San Francisco is a seven-square-mile city covered in fog. Nestled by the ocean with its stunning hills and the famous Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco is a must-see, unique American city and often referred to as the jewel of Northern California. There are many places to visit in San Francisco, from museums to beaches, from parks to cafes. So whether you’re a lover of the outdoors or want to explore local art on your vacation, San Francisco has all kinds of adventures for you.
Where Should You Visit In San Francisco?
When it comes to places to visit in San Francisco, a giant orange bridge, a park of more than 1000 acres or a city where contemporary art and culture collide comes to mind. Although these places never lose their fashion, there are many places to visit in San Francisco.
San Francisco is the cultural, commercial, and financial heart of Northern California. The city is the 13th most populous city in the United States but has the second highest population density in the county. Also, San Francisco gained fame as the home of the California Gold Rush in 1849, which made it the largest city on the West Coast at the time. While there are many things to do in this magnificent city, let’s take a look at the most popular places to visit in San Francisco.
Visit the California Academy of Sciences
Home to an aquarium, planetarium, natural history museum, and world-class research and education programs, the California Academy of Sciences is a must-see in San Francisco. With a vibrant four-story rainforest and awe-inspiring coral reef ecosystem, it attracts visitors of all ages. Immersive planetarium shows, on the other hand, take the audience to travel through space and time from a new perspective. From penguin feeding to coral reef diving, the many activities you can participate in offer you different experience opportunities.
Golden Gate Bridge
The Golden Gate Bridge -once called the ‘unbuildable bridge’- is today one of the seven wonders of the modern world. Perhaps San Francisco’s most famous landmark, this magnificent bridge was opened in 1937 after a four-year struggle against brutal winds, fog, rocks, and dangerous tides. Stretching 2.7 miles from San Francisco to the Marin headlands, the bridge’s sidewalks are open to pedestrians, including wheelchair users and cyclists, during the day.
The most photographed bridge in the world, the Golden Gate is known for its tall orange towers that stand 746 feet high. Bicycles and cars are allowed on this bridge 24 hours a day, with views from many points including Crissy Field, Fort Point, and Baker Beach. Also, walkers can cross the bridge between 05:00 and 18:30 using the east sidewalk.
Alcatraz
Located 2.5 miles off the coast of San Francisco, Alcatraz Island was developed as a fortification and a military and federal prison. Alcatraz, which is frequently preferred among places to visit in San Francisco, stands out with its justice and humanity stories. This island was once used as a military prison, fort, and a maximum security federal prison.
The prison located on this island is one of the most famous prisons in America and operated for 30 years until 1963. The purpose of the federal prison was to keep inmates who were causing trouble in other prisons locked up in this prison. This island, where many prisoners are held, including Al Capone and Robert Franklin Stroud, has opened up as a tourist attraction thanks to the well-known inmates held in the prison.
Since its opening, it has become a tourist attraction and many people flock here every year to explore the depths of the prison. To get to the island, you can take the ferry and tour while listening to an extraordinary audio recording that offers a glimpse into prison life.
The Castro District
The Castro District is one of San Francisco’s historic and most interesting neighborhoods. It is also among the most fun and exciting places to visit in the city. Although there are many neighborhoods in San Francisco, Castro is one of the most famous.
You can find this neighborhood in the Eureka Valley of Twin Peaks, nestled between the trendy Haight-Ashbury neighborhood and the multicultural Mission District. Moreover, it is almost impossible to confuse Castro with other parts of San Francisco. Rainbow banners hanging from street lamps help to immediately recognize this area.
Twin Peaks
Twin Peaks, which is among the places to visit in San Francisco, is the second largest peak after Mount Davidson. Offering stunning views of the Bay Area, these hills are a world-renowned tourist attraction. Originally called ‘Los Pechos de la Choca’ by the Spanish settlers, these two adjacent hills offer postcard views and a treasure trove of animal and plant diversity. Most visitors to Twin Peaks walk or bike to the highest parking lot in the north to enjoy 180-degree views of the Bay Area.
These unique and desolate hills have one of the best views of the city and bay. If you want to hike along the trails on the north and south peaks with breathtaking views, you can go to the north hill park area. There is an abundance of animals and plants in this area, and the higher you get to the top, the more likely you will see these creatures. Alongside the peaks is a 64-acre park that gives you an idea of what San Francisco looked like before it was today.
The best way to access it is to take a 0.7-mile hike up the road to the two peaks, where you’ll find 360-degree views that transcend the north peak. Additional trails follow the park’s south and east slopes. To extend your walk, you can continue from Twin Peaks Boulevard to Portola Drive to Glen Canyon Park, 1.2 miles from Creek to Peaks Trail.
M. H. de Young Memorial Museum
Located in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park, the de Young Memorial Museum showcases 17th- to 21st-century American art, modern and contemporary art, photography, international textiles and costumes, and artwork from Africa, Oceania, and the Americas. The ninth-floor Observation Level of the M. H. de Young Hamon Tower offers breathtaking 360-degree views of San Francisco and the Pacific Ocean.
You can also travel to different lands without the need to board a plane by visiting the De Young Museum. Along with arts and culture, the café, sculpture garden, and a Japanese tea garden are just some of the features to look forward to at this exciting Golden Gate Park attraction.
If you’re planning a trip to San Francisco, be sure to check out Pointship to fly remote routes for up to 60% cheaper.
Pointship is a new generation reward-sharing platform.
You can save on your long-distance flights by using other members’ miles.
Download Pointship from the App Store, Play Store and App Gallery and start flying advantageously!
