Best Places to Visit in San Francisco: the city is charming for several reasons: geography, architecture, music, gastronomy, weather, parks and good shopping. San Francisco was built in the middle of mountains and hills. It’s sceneries are the pacific ocean, street artists, victorian style houses, important museums, big show houses and a bridge that is considered an architectural beauty of the world: the Golden Gate Bridge.  Best Places to Visit in San FranciscoSan Francisco is charming for several reasons: geography, architecture, music, gastronomy, weather, parks and good shopping. The city was built in the middle of mountains and hills. It’s sceneries are the pacific ocean, street artists, victorian style houses, important museums, big show houses and a bridge that is considered an architectural beauty of the world: the Golden Gate Bridge.  

Different from the other american cities, you don’t need a car to explore San Francisco, as it occupies an area of 120 km. Among the main tourist attractions are: Golden Gate Bridge, Fisherman’s Wharf, Alcatraz, Lombard Street and Chinatown

Surrounded by the Pacific Ocean and by the San Francisco bay, the city is blessed with mediterranean weather, turning it into a perfect destination during the whole year. Even though the nightlife is famous, it starts and finishes very early, but the city offers attractions during the whole year, like the the San Francisco Jazz Festival, marathons and one of the most famous gay pride parades. As a whole, there are 78 theaters, 65 museums and 4.375 restaurants.  

How to get there? 

places in san francisco
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We all know there are a lot of top places to visit in San Francisco, but how to get there? The SFO (San Francisco International Airport) is located 22 miles south of the city, near the crossing of US 101 and I-380 highways. When arriving, the easiest way to get to downtown is through BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit), similar to a subway, on a trip that lasts about 30 minutes and costs just US$8. Trains leave every 15 minutes, and every 2 minutes at rush hour. 

But you can also board transfer vans ( US$ 15), which will leave you at the door of your hotel, and in taxis ( US$ 50), two good options for those who are in a group or with a lot of luggage.

Things to do in San Francisco 

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Pier 39 

One of the best places to visit in San Francisco is the heart of Fisherman’s Wharf, the Pier 39, with lots of mini shops for the tourists, some good restaurants and cafes. One of the high points is the group of sea lions that swim around. 

Cable Car 

 The best way to visit all the top places in SF and explore the city is through Cable Cars that cross the whole town. 

Chinatown

Surrounded by Broadway, Powell, Kearney and Bush, the historical Chinatown is one of the best places to visit in San Francisco. Founded just after the arrival of the first chinese immigrants in mid XIX century, Chinatown is more of a tourist destination than a residential area.

Golden Gate Bridge 

The Golden Gate Bridge Bridge is an example of a construction that went way beyond its original function – connecting Marin County to the city of San Francisco – to become the main symbol of the city. The elegant towers dipped in the cold waters of the bay defy the winds, currents and ​​mist, fulfilling the dream of its designers, Joseph Strauss, Charles Ellis and Leon Moisseiff.

When it was finished in 1937, it was considered the largest structure in the world. At almost 3 kilometers in length and more than 200m high, the experience of passing under it defines  the real dimensions of the construction that changed civil engineering in the XX century.

Alcatraz 

One of the most secure prisons in the world, Alcatraz is among our list of top places to visit in San Francisco. Its fame of being \’impossible to escape\’ was guaranteed not only by permanent vigilance, but by the icy waters of the bay as well, which made swimming almost impossible. 

Alamo Square 

All around San Francisco, you can find lovely wood houses in victorian style. During the XIX century, the houses were symbols of virtues like order, behavior, status and domesticity. But they started seeming outdated in the  XX century.

Due to the little attention these houses were receiving from the real estate market, the queer community started to get interested in them, because of their vibrant colors, comfort and well kept decoration. 

When is the best time to visit San Francisco? 

places in san francisco
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 It depends on how cold you want to feel. The temperature changes a lot during the day, but the wind is permanent, and so is the cold. Even during summer, it is a great idea to have a coat nearby. 

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