Welcome to San Francisco! Visiting San Francisco can be the adventure of a lifetime. With its depth of history and mesmerizing blend of cultures, the city has countless extraordinary tales to tell. From the Gold Rush to the 1906 earthquake, from the cultural revolution of the 1960s to Silicon Valley’s tech boom, San Francisco has a storied past and is writing the future.
As local travel experts and storytellers at TourCentric, we are passionate about helping visitors truly experience our city. We create San Francisco tours that don’t feel like tours — we offer immersive experiences to fill your senses and draw you into the very heart of San Francisco.
If you’re ready to visit San Francisco, then we’re ready to share our local expertise to make your trip the best experience it can be. Want some additional insider tips? Download our free TourCentric app for restaurant recommendations and more!
Immersive content, compelling stories, history, music, and entertainment, all while you take a journey about the city!
San Francisco is known for its more temperate climate year-round, so you’re lucky to be able to visit at any time of the year. However, there are better times to visit The City by the Bay, depending on what you intend to do. Check out our blog for more details: When is the best time to visit San Francisco, CA?
Visiting in the Fall gives you a better chance of slightly warmer temperatures, as those months are actually the warmest all year! September and October are also when schools are back in session, so you’ll see smaller crowds in most places. That makes for an ideal combination!
If you’re hoping to visit San Francisco during a specific event, then check out all of the events happening in the city to time your visit accordingly. We recommend being here for Valentine’s Day to take part in the annual pillow fight or come during the summer for any of our plethora of street festivals and celebrations!
The wettest months are during the winter, so those aren’t the best for tourists. However, if you’re looking for the cheapest prices and smallest crowds, winter may just be the best time to visit!
The weather in SF defies most stereotypes of California many visitors have. San Francisco is known for its fog, which we’ve lovingly named Karl. Yes, we named our fog.
The trick to enjoying your visit to San Francisco is to wear layers. Expect some rain at some point, expect some sun and warmth. We never experience dramatically cold nor extremely hot temperatures, rarely rising above 70°F (21°C) or falling below 40°F (5°C).
We’ll say it again: the trick for maximizing your comfort is wearing layers!
Despite its compact size, San Francisco has plenty of unique neighborhoods to explore! Whether you’re looking for history, food, shopping, theater, or green spaces, there’s a neighborhood for you.
If you’re planning to do a few San Francisco day tours during your visit, then you’ll likely explore these neighborhoods in-depth via walking tours and food tours and the like. There are tours for all types of interests here, so be sure to check out the variety of historical, cultural, and quirky tours to dive even deeper into SF!
Find out more about the most popular neighborhoods in this section, and then check out our recommendations for things to do while visiting San Francisco.
The Castro: The historically LGBTQ+ neighborhood where cultural revolutions have started.
Chinatown: North America’s first and largest Chinatown, visit for more than the spectacular array of food. The Chinese Culture Center is free and the Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory shows you how these popular treats are made. Did you know SF is where the fortune cookie originated? The Japanese Hagiwara family invented “Chinese” fortune cookies at the Golden Gate Park’s Tea Garden.
Civic Center: You’ll find the beautiful City Hall and various performance venues in this central part of the city.
Embarcadero: This stretch of shoreline from Oracle Park to the aquarium includes a variety of hot spots, including the Exploratorium, Ferry Building, and piers from which boats to Alcatraz depart.
Financial District: The city’s business center is filled with skyscrapers and long-standing institutions. Check out the Transamerica Building, Jackson Square, and the city’s oldest restaurant: Tadich Grill.
Fisherman’s Wharf: One of the most popular destinations for those visiting San Francisco, Fisherman’s Wharf is where lots of boat tours and excursions depart. It’s also your go-to spot for seafood!
The Haight-Ashbury: A district known for its hippie culture and fantastic vintage shops, you’ll want to stroll and window shop here to soak in all the eccentricity.
