If you’re looking for an amazing travel destination, look no further than San Francisco! This city is full of culture, history, and excitement. There’s something for everyone in San Francisco.
In this blog post, we will give you the inside scoop on what to see and do when you visit this amazing city. Whether you’re a first-time visitor or a seasoned pro, we’ve got you covered! So read on and get ready to explore everything that San Francisco has to offer.
Transportation options in San Francisco
There are plenty of transportation options in San Francisco. Here are the top options:
- Subway – You can get anywhere in the city, to the airport, and eastward to locations like Oakland and Berkeley by using the subway. Where you are going will determine the fare, which is at least $2.75 USD. To tap in and tap out, you can either use a cash ticket or a Clipper card. Even though the Clipper card costs $3 USD up front, it ultimately costs less because normal tickets have a $0.50 fee.
- Bus – San Francisco has an even more extensive bus network than its subway system. Use a Clipper card or download the MuniMobile ticket app to save money. The cost of a one-way trip is $2.50 USD using a Clipper card or $3 USD with cash (exact change is required).
- Cable Cars – Although this system has its limitations, it is a fascinating way to get from the waterfront to Union Square. All routes and schedules are listed on their website (sfmta.com). A visitor passport entitles you to unlimited rides, while individual rides cost $8 USD.
- Car Rentals – For a multi-day rental, a car starts at $35 USD each day. You won’t need one unless you plan on taking any day trips outside of the city (such to Muir Woods or Napa Valley). Keep in mind that a minimum age of 21 is required for renters.
- Taxi – Taxis are pricey. Starting at $3.50 USD and increasing by $3 USD every mile thereafter, everything is metered-based. Try to stay away from them if you can.
- Lyft/Uber – Lyft and Uber are two popular ride-sharing companies. Both have their own apps that you can use to request a ride. Prices depend on demand, but they are typically cheaper than taking a taxi.
5 Amazing places to go to when you’re in San Francisco
San Francisco is a city that is rich in activities. There are so many things to do, it might be hard to decide where to start! Here are some of our top 5 recommendations:
1. Walk around Lombard Street
This is one of the most popular tourist attractions in San Francisco. Lombard Street is known for its curvy roads and beautiful views.
It has eight hairpin curves and is surrounded by gardens and flowers. When residents in San Francisco started using vehicles to go around in the 1920s, the roads were constructed in this manner.
The notion of employing a curving route to aid automobiles driving downhill was accepted since many of the city’s famed hills were too steep for navigation. The hill’s inclination was reduced from 27% to 16% as a result. Today, you can observe automobiles and motorcyclists negotiating the steep corners while onlookers gawk.
You can walk or drive down the street, but we recommend walking so you can take your time and enjoy the views.
2. Eat good and affordable food in Chinatown
Chinese immigrants originally landed on the west coast, where they established themselves in San Francisco. This neighborhood’s major ethnic group is Chinese as a result of racial segregation. The neighborhood has remained Chinese despite the end of enforced segregation.
You can find good and affordable food here. There are a lot of street vendors selling snacks like egg rolls, dumplings, and noodles. You can also find sit-down restaurants that serve more substantial meals.
If you want a quick snack, we recommend getting an egg roll from one of the street vendors. They are only $0.75 USD each! For a sit-down meal, we recommend going to R & G Lounge. This restaurant is famous for its salt and pepper crab. A whole crab costs around $21 USD.
3. Visit Haight-Ashbury
The Haight, the cradle of American counterculture, served as the epicenter of the Summer of Love in 1967. The neighborhood’s name is a combination of Haight Street and Ashbury Street.
Janis Joplin and the Grateful Dead were among the hippies who once called this place home. Although, since then, yuppies have come in, buying up all the vibrant Victorian homes and replacing the head stores with upscale boutiques, swanky eateries, and trendy cafés. From $20 USD, Flower Power Walking Tours offers thorough and educational tours of the area’s hippy past.
The area became popular with hippies because it was close to the Golden Gate Park, where they held concerts and gathered. The Grateful Dead also rented a house in the Haight, which served as their base when they were in San Francisco.
Nowadays, the Haight is still a popular destination for tourists. You can find vintage clothing stores, head shops, and tattoo parlors. The area also has a lot of restaurants and cafes.
4. Explore Fisherman’s Wharf
One of the most well-known (touristy) attractions in the city is Fisherman’s Wharf, which spans several blocks along the waterfront and includes Pier 39 and Ghirardelli Square.
The area is filled with seafood restaurants, souvenir shops, and street performers. You can also find a colony of sea lions here.
If you want to try some of the local seafood, we recommend going to Scoma’s. This restaurant has been serving fresh seafood since 1965. They have a wide variety of seafood dishes, including crab, shrimp, and fish.
You can also get a great view of the Golden Gate Bridge from here. If you walk to the end of Pier 39, you will find a park where you can sit and enjoy the view.
5. Check out the famous Coit Tower
Coit Tower is a 210-foot (64 meters) structure located on Telegraph Hill in San Francisco. It was built in 1933 and designed to resemble a firehose nozzle.The tower has an observation deck that offers 360-degree views of the city. You can see the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz Island, and the Financial District from here.
Local artists painted the murals there in 1934; it portrays life in San Francisco during the Great Depression. In 1984, the tower was designated as a San Francisco landmark, and in 2008 it was included in the National Register of Historic Places.
We recommend going early in the morning to avoid the crowds. You can also buy a combo ticket that includes admission to the tower and a tour of Alcatraz Island.
Conclusion
San Francisco is an incredible city with so much to offer visitors. We hope this blog post has given you the inside scoop on what to see and do while you’re in town. Thanks for reading and we can’t wait to see you in San Francisco!
Have any insider tips of your own? Share them with us!
Featured Image: Photo by Matt Molen on Unsplash
