Aquatic Park

The Marina, Fisherman’s Wharf & the Piers


Everyone loves this easy-access cove at Van Ness Ave's northern end, flanked by the massive comma-shaped Municipal Pier, where fishermen cast their lines and lovers wander hand in hand. Eccentricity along Fisherman’s Wharf is mostly staged, but here it’s real: extreme swimmers dive from the concrete beachfront into the blood-curdling waters of the wintertime bay, aging hippies mumble conspiracy theories on the grassy knoll of panoramic Victoria Park, and wistful tycoons contemplate sailing far away from their smartphones.

Prospective swimmers take note: the occasional rouge sea lion takes a chunk out of somebody.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby The Marina, Fisherman’s Wharf & the Piers attractions

1. Maritime National Historical Park

0.08 MILES

Five historic ships are floating museums at this maritime national park, Fisherman's Wharf’s most authentic attraction. Moored along Hyde St Pier, the…

2. National Park Visitors Center

0.11 MILES

San Francisco grew from its docks, and this 10,000-sq-ft visitors center for the nearby maritime national historical park details how, with a permanent…

3. Cartoon Art Museum

0.12 MILES

Founded on a grant from Bay Area cartoon legend Charles M Schultz of Peanuts fame, this bold museum isn't afraid of the dark, political or racy – cases in…

4. Ghirardelli Square

0.14 MILES

Willy Wonka would tip his hat to Domingo Ghirardelli (gear-ar-deli), whose business became the West’s largest chocolate factory in 1893. After the company…

5. Maritime Museum

0.16 MILES

A monumental hint to sailors in need of a scrub, this restored, ship-shaped 1939 Streamline Moderne landmark is decked out with Works Progress…

6. SS Jeremiah O'Brien

0.31 MILES

It's hard to believe that this 10,000-ton beauty was turned out by San Francisco’s shipbuilders in under eight weeks, and harder still to imagine how she…

7. Fisherman's Wharf

0.33 MILES

Fisherman's Wharf – the Embarcadero and Jefferson St waterfront running from Pier 29 to Van Ness Ave – includes Pier 39, the Musée Mécanique, the Maritime…

8. USS Pampanito

0.35 MILES

Explore a restored WWII submarine that survived six tours of duty while you listen to submariners' tales of stealth mode and sudden attacks in a riveting…