Hayes Valley: A popular neighborhood featuring a variety of boutique shops and the lovely Patricia’s Green park, which hosts a rotating sculpture or art installation.
Marina District: A beautiful part of San Francisco, head to Marina Green for lovely views and enjoy the Palace of Fine Arts.
The Mission: San Francisco’s oldest neighborhood; known for its murals and also its new restaurants and swanky art galleries. This is where you’ll find Dolores Park; grab some of the city’s best Mexican food and go enjoy a picnic.
Nob Hill: For views of the city and a peak into the luxurious life of some of SF’s wealthiest residents, head to Nob Hill.
Noe Valley: This charming neighborhood offers a central location just next to the Castro District.
North Beach: Also known as Little Italy, this neighborhood is where you’ll find Coit Tower, delicious bakeries, and yummy pizza.
The Richmond: This is where you’ll find Lands End, as well as some fabulous, authentic Chinese cuisine.
SoMa: South of Market, or SoMa, is where you’ll find lots of museums. You’ll also find plenty of big-name hotels in this part of the city.
Union Square: A popular shopping district boasting nearly every major name brand in fashion, with a plethora of theaters in the area, too.
San Francisco is a 7×7-mile city, so you’re never too far from wherever you want to go here. That said, the best area to stay in San Francisco will largely depend on the type of trip you’re taking.
If you’re hoping to eat all the things, SoMa or the Mission District would probably be best for you. Fisherman’s Wharf is an obvious choice for seafood-lovers, but it’s also quite busy with tourists so may not be your best bet for a quiet stay.
If you’re bringing the kids, we recommend Noe Valley for its central location and convenience.
If you want some iconic views and great walking or jogging options, check out accommodation options in the Embarcadero, Pacific Heights, or the Presidio.
If you’ll have a car during your SF visit, consider the Marina. But if you’re just coming for the weekend and want to catch a show or performance, stay near the main venues in Civic Center or Hayes Valley.
For those seeking classic San Francisco, neighborhoods like Nob Hill, Union Square, and the Castro are always iconic and desirable.
The city is compact and easily accessible by a variety of public transportation or rideshare options. Uber and Lyft are both prominent here, so you can get to wherever you’re going hassle-free.
You might also be considering some San Francisco self guided tours to explore the city on foot or in your own vehicle. While you certainly don’t need a car to get around within SF, the 49-mile drive is a wonderfully scenic way to see the city. You can also use that car for day trips from SF, heading to Wine Country or the stunning Muir Woods National Monument to explore farther afield.
Ready to explore by car? Check out our San Francisco Self-Drive Tour!
Within the city, however, San Francisco’s historic streetcars and iconic cable cars offer visitors the perfect opportunity to see the whole city while enjoying these storied modes of transportation. In fact, the cable cars are the only National Historical Monument that can move!
What’s the difference between cable cars and streetcars? Cable cars have cable wires underneath, while streetcars have overhead wires that allow them to run on electric motors.
You can save on your transportation by purchasing a “passport” from the SF Muni. That will give you unlimited rides on the Muni bus, streetcar, metro, and cable cars. You can choose from a one-, three-, or seven-day pass, depending on what you plan to do during your visit.
Explore the iconic F-Line route on our San Francisco Trolley Tour.
Whether you’re thinking of enjoying the cable cars, the streetcars, or a self-driving tour of San Francisco, you’ll love the immersive experience of the TourCentric app. Download it for free today.
Immersive content, compelling stories, history, music, and entertainment, all while you take a journey about the city!
There is extraordinary sightseeing in San Francisco, with such a variety that it’s actually impossible to feel bored here. Whether you’re visiting for the very first time or you’re a regular to our city by the bay, San Francisco always has something new to enjoy and, often, something cutting-edge or revolutionary to explore.
To get your bucket list started, here are some of the top tourist attractions in San Francisco…
Baker Beach: Often called one of the best beaches in California, Baker Beach also offers awesome views of the Golden Gate Bridge.
