Visit San Francisco
Visit San Francisco
A city of constant change, if you want to know what's going on culturally in the USA, San Francisco is the place to be. The lucky city has been the home of the Gold Rush, the hippie movement and the tech bubble, each time adapting to become America's most tolerant and forward thinking cities. This spirit flows of course, into the city's attractions, restaurants, shops and nightlife, so get set to experience a city on the pulse!
If you're planning a holiday to San Francisco, talk to a Travel Expert today on 0800 707 6010.
As your eyes adjust to the fog that envelopes the crimson steel framework of the Golden Gate Bridge, it suddenly sinks in: you’re in San Francisco, one of the liveliest, yet most laid-back spots in California. And nothing can prepare you for experiencing it in person – we recommend at least three days to get a real taste for its heady flavour. Soak up the eclectic culture in Chinatown or Japantown; get back to nature in the Golden Gate Park; go historic at Alcatraz or while sitting on the worn wooden benches of the iconic cable cars; and sample local cuisine, from seafood to sourdough.
The food in San Fran is incredible...
"...one of my favourite places to recommend is Tony’s in Little Italy. When I visited I had the best pizza I’ve ever had! The menu is more like a hand book of pizza and tells you every ingredient and even the temperature it’s cooked at. It does get very busy so I recommend booking in advance.” Katie Bitten
Did you know?
The modern US version of the fortune cookie was created in San Francisco by a Japanese native. He worked at a bakery called Benkyodo, which still exists in the heart of Japantown
Recognise the city’s cable cars? Well they’re the only National Historical Monument in the USA that can move!
There are over 500 wineries in the city’s closest wine region: Napa Valley.
Renowned for its steep streets, it’s no surprise that San Francisco was built on an impressive 43 hills.
Prohibition-era gangster Al Capone spent five years incarcerated in the infamous island prison of Alcatraz.
How to get around
Two feet, two wheels, three cable car routes
San Fran is a fairly compact city, with its best attractions mere miles apart. Naturally then, getting out and about on foot is the simplest method of transportation. The city is cycle-friendly too, with abundant bike lanes, lockers and even racks on buses. Visitors can rent a push-bike for the day from the numerous retailers around Fisherman’s Wharf – it’s a great way to get across the Golden Gate Bridge. And of course, no trip to the city would be complete without riding the cable cars. You can join one of three routes: there’s Powell-Mason, which runs down to Bay Street; Powell-Hide, which ends at the Aquatic Park; and California Street, running east to west.
