creek (Rio de los Lobos), the last free-flowing creek in San Francisco.
• Alamo Square. At Steiner and Hayes, it has the famous Painted Ladies row of Victorian houses on its east side, but many other pretty Victorians throughout its surroundings. The Hayes street Muni bus #21 goes along its south side. If you enjoy walking and don't mind modest grades you can get there by walking west from Hayes Valley or north from the Lower Haight.
• The Civic Center has impressive Beaux Arts buildings and the celebrated Asian Art Museum, but the main reason for going there are its music and theater venues. On an historic note, the Charter for the United Nations was signed in the War Memorial Veteran's Building at the corner of Van Ness Avenue and McAllister Street. Nearby Hayes Valley along Hayes Street (West, past Van Ness Avenue) is a neighborhood known for its sophisticated yet funky shops, bars and restaurants.
• Moscone Center. The Yerba Buena Gardens, above the Moscone Center, at Mission and Third streets provide a nice urban oasis. There is a carousel, a museum, and play places for kids, movie houses, various exhibit spaces, and the Museum of Modern Art across the street. A big garage at Mission between Fifth and Fourth streets makes it quite accessible for drivers. The Moscone Center itself houses major exhibits and conventions. Half of all Muni lines come with a few blocks of the area. The conference center itself is home to a number of major (especially IDG) expos that occur each year, including Apple Computer-related expos such as Macworld and Apple's WWDC, and LinuxWorld.
• Lincoln Park defines the extreme Northwestern corner of San Francisco. It provides majestic views of the Marin Headlands, the Golden Gate Bridge from the Ocean side, and the Pacific Ocean itself. At the extreme western end the well known Cliff House provides both semi-casual and a more formal eating and drinking place. The #18 Muni bus goes from the center of the park via the Cliff House to Golden Gate Park, while the very frequent #38 Geary buses terminate in between. Drivers will want to take the El Camino del Mar Drive through the small Seacliff area on the northwest side to view some fancy mansions between Lincoln Park and the Presidio.
• City Pass. A relatively cheap and easy way to cover many attractions of the city is a so-called "city pass". This is a passport to the most exciting tourist spots of the town and allows you to explore them by yourself whenever you like. For a fare of $49 (adults) and $39 (children 17 and under) you get the chance to visit the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA), the Exploratorium, The Legion of Honor, the California Academy of Science (OR if you wish the Asian Art Museum instead) on 9 consecutive days starting with the use of your first ticket. The pass also includes a Bay Cruise and seven days of Cable Car and MUNI fares. Official CityPass SF website
• Harbor Tours. One of the best ways to see San Francisco is from the waters of San Francisco Bay. There are many companies offering San Francisco harbor tours of varying durations and prices but they all provide marvelous views of the bay, the bridges, the island of Alcatraz and the city. Only specific island tours are allowed to land at Alcatraz, but the typical harbor tour will circle the island at a slow crawl, giving you plenty of opportunity to photograph the now-inactive prison from the water. Also consider taking a ferry from San Francisco across the bay to Tiburon, Sausalito, or Alameda. Same views for a fraction of the price.
• Critical Mass. On the last Friday of each month, bicyclists (in San Francisco, and about 200 like-minded cities world-wide.) gather at the north end of Market Street on the Embarcadero and ride en masse to some destination, militantly demonstrating their right to occupy the roads. If you are driving in SF on a Critical Mass day, you will want to listen for radio traffic reports, but if you are stopped by the mass the best thing to do is maintain a good sense of humor and remember that it will all pass in about 5 minutes. Tempers can and do flare...
• Hide in a Museum. When the morning is foggy, you may want to visit a museum. Golden Gate Park has the most famous museum, the M.H. de Young Museum, rebuilt and reopened in 2005. It is on the number 5 and 44 bus lines, its garage entrance is at the North Edge of the park, at 10th Avenue and Fulton street. Its former Asian collection is now permanently housed in the Asian Art Museum, located in the Civic Center. The Legion of Honor Museum is in Lincoln Park, at the Western end of El Camino del Mar Avenue, in the North-west corner of the Outer Richmond district. The #18 bus route, always near the Pacific Coast, ends there as well. These museums are open Tuesdays through Sundays, and are open late on Thursdays, but it is best to check. The new Museum of Modern Art is located downtown near the Moscone Center, across market from Union Square at Mission and Third Streets, on the Muni #30 bus and many other routes.
• For old and young kids the free Marine History Museum, by the Municipal pier at the North end of van Ness Avenue and Columbus street, just west of Fisherman's wharf, is a fun place. Except it's currently closed for renovations. Walking to the end of the Municipal Pier gets you close to Alcatraz, and you can see both the Golden Gate and the San Francisco-Oakland Bay bridges. You can go on board of several historical ships, including the 1886 Balclutha clipper ship, a walking-beam ferry, a steam tug, and a coastal schooner, at the Hyde-street Pier nearby. Over a hundred smaller vessels are also exhibited there.
• Discount Performing Arts. San Francisco has a Half-Price Ticket Booth located right in the middle of Union Square, where tickets for most San Francisco theater performances can be purchased the day of the performance for half-price. Run by Theatre Bay Area, all service fees collected from the sale of tickets by TIX Bay Area goes right back into the theater community.
• Go to a concert, a play, a Jazz or a folk-song performance. There are performances most days to choose from, as by the San Francisco Opera the San Francisco Symphony in Herbst Theater (where the U.N. charter was signed) in the Old First Church, and for musicals in the Orpheum or the Golden Gate Theaters, all located in or near the Civic Center. The museum of the Legion of Honor, located in Lincoln Park overlooking the the Golden Gate (North end of 34th Ave.), has organ concerts which can be heard in many of its galleries, Saturdays and Sundays at 4:00 pm, as well as music performances in its Florence Gould Theater, as by the the San Francisco Lyric Opera. For the fall and spring Jazz festivals look into the SFJAZZ calendar. San Francisco also has many Jazz Clubs, best found by browsing the web, as. Contemporary bands are featured at The Fillmore auditorium and less frequently at the large Bill Graham Civic Auditorium in the Civic Center. There is an annual blues festival in late September, at various locations. Many, but certainly not all, and no free events are listed by the City Box Office. There are at least two great free bluegrass music festivals each year - during February on the Marina and late September or October in Golden Gate Park.
• Plays are performed at the Geary (by the American Conservatory Theater), Curran, and the Marines Memorial theatres; those are near Union Square, and at the three small New Conservatory theaters in the Civic Center.
• Musicals from Broadway and Los Angeles are shown at the traditional Golden Gate and Orpheum theaters on Market, near the Civic Center. For outrageous fun princes and paupers go to Beach Blanket Babylon in North Beach. Teenagers are welcome at the Sunday Matinees. It considers itself the longest running musical reveue in theater history.
• See the Unauthorized Rolling Stones, a San Francisco Institution play, or local musical genius Rudy Colombini play in one of the local clubs.
• Consider Rudy Colombini's Center for the Musical Arts, 1353 Bush St. Music museum, cafe, nightclub, and performing arts space and his San Francisco Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame, 1335 Bush St. Exhibits focused on musicians from San Francisco and who changed the San Francisco music scene.
  