Dolores Park: A beautiful 16-acre park that’s perfect for picnics and people-watching.
Fisherman’s Wharf: Known as the go-to spot for fresh seafood coming in daily!
Golden Gate Bridge: The iconic red bridge the entire world associates with SF. You’ll want photos of it, but it’s also great to actually cross it and explore the Marin Headlands, too.
Golden Gate Park: It’s a must-see while visiting San Francisco; be sure to check out the Japanese Tea Garden as well as the Dutch Windmill!
Lombard Street: Famous for its zig-zag pattern down a very steep section of road, Lombard Street regularly attracts a crowd these days.
Pier 39: Famous for its resident sea lions frequently sunbathing on the docks; it doesn’t matter how many tourists are here, it’s still a local favorite.
Presidio: This former military base is now a national landmark; kids especially love the Walt Disney Family Museum in the Presidio!
Sutro Baths at Lands End: A rock labyrinth and Victorian baths along the waterfront offer an interesting outdoor adventure, plus this is a great spot for sunset!
Twin Peaks: For one of the best views of the San Francisco skyline, Twin Peaks is your spot!
Alcatraz: The infamous prison on an island in San Francisco Bay is a must-see while visiting San Francisco. You’ll spot it from the city center, but you should definitely go take a tour.
City Hall: Built after the 1906 earthquake and fires, the City Hall you see today has borne witness to an incredible number of social and political changes. It’s an architectural wonder filled with fascinating history and stories to tell.
Coit Tower: Sitting atop Telegraph Hill, Coit Tower boasts expansive views and interesting murals inside the tower as well.
Ferry Building: The beautiful building and clock tower act as a beacon by the shore, while its marketplace offers an incredible variety of food stalls to enjoy.
The Painted Ladies: Fans of Full House instantly recognize this now Insta-famous colorful row of houses on Alamo Square. For an alternative, check out the Four Season Houses in the Haight!
Palace of Fine Arts: This beautiful structure is right by the Presidio and worthy of a photo op at the very least!
Point Bonita Lighthouse: An iconic landmark and still in use by the US Coast Guard today, you’ll want to take photos of the lighthouse as much as you’ll want to capture the view over the city.
Transamerica Pyramid: Easily recognizable as one of SF’s tallest buildings, you’ll actually get a great view of this one from the end of Pier 7.
Women’s Building: You’ll know it when you see it…head to the Mission District and look for the stunning mural featuring the likes of Lolita Lebron, Rigoberta Menchu, and Georgia O’Keefe, among other notable women.
Immersive content, compelling stories, history, music, and entertainment, all while you take a journey about the city!
We are big foodies over here at TourCentric HQ, so we love to shout out our favorite places to eat in San Francisco. Whether you’re eager to sample cioppinos at Fisherman’s Wharf or stellar tacos in the Mission, we have you covered.
Check out House of Nanking for delectable potstickers and Yank Sing for delicious dim sum.
Head to La Taqueria or La Cumbre in the Mission for burritos and also check out Lolinda and Central Kitchen while you’re in the area. Honestly, you can’t go wrong with any places in the Mission!
While you’re at Fisherman’s Wharf, grab some chowder from Fog Harbor Fish House or some crab from The Franciscan Crab Restaurant. Then, head to the Financial District and seek out Tadich Grill for all varieties of seafood — it’s an institution!
For a sweet treat, head to Stella Bakery in North Beach (Little Italy) or Golden Gate Bakery in Chinatown. Tartine is your spot for a croissant for breakfast-on-the-go.
Check out some fantastic local breweries:
Or grab a cocktail at Martuni’s in the Castro or venture to Smuggler’s Cove in Hayes Valley for its world-famous rum cocktails.
Want some more recommendations? Download the free TourCentric app and we’ll give you a whole list of our favorite places to eat and drink!