San Francisco
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San Francisco is regarded as one of the best cities to visit in America due to its thriving tech industry, cosmopolitan make-up, as well as beautiful sights. Home to the iconic Golden Gate Bridge, this city has plenty of culture and history waiting to be explored. It’s changed a lot since the early 2010s due to the influx of tech companies and start-ups, but the spirit of old San Francisco can still be found.
Travel tip #1: San Francisco is divided into several districts—similar to NYC’s boroughs (click here for my NYC Travel Guide!)—and then into smaller neighborhoods. Each neighborhood has its own vibe, making the city enjoyable for people from all walks of life.
Places of Interest
Chinatown: SF’s Chinatown is one of the largest and oldest Chinese settlements in America. You can find delicious traditional cuisine at fairly low prices, as well as temples, souvenir shops, and jewelry stores. I love going to Chinatown for dim sum and bao!
Castro District: In the middle of several neighborhoods is the famous Castro District, one of the first gay neighborhoods in America. Harvey Milk is one of more well-known Castro community members for his political and activist involvement in the Gay Liberation Movement of the 1960s and 70s. Find lots of colorful eateries, art displays, and historic places here.
Mission District: This neighborhood has Latin roots and was one of my favorite places to hang out back in university, but has changed a lot in the past decade. Although some original restaurants, taquerias, and stores still exist in The Mission, these places are not as common as before. Now, more people visit for the area’s “hipster” vibe, speciality shops, and popular restaurants.
Haight-Ashbury: Named for the intersection of Haight and Ashbury streets, the neighborhood is known as birthplace of 1960s hippie counterculture. While this era is long-gone, relics of this time can still be found amongst the vintage stores, record shops, and colorful buildings.
Fisherman’s Wharf: One of the busiest tourists destinations in San Francisco. A great place to walk around and grab a bread bowl filled with hot clam chowder, as well as spot some sea lions while gazing at Alcatraz in the distance. Definitely a good place to go if you’re in SF for the first time.
Golden Gate Park: Located on the western side of the city, Golden Gate Park consists of over 1,000 acres of public space complete with walking and hiking trails, ponds, lakes, gardens, and open spaces. There’s even an enclosed field where bison live!
Golden Gate Bridge: The world-famous bridge that’s not gold, but red. Other than seeing it from different places throughout San Francisco, you can walk, bike, or drive across it. Walking takes about 35 minutes.
Twin Peaks: The pair of 922-foot-high summits that overlook the Bay Area are a great place to escape the city. Not only a park and viewing point, but also a remote neighborhood. There are plenty of hiking trails leading up and down the summits, as well as a parking lot for those who prefer an less-intense way to the top.
Dolores Park: This park is in the Mission District near Mission Dolores. It’s a beautiful park where people congregate in mass during the warmer months on the grassy area that faces the city skyline. Come here to hang out, bring some snacks for a picnic, or people/dog watch.
Cliff House and Sutro Baths: These two landmarks are part of Golden Gate National Recreation Area. In 1894, a local millionaire built an ocean pool aquarium alongside the rocky, coastal area. Later a public bathhouse was constructed. It became less popular overtime and a fire destroyed what remained of the structure in 1966. Today, you can explore the ruins while admiring the beautiful natural scenery.
Crissy Field: Crissy Field is a former U.S. Army airfield and now part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. There are beaches, trails, and grassy areas open to the public and the public’s dogs with views of the Golden Gate Bridge and the bay.
The Presidio: Another park in San Francisco to frequent for its trees, trails, and scenic views. The Presidio was classified as a National Park in 1994, after the military stopped using it.
Lovers’ Lane Trail: A gorgeous trail lined with huge trees in The Presidio. At the south end you’ll find Andy Goldsworthy’s art installation Wood Line. This “sculpture” is made of tree trunks laid end-to-end, creating a zigzag pathway amongst the trees.
Painted Ladies: Also known as the “Seven Sisters” and “Postcard Row” in Alamo Square, these Victorian-style homes on a slanted street are an iconic image of San Francisco. It’s one of the most photographed tourist spots and can get pretty crowded. I recommend going on a weekday during the early morning hours for softer light and fewer people.
Battery Spencer: One of the best viewpoints for the Golden Gate Bridge. This was a main protection point of the city during the 1900s. Now it’s the perfect place to watch the sunset, take photos, and hang out. Parking is limited and it can get crowded during peak times, holidays, and weekends.
Asian Art Museum: A pretty extensive museum that highlights the different regions of Asia. From stone relics to jade to paintings, this museum can keep you occupied for hours. There’s a general admission charge, but you can get a discount on their First Free Sundays. More information can be found on their website.
The Palace of Fine Arts: One of SF’s architectural landmarks that is worth the visit. Originally built for the 1915 Panama-Pacific Exhibition, this spacious venue is a beautiful place to stroll, take photos, and simply admire.
Travel tip #2: There has been an extreme rise in the number of homeless individuals and people who openly do drugs on the streets in San Francisco. It is common to see people laying down in the middle of walkways or passed out on street corners, too. For me this was a difficult sight to see, but know that generally these people mean no harm.
