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

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

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

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

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

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

United Nations Plaza

The UN Charter was signed in the Civic Center in 1945, and this plaza was constructed in honor of its ideology and is ironically over the site of the original San Francisco City Cemetery. Designed by architect Lawrence Halprin, and completed in 1975, this is a three acre red-bricked pedestrian plaza. Brick columns inscribed with UN members country names line the plaza, and the UN Fountain sits at its center. Intended to be a visual gateway to the Civic Center, it is often habituated by the city's homeless, but has a compact and diverse Farmers' Market on Wednesdays and Sundays.

Wheelchair accessible

San Francisco Railway Museum

A small but charming museum with exhibits on the history of rail transportation in San Francisco, with a particular emphasis on the streetcar systems. It's a good companion piece to a streetcar ride, with a stop on the F-line just outside the front door.

Tue-Sun 10AM-6PM · Free · Free entry · Wheelchair accessible

Ghirardelli Square

It was declared a city landmark in 1965, and today it's still possible to view the remnants of the old chocolate-making machinery there (though chocolate production stopped years ago). Be sure to pop into the chocolate shop; they often hand out free samples at the front door, though the sample may not make up for the long wait in line. The square has a few boutiques, restaurants, specialty stores, and galleries catering mostly to tourists. Be sure to visit the San Francisco Brewing Company for some great west coast IPAs and other freshly brewed beers, but be prepared to pay tourist prices for them. It also has great views over the Bay.

11:00-21:00 · Free

San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park

The park consists of a visitor center, Hyde St Pier and the fleet of historic ships moored there, the Maritime Museum, Aquatic Park, and the Municipal Pier.

Heritage listed

Vesuvio's

This quirky and historic bar was founded in 1948, and is famous for its association with jazz, poetry, and the Beat Generation. Neal Cassidy first made a pit stop here in the mid-1950s, and ever since it became a favorite hangout for literati celebrities, including Jack Kerouac. While you're there, why not order "The Jack Kerouac" — a healthy dose of tequila, rum, and cranberry juice. The bar is located next-door to the iconic City Lights Book store and what is now known as "Jack Kerouac Alley".

6AM-2AM daily

Marina Green

Marina Green is a long, flat strip of grass at the front of the Marina that runs along the Bay, equidistant between the Presidio and Fort Mason. The "Green" teems with joggers, cyclists, dog walkers, kite flyers, volleyball players, frisbee throwers, and rollerbladers — all getting their health kick exercising in an iconic location. The activities continue all the way through Crissy Fields ("The City's Front Yard") to the foot of the Golden Gate Bridge where you will find surfers patiently waiting for that next "big one."

GLBT History Museum

A GLBT history museum, with exhibits that take you from the bedrooms and back rooms to the bookstores and bars, from Harvey Milk's victories to transgender sex workers' riots, from social movements to secret fantasies.

Mon, Wed-Sat 11AM-7PM, Sun noon-5PM (except holidays), Tue closed · $5

Mountain Lake Park

A small hiking trail winds around this scenic lake, noted for its historic importance in that it supplied water to the nearby colonial Spanish settlement of the Presidio. There is also a playground and a tennis court at the southern side of the lake.

Civic Center Plaza

This grassy plaza is at the heart of the Civic Center and its tree-lined central avenue visually draws the eye to the imposing structure of City Hall. Protests and demonstrations of all political persuasions are frequently staged here. There is a parking lot underneath the plaza, which used to actually be a subterranean convention center that held some of the earliest Apple events back in the 1980s.

Greens Restaurant

Located in Fort Mason, Greens organic vegetarian restaurant is a firm favorite among veggies and the health conscious. They have fresh, tasty international food that appeases all appetites (except for carnivorous ones of course!). Over the years it has become a bit of a local institution as its views over the water are hard to beat.

Mon 5:30PM-9PM, Tue-Sat noon-2:30PM, 5:30PM-9PM, Sun 10:30AM-2PM, 5:30PM-9PM · $16-23 · Fully vegetarian · Outdoor seating

The Octagon House

Dating from 1861, this eight-sided house with its cupola top, dormer windows, and roof lanterns was built in the belief that such octagonally shaped houses promote healthier living. Today, the building is an American Colonial museum. It has many artifacts on display including antique furniture and historical documents. It is run by the National Society of the Colonial Dames.

Open to the public on the second Sun of every month, and the second and fourth Thu of every month, from noon-3PM · Free

Columbus Tower/Sentinel Building

This flatiron (wedge shaped) copper-green building is an unmistakable San Francisco beauty. The "Grateful Dead" once recorded some of their songs there. Today it is owned by movie-director, Francis Ford Copolla. It now has a cafe on its ground floor, where you can grab a coffee whilst admiring its impressive setting, at the foot of North Beach.

Mechanics Institute Library & Chess Room

The Mechanics Institute is the oldest library in San Francisco, dating back to 1854 during the initial wild growth of San Francisco. The collection has around 160,000 items—many of them in the stacks in the building's basement and only accessible through the page desk—concerning a wide variety of topics, with special attention to local history and chess. The institute also hosts the oldest continuously operating chess club in the United States, with classes, tournaments, and scheduled non-competition play. The institute also hosts author talks, film screenings, book groups, and writer's workshops.

Mo,We,Fr 10:00-18:00; Tu,Th 10:00-20:00; Sa 10:00-17:00 · The facilities can be toured for free on Wednesdays at noon

AIDS Memorial Grove

A national memorial to AIDS victims.

Free

Argonaut Book Shop

The bookshelves here are any war buff's haven, with a treasure trove of books on the history of California and the American West. It also has good collections on the American Civil War, American railroads, regional Americana, antiques and maritime books.

Mon-Fri 9AM-5PM, Sat 10AM-4PM · Wheelchair accessible