CPI Logo
Home About Us News Contact Share


San Francisco On Your Own

US Flag

Basics   History   Maps   Excursions   On Your Own   Videos

The 10 Top Things to do in San Francisco


You've spent hundred of hours watching movies and TV shows about San Francisco, and maybe you've even visited the City by the Bay many times in the past.

  1. Ride a Cable Car. It's the iconic thing to do in San Francisco.

  2. Enjoy some Great Food. Some of the best eats in the country can be found in San Francisco's restaurants.

  3. Take a Bay Cruise. Get a new perspective on San Francisco, Sausalito and Oakland.

  4. Bike over the Golden Gate Bridge for Lunch in Sausalito. It'll be a day you'll long remember.

  5. Exercise your Shopping Gene. Just tell your sweetie that you need to pick up a few things your really need for the cruise.

  6. Explore Alcatraz Island. You'll only be there for a few hours, but Al Capone spent 4 years on "the Rock."

  7. Down an Irish Coffee at the Buena Vista Cafe. It's a San Francisco tradition that has held up well.

  8. See some Great Art in the city's Museums. Whether you're looking for Old Masters, Asian, Modern or even Cartoon art, San Francisco's museums are worth a visit.

  9. Head North for a Wine Country Tour. Sample the wines from several of the best wineries in Napa and Sonoma Counties.

  10. Connect to your inner tourist and visit Fisherman's Wharf, Pier 39 and Ghirardelli Square. They're the city's most popular attractions.
Cable Car
© istockphoto.com/rramirez125

Getting Around


Orientation

Lombard Street

Your ship will make port at Pier 35 in San Francisco, just a stone's throw from Pier 39, the most-visited attraction in the San Francisco Bay Area. If you're embarking or debarking from Pier 39, it can be a hassle due to the congestion on the street. If you're just passing through for a day's visit to Baghdad by the Bay, it's marginally easier. Tour and shuttle buses, taxis and other forms of transportation are available for passenger excursions to the city center and major tourist attractions.





Neighborhoods of San Francisco

San Francisco is a city of neighborhoods, each with a distinct character and ethnic mix. That's just one of the things about San Francisco that makes it a great place to visit.

Union Square: One of San Francisco's main retail Meccas, Union Square is ringed by Macy's, Saks, Neiman Marcus and Levi's stores, as well as the Westin St. Francis hotel. The park itself features a Corinthian column topped by a statue of Victory.

Financial District/Embarcadero: Known by locals as "FiDi," the Financial District/Embarcadero serves as the city's central business district. The District is home to the city's largest concentration of corporate headquarters, law firms, banks, savings & loans and other financial institutions.

Fisherman's Wharf

Fisherman's Wharf: For tourists, the Fisherman's Wharf area, including Pier 39, evokes "San Francisco" better than almost any other area of the town. It is the most popular tourist attraction, after all.

South of Market (SoMa)/Yerba Buena: At one time a down market commercial and residential area of town, SoMa was transformed into a trendy place to work and live during the dot com boom of the 1990s. It remains so today.

North Beach: With its nexus along Columbus Avenue from Chinatown to the Bay, North Beach is best known as San Francisco's Little Italy. It's a neighborhood that has retained its ethnic character, boasting a large number of check-clothed ristorantes, caffes and Old World delicatessens.

Castro: One of the city's most vibrant and cohesive communities, the Castro is to San Francisco what the Village is to New York, only more so. Resurrected by LGBT entrepreneurs, the Castro is overflowing with shops, restaurants and bars so popular that patrons spill out onto the street.

Civic Center: Home to San Francisco's City Hall and ornate Opera House, the Civic Center also attracts a lot of the homeless residents that find San Francisco to be a pretty nice place in which to live.

Nob Hill: Crowned by small Huntington Park and such hotels as the Mark Hopkins, the Fairmont and the Stanford Court, along with Grace Cathedral, Nob Hill is one of San Francisco's toniest neighborhoods.

The Haight: Once the epicenter for the Summer of Love and the city's hippies, the Haight today is an enclave for exclusive boutiques, high-end vintage-clothing shops, Internet cafes and hip restaurants.

Backscratchers

Chinatown: Drawing more visitors each year than the Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco's Chinatown, with its tacky souvenir shops selling bamboo backscratchers and other knickknacks, seems an odd throwback to a Chinatown of the 1920s.

Golden Gate Park/Sunset District: The city's haven from urban chaos, Golden Gate Park, covered by over a million trees, is larger than Central Park in New York. And the Sunset District, referred to by the locals as "The Avenues," is often enshrouded in fog, and is happily multi-ethnic.

Marina/Presidio: One of the toniest neighborhoods in San Francisco, the Marina/Presidio neighborhood sits on the site of the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition, staged after the 1906 San Francisco earthquake to celebrate the opening of the Panama Canal and the reemergence of the city. It's populated by a swarm of well-to-do 20- and 30-something urban professionals.

Getting Around

Walking

Walking is one of the best ways to see San Francisco. The hills may be daunting, but the locals have been doing it for years. Just put on your best walking shoes, grab an umbrella and go!

Cable Cars

Cable Car

San Francisco's iconic cable cars travel on three routes through the city. The California Street line runs East-West from Market Street in the Financial District, through Chinatown, over Nob Hill and ends at Van Ness Avenue. The turntable at Powell and Market Streets services two routes: the Powell-Mason Line and the Powell-Hyde Line. The Powell-Mason line begins at the Powell/Market turntable, and the line runs from there up and over Nob Hill and ends at Bay Street at Fisherman's Wharf. The Powell-Hyde line also begins at the Powell/Market turntable and runs over Nob and Russian hills before ending at the Aquatic Park near Ghirardelli Square.

Tickets currently run $5.00 each way, and can be purchased at the kiosks at the turnarounds or from the conductor as you board.

Historic Streetcar Line

Streetcar

No, you're not imagining things. The San Francisco Municipal Railway (MUNI) operates vintage streetcars along the F-Market & Wharves historic streetcar line. Using cars built in the 1930s, the Historic Streetcar Line will take you from Fisherman's Wharf along the Embarcadero to Market Street, and then up Market to 17th and Castro. The Adult fare is $2.00, while a Youth/Senior fare is $0.75. The streetcars run every 6 to 15 minutes. Here's a link to the Streetcar Line Route Map.



Taxis

Yellow Cab (Phone: (415) 333-3333), and Luxor Cab (Phone: (415) 282-4141) operate most of the cabs in the city, and are also the most reputable. All cabs are metered. The drop fee is currently $3.10, plus $0.45 for each additional 1/5th of a mile. Yellow Cab also offers a wheelchair accessible service.