San Francisco has a wide range of small and locally-owned businesses throughout the neighborhoods of the city. In fact, San Francisco has for the most part repelled the development of large chain retailers and big box stores that are common across America.

Fisherman's Wharf has all your typical touristy souvenir shops and a few small shopping centers. Union Square has many national retailers and fancy boutique stores, as well as a few shopping centers thrown in to the mix.

For laid-back, involved-with-your-fellow-travelers kind of travel (cooking is shared, the sleeper busload camps ensemble), check out the Green Tortoise. GT runs buses up to Seattle and down to Baja California; to Black Rock City, Yosemite National Park, a National Parks loop including the Tetons, Yellowstone and more, and a coast-to-coast run to New York.

Bikes can be rented from around the northern waterfront (Pier 41/Fisherman's Wharf/Aquarium Park area) or near Golden Gate Park for trips to Marin County via the Golden Gate Bridge. Golden Gate Transit also serves the North Bay from San Francisco, and has bike racks on most buses.

Destinations suitable for day trips include:

• Berkeley. Home to the University of California, Berkeley and one of the nation's most progressive communities. Also a hub of liberal political activism for the past several decades. It is also home to quite a few superb restaurants.
• Healdsburg. Charming Wine Country town located among some of California's greatest wine appellations: Alexander Valley, Dry Creek Vally, Russian River Valley and Chalk Hill. Relaxed yet sophisticated atomosphere, Headlsburg offers excellent restaurants, shopping and wine tasting. About 70 miles North of the Golden Gate Bridge.
• Napa Valley. The main wine growing region in the United States, a trip to the many wineries makes for a fun day, while those wanting a longer adventure can relax in any one of the many spas, bed and breakfasts, or other lodging options.
• Muir Woods. A 560 acre forest of old-growth redwood trees located in Mill Valley, Muir Woods is a pleasant respite from the city.
• Point Reyes National Seashore. Located just north of San Francisco along highway one, Point Reyes is a beautiful seashore that is particularly nice to visit when gray whales are migrating along the coast, usually best in mid-January and then from March through May.
• Santa Cruz. Located on the coast north of Monterey, this funky town is home to surfers, a lively college campus, and a popular boardwalk. The Santa Cruz Mountains north of town are a great place for outdoor recreation such as hiking.
• Yosemite National Park. Tours from San Francisco make for a wonderful day trip. Make sure to visit the amazing Giant Sequoias.
• Sacramento. Visit the state capital and gold country