Things to do in San Francisco: Vacations, Tourism, and Hotels

Victorian homes near Alamo Square, San Francisco, California (Getty/Hisham Ibrahim)

View of San Francisco, California (Corbis)

Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, California (Photodisc)

Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, California (Takashi Hagihara/Amana Images)

Aerial view of San Francisco, California (Corbis)

Alamo Square in San Francisco, California (Gavin Hellier/Photographer's Choice RF/Getty)

Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, California (Brand X Pictures)

Aerial view of San Francisco, California (Corbis)

Chinese New Year in San Francisco, California (Garrett Culhane/San Francisco CVB)

Alcatraz Island, San Francisco, California (iStockphoto/Thinkstock)

Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, California (iStockphoto/Thinkstock)

Cables of the Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco (Guillaume Paumier/Flickr)

High angle view of the Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco (Medioimages/Photodisc/Digital Vision/Thinkstock)

Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco (Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Thinkstock)

Golden Gate Bridge in the fog at dawn, San Francisco (Galileo55/Flickr)

Visitors walk along the fence of the Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco (iStockphoto/Thinkstock)

The Golden Gate Bridge glows in the dusk, San Francisco (iStockphoto/Thinkstock)

Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco (wunluv/Flickr)

Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco (Salim Virji/Flickr)

Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco (iStockphoto/Thinkstock)

Fog over the Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco (iStockphoto/Thinkstock)

Golden Gate Bridge on foggy day, San Francisco (Jupiterimages/Creatas/Thinkstock)

Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco (iStockphoto/Thinkstock)

San Francisco over the Golden Gate Bridge at night (iStockphoto/Thinkstock)

Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco (Peter Ginter/Digital Vision/Thinkstock)

Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco (Hemera Technologies/Ablestock.com/Thinkstock)

Tower and cables of the Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco (Guillaume Paumier/Flickr)

Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, California (iStockphoto)

Lombard Street at night in San Francisco, California (iStockphoto)

San Francisco waterfront, California (iStockphoto)

Downtown San Francisco, California (iStockphoto)

Alamo Square in San Francisco at night (iStockphoto)

Alamo Square, San Francisco, California (iStockphoto)

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What to do in San Francisco

San Francisco’s laissez-faire atmosphere of tolerance goes back to the Gold Rush, and the city today remains an eclectic pastiche of people Siren-called to the Pacific Coast. Travelers to San Francisco will find distinctive neighborhoods and ethnic enclaves, colorful Victorian homes lining the streets in the Mission and the Haight, and one-of-a-kind boutiques that fill Hayes Valley and North Beach. The restored 1898 Ferry Building houses farmers’ markets and food halls that showcase Northern California’s agricultural bounty. The former Presidio military base has been transformed into a vast national park with attractions and 25 miles of walking and biking trails. And a new palm tree-lined waterfront promenade and restored piers are part of a 21st-century San Francisco renaissance that stretches from Golden Gate Park to the Embarcadero.

Gay Vacations in San Francisco, California Family Vacations to San Francisco, California

Traveler Reviews of San Francisco

Corey rates San Francisco

It's very beautiful and cultural. People nice. One no is downtown, it's dirty and full of crackheads:(

Submitted on March 05, 2012

MrsJBolt rates San Francisco

I wish we had, had more time in San Fran. We squeezed in as much as we could in one day...including walking the bridge; eating on Pier 39; saw, drove, & took pictures of the most crooked road on earth; watched Alcatraz; and accidentally got lost in Chinatown (which happens to be the largest Chinatown outside of Asia, wowzers!). We missed the Ghirardelli Factory and didn't have time to ride a cable car, but I'd say those are must-do's including seeing the famous Painted Ladies houses that was the backdrop for one of my favorite childhood shows, Full House. If you are staying outside of San Fran and driving or riding in, be sure to bring a few layers with you. I dressed for the sunny & warm weather we had 30 min away from San Fran only to have to buy jeans & a jacket because it was a blustery 50* on July 2nd.

Submitted on December 23, 2011

San Francisco Travel Q&A

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best of san francisco and wine country in 6 days

Asked on January 29, 2013 by Barbara | 816 views

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travelling with parents to california coast for a week

I am leaving from Las Vegas and would like to know where i should being and end, do I begin in San Diego and end in Monterey or begin in Monterey and end in San Francisco? My parents are visiting from Ireland and both recently retired at 65yrs old. Do I book a vacation rental for a few days somewhere and use that as a base or stay in different areas. Thank you
Asked on July 27, 2012 by olga | 224 views

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Staying in San Franciso 7/2/ to 7/5 and renting convertible.

Taking US costal hwy route 1 - south from San Franciso 7/5 to 7/10 departing from Las Angelas and where should our first and second overnight stay be when traveling the costal hwy.
Asked on June 04, 2012 by kara | 279 views

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best italian restaurant in San Francisco, California

Asked on March 07, 2012 by std | 105 views

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