The current approximate cost of a taxi to downtown San Francisco from SFO is $32 to $45, depending on destination, plus a $2.00 exit fee on trips beginning at SFO.

BART

Bart Logo

Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) connects the San Francisco Peninsula with Oakland, Berkeley, Fremont, Walnut Creek, Dublin/Pleasanton and other cities in the East Bay. For more than 35 years BART has provided fast, reliable transportation to downtown offices, shopping centers, tourist attractions, entertainment venues, universities and other destinations for Bay Area residents and visitors alike. The fare is calculated based on the starting point and the destination.

bicycle

Biking in San Francisco??

Whether you want to take a self-guided bike rental tour, or go on a guided group tour, there are a number of bike rental agencies that will fit your bill. Begin with a tour of Golden Gate Park, then head over the Golden Gate Bridge to Sausalito for lunch. You can take a ferry back to San Francisco to return your bike. It's a great way to see the city and stay fit at the same time.

Bay City Bike calls itself San Francisco's favorite bike rental agency. They've got 3 offices, including one at Fisherman's Wharf. They have a wide range of bikes for rent. Reserve online and get a 10% discount.

Blazing Saddles has been renting bikes in San Francisco for over 25 years. They operate out of 7 offices in the city, and offer the latest models of bikes to suit every rider type and skill level. Reserve online for a 10% discount.


Shopping


San Francisco offers some of the country's best shopping experiences. Whatever you're looking for, you'll find it in one of the city's shopping areas.

To see the locations of the recommended shops listed below, see our Map of San Francisco Shopping Locations.

H & M Logo

Located at Market and Powell is the opulent Westfield San Francisco Centre, home to some of the country's largest retail chains. Here you'll find a 5-story Nordstrom, Abercrombie & Fitch, Bloomingdale's, Hugo Boss, Calvin Klein, H & M, Kate Spade, Kenneth Cole, Tourneau and Zara, among dozens of other mid- to high-end shops.

Bag

Union Square is without a doubt the shopping Mecca for San Francisco locals and tourists alike. Macy's West Coast flagship store takes up two blocks on the south side of the square, and it's joined by the likes of Saks, Neiman Marcus, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Salvatore Ferragamo, Chanel, Marc Jacobs, Britex Fabrics, Barney's New York and one of the city's three Apple Stores. If you're shopping for art, there's no better place in the city to find art galleries.

The yuppie haven of Chestnut Street is lined with an array of sophisticated boutiques, beauty outlets and restaurants, as well as outposts of more utilitarian American retail stores. Shoppers flock to buy shoes at Rabat, gifts at Blue Bird, cotton and lace lingerie at Chadwick's of London and beauty products at Bare Essentials and the Body Shop. If your budget is strained by the prices of the boutiques, you can always buy something at the Gap.

Parasols

We've always wondered what the appeal is of the stores in Chinatown, but tourists make pilgrimages to Grant and Bush Streets year after year. Maybe we're just too practical; what would we do with carved Buddhas, paper parasols, bamboo backscratchers or the porcelain tea sets. And we haven't a clue about buying herbal medicines in the many apothecaries to be found here. Nonetheless, shopping in Chinatown does have completely different sense and sensibility than any other neighborhood in town.

Gap logo

Spanning five blocks in the heart of San Francisco's prime financial district, Embarcadero Center is one of the largest mixed-use complexes in the Western United States. Embarcadero Center is comprised of four office towers and three interconnected shopping levels. Here you'll find such stalwart retailers as the Gap, Banana Republic, Ann Taylor, Nine West and Victoria's Secret, plus several European outlets, such as Barcelino, and baseball goods at the Giants Dugout. There's also a See's Candies store in building 3.

Stretching along Fillmore from Jackson to Geary, Fillmore Street is home to some of San Francisco's most famous shops and restaurants. This street, filled with unique and delightful stores, restaurants and coffee shops, is mostly upscale, but without any snobbery and with more of a friendly neighborhood feel to it. Most of the businesses are housed in Victorian buildings, and there is a very multi-cultured flair in the goods and food offered on the street.


Restaurants


Without a doubt, San Francisco offers one of the best dining scenes in the country. There are few cuisines that can't be topped by the chefs of San Francisco. And while dining in the Bay Area can put a kink in your wallet, you can find any number of less expensive alternatives to the high-end places. Enjoy your culinary experience in San Francisco!

Our Map of Recommended San Francisco Restaurants shows you where to find the following restaurants.

Recommended restaurants in San Francisco

Waitress

Tadich Grill
Classic San Francisco
The oldest restaurant in the State of California, Tadich's has been delighting locals and visitors alike since 1849. Seafood is the forte here; their cioppino is legendary, their Dover sole divine, their Crab Louie one of the best ever. People also rave about their Clam Chowder and Dungeness crab cakes. Tadich's also claims they were the first restaurant to grill their fish over mesquite charcoal. Frankly, it doesn't matter; it's what they're doing today. And that must be good, as their customers line up down the block for a table.
Open Weekdays 11:00 am to 9:30 pm; Saturday 11:30 am to 9:30 pm.
240 California Street
Phone: (415) 391-1849

Sam's Grill
Classic San Francisco
It's the atmosphere that makes Sam's Grill a go-to dining experience in San Francisco. It's a classic seafood place, neither luxurious nor brassy. Sam's can trace its roots to 1867, and perhaps some of the wait staff can too. The best bets are their fresh fish, crab salad and chowder. The lunch bar scene is redolent of those is Mad Men--a whole lot of drinking going on. Classic San Francisco.
Open Weekdays 11:00 am to 9:00 pm.
374 Bush Street
Phone: (415) 421-0594

Gary Danko
Sophisticated Contemporary
One of the best restaurants in San Francisco, or (some say) even the country. Diners select from three, four or five prix-fixe menu courses. Danko's signature dishes include roast Maine lobster with white corn, tarragon and chanterelles; pancetta wrapped frog legs with garlic puree; and roasted quail stuffed with mushrooms and foie gras. While expensive, you get more than what you pay for; the service is perfect, the atmosphere delightful, the wine list extensive and the food is out of this world.
Open Daily 5:30 pm to 10:00 pm.
800 North Point Street
Phone: (415) 749-2060

La Folie
French
Good French restaurants are hard to find, and great ones even more so. La Folie is a great one. The sauces are perfect, the service likewise, as are all of the components of a 3- or 5-course prix fixe dinner. A word of warning, though: the courses are not petite, as one would suspect. So be hungry if ordering a 5-course meal. And you'll be served several amuse bouches during your meal, making the unexpected a discovery.
Open Monday through Saturday 5:30 pm to 10:30 pm.
2316 Polk Street
Phone: (415) 776-5577

