San Francisco, United States

The city with the Golden Gate Bridge, and the gateway to California. It has more than 220 parks, which is more than any other city in the United States. Museums, Alcatraz, food, Chinatown, Japanese tea garden, cable cars, and nearby wine country and redwood forests.

How to get there

• Fly to San Francisco International Airport (SFO). 
• There are many options for transport from the airport and for travel around San Francisco. BART Rapid Rail, Caltrain commuter rail, SamTrans Bus, airporter bus, taxis, pre-arranged shuttles, Uber and car hire from the airport's Car Rental Center. See these transport options referenced and linked on the San Francisco International Airport website. 
• For touring within the city, ride on a cable car, the same way San Franciscans did in the 1870s, see routes and map here. 
• Or hop on and off the City Sightseeing San Francisco bus. 

Cable Car

What to do

• Take in the views and walk across the Golden Gate Bridge. 
• Visit Golden Gate Park, a 1,017-acre park with San Francisco’s Botanical Garden, Conservatory of Flowers, a Japanese tea garden, a rose garden, many picnic areas, lakes, and playgrounds. Click here to see the park map and guide. 
• Shop and dine at the Fisherman’s Wharf Waterfront. Many tours start from here. 
• Secure reservations beforehand to visit the prison and island grounds of Alcatraz island. Alcatraz Cruizes is the official source for cruises and reservations to visit Alcatraz Island. See the Alcatraz Island National Park Service website. 
• Shop and sample some authentic Chinese Cuisine at Chinatown. The largest Chinatown outside of Asia and also the oldest Chinatown in North America. 
• Don’t miss seeing the “most crooked street in the world”, Lombard Street. 
• Enjoy the architectural design of the famous Painted Ladies. 
• Visit Muir Woods National Monument. A park 16 miles from downtown San Francisco, where 240 acres of the park is full of redwood trees. 
• Wine tasting by appointment in Sonoma Wine Country, 44 miles drive from downtown San Francisco. Here are two highly rated wine farms, Three Sticks Wