San Francisco

Transamerica Pyramid

San Francisco's tallest and most famous skyscraper, controversial when it opened, but now accepted. There used to be an unusual observation deck on the ground floor with 4 big TV monitors, showing live views of the city transmitted from cameras at the top of the building. They now have a happy worker at the bottom that tells you anything and everything you want to know about San Francisco and has some great stories. Then he tells you that they no longer have the 4 big TVs and are building a restaurant where you can view the city from inside.

Mo-Sa 11:00-17:00; Su 12:00-18:00 · Wheelchair accessible

Lombard Street

Do see the "crookedest street in the world", a one-block portion of Lombard Street that contains eight hairpin turns, created to reduce the hill's natural steep slope. The best time to see and photograph the winding street from the bottom (from Leavenworth St) is in the morning because Lombard Street runs east-west and slopes eastward. The best time to see and photograph the view from the top (from Hyde St) is in the afternoon. At night there are great views of Telegraph Hill and Coit Tower. The wild parrots of Telegraph Hill frequently fly over head in the morning.

24/7

Coit Tower

Visible from much of San Francisco and the Bay Area, Coit Tower stands atop Telegraph Hill and gives an excellent view of the bay and the rest of the city. The tower was built by the Federal Works Projects Administration in 1933 with money bequeathed by eccentric San Franciscan Lillie Coit. Coit was said to have chased after firefighters as a young girl, and as an older woman sponsored her favorite fire company. A fan of the volunteer city firefighters, and local legend has it that the shape of the tower is supposed to simulate the end of a fire hose — although the architects denied this claim. The first and second floors house beautiful examples of New Deal-era idealist murals, and the top floor (reached by elevator) has featured paintings or other art. Artists put in their own signatures and messages in the murals, which interpretive plaques point out.

May–Oct: 10AM-6PM daily; Nov–Apr: 10AM-5PM daily · $8 for elevator to top floor ($5 seniors/teens, $2 children 5-11, children under 5 free); the rest is free · Limited wheelchair access · Built 1933

de Young Museum

A modern and ethnic art focused museum, with three levels of exhibits with contemporary and historical pieces from America as well as art of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas in a uniquely-designed building with courtyards and sculpture gardens that includes Three Gems piece by Turrell. One corner of the building houses the free Hamon Observation Tower which offers a lovely 360-degree view of the park and surroundings.

Tue-Thu, Sat-Sun 9:30AM-5:15PM, Fri 9:30AM-8:45PM · $15 adults, $10 seniors, $6 students, free for 17 and under; includes same-day admission to the Legion of Honor. Special exhibits may require extra admission; first Tuesday of each month free

Exploratorium

Along the Embaradero in between the Ferry Building and Fisherman's Wharf, The Exploratorium was the first interactive science museum in the world, and remains perhaps the best. The converted pier is filled with intriguing interactive experiments about nearly every branch of the natural and social sciences. If you're lucky, they'll conduct one of their most famous (and fascinating to most children) demonstrations: the dissection of a cow eyeball. The exploratorium also includes the Tactile Dome, a maze that you explore in pitch darkness, using only your sense of touch.

Tue-Sun 10AM-5PM; open Thu 6-10PM for ages 18+ only, closed Mon · $29.95 adults, $24.95 students/teachers/disabled/seniors/youth 13-17, $19.95 youth 4-12, children 3 and under free · Wi-Fi · Wheelchair accessible

Internet Archive

Go on a guided tour of the Internet Archive's headquarters housed in an old Christian Science church with lots of tech-related exhibits that showcase their work preserving history and culture.

Fridays from 1:00-2:00 pm · Wi-Fi · Wheelchair accessible

Palace of Fine Arts

The only structure remaining from the 1915 World's Fair, it features a classical Roman rotunda (1,100 feet wide, 162 feet high) with curved colonnades (30 Corinthian columns frame a wide walkway in the colonnade) situated in an idyllic park setting with a classical European-Style lagoon. It's a great place to unwind, have a picnic, and watch the swans float elegantly by. It also has a theater offering a variety of shows, musical and cultural events.

6AM-9PM daily · Free · Built 1915

San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA)

A gigantic and innovative art museum with multiple floors of galleries featuring changing exhibitions as well as permanent displays featuring the works of some very famous 20th century artists, including Georgia O'Keeffe, Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dalí, and many others.

Fri-Mon 10AM-5PM, Thu 1PM-8PM · $25 adults, $22 seniors, $19 for ages 19-24, free for age 18 and under · Wheelchair accessible

USS Pampanito Submarine

This is a National Historic Landmark — an authentic World War II submarine with many original artifacts on display. Up to 80 personnel ran this submarine and it could be at sea for up to several weeks at a time.

Opens at 9AM daily. Call for closing time · $20 adults, $12 seniors/students, $10 children, $9 active military (free for those in uniform), free for children 5 and under

Mission Dolores

Mission San Francisco de Asis

The oldest building in San Francisco, commissioned in 1776 by Father Serra and members of the De Anza Expedition as the 6th of the 21 missions in California. The original mission is a small building adjacent to the parish church, a large building with intricately decorated towers that was, also, the first Catholic church west of the Mississippi River to be deemed a basilica. The attached cemetery is one of the few in San Francisco that were not relocated to Colma during the first half of the 20th century.

Built 1791

San Francisco Botanical Garden

formerly the Strybing Arboretum

One of the largest botanical gardens on the west coast, the Botanical Gardens cover 55 acres with thousands of varieties of plants from around the world and multiple specialized gardens and miles of trails (seriously, the place is huge). One of the most unique attractions is the Redwood Trail, which runs through a naturalistic redwood forest reminiscent of the ones north of San Francisco along the Californian coast. There is also a bookstore and library on the premises, near the main entrance. Free guided tours of the gardens depart from the bookstore daily at 1:30PM with an extra tour on the weekends at 10:30AM. On Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays another free tour departs from the Friend Gate at 2PM.

Mon-Fri 8AM-4:30PM, Sat Sun and Holidays 10AM-5PM · $15 · Entry 12.00 USD

Walt Disney Family Museum

Opened in 2009, this museum focuses on the life of Walt Disney and his accomplishments. The museum is not run by The Walt Disney Company, meaning that while it views Walt Disney in a favorable light, it doesn't come off as corporate propaganda. The collections have some fascinating Disneyana, including the Oscar awarded to Disney for Snow White, a multiplane camera used prominently in Disney animated films, and a number of posters promoting early Disneyland rides. This is an absolute must-see for Disney enthusiasts, but even casual Disney fans will be impressed by the material here, which does a very good job of showing how a man with a gift for cartooning built what would become a modern media empire.

Wed-Mon 10AM-6PM; closed Jan 1, Thanksgiving, Dec 25 · $25 for adults, $20 for students and seniors, $15 for ages 6-17, free for under 6 · Wheelchair accessible

Japanese Tea Garden

The oldest public Japanese garden in the country, with beautiful plants, ponds, bridges, and Japanese-style structures including a tea house. Tours are available every Wednesday and Sunday at 1PM starting at the main gate.

March–October daily 9AM-5:45PM, November–February daily 9AM-4:45PM · $12 adults ($10 Oct–Feb), $7 seniors/teens, $3 children 5-11, free for children 4 and under; free admission M, W, F before 10AM

The Bill Graham Civic Auditorium

This four-story tall, "Beaux-Arts" style building occupies an entire city block in the heart of the Civic Center and has 7,000 seats inside. Large and small bands, exhibits, concerts, and galas are all hosted at the Civic Auditorium. Check Ticketmaster to see what's playing.

The auditorium is not open to visitors or for tours, but only during event times which vary · Price varies depending on act · Wheelchair accessible

Musee Mecanique

Probably the largest and most extensive antique arcade in the world. Several hundred coin-operated musical instruments, antique arcade games, fortune telling machines, and mechanical dioramas. that date from the turn of the century to the early 1990s. The proprietor is typically moving around the space on rollerskates, doing maintenance on the machines.

Mon-Fri 10AM-7PM, Sat Sun and holidays 10AM-8PM · Free to browse, but the machines take change · Free entry · Wheelchair accessible

Telegraph Hill

Telegraph Hill earned its name in the days of the Gold Rush when it was used as a signaling post to relay messages about incoming ships to the bay. Coit Tower was erected at its peak in 1933 and rewards a weary traveler with some wonderful views over the city. Over time a quiet residential neighborhood built up along the hillside, and their magnificent flowing gardens have always been something to admire on your way up or down. Other neighbors include a colony of colorful feral parrots, predominantly red-masked parakeets, which grew up as descendants of escaped domesticated pets. One can drive to the top, but it's better to take one of the narrow steps leading up and down the sides of the hill (including the Greenwich and Filbert Steps), as they offer better views over the Bay.

91 m high

Asian Art Museum

Built in 1917 as the city's public library building, this building is a fantastic blend of "Beaux Arts" and modern design elements. It was designed by renowned architect Gae Aulenti (architect of the Musée d'Orsay, Paris). Inside, you'll find many interesting architectural details including the grand staircase, loggia, vaulted ceilings, the great hall, stone floors, period light fixtures, an oddly interminable escalator, and inscriptions. The museum is one of the largest and newest museums of Oriental art. It has circa 15,000 artifacts covering 6,000 years of Asian history. The Asian Art Museum hosts many special exhibits as well. The cafe on premises also has some decent food, though pricier and somewhat more tame than better places a short walk away.

Tue-Sun 10AM-5PM (with extended evening hours every Thu until 9PM); closed New Year's Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day · Free first Sunday of every month, $15 adults, $10 seniors/students/youth ages 13-17, free for children 12 and under/military/SFUSD students. Th evenings at a reduced rate ($10) after 5PM. Special exhibitions cost extra · Wheelchair accessible

James Lick (Pioneer) Monument

The monument is a tribute to California and its early pioneers like Sir Francis Drake. Atop sits a bear and a man carrying both spear and shied — all three objects are imagery that represent California.

Built 1894

Conservatory of Flowers

This antique palatial greenhouse, one of the first structures of its kind in the county, is filled with a huge variety of beautiful and exotic plant species. Pay special attention if the Titan Arum is blooming, as it only does every few years. Adult tickets go down to $11 for weekdays in December and January, and up to $15 for all weekends. Free on first Tuesday of every month.

Tue–Sun 10AM–4:30PM · $13 adults, $7 teens/seniors/students, $3 children, free for children 4 and under, free on the first Tuesday of each month · Heritage listed

Ferry Building

A historic ferry terminal which survived the 1906 earthquake and fire and had 100,000 people pass through it every day before the bridges were built. It was renovated several years ago and now it's a great example of Bay Area "foodie" culture. Inside you'll find little shops selling artisanal bread (Acme), cheese (Cowgirl), chocolate (e.g., Recchiuti, Ghiradelli, Scharffen Berger, etc.), slow-drip coffee (Blue Bottle), and so on. There's even a stand selling vegan donuts! There are also a few excellent little restaurants and specialty markets as well as a large farmers market out front (Tuesdays and Saturdays year-round and on Thursday evenings in the summer). Together with its surroundings, the Ferry Building is beautiful to see, especially at night (although the shops will be closed at night). It's a popular place to visit for downtown office workers and tourists alike.

Mo-Fr 07:00-22:00; Sa 07:00-22:00; Su 07:00-22:00 · Wheelchair accessible

Mission Dolores Park

One of the city's most popular parks, this is one of the main neighborhood hangouts, with people regularly partying or partaking in some recreational marijuana on its grassy slopes, as well as a sunny retreat for many San Franciscans when the rest of the city gets foggy. There are plenty of recreational facilities as well as a fantastic playground built into the hillside, and the top of the park (at the corner of 20th and Dolores) offers an excellent view of the San Francisco skyline. Playground is wheelchair accessible.

10AM–6PM; restrooms 8AM–8PM · Free

City Lights Bookstore

Co-founded by Beat poet Lawrence Ferlenghetti, City Lights was one of the centers of the Beat community in the 1950s. It's iconic and has become synonymous with the literati Beat movement. Oh, don't forget to check out the books: they have a huge collection of Beat prose and poetry. Why not buy a copy of On the Road while you're there — you won't find a better place to get it!

10AM-midnight daily · Limited wheelchair access

Buena Vista Park

Steep paths to the top of its 575' elevation lead to some nice views through the trees, but are easily circumnavigated by non-enthusiasts.

Aquarium of the Bay

A nice place and the right size for kids, with an underwater tunnel, where the fish swim above you as you gaze at them, and ponds where you can touch various live marine animals. It's a perfectly decent aquarium, but many locals would recommend you save your money for the fantastic California Academy of Sciences in Golden Gate Park.

Open daily except Dec 25. Summer hours: 9AM-8PM daily. Most other times Mon-Thu 10AM-6PM, Fri-Sun 10AM-7PM · $24.95 adults; $14.95 seniors (age 65+) and children (ages 4-12); $70 family (2 adults, 2 children). children 3 and under free

Cable Car Museum

Here you can see the mechanisms that drive San Francisco's famed cable cars, as well as plenty of cable car memorabilia and information on the history of the cable cars.

Apr–Oct: 10AM-6PM daily; Nov–Mar: 10AM-5PM daily · Admission is free

Wave Organ

Designed by George Gonzales and Peter Richards in 1986, the Wave Organ is a system of PVC pipes that harness the power of the ocean to create music... or at least what can be interpreted as music! There is a unique space at the end of a spit of land where you can sit and enjoy the sounds, and even if it's not your kind of music, there are some excellent views and it's also a great place to relax and have a picnic.

It's best at high-tide — 5:30AM · Free

Tadich Grill

The longest operating restaurant in California, dating back to when three Croatian immigrants opened a grill the Gold Rush. You'll find delicious seafood and a classic atmosphere where groups can sit in their own wood-paneled quarters. Price range is high with most entrees over $20.

Mon-Fri 11AM-9:30PM, Sat 11:30AM-9:30PM · $20-30. · Wheelchair accessible

Yerba Buena Gardens

The Yerba Buena Gardens, above the Moscone Convention Center, provide a nice urban oasis. A large grassy meadow, a memorial to Martin Luther King, Jr., play places for kids, fountains and gardens make this a great place to come, play and relax.

6AM-10PM daily · Free

Grace Cathedral

The main Episcopalian church of the city, based on the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. They request a donation and the tour is an hour long. You learn a lot but at times it is way too detailed.

Mon-Fri 7AM-6PM, Sat 8AM-6PM, Sun 7AM-7PM, cathedral holidays 8AM-4PM

South Park

This is an ok quiet park in the middle of the hustle and bustle of industrial SoMa, with a few small restaurants around it that cater to the Patagonia-wearing tech crowd. Not very nice at night since homeless use the park to sleep.

Built 1852