Delfina
Pizza
If you're a pizza aficionado, Delfina is where you come to get the best New York-style pie in San Francisco. The menu features ten Neapolitan inspired, thin crust pizzas all of which are heavenly. If you're not in a pizza mood, there's fried sand dabs or Mozzarella in Carozza.
3611 18th Street
Phone: (415) 437-6800

Henry's Hunan Restaurant
Hunan Chinese
A half a block up Sansome from Broadway in a somewhat improbable location is where you'll find Henry's Hunan Restaurant. The restaurant sits in a seemingly cavernous small warehouse, with an open kitchen in the dining room. Nonetheless, Henry's Hunan serves up delicious Hunanese food from a menu of delightful options. Their smoked Hunan ham dishes are unique and outstanding, as is their hot and sour soup, Hot and Spicy Rock Cod fillet, dumplings and the Kung Pao chicken. Frankly, the food here is not as spicy hot as it once was, when the restaurant was located on Kearny, but we're not complaining. Order a rice plate if you're heading there for lunch, and there's just the two of you.
Open Sunday to Thursday 11:30 am to 9:00 pm; Friday and Saturday 11:30 am to 9:30 pm.
924 Sansome Street
Phone: (415) 956-7727

Brandy Ho's
Hunan Chinese
The food served at Brandy Ho's is "country style" Hunan cooking: simple, substantial and down-to-earth, prepared with fresh and healthy ingredients. Their fried dumplings are great, as is their smoked ham. Their honey walnut prawns are superb, and they are aptly famous for their hot and sour soup. Their lunches are relatively inexpensive, yet ample.
Open Sunday through Thursday 11:30 am to 11:00 pm; Friday and Saturday 11:30 am to 12:00 am.
217 Columbus Avenue
Phone: (415) 788-7527

Great Eastern
Dim Sum and Cantonese Chinese
While the restaurant itself is somewhat grungy, the food here at Great Eastern is quite outstanding. Lunch is Dim Sum that you order off the menu, not from steam carts being pushed around the table. Their shrimp and cilantro dumplings are particularly good. Their dinner menu is comprehensive, but for our tastes the seafood is the star. Try their Crab with XO sauce (priced by the pound), or their prawns cooked in a number of different ways. Their house soup is also excellent. The Great Eastern is one of our favorites in the city.
Open Daily 10:00 am to 1:00 am.
649 Jackson Street
Phone: (415) 986-2500

Boulevard
American Regional
One of the city's best restaurants. Although the food is American Regional, the decor of Boulevard is Belle Epoque--no matter. The service and ambience are wonderful, and Chef Nancy Oakes supervises a kitchen that consistently creates fantastic food. Boulevard's menu showcases an incredible array of appetizers, entrees and desserts. Their bon bons are served by the piece, and you'll want several. Make sure you have a dinner reservation well in advance--and men, dress in slacks and a sports coat.
Open Monday through Wednesday 11:30 am to 2:00 pm, and 5:30 pm to 10:00 pm; Thursday and Friday 11:30 am to 2:00 pm, and 5:30 pm to 10:30 pm; Saturday 5:30 pm to 10:30 pm; and Sunday 5:30 pm to 10:00 pm.
1 Mission Street
Phone: (415) 543-6084

Slanted Door
Vietnamese
This excellent Vietnamese fusion restaurant rocks, with excellent food and service--even if it's a bit pricey. Try the crispy imperial rolls, the crab cellophane noodles--a real treat--and the tiger shrimp. Couldn't have a better space in which to eat, as the restaurant is located in the northeast corner of the restored Ferry Building.
Open Monday through Saturday 11:00 am to 10:00 pm; Sunday 11:30 am to 10:00 pm.
1 Ferry Building #3
Phone: (415) 861-8032

Fleur de Lys
French
Hubert Keller's Michelin-starred restaurant is consistently rated as one of San Francisco's finest French restaurants. Fleur de Lys is pricey, but a fabulous experience. Here you can order a 3, 4, or 5 course prix fixe meal, choosing from a list of appetizers, seafood dishes, meat dishes, dessert and/or cheese course. The portions are small, but at the end of your meal, you'll be completely satisfied. The cheese course is to die for--it's perfect.
Open Tuesday through Thursday 6:00 pm to 9:30 pm; Friday 5:30 pm to 10:00 pm; Saturday 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm
777 Sutter Street
Phone: (415) 673-7779

In 'n Out
Classic Southern California Burger
In 'n Out is the perfect example of doing something well, and keep on doing it. They only make a couple of things...burgers, fries and shakes, but it's all made fresh, and the meat's never frozen. The burgers are basic, with or without cheese or onions (raw or grilled), and feature a juicy tomato slice and a leaf of iceberg lettuce with Thousand Island-like spread. Folks with big appetites can enjoy a Double Double burger (double the meat, double the cheese) or a 3X3 (3 meat patties) or a 4X4 (you get the idea). If you want to be unique, order something off the menu: get a burger Protein Style (replace the bun with a lettuce wrap) or Animal Style (burger with mustard cooked beef patty, pickle and extra spread), or Animal Style fries (topped with cheese, spread and grilled onions).
Open Sunday through Thursday, 10:30 am to 1:00 am, Friday and Saturday 10:30 am to 1:30 pm
333 Jefferson Street
Phone: (800) 786-1000

Original US Restaurant
Italian
The Original US is a North Beach institution with a casual, retro 1950s feel and a loyal following. Expect large portions. Try the antipasti di mare and panelle appetizers, and Pappardelle Boscaiola, spaghetti puttanesca with a side of homemade sausage or Osso buco for your main course. For liver and onions lovers (gosh, it's hard to find these days), the Original US does an excellent job. And finish off your meal with a cannoli--yummy!
Open Daily 11:00 am to 10:00 pm
515 Columbus Avenue
Phone: (415) 397-5200

Izzy's Steaks and Chops
Classic San Francisco Steak House
Izzy's is the kind of place you go to and always order the same thing: steak, along with Izzy's potatoes and their trademark creamed spinach. Whether you're ordering a prime rib, filet mignon or a marinated skirt steak, the food is awesome. The bar is loud, lending the place an interesting atmosphere, but the service is impeccable, with experienced and very knowledgeable wait staff.
Open Monday through Thursday 5:30 pm to 10:00 pm; Friday and Saturday 5:30 pm to 10:30 pm; and Sunday 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm
3345 Steiner Street
Phone: (415) 563-0487

