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San Francisco

Tips & articles

A quick guide to San Francisco's best neighborhoods

Maybe it’s the gold dust, or maybe it's the glitter but there is something magical on San Francisco’s streets...

Maybe it’s the gold dust, or maybe it's the glitter but there is something magical on San Francisco’s streets. One of the most visited cities in the US, the city by the bay has 242 years of history packed into its 49 square miles. From the gold rush to the summer of love and on through the tech boom punctuated with earthquakes and fires in between, it is a city that consistently reinvents itself, but nonetheless remains true to that which makes it one of the world’s most dynamic metropolis’...

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Best museum sleepovers in the US

Within the confines of a museum’s walls, children can explore our planet’s rich history, dive deep to the bottom of the ocean, and discover what other galaxies look like...

Within the confines of a museum’s walls, children can explore our planet’s rich history, dive deep to the bottom of the ocean, and discover what other galaxies look like. These institutions of wonder also often feature some incredible opportunities for youngsters to go beyond the usual exhibitions – museum slumber party, anyone? Some of us have been fantasizing about what it’s like to stay overnight at a museum since reading The Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E...

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Where to celebrate Pride in the US

Rainbow paint and feather boas at the ready – it’s time to prep for Pride season. From queer capital San Francisco to non-stop party town NOLA, 2018’s stateside festivities are set to be bigger and bolder than ever. Celebrate Pride in style in these LGBTIQ-friendly cities, as recommended by our Lonely Planet Locals...

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Superfood cities: where to find healthy urban eats

City tripping can be hungry work – and these days the options are seemingly endless...

City tripping can be hungry work – and these days the options are seemingly endless. But what if you'd rather forgo the freakshake and bubble-waffle fads for something a little more nutritious? Fuel up and feel good with these tasty recommendations from our city experts. Inspired to give a healthy boost to your home cooking? Try your hand at the vitamin-packed recipes in our new book, The World's Best Superfoods...

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San Francisco’s Summer of Love revisited

It’s 50 years since peace, love and psychedelia burst out from the San Francisco underground into the mainstream, heralding 1967’s Summer of Love...

It’s 50 years since peace, love and psychedelia burst out from the San Francisco underground into the mainstream, heralding 1967’s Summer of Love. So pop The Grateful Dead on your headphones, stick on your finest floral shirt and make for these must-see sights in the one-time heartland of the hippies...

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24 free things to do in San Francisco

Contrary to what you might expect from such a well known, tourist-heavy city, San Francisco quietly delivers a lot for the money...

Contrary to what you might expect from such a well known, tourist-heavy city, San Francisco quietly delivers a lot for the money. Many of its hotels offer comfort and location for a third of the cost of a comparable New York or London hotel; public transit is part of the fun (cheaper Market Street vintage street cars are better than the famous cable cars), and for food you can’t beat a $4 burrito in the Mission. And so much of the fun in San Francisco is free. Here's a list of 24 options...

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Cinematic San Francisco: movie locations in the City by the Bay

Although LA is considered the heart of the US movie industry, filmmakers have always liked shooting in its sister San Francisco to the north and many a major movie has the city’s steep, Victorian-studded hills and their panoramic views as a backdrop. The Golden Gate Bridge has had a starring role in many a San Francisco-set movie © Alexander Howard / Lonely Planet Film is tied to the very history of the Golden Gate City...

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San Francisco's top cheap eats

Booms and busts come and go fast in this Gold Rush town, but there's one thing you can always count on: dinner. Whether you're flush or broke, San Francisco offers vast menu options and excellent value for money. Not that it's always cheap – the fad for pricey pizzas and gourmet burgers isn't quite over yet – but in San Francisco you're paying for locally grown ingredients cleverly prepared, not servers that snub you (ahem, New York) or dubious lounge décor (*cough-L.A.-cough*)...

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What to do in San Francisco: tips for every taste

If you’re going to San Francisco, you don’t actually need to wear flowers in your hair – that’s so 1967 (www.youtube.com/watch?v=ENrmULWKbeM) – just come as you are, do your thing, and bliss out. Whether you’re a freak, geek, diva, or dandy, there’s a niche here with your name on it. At the local subculture hotspots we list below, you’ll find your scene and fresh inspiration waiting for you...

