About San Francisco
Sitting on 43 hills, and surrounded on three sides by water, San Francisco is ideally located so that almost every one of its streets ends or begins with a panoramic sea view.
Seven times, it has been rebuilt after fires and earthquakes; and seven times, it has been carefully and lovingly restored.
The combined effect of the many hills, the Pacific Ocean, San Francisco Bay, and the Golden Gate Bridge is stunning in its beauty and scope.
Today San Francisco is an important industrial, tourist and financial center. Its financial district is often called Wall Street West.
San Francisco also has a world-class symphony orchestra, opera, and ballet.
The main shopping, hotel, and theater district is at Union Square. A few blocks farther on, the formerly run down factory district has been reborn as a cultural center with the Museum of Modern Art as its centerpiece. Major galleries, museums and restaurants have opened there, as well as Sony’s Metreon theater complex. Yerba Buena Gardens provides constant family entertainment year round with its ice rinks, parks and children’s play areas.
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Getting There & Around
The Bay Area has three major airports: San Francisco International Airport (SFO), Oakland International Airport (OAK) and San Jose International Airport (SJC). You can get to your hotel via shuttles, the BART system or taxi.
From San Francisco International Airport, on the western edge of the bay, 22km (14mi) south of the city center, the simplest way to get to the city is by the extended BART system. There are also bus-BART combinations, which are useful if you're heading to the East Bay.
Amtrak is the US national train system, and its Bay Area terminal is at Jack London Square in Oakland. A free shuttle bus connects with San Francisco's Caltrain station and the Ferry Building at the Embarcadero.
Greyhound is the only regular long-distance bus company operating in the region. Their buses arrive and depart at the Transbay Terminal in SoMa.
Within the compact city center, walking is a pleasurable way to get around, but there's a solid transport network backing you up when perambulation seems too pedestrian. San Francisco's principal public transport system is Muni (San Francisco Municipal Railway), which operates nearly 100 bus lines (many of them electric trolley buses), streetcars and the famous cable cars. The Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) system is a convenient, economical subway system linking San Francisco with the East Bay. Ferries are a scenic way to get around.
Attractions
San Francisco is full of attractions for all ages. Below is a list of some suggested things to do in San Francisco. You can also book some of these attractions online and save your vacation time.
The Golden Gate Bridge
A walk across the Golden Gate Bridge on a clear day offers one of the most spectacular views of San Francisco and the bay.
Alcatraz Island
Park rangers conduct tours by recounting the prison's thrilling history along with intriguing anecdotes about Al Capone and other legendary figures that made a "home" here.
Museum Of Modern Art
Stunning new building near the Convention Center offering wonderful exhibits of twentieth-century art, a museum store and the vibrant Caffé Musco. One of San Francisco's foremost attractions.
Chinatown
One of the four largest Chinese communities outside China; Authentic Cantonese cooking, markets selling everything from rugs to rice and the most colourful array of Eastern Asian clothing imaginable.
The Exploratorium
A hands-on science museum at The Palace of Fine Arts. Constantly updated and improved, this multi-interest attraction offers visitors of all ages a journey through the world's most innovative creations.
North Beach
Most of this neighborhood's former beatnik charm is retained while adding fine cuisine to its claim to fame.
Union Square
A shopper's paradise, this bustling square near the theater district has everything from upscale department stores and boutiques to discount houses.
Fisherman's Wharf
Open seafood markets, street performers, souvenir shops, restaurants and sidewalk vendors are among the many attractions on this popular stretch of wharf.
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