Things to see and do in San Francisco

San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge is the most iconic landmark in the city. Opened in 1937, after almost 5 years of construction, its signature color is actually "International Orange", rather than gold. The 1.7-mile-long suspension bridge links San Francisco to the Marin headlands and can be crossed by vehicle, on foot, or on a bicycle.

The Golden Gate Bridge is one of the most photographed landmarks in the world. According to the time of the day, different viewpoints offer the best photos of the bridge. Fort Point is good in the morning, Baker Beach is great in the afternoon, and the Marin headlands are excellent in the evening.

Alcatraz Island and its famous federal prison are among the most iconic landmarks of San Francisco. Just 1.25 miles offshore, the 22-acre island is now a recreation area and National Historic Landmark, after the penitentiary closed in 1963.

Alcatraz went through a lot of development and renovation at the end of the 20th century to make it more accessible and enjoyable. Other than exploring the historical buildings, you can stroll around Alcatraz Island to discover its beautiful natural scenery and wildlife. Tours to the island and the prison depart daily from Pier 33 in Fisherman's Wharf.

San Francisco's Fisherman's Wharf is one of the older and more popular neighborhoods of the city. Mostly dating back to the mid-19th century, the waterfront area is full of delicious seafood restaurants, giving off the delightful smells of Dungeness crab and clam chowders, among other yummy dishes.

The Fisherman's Wharf is still home to an active fishing fleet, but it's also become a major tourist attraction in San Francisco. You'll find shopping centers to wander around, museums to visit, a decommissioned WWII submarine to explore, and even a sea lion colony at Pier 39.

Pier 39 is found at the edge of the famous Fisherman's Wharf, in the north of San Francisco. It's packed with shopping centers, seafood restaurants, and a big choice of entertainment options, making it one of the most popular places in San Francisco.

Pier 39 is especially enjoyed by families as many of the attractions are designed for kids, like the aquarium, the video arcades, and the virtual 3D rides. Uniquely Pier 39 also has its own colony of California sea lions. Their loud barking and playful antics have been features of the pier since 1989.

The Presidio of San Francisco offers a grand day out in relaxing natural surroundings. You'll find this park and former military base, recognized as a National Historic Landmark in 1962, at the northern tip of San Francisco. The park spreads over a hilly area of 1,480 acres, covered with pine and cypress trees.

Apart from the natural sites like Baker Beach, there's a good range of manmade points of interest to explore in the Presidio of San Francisco. You should definitely check out Battery Chamberlin, Fort Point, and the great view of the Golden Gate Bridge, for a start.

A 1-block segment of Lombard Street has become a popular spot to visit in San Francisco. Going east-west from The Presidio to The Embarcadero, in the northern area of San Francisco, Lombard Street has a 600-foot section described as the most crooked in the world.

The eastern side of Russian Hill has a slope so steep that road builders had to put in 8 sharp curves to make it possible to drive up and down it without an off-road vehicle. Naturally, traffic flow is pretty slow, especially since the street is now a popular attraction.

San Francisco's Chinatown Alleys give you the full Asian experience on the west coast of the USA. The Dragon Gate, at the intersection of Bush Street and Grant Avenue, marks the area's entrance, and is one of its most famous landmarks, often featured in blockbuster movies.

If you want to enjoy a slightly less touristy experience, you should explore the alleys off Stockton Street, heading towards Portsmouth Square. Both of these areas have a more genuine Chinese touch. Stockton Street features fish markets and small restaurants, while Tai Chi practitioners and Chinese chess players are found in Portsmouth Square.

The Twin Peaks offer a breath of fresh air in the center of San Francisco. These 2 hills reach a height of 925 ft, and are home to a pristine natural habitat, containing a wide range of endangered plant and animal species. Many of the city's reservoirs are also found here, on the northern side of the Twin Peaks.

The star attractions here are the 360-degree panoramic views over San Francisco and the bay. The most famous viewpoint is Christmas Tree Point, on the northern peak. On clear days, you can see as far as Santa Ana Mountain, 86 miles away.

The California Academy of Sciences was established in 1853, and completely renovated in 2008. It now houses a collection of over 20 million specimens in 4 venues: Kimball Natural History Museum, Morrison Planetarium, Rainforests of the World, and Steinhart Aquarium.

Covering an area of 400,000 square feet, the California Academy of Sciences is one of the world's largest natural history museums, as well as a center of many ongoing research studies. You can take a break from wandering around the seemingly endless exhibits at The Academy Cafe and The Terrace - the center's 2 dining options.

Union Square is a great destination for shopaholics in San Francisco. Found in the heart of the city, just south of Chinatown, this 1-block plaza has an impressive collection of shopping malls, art galleries, posh boutiques, and upmarket restaurants.