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Top 10 highlights of San Francisco

You may think you know San Francisco from social media (Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Pinterest all began here, after all) but for the real thing – the mouth-watering cuisine, ear-tingling performances and truly joyous celebrations of individuality – you have to be here. But where do you start your urban exploration? With Lonely Planet’s list of the city’s top 10 highlights of course...

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I learned how in San Francisco: five cheap or free life skills you never knew you needed

Forget all those sensible New Year’s resolutions – you deserve more to look forward to this year than exercise and budgeting, and San Francisco is just the ticket...

Forget all those sensible New Year’s resolutions – you deserve more to look forward to this year than exercise and budgeting, and San Francisco is just the ticket. While other cities’ citizens trudge along on treadmills, San Francisco’s inhabitants are busy super-modeling and beach-combing for their supper. Calorie counting doesn’t add up when you can have an actual Italian grandma teaching you to make ricotta gnocchi...

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A perfect day in San Francisco

Although a single day might not seem like much elsewhere, it's enough time to make a scene and make a difference in San Francisco...

Although a single day might not seem like much elsewhere, it's enough time to make a scene and make a difference in San Francisco. This boomtown knows how to get things done, from gay rights to social media startups, and in just one perfect day by the San Francisco bay, you can wax poetic in North Beach, start a food revolution at the Ferry Building, go wild in Golden Gate Park, let your freak flag fly in the Haight, and sing out loud in the Castro...

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San Francisco with children

Beaches, cable cars, carousels or penguins? We’ve narrowed down the best kid-friendly options in San Francisco so you can spend less time looking and more time enjoying...

Beaches, cable cars, carousels or penguins? We’ve narrowed down the best kid-friendly options in San Francisco so you can spend less time looking and more time enjoying. Fisherman’s Wharf, Pier 39 & Ghirardelli Square Amid the waffle cones, overpriced seafood and ‘I escaped Alcatraz’ sweatshirts, there are a few stand-out attractions that will make you glad you brought the kids...

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Secret sights of San Francisco: six things only locals know about

San Francisco is known the world over for its beauty, its open-mindedness and – let's be honest – its weirdness...

San Francisco is known the world over for its beauty, its open-mindedness and – let's be honest – its weirdness. So it should be no surprise that the City by the Bay harbors many unlikely attractions in far-flung locations known only to locals … until now. Below are a few choice secrets – some new, some old, all San Francisco originals. The Wave Organ Perched at the tip of a jetty in the San Francisco marina, the Wave Organ is a musical instrument played by San Francisco Bay itself...

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14 things you didn't know about the Golden Gate Bridge

San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge opened on May 27 1937, instantly becoming a much-loved symbol of the city and an iconic piece of architecture around the world...

San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge opened on May 27 1937, instantly becoming a much-loved symbol of the city and an iconic piece of architecture around the world. Next time you see the world's most beautiful bridge - crossed by 10 million pedestrians a year - impress your friends with one of the following 14 things about the Golden Gate that you probably didn't know before today. The Golden Gate Bridge. Image by jphilipg / CC BY 2.0 1...

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Arts in the San Francisco Bay Area

Long considered the West Coast capital of art and culture, San Francisco is known for its performing arts scene...

Long considered the West Coast capital of art and culture, San Francisco is known for its performing arts scene. The city is home to a world-famous orchestra, opera, film festival, theatre and ballet, but the cultural offerings don't end there. You'll find cutting-edge dance, comedy and music at venues throughout San Francisco and the Bay Area. American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco. Image by John Martinez Pavliga / CC BY 2...

San Francisco travel tips & articles

A quick guide to San Francisco's best neighborhoods

Best museum sleepovers in the US

Where to celebrate Pride in the US

Superfood cities: where to find healthy urban eats

San Francisco’s Summer of Love revisited

24 free things to do in San Francisco

Cinematic San Francisco: movie locations in the City by the Bay

San Francisco's top cheap eats

What to do in San Francisco: tips for every taste

Top 10 highlights of San Francisco

I learned how in San Francisco: five cheap or free life skills you never knew you needed

A perfect day in San Francisco

San Francisco with children

Secret sights of San Francisco: six things only locals know about

14 things you didn't know about the Golden Gate Bridge

Arts in the San Francisco Bay Area

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