To quickly explore Bay City — as locals call their town — you have two options:
climb one of the Twin Peaks hills. The northern one is best — from there, you can see all of San Francisco (just keep in mind that it’s windy and chilly up there);
take a walk around the sights with a map of San Francisco. You can get one at one of the tourist kiosks.
There are plenty of interesting places in the city: Golden Gate Park, the Painted Ladies, Pier 39, the Transamerica Pyramid, and many other landmarks old and new. They’re scattered throughout the city, so it’s easy to get lost without a map of San Francisco.
If you're staying in a hotel, take a map of San Francisco with hotels, not just sights. The latter can "take you" very far.
Where is the best place to live in San Francisco?
There are almost as many neighborhoods in the city as there are hills. To decide which San Francisco neighborhood to stay in, use these tips.
Union Square
It's considered a hub of shopping, theater and culture. Life in the neighborhood is bustling around the clock. The plaza is home to major department stores, boutiques with collections of famous designers, galleries, salons, restaurants, hotels, and a number of attractions.
Nob Hill (California Hill)
Of all the neighborhoods in San Francisco, this is the most luxurious. It attracts rich people and tourists. There's a cable car. There's a neo-Gothic cathedral, swanky hotels and Victorian-style homes.
China Town
One of Frisco's most visited neighborhoods is about 150 years old. Its entrance is guarded by the Dragon Gate, which reads in hieroglyphics, "Everything under the roof of heaven is made for good." There are tea clubs, bakeries, traditional medicine pharmacies, St. Mary's Cathedral, Ross-Elly Lane, where the fortune cookie factory is located, and other interesting sites.
Russian Hill
Prestigious neighborhood with the world's curviest street. The hill offers beautiful views of the bay.
Castro
Freedom of manners reigns here. Houses are decorated with rainbows, the official symbol of the gay movement. The Castro is home to Twin Peaks Tavern, the first of the gay bars, Cliff's Variety gay supermarket, one of the oldest movie theaters in the country, and the first USA museum of LGBT history. Locals are fine with visitors of any orientation.
Haight-Ashbury
The neighborhood is popular with creatives and vintage lovers. Stores are full of trendy clothing and other items from the second half of the twentieth century.
Sunset
The city’s largest district stretches all the way to the Pacific Ocean. Here you’ll find Golden Gate Park, the University of California with its recreation area, farmers’ markets, and cozy cafés.
Richmond
This neighborhood is home to the largest Asian community. Richmond is a calm area with plenty of restaurants serving delicious food.
SoMa (South of Market)
This neighborhood in downtown San Francisco is interesting with new buildings, a stadium for the local baseball team, museums of cartoon art, modern art, etc. There are many good hotels, clubs, art venues, restaurants.
Mission
This district is mainly inhabited by hipsters and immigrants from Spain. The Mission can’t be described as either rich or poor — it has a bit of everything. There are many galleries, art studios, and exhibition spaces. Parks abound, the most famous being Dolores Park. In May, the Mission hosts a carnival similar to the one in Brazil. While it’s not considered a particularly dangerous area, visitors should still exercise some caution.
Fisherman’s Wharf
In this old port district, fishermen are long gone — today, it’s mostly tourists who fill the area. They head to Pier 39 to see the sea lions, visit the Wax Museum, the Musée Mécanique, the chocolate factory, the aquarium, or the Maritime National Historical Park, and enjoy seafood in local restaurants. From Fisherman’s Wharf, sightseeing boats depart for Alcatraz Island — the former prison that has now become a museum.