Michael Mina
Contemporary American
Michael Minas is a Michelin Star rated restaurant, so come prepared to be impressed. Not for the parsimonious, the menu focuses on contemporary seafood and refined American cuisine uniquely prepared using seasonal products and produce. A meal here can be a once-in-a-lifetime experience, so go for the foie gras, a steak, a Lobster Pot Pie or their Three Little Pigs combo. They serve desserts that will wow you when you eat them, and still think about three days later. Service is excellent.
Open Monday through Thursday 11:30 am to 2:30 pm, and 5:30 pm to 10:00 pm; Friday 11:30 am to 2:30 pm, and 5:30 pm to 10:30 pm; Saturday 5:30 pm to 10:30 pm; Sunday 5:30 pm to 10:00 pm.
252 California Street
Phone: (415) 397-9222

Swan Oyster Depot
Seafood
Foodies come to the small Swan Oyster Depot for their freshly-shucked oysters (they do it in front of you), which are well-sourced and delicious. But there's more, as one would expect. Try the Boston clam chowder and pair it with the sourdough bread. Delightful! And their seafood salads are delicious, too. The restaurant staff make the atmosphere even more accommodating. But arrive early; otherwise you'll have a long painful wait, watching those who got here before you enjoying their food.
Open Monday through Saturday 8:00 am to 5:30 pm
1517 Polk Street
Phone: (415) 673-1101

Cafe des Amis
French Bistro
Featuring a classic French brasserie-style decor, Cafe des Amis serves delicious French-inspired food. From the French onion soup to the quiche to the seasonal seafood, you will be challenged to find something on their menu that's not excellent. They've got a good wine list and a full bar. Their dessert specialty is an amazing peach melba.
Open daily 11:30 am to 11:00 pm.
2000 Union Street
Phone: (415) 563-7700

Zuni Cafe
American
If you'll be going to Zuni with friends for the first time, they'll tell you to order the one hour chicken with the bread salad with currents and arugula. While your chicken is cooking, nosh on oysters and have a few drinks. When the chicken arrives, you too will be convinced that it's the most delicious chicken you've ever had--moist and tender. On your second visit, you may forget everything else and order the chicken again. The burger served on their lunch menu is excellent.
Open Tuesday through Thursday 11:30 am to 11:00 pm; Friday and Saturday 11:30 am to 12:00 am; and Sunday 11:00 am to 11:00 pm.
1658 Market Street
Phone: (415) 552-2522

Greens
Vegetarian
Even non-vegetarians are impressed by the food at this highly-rated eatery. From the pastas to the dessert, you'll have an excellent meal here. The view of the Bay is awesome too, with the Golden Gate Bridge looming in the distance. And the service is excellent. Make sure you make a reservation, even for lunch.
Open Mon 5:30 pm to 9:00 pm; Tuesday through Saturday 12:00 pm to 2:30 pm, and 5:30 pm to 9:00 pm; and Sunday 10:30 am to 2:00 pm.
Fort Mason
Phone: (415) 771-6222

Tanuki
Sushi
Let's just say that in a town where you'll find scores of sushi bars, Tanuki is the best. It's only drawback is that their location is in the Richmond district, a fer piece from downtown.
Open Daily 11:00 am to 10:00 pm.
4419 California Street
Phone: (415) 752-5740

Dottie's True Blue Cafe
Breakfast
Waiting in line for breakfast is a tradition at Dottie's True Blue. Is it worth the wait? It's customers say absolutely--but maybe they feel they have to suffer so as to deserve Dottie's breakfasts. Here you'll find an owner who knows how to run a restaurant, consistently serving up excellent eggs, pancakes made in a variety of ways, perfect French toast, omelets and cornbread with jalapeno jelly.
Open Monday and Wednesday through Sunday 7:30 am to 3:00 pm.
522 Jones Street
Phone: (415) 885-2767

Mamas
Breakfast
The Sanchez family has been serving up breakfast on North Beach's Washington Square Park for 50 years. And today, locals and tourists alike say Mama's is still the best breakfast joint in San Francisco. Here you'll get fluffy omelettes served with home fries, eggs, French toast, pancakes, homemade jam, and fresh baked breads and pastries. Yummy!
Open Tuesday through Sunday 8:00 am to 3:00 pm.
1701 Stockton Street
Phone: (415) 362-6421

Molinari's Deli
Italian Deli
This Italian deli, on Columbus just a block up from Broadway, is a Mecca for good Italian sandwiches made your way. Here you take a number, wait in line and when called, you grab a loaf of bread from an acrylic box, hand it over and then select your preference of meat and cheese. The house favorite is the Molinari Special, aka the Italian Special. You can eat your prize on one of the three tables in front (more often than not they're occupied), or head up the street to Washington Square park and dine al fresco.
Open Weekdays 8:00 am to 5:30 pm; and Saturday 7:30 am to 5:30 pm.
373 Columbus Avenue
Phone: (415) 421-2337

Buena Vista
Irish Coffee
As the largest purveyor of Irish Coffee in San Francisco--and there's a reason for that, because they're so good--the Buena Vista also serves food. You may have to wait, but then there's a reward--a creamy cup of Irish Coffee. Breakfast items are particularly good.
Open Weekdays 9:00 am to 2:00 am; Weekends 8:00 am to 2:00 am.
2765 Hyde Street
Phone: (415) 474-5044

Crustacean
Asian
With a good-sized menu focusing on excellent seafood dishes, this upscale Vietnamese restaurant is aptly famous for two menu items: An's garlic noodles and roast Dungeness crab, cooked with garlic and spices. They're out of this world, albeit a bit messy.
1475 Polk Street
Phone: (415) 776-2722


Hotels


Recommended Hotels in San Francisco

Expensive ($300/night and up)

Hotel

Park 55 Wyndham San Francisco
The Park 55 is a luxurious property nestled in the heart of San Francisco, just a block from Union Square. The hotel features 1,013 spacious guest rooms and 15 suites--all with bay-style windows to showcase amazing panoramic views of San Francisco. The Park 55 is rated as a AAA four-diamond hotel.
55 Cyril Magnin St.
Phone: (415) 392-8000; Toll Free: (800) 595-0507

Hotel Nikko San Francisco
Hotel Nikko San Francisco is a sanctuary of serenity in the midst of one of America's most vibrant cities. Ideally located in the very heart of the city, Hotel Nikko is a short walk from Moscone Center and the financial district as well as the fine shops, theaters and restaurants at Union Square. Hotel Nikko features 510 elegantly appointed rooms and 22 suites.
222 Mason Street
Phone: (415) 394-1111; Toll Free: (800) 248-3308

