San Francisco has many tourist attractions, but visitors should consider the weather when planning their trip. The best time to visit is from September to early November. Popular places to visit include Ghirardelli Square, Fisherman’s Wharf, Pier 39, Chinatown, North Beach, Union Square, and Golden Gate Park. Art lovers should check out the De Young Museum, MOMA, and the Legion of Honor. Visitors can also enjoy the city’s beaches, the San Francisco Zoo, and the Golden Gate Bridge.
There are many tourist attractions in San Francisco, California. If you’re planning a trip there, consider the times of year you plan to travel carefully. Many tourists travel to San Francisco during the summer months, which are invariably foggy for at least part of the morning and early evening. Pack sweaters if you visit during the summer, or San Francisco natives might laugh at your freeze in summer shorts and tank tops. The best months to visit San Francisco are from September to early November. There is generally less fog and the many attractions are less crowded during the autumn months.
Traditional places to visit include:
Ghirardelli Square — lots of shops and great chocolate.
Fisherman’s Wharf — the perfect place to go for steamed crab and crusty French bread.
Pier 39 — Shops, rides, entertainers and the Aquarium of the Bay.
Chinatown — amazing restaurants and a number of small retailers.
North Beach — the place for Italian food and the beautiful Cathedral of St. Peter and Paul.
From Pier 39, you can take a cable car that will take you to the heart of downtown San Francisco. Union Square is surrounded by a number of excellent retailers. You might consider high tea at the Ritz-Carleton and ditch those calories with a visit to Grace Cathedral, one of the area’s most beautiful churches and beloved attractions.
Don’t forget some of San Francisco’s most popular tourist attractions such as Pier One, where you can take a ferry to Sausalito, Angel Island or Alcatraz. Consider visiting the San Francisco Mint, once a fully operational minting facility. The Embarcadero Center is another worthy tourist attraction in San Francisco, with many shops and restaurants.
Golden Gate Park offers an assortment of park activities. Visit the Arboretum, the beautiful Japanese Tea Garden, the Rhododendron Dell and the child’s park with a restored carousel. You can rent roller skates or bicycles to tour different sections of the park, or rent a rowboat or motorboat for a tour on Stowe Lake.
Next to the Japanese Tea Garden is one of the most fabulous tourist attractions, the renovated De Young Museum. Across the street from the De Young, you’ll find the California Academy of Sciences Museum of Natural History.
If art is your thing, you’ll find many art-focused attractions in San Francisco. In addition to the De Young Museum, consider visits to the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) and the Legion of Honor, which is located near the Palace of Fine Arts. The Palace of Fine Arts is also home to the Exploratorium, a ideal for taking children to explore many science experiments.
Before heading to San Francisco, be sure to check city guides for festivals, free concerts and plays of Shakespeare at Golden Gate Park, and schedules for the world-class San Francisco Ballet, Opera, and Symphony. Downtown is home to numerous theaters offering everything from avant-garde plays to touring Broadway productions and concerts.
Other tourist attractions include its beaches, which are usually chilly, but still worth a visit. You can visit the San Francisco Marina, which opens onto the San Francisco Bay. On slightly windy days, look for people who fly kites. Consider a visit to Fort Point, near the marina.
Take a trip to the San Francisco Zoo before visiting Ocean Beach, which opens onto the Pacific. Watch the waves here, as they can be very strong. Then consider traveling north from Ocean Beach to reach the Cliff House and the remains of the Sutro Baths, once one of the largest indoor/outdoor pool complexes, located right on the ocean.
Don’t forget to visit San Francisco’s most recognizable landmarks by taking a walk across the Golden Gate Bridge. It will be windy, so dress accordingly. If you can’t do the entire walk, consider parking on the Marin side of the bridge and walk halfway to San Francisco. Plan to visit the Marin Headlands, a beautiful park where you might spot a whale or two during the May to September migration season.
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