Food
Le Marais Bakery: With multiple locations sprinkled throughout the city, this French-inspired bakery is modeled after the owner’s local boulangerie of his childhood home. I have not personally eaten anything from this bakery, but my close friend said it is wonderful!
Boudin Bakery: Known for their sourdough bread and clam chowder, this place is a classic spot to grab a bite to eat. Their Wharf location is the original and I recommend going there. If not, find another place around the city to enjoy their bread and chowder on a foggy SF day.
La Taqueria: A must-try in the Mission. I love their burritos and salsa verde. It’s one of my go-to spots when in SF for Mexican food. The place isn’t too big and the line can get long during lunch and dinner. It’s cash only, adding to why I like it so much.
Pancho Villa Taqueria: Another iconic spot in the Mission for Mexican food. Pancho Villa has a larger menu than La Taqueria, and their tacos and burritos are incredible. It can get packed in here, especially during late night weekend hours. It’s totally worth the wait and crowds, though.
Hai Ky Mi Gia: Stumbled upon this gem while looking for something for breakfast near the Asian Art Museum. Located in the Tenderloin, this restaurant serves teow chow style food and other Chinese-Vietnamese style dishes. The braised duck leg noodle soup was delicious (it came with a side of pickled veggies), as was the hot soy milk. Pretty sure it’s cash only.
Mandalay: After visiting Myanmar in November 2019 (click here for my Myanmar Travel Guides!), I have been HOOKED on Burmese cuisine! Sadly, it’s not the easiest food to find outside of larger cities. San Francisco actually has a few Burmese restaurants, but I heard this one was the first. Loved their tea leaf salad and homemade noodles, which were hella chewy and springy. A little on the pricey side, yet totally worthwhile.
Shan Dong: This place isn’t in San Francisco, but rather across the bay in Oakland. Specifically, Oakland’s Chinatown. You can watch them make the noodles by hand in the front of the shop and then eat those fresh noodles at the table. Really great food to share family-style. Take-out was quite popular here.
Boba Guys: An SF business that makes stellar milk tea, boba, and artisanal beverages. Their boba is always the perfect consistency! I love the seasonal menu, too. Some of their special items can be a hit or miss, yet you can’t go wrong with a simple milk tea with boba.
T4: Mainly a Northern California milk tea and boba shop with a couple locations in Southern California, I had never tried this place. It’s pretty decent and not as expensive as places like Boba Guys. Simple and to the point with lots of options.
Mitchell’s Ice Cream: I make it a point to go to Mitchell’s every time I visit San Francisco. This ice cream shop makes the best Ube (purple yam/ sweet potato) ice cream and also has other tasty flavors. They’ve been around since the 1960s, which says a lot.
Smitten Ice Cream: Another Bay-Area original. A newer ice cream business that invented their own ice cream machine to make the best ice cream possible. Everything in their ice cream bases, cone batter, sauces, and cookies are made from scratch using unprocessed, real, locally sourced, and sustainable ingredients.
Travel tip #3: There are tons and tons of places to eat in San Francisco, which can make it fairly difficult to choose just a few while on a short trip. Definitely eat sourdough bread, a Mission-style burrito, and fresh seafood at the Wharf if you are really tight on time. Of course, you can find fine-dining restaurants throughout. I recommend a mix of local, hole-in-the-wall places with one or two higher priced eateries thrown in.
Transportation & Accommodation
There are a few different transportation systems that connect the SF Bay Area and get you around the city. Compared to Los Angeles and other cities in America, it’s safe to rely on public transportation in SF. These systems include:
- City buses (Muni),
- Streetcars/ trolleys (Muni Metro)
- BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) trains
- Cable cars
- Ferries
It’s usually easier to take public transportation than drive due to limited parking within the city. Ride share services (Uber and Lyft) are also popular ways to get around. It’s best to avoid using ride share services during commute times, as prices can get pretty steep for short trips.
Accommodation is incredibly expensive in San Francisco and the Bay Area. Be wary of cheaper options on sites like Airbnb, as the accommodation may not be in the best/ safest area of the city, such as the Tenderloin. Traveling during off-season is better for cheaper prices. Check booking.com to get an idea.
Travel tip #4: Be sure to purchase tickets for all forms of public transportation, as police officers will randomly check riders for their tickets. If you don’t have a ticket, you could end up paying a fairly high fine. Click here for more information on public transportation in San Francisco.
Climate
The Bay Area experiences a mild Mediterranean climate, with hot, dry summers and cool, rainy winters. However, San Francisco’s position on the tip of a peninsula surrounded by very cold water makes it much cooler than nearby cities. SF is notorious for its varied micro-climates. This means that it could be sunny in one neighborhood while being completely foggy in another. I would avoid going to the city during the summer, as its peak tourist season. Summer weather can be a bit unpredictable and even chilly at times, too. Spring and fall are generally nice while winter is cold (but I personally enjoy it). Overall, bring layers with you to SF and you’ll be all good!