Westin St. Francis on Union Square
The Westin St. Francis is a destination where you can unwind and be pampered by attentive, world-class service. It's the only hotel located on Union Square. The hotel's marble columns, ornate balconies, and intricate woodwork transport guests back to the elegance of yesteryear. Yet these magnificent appointments are balanced by modern, groundbreaking amenities. The St. Francis features 614 guestrooms in two buildings: the Tower Building, built in 1969, and the Landmark Building, built in 1907.
335 Powell Street
Phone: (415) 397-7000; Toll Free: (866) 276-6393

Fairmont San Francisco
With a panoramic view of the City and the Bay from high atop Nob Hill, the Fairmont San Francisco hotel presents an unmatched blend of luxurious accommodations and superb services, all of which make for an unforgettable stay. Each of the hotel's spacious 591 guestrooms and suites have been elegantly updated, and include flat screen TVs, Frette linen ensembles, pillow top beds, and MP3 docking stations.
950 Mason Street
Phone: (415) 772-5000; Toll Free: (866) 540-4491

The Clift
The Clift Hotel offers classic stylings just steps from Union Square and near shopping and sightseeing in downtown San Francisco. Only steps from Union Square, the Clift is perfectly located for sightseeing, shopping and socializing. It's a modern and trendy hotel with a decent bar in a good location not too far from the BART. The rooms are decorated with a modern aesthetic.
495 Geary Street
Phone: (415) 775-4700; Toll Free: 1-866-263-3710

Stanford Court Renaissance San Francisco
This renowned luxury boutique hotel provides a sophisticated, contemporary urban retreat. Breathtaking views of the City and the Bay, along with luxurious surroundings, are just a few of the many highlights of the contemporary guest rooms and suites within this historic hotel. 8 floors, 367 rooms, 26 suites.
905 California Street
Phone: (415) 989-3500; Toll Free: (888) 236 2427

Mandarin Oriental San Francisco
The Mandarin Oriental San Francisco is a fine luxury hotel offering legendary service and legendary views. Towering above downtown, hotel guests enjoy stupendous views of the city's iconic sights, from the Golden Gate Bridge to San Francisco Bay. The hotel features 151 rooms and seven suites, and is centrally located in the Financial District, within walking distance to the Bay, Fisherman's Wharf, Chinatown and the Ferry Building. However, if you've got acrophobia, don't stay here, or else just close your eyes as you walk from the elevator to your room.
222 Sansome Street
Phone: (415) 276-9888; Toll Free: (800) 622-0404

Sheraton Fisherman's Wharf
The location of Sheraton Fisherman's Wharf Hotel puts you in the heart of San Francisco's most popular neighborhood; you'll be steps away from Pier 39, Ghirardelli Square, Alcatraz Island, and the world famous San Francisco Cable Car lines. Each of the 531 modern, bright smoke-free guest rooms are spacious and feature the signature Sheraton Sweet Sleeper Bed and WiFi access.
2500 Mason Street
Phone: (415) 362-5500; Toll-Free: (800) 325-3535

Intercontinental Mark Hopkins
As splendid now as when it opened to great fanfare in 1926, the Mark Hopkins is one of the city's finest hotels. Located at the crossing of three cable car lines, the venerable landmark is minutes from Union Square, Chinatown and the Financial District. Fisherman's Wharf is just a short cable car ride away. The Mark Hopkins features 380 Guest Room and 32 Suites on its 19 floors.
1 Nob Hill
Phone: (415) 392-3434; Toll Free: (800) 424-6835

Moderate (between $200 and $300/night)

Hotel Monaco San Francisco
San Francisco's boutique Hotel Monaco is a four star luxury Kimpton Hotel by Union Square. Whether traveling for business or enjoying a romantic getaway, this AAA Four Diamond hotel offers you top notch services and amenities, a central location, warm hospitality and unique downtown accommodations. Each of the 201 guestrooms and suites includes wireless high-speed Internet access, an iHome Stereo System with alarm clock and an LCD flat-screen TV with cable access, including HBO, premium on-demand movies and Nintendo, and Aveda spa-inspired bath amenities.
501 Geary Street
Phone: (415) 292-0100; Toll Free: (866) 279-5332

The Opal San Francisco
Discover a true hotel gem at The Opal San Francisco, conveniently located at Van Ness Avenue and Geary Street in the Civic Center/Cathedral Hill neighborhood of downtown San Francisco. The Opal San Francisco is a classic hotel that has welcomed guests since 1908. The Opal Hotel offers excellent value and a prestigious destination for couples, families and vacationers. The Opal is rated a AAA Three Diamond hotel.
1050 Van Ness Avenue
Phone: (415) 673-4711; Toll Free: (888) 673-4711


Activities


Additional tours

Discounts to San Francisco Attractions

Go San Francisco Card
Go Card
If you plan on spending some time in the city before or after your cruise, the Go Card is your ticket to the best things to do in San Francisco. With the Go San Francisco Card, you'll get access to 56 attractions. Plus, the Go card allows you to skip the line at top sights as well as save with special discounts. Just choose how many consecutive days you want to go sightseeing!

City Sightseeing Tours

Golden Gate Bridge

Gray Line of San Francisco
Gray Line offers a number of tours, including their signature 3½-hour City Tour. On this tour, you will explore this most culturally diverse and beautiful of cities. Your guided journey will highlight famous landmarks and familiarize you with the unique sociology of San Francisco. As your tour guide provides a history of the town, you will drive past Victorian houses, the Civic Center, Union Square, Nob Hill, Cable Cars, Chinatown, North Beach, Coit Tower, Fisherman's Wharf, the Marina District, the Palace of Fine Arts, the Presidio, Golden Gate Park, Twin Peaks, Golden Gate Bridge and more. Gray Line also a number of other tours.
Phone: (415) 434-8687; Toll Free: (888) 428-6937

Tower Tours' Grand San Francisco City Tour
On this tour, you'll discover the metropolis of San Francisco with style and comfort aboard one of their newest luxury coaches. The Tower Tours' knowledgeable tour guides will escort you through the attractions of San Francisco, and interweave the sights with an oral history of San Francisco. You'll view such sights as Chinatown, Coit Tower, North Beach, the Palace of Fine Arts, Union Square, the Cable Cars, Fisherman's Wharf, Nob Hill, the Pacific Ocean and Presidio National Park.
Phone: (415) 345-8687; Toll Free: (866) 345-8687

Local Taste of the City Tours
Local Tastes of the City San Francisco Tours is a group of passionate, professional and certified guides with years of experience leading adventures in San Francisco. On every one of their sojourns into San Francisco neighborhoods, you'll go into local bakeries, restaurants and cafes and taste the food. Each of the tours includes a post-tour option of dining on a full meal at a top-rated neighborhood restaurant. The tours include a North Beach/Little Italy tour and a Chinatown tour, and are offered both during the day and evening.
Phone: (415) 665-0480; Toll Free: (888) 358-8687

Chinatown Tours

Grant Street

SF Chinatown Ghost Tours
SF Chinatown Ghost Tours invites you to spend an evening gallivanting through the passageways of Chinatown's past. Your guide will then take you to a former gambling den, where Magician Tamaka will conjure up the old spirit of Fu Ling Yu, a gambler who met his demise when he was caught cheating. Magician Tamaka, a featured performer and member of the Magic Castle in Hollywood, will perform a show consisting of mentalism, magic and comedy.
Phone: (415) 793-1183; Toll Free: (877) 887-3733

Wok Wiz Chinatown Tours
Experience Chinatown by wandering through its back alleys and peek into some of the herbal shops and Chinese temples of this historic neighborhood. Wok Wiz offers two tours: a Wok Wiz Daily Tour that's offered offered with or without lunch, and a "I Can't Believe I Ate My Way Through Chinatown" tour.

On the Daily Tour, you may visit a local herbalist, an art gallery, tea purveyor, Chinese temple, and a local "farmers market." Learn about the ornate architecture in the area, and the best places to shop for souvenirs, jewelry and linens. Complete the Chinatown stroll with a delicious dim sum luncheon at one of the oldest restaurants in Chinatown. The Wok Wiz tour leaders stay to host lunch and to answer any questions.

The Dining Tour begins with a traditional Chinese breakfast--bowls of rice congee, "jook" and freshly-made dim sum dumplings. You'll share tea at the top tea shop in the heart of Chinatown, visit food markets, and go "see a man about a duck." Then finish the morning off with a fabulous lunch.
250 King Street, Suite 268
Phone: (650) 355-9657

San Francisco Bay Cruises

Bay cruise

Red & White Fleet
Red & White Fleet offers a selection of Bay Cruises to ensure your time on the water meets your seafaring yens. Sail under the Golden Gate and around Alcatraz aboard the 1-hour Golden Gate Bay Cruise; it's a "San Francisco original" narrated in 12 languages. Or enjoy sunsets, appetizers and live music aboard their relaxing 2-hour California Sunset Cruise. Their 90-minute Bridge 2 Bridge Cruise is a great way to see San Francisco's entire waterfront, including the 75-year old Bay Bridge!
Pier 43½
Phone: (415) 673-2900

Blue & Gold Fleet
Join Blue & Gold Fleet's Bay Cruise Adventure to experience the thrilling history of San Francisco Bay. The fully narrated 1-hour tour sails under the majestic Golden Gate Bridge, circles Alcatraz Island and cruises along San Francisco's historic waterfront, where there's no better way to experience unobstructed views of sensational skylines in every direction. Onboard narration describes the City's landmarks as you sail along in comfort aboard the boat, where both indoor and outdoor seating are provided.
Pier 39
Phone: (415) 705-8200

Adventure Cat Sailing Charters
Consistently voted among the top five things to do in San Francisco, Adventure Cat Sailing combines the romance of the City with an adventure on the Bay. Adventure Cat Sailing offers a 1½-hour bay cruise that will take you on one of their 55-foot or 65-foot Catamarans. You'll sail under the Golden Gate Bridge, then circle past Alcatraz Island and Sausalito to Kirby Cove, where whales and sea lions might join you to admire the spectacular city lights. Sip California wines in the cabin, or let the winds of San Francisco Bay rip through your hair at the front of the boat.
Pier 39, Dock J
Phone: (415) 777-1630; Toll Free: (800) 498-4228

Muir Woods & Sausalito Tours

Muir Woods

Gray Line of San Francisco
Gray Line offers two 3½-hour long tours of Muir Woods and Sausalito: a morning tour that leaves at 9:15 am, and an afternoon tour that leaves at 2:15 pm. The tours take you north across the Golden Gate Bridge to two of California's most unique tourist attractions. Marin County is home to one of the few remaining groves of Virgin Coastal Redwoods. These redwoods are among the oldest and tallest trees in existence. The "Nature Trail" at Muir Woods leads you into the heart of its cathedral-like grove. Then re-board your bus for a short trip to the town of Sausalito, an alluring village of art galleries, quaint shops and waterfront restaurants with views of San Francisco across the bay. Its cliff-hanging cottages and houseboat community lend the town a Mediterranean ambience. Hotel pickup is included.
Phone: (415) 434-8687; Toll Free: (888) 428-6937

Tower Tours' Muir Woods/Sausalito Tour
This 3½-hour tour will take you north over the Golden Gate Bridge to Muir Woods National Monument, an isolated canyon filled with ancient coastal redwoods. Enjoy the solitude and peace of the woods as you stroll through 1,000-year-old redwood trees towering up to 260 feet tall. Next, you'll travel to Sausalito, a Mediterranean-like village situated across the San Francisco Bay, famous for its sweeping views and timeless sophistication. Take your time to discover the town's boutiques, art galleries and waterfront restaurants. This tour is offered 3 times daily.
Phone: (415) 345-8687; Toll Free: (866) 345-8687

Wine Country Tours

Wine Tasting

Gray Line of San Francisco
Gray Line offers a 9-hour long winery tour that will take you to wineries in both Napa and Sonoma Counties, where you will enjoy a winery tour and complimentary wine tastings. Lunch opportunities abound at either Sonoma's historic square or Yountville's Vintage 1870. The tour departs at 9:15 am.
Phone: (415) 434-8687; Toll Free: (888) 428-6937

Napa Valley Wine Train
The Napa Valley Wine Train provides a relaxing three-hour, thirty-six mile round-trip journey between the historic town of Napa through one of the world's most famous wine valleys to the quaint village of St. Helena and back. Guests aboard the Wine Train enjoy the option of a freshly prepared lunch or dinner as they view vineyards and wineries from any of the vintage 1915-1917 Pullman Dining, Lounge, or 1952 Vista Dome rail cars, all of which have been lavishly restored. Getting to Napa from San Francisco could not be easier, or more pleasant; just hop on a ferry and enjoy a Bay cruise on your way to the Wine Train!
Phone: (800) 427-4124

Napa Valley Wine Country Tour with Lunch
Travel by luxury van through rolling hills covered in vineyards and visit a minimum of two top flight wineries, dine at a gourmet Sonoma restaurant, and toast the end of your journey with champagne. Allow All San Francisco Tours to worry about the driving, while you enjoy the wine country and learn from Napa's wine experts. Hotel pickup, round trip transportation, wine tasting, gourmet lunch and expert narration are included.
Phone: (702) 733-1627; Toll Free: (866) 654-1410

Segway Tours

Segway

Electric Tour Company
The Electric Tour Company--the Original San Francisco and Sausalito Segway Company--has been servicing tourists and locals since 2004. The company offers fun-filled tours of two of the world's most beautiful cities on the world's most unique transportation device--the Segway! Whether you're an adventurous single looking for an unusual way to experience San Francisco/Sausalito or a parent with children over 12 years old trying to keep the family entertained on vacation, you'll love the unforgettable experience of riding a Segway.
757 Beach Street
Phone: (415) 474-3130

City Segway Tours
City Segway Tours will take you on a trip through San Francisco's beautiful parks and along the waterfront while riding a Segway, a self-balancing, personal transportation device that's designed to operate in any pedestrian environment. During your ride, you'll enjoy a great orientation, informative historical and current-day information, heaps of unique and fascinating stories, fantastic photo ops and superb personal service from your guide.
505 Beach Street, Suite 50
Phone: (415) 409-0672; Toll free: (877) 734-8687

Sausalito Ferries

The Golden Gate Ferry provides service between San Francisco's Ferry Building and Sausalito. The one-way fare runs $9.25 for adults (19 to 64), $4.50 for seniors (65+), disabled and youth (6 to 18), and free for kids 5 and under.

The Blue & Gold Fleet provides service between San Francisco's Pier 41 and Sausalito. The one-way fare runs $10.50 for adults (12 to 64), $6.25 for seniors (65+), disabled and youth (6 to 11), and free for kids 5 and under.

Museums

Boatmen

de Young Museum
Named for early San Francisco newspaper magnate M. H. de Young, the de Young Museum showcases American art from the 17th through the 21st centuries, international contemporary art, textiles and costumes, and art from the Americas, the Pacific and Africa.

With works ranging from 1670 to the present day, the museum's American art collection represents the most comprehensive museum survey of American art in the American West, and is among the top ten collections nationally that encompass the entire history of non-indigenous American art.

The museum's current building, designed by architects Jacques Herzog, Pierre de Meuron and Fong + Chan, was completed in 2005. The entire exterior is clad in copper, which is expected to oxidize over time and take on a greenish tone and a distinct texture to echo the nearby eucalyptus trees.

Tickets run $10 for adults, $7 for Seniors 65 and older, $6 for teens and college students, and free for kids 12 and under. Open Tuesday through Sunday from 9:30 am to 5:15 pm, and Fridays 9:30 am to 8:45 pm.
50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive, in Golden Gate Park
Phone: (415) 750-3600

Greek Vase

Legion of Honor
The California Palace of the Legion of Honor displays a collection spanning more than 6,000 years of ancient and European art, and houses the Achenbach Foundation for Graphic Arts in a neoclassical building overlooking Lincoln Park and the Golden Gate Bridge.

The main strength of the Ancient Art collection lies in Greek vase painting, where over 100 examples represent most periods of Greek art from the prehistoric to the end of the classical age. The museum contains a representative collection of European art, the largest portion of which is French. Its most distinguished collection is of sculpture by Auguste Rodin. Also on display are individual works by many other artists, including Francois Boucher, Rembrandt, Gainsborough, David, El Greco, Rubens, and many of the Impressionists and post-Impressionists, including Degas, Renoir, Monet, Pissarro, Seurat, Cezanne and others.

Tickets run $10 for adults, $7 for Seniors 65 and older, $6 for teens and college students, and free for kids 12 and under. Open Tuesday through Sunday from 9:30 am to 5:15 pm, and Fridays 9:30 am to 8:45 pm.
100 34th Avenue, in Lincoln Park
Phone: (415) 750-3600

Matisse

San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
Founded in 1935, SFMOMA holds an internationally recognized collection of modern and contemporary art, and was the first museum on the West Coast devoted solely to 20th century art.

The museum's current collection includes over 26,000 works of painting, sculpture, photography, architecture, design, and media arts. The museum's collection includes important works by Andy Warhol, Jackson Pollock, Richard Diebenkorn, Clyfford Still, Henri Matisse, Paul Klee, Marcel Duchamp and Ansel Adams, among others.

Tickets run $18 for adults, $12 for Seniors 62 and older, $11 for teens and college students, and free for kids 12 and under. Open Friday through Tuesday from 10:00 am to 5:45 pm, and Thursdays 10:00 am to 8:45 pm, and closed Wednesdays.
151 Third Street, between Mission and Howard
Phone: (415) 357-4000

Korean art

Asian Art Museum
The Asian Art Museum of San Francisco has one of the most comprehensive collections of Asian art in the world. Until 2003 the museum shared a space with the de Young Museum in Golden Gate Park; it re-opened on March 20, 2003 in the former San Francisco city library building opposite the San Francisco Civic Center.

The collection has approximately 17,000 works of art and artifacts from all major Asian countries and traditions, some of which are as much as 6,000 years old. Major galleries are devoted to the arts of South Asia, West Asia (including Persia), Southeast Asia, the Himalayas, China, Korea and Japan. There are 2,500 works on display in the permanent collection.

Tickets run $12 for adults, $8 for Seniors 65 and older, $7 for teens and college students, and free for kids 12 and under. Open Tuesday through Sunday: 10:00 am to 5:00 pm, Thursdays until 9:00 pm.
200 Larkin Street
Phone: (415) 581-3500

Yellow kid

Cartoon Art Museum
The Cartoon Art Museum specializes in the art of comics and cartoons. It is the only museum in the Western United States dedicated to the preservation and exhibition of all forms of cartoon art. The permanent collection features some 6,000 pieces, including original animation cels, comic book pages and early newspaper comic strips.

The Cartoon Art Museum aims to make its facilities, exhibitions, and programs available to all visitors. The entrance is on street level and all galleries are fully wheelchair-accessible. An elevator allows guests to access the offices and library on the second floor. Visually impaired individuals may arrange for a docent tour.

Tickets run $7 for adults, $8 for Students and Seniors, $3 for kids 6 to 12, and free for kids 5 and under. Open Tuesday through Sunday: 11:00 am to 5:00 pm; closed Mondays.
655 Mission Street
Phone: (415) 227-8666

Cable Car Museum
Established in 1974, the Cable Car Museum contains historical and explanatory exhibits on the San Francisco cable car system. Here you can learn about the inventor of the cable car, technologies, builders, rapid expansion, near loss and the ongoing efforts to save and rebuild the cable cars of San Francisco.

Admission is free. Open daily from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm from April 1 to September 30, and from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm from October 1 to March 31.
1201 Mason Street
Phone: (415) 654-3100

Attractions in San Francisco

Al Capone

Alcatraz Island
Over the course of its history, Alcatraz--known as The Rock--has been a Civil War fortress, infamous federal prison, bird sanctuary, the site of the first lighthouse on the West Coast and the birthplace of the Native American Red Power movement. Today, more than a million people come to Alcatraz each year to learn about the island's human history and to see its birds, tide pools and gardens.

You can see easily see The Rock from anywhere along the Wharf's shoreline. Numerous cruises take you around and to the island.

The most important thing to know when planning a trip to Alcatraz is that all access to the island is through a private ferry company under contract with the National Park Service, Alcatraz Cruises LLC.

Coit Tower

Coit Tower
Completed in 1933, Coit Tower is a monument to the firefighters of San Francisco. Paid for by Lillie Hitchcock Coit, a wealthy socialite who loved to chase fires in the early days of the city's history, the 210-foot high Art Deco tower took five years to construct.

The Coit Tower is one of the best places to enjoy the views of San Francisco. Bring your camera and a zoom lens; you can capture great shots of the Business District, the Ferry Building Market Place, Alcatraz, Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco's rolling hills.


Golden Gate Park Windmill

Golden Gate Park
Golden Gate Park is a 1,017 acre sylvan retreat from the urban world of San Francisco. The park is over three miles long east to west, and about half a mile north to south. With 13 million visitors finding their way to the park each year, Golden Gate is the third most visited city park in the United States after Central Park in New York City and Lincoln Park in Chicago.

Golden Gate Park plays host to an array of civic attractions. Within the park grounds you'll find the De Young Museum, a fine arts museum that dates to January 1921; the California Academy of Sciences, one of the largest natural history museums in the world, along with its adjuncts the Steinhart Aquarium and the Morrison Planetarium; the Japanese Tea Garden, the oldest public Japanese garden in the United States; the San Francisco Botanical Garden at Strybing Arboretum; the picturesque Dutch Windmill and Murphy's Windmill, originally used to pump water throughout the park; a Bison Paddock, a relic of San Francisco's successful effort to breed them in captivity; and the AIDS Memorial Grove, designated a national memorial by an act of Congress and now an affiliated area of the National Park System.

Ferry Building

Ferry Building Marketplace
Located along the Embarcadero at the foot of Market Street, the Ferry Building Marketplace is the center of a transit hub that connects all of San Francisco's neighborhoods and the surrounding bay communities.

The present structure, designed by local San Francisco architect A. Page Brown, opened in 1898, replacing its wooden predecessor, and survived both the 1906 earthquake and the 1989 earthquake with little damage. Until the completion of the Bay Bridge and Golden Gate Bridge in the 1930s, it was the second busiest transit terminal in the world, second only to London's Charing Cross Station. It served as the embarkation point for commuters to San Francisco from the East Bay who rode the ferry fleets of the Southern Pacific Railway. A loop track existed in front of the building for streetcars.

Following the construction of the bridges, passenger ferry use fell sharply. In the second half of the twentieth century, although the Ferry Building and its clock tower remained a part of the San Francisco skyline, the building interior declined. Over the years, the ticketing counters and waiting room areas were partitioned into office space. The formerly grand public space was reduced to a narrow and dark corridor, through which travelers passed en route to the piers.

In 2003, the building reopened as an upscale gourmet marketplace, office building and re-dedicated ferry terminal. The restoration project spanned several years, with an emphasis on recreating the building's 1898 ambiance. San Francisco's most well known farmers' market is held there on Saturdays from 8:00 am to 2:00 pm, and on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm, year-round.

San Francisco City Guides offer regular walking tours of the Ferry Building. Tours are free and start at noon on Saturdays and Tuesdays. The tours coincide with the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market.

The marketplace is accessible by MUNI, BART and Ferry Boat.

Crabs

Fisherman's Wharf
There's something for everyone at Fisherman's Wharf: food, views, history, family fun and more.

Fisherman's Wharf is best known for Dungeness Crab and Sourdough Bread. The fresh Dungeness crab is served steaming hot at a number of outdoor stands or in a variety of gourmet recipes at the Wharf's many seafood restaurants. As you walk through the complex, you can also smell the fresh sourdough bread being baked. Boudin Bakery's sourdough bread has become synonymous with San Francisco cuisine.

During the day, look for the many street performers: the magicians, mimes, musicians, jugglers, clowns and fire-eaters take pride in their efforts to make you feel welcome at Fisherman's Wharf. At night the wharf offers live music, theater, dancing, comedy clubs and more.

Most of the boats berthed at Fisherman's Wharf belong to a third generation of fishing craft piloted by descendants of the fishermen who have made their livelihoods on the waters of San Francisco Bay for many generations.

Pier 39 is a wheelchair accessible facility. Access areas for individuals with disabilities include ramps and six elevators to the second level. TTY phones are available. Sign language interpreters for live performances can be provided upon request with two weeks notice. For further information, call (415) 705-5500 Monday through Friday during normal business hours.

Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.

Pier 39
Pier 39, San Francisco's most visited attraction, is a festive shopping mecca featuring 110 specialty shops and 14 full-service restaurants serving seafood, California cuisine and casual fare with beautiful Bay views. At Pier 39 the picturesque scenery captures Alcatraz, the Golden Gate and Bay Bridges, Fisherman's Wharf and city skyline. There's a multitude of fun for everyone, with attractions and live entertainment to amuse all ages.




Box of Candy

Ghirardelli Square
Ghirardelli Square was originally a chocolate factory established by Domenico "Domingo" Ghirardelli. The chocolate manufacturing operation was sold and transferred to San Leandro in the 1960s. Unique shops and restaurants were created within the old factory, combining the latest in retailing and fine cuisine with the flavor of old San Francisco. The restoration project officially opened on November 29, 1964.

Today, Ghirardelli Square welcomes visitors with its lively retail mix. It continues to serve as a model for restoration complexes throughout the country, such as Faneuil Hall Marketplace in Boston and Baltimore's Harborplace.

The Cannery
Located at the foot of Columbus Street overlooking San Francisco Bay, and originally built in 1907, the Cannery was once the largest peach cannery in the world. Today the Cannery at Del Monte Square is a vibrant waterfront marketplace featuring one-of-a-kind shops and restaurants, offices, and live entertainment. The brick warehouse was converted into three levels of winding walkways, balconies and bridges surrounding an inviting courtyard with several outdoor cafes.

 

© 2008-2012 CruisePortInsider.com