Woman in front of Golden Gate Bridge at sunrise in San Francisco

Simone Anne / Stocksy United

San Francisco California

If there's a technology still unimagined, a poem left unspoken or a green scheme untested, chances are it's about to happen here. Goodbye, inhibitions; hello, San Francisco.

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Best Things to Do

Things to Know

Top Sights

Unmissable sights for your itinerary

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Discover more sights

Planning Toolkit

Expert guidance to help you plan your trip

Best Neighborhoods
San Francisco has been divided into some 100 neighborhoods, each with a different offering. Here are the city's most notable neighborhoods to explore.
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Day Trips
Taking a day trip from San Francisco opens up a world of classic California experiences. Here are our favorite day trips around the Bay Area.
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Money and Costs
While it’s possible to spend unlimited sums on a visit to San Francisco, there are ways to make your trip more affordable. Here's how to visit on a budget.
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Transportation
With notoriously bad traffic, near-impossible parking and streets as steep as ski jumps, ditch the car in San Francisco. Here's how to get around instead.
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Free Things to Do
Contrary to what you might expect, so much of the fun in San Francisco is free. From museums to public art and architecture, here are the best free attractions.
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Articles

Latest stories from San Francisco

In San Francisco's Mission District, these two millennial generation best friends (lovers, business partners, sisters?) are sharing a moment of laughter while looking at a smartphone. They're leaning close to each other and are confident about where they're going whether to work, to play, to lunch, or to a high-stakes pitch meeting. Their smiles show that they just learned something amazing and they are fully engaged with the moment and each other.
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Two Latina women walking through the Mission District in San Francisco laughing together as check a smartphone

Destination Practicalities

12 things to know before visiting San Francisco

May 26, 2023 • 8 Min read

San Francisco is an incredible city to visit but you could make your experience even better with these 12 top tips from a local.

Activities
16 of the best things to do in San Francisco
May 23, 2023 • 9 Min read
From riding cable cars to exploring the city's food scene, these are the essential things to do on a visit to San Francisco.
Beaches
8 amazing places to travel with friends
Mar 28, 2023 • 7 Min read
From wine tastings to wilderness adventures and wild nights out, these are the best places in the world to travel with friends.
Air Travel
How to get around San Francisco
Jan 30, 2023 • 9 Min read
With notoriously bad traffic, near-impossible parking and streets as steep as ski jumps, ditch the car in San Francisco. Here's how to get around instead.
Art and Culture
A reason to travel to San Francisco this month: the new Institute of Contemporary Art
Oct 5, 2022 • 4 Min read
The Institute of Contemporary Art San Francisco is part of a wave of new art in the Dogpatch neighborhood - and it's the perfect reason to plan a trip.
National Parks
See San Francisco's epic views from a new national park site opening in July
Mar 31, 2022 • 3 Min read
The Presidio Tunnel Tops, part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, is a brand-new outdoor space created by the designers of New York’s High Line.
Art and Culture
San Francisco’s back streets and alleyways hide marvelous surprises
Mar 1, 2022 • 5 Min read
As you trek from attraction to attraction through San Francisco, detour off the beaten path to some of these hidden gems.
Budget Travel
San Francisco on a budget: the Golden City at rhinestone rates
Feb 5, 2022 • 8 Min read
While it’s possible to spend unlimited sums on a visit to San Francisco, there are ways to make your trip more affordable. Here's how to visit on a budget.
Hiking
The 5 best walks in San Francisco: how to explore the city on foot
Jan 30, 2022 • 9 Min read
Explore the quirks of San Francisco on these five walks through the historic heart of the city and some of its more diverse neighborhoods.
Museums
10 fantastic museums in San Francisco for culture and history lovers
Jan 19, 2022 • 7 Min read
San Francisco’s magnificent museums honor its close links to Asia and its quirky love of science and progress. Here's our pick of the city's best museums.