This lively shopping and dining hub covers 2.6 acres and stretches out onto the neighboring blocks, where you'll find stylish hotels, lounge bars, and single-act theaters. A busy place that never seems to sleep, this cosmopolitan area is considered one of the world's premier shopping destinations, and is one of San Francisco's major attractions.

At the Ferry Building Marketplace, you can sample fresh products and ready-made dishes at the popular Ferry Plaza Farmers' Market, held on Saturdays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays. The building, which dates back to 1898, is also a historical landmark that houses a ferry terminal and offices.

A visit to the Ferry Building Marketplace gives you the chance to sample a wide range of locally produced fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as delicious ready-made meals, like wood-fired pizzas, tacos, and grilled meats. The Ferry Building Marketplace is famous across the country for the quality of the products that can be found here.

The de Young Museum presents a wide range of fine art collections in a modern setting. Built in 2005 in the Golden Gate Park, right next to the California Academy of Sciences in the north of San Francisco, the museum's especially dedicated to American art from the 17th to 21th century.

The de Young Museum collection includes international contemporary art collections, as well as 13,000 textiles and costumes from all around the world. If you need a quick break from all of the art, the de Young Cafe is open daily from 9:30 am 'til 4:30 pm.

The Exploratorium is a really unique style of museum. Described as an ongoing exploration of science, art, and human perception through a wide range of exhibitions, it has participation and experimentation at the heart of its method of teaching.

Found at Pier 15, in the Embarcadero neighborhood to the northeast of San Francisco, the Exploratorium takes you on an experimental scientific trip that will help you to better understand the world around us. Innovatively, it does this through seeing and doing, rather than just reading. A restaurant and a coffee-shop are available, if you need to take a break from the fun and learning.

Baker Beach is a great getaway for some sunbathing and swimming on the shore of the Pacific Ocean, to the northwest of San Francisco. Just a short walk south of the Golden Gate Bridge, it offers superb scenery and serenity away from the busy city center.

Baker Beach is part of the Presidio, a decommissioned military base dating back to the early 19th century, which can still can be visited today. A large picnic area, with tables and benches, is also available next to the beach. It may not be for everyone, but if you're interested, the northern end of Baker is considered a nude beach.

San Francisco Zoo is a very pleasant place to visit, especially if you've got children. On the oceanfront of the southwestern side of the city, the zoo covers 100 acres, in which you'll find over 1,000 animals from all around the world. Amphibians, birds, invertebrates, mammals, and reptiles are kept in well-maintained enclosures, most of them bar-free and outdoors.

San Francisco Zoo is a true urban oasis. You can enjoy a good choice of educational programs and fun rides here, as well as activities and exhibitions meant to entertain and educate you and your children.

Haight Street used to be San Francisco's epicenter of hippie culture in the sixties. Right in the heart of the city, just east of Golden Gate Park, it has evolved into a pleasant residential area, but the shops and restaurants still keep the counter-culture spirit alive.

From second-hand record shops to bookstores, and from The Red Victorian historical hotel to the house of the Grateful Dead, visiting Haight Street gives you a glimpse into the not-so-distant past. Even if hippie culture's not your thing, roaming around Haight Street gives you a pleasant timeless feeling.

The Powell & Market Cable Car Turnaround is a convenient place for people to catch a ride on the iconic cable car system, all the way to Fisherman's Wharf. Pretty much a landmark in itself, the historical cable car system covers much of the hilly city of San Francisco.

Market Street marks the end of the Powell/Hyde Cable Car line. It's the place where the cable cars have to turn around to head back to Fisherman's Wharf. San Francisco's cable car rides are extremely popular, so some patience is needed to wait for your turn.

The Painted Ladies are a must-visit if you're interested in history and architecture. Built between mid-19th and early-20th centuries, the Victorian and Edwardian houses were nicknamed "Painted Ladies" in 1978 in a book about architecture, and the name stuck. They owe their name to the vivid colors most of them are painted in.

The most popular place to see Painted Ladies, is along Steiner Street, on the eastern side of Alamo Square. The row of colorful places there has been immortalized on TV shows and movies several times.

Yerba Buena Gardens is an oasis dedicated to arts and culture in the center of San Francisco, a stroll away from Union Square. This public park occupies 2 blocks and has an arts center and a theater. If that whets your appetite for art, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art is just over the road.

The gardens regularly host festivals, farmer's markets, and other events throughout the year. There's also an ice-skating rink and a bowling center within the gardens' compound. The southwest side of Yerba Buena Gardens features a large shopping, dining, and entertainment complex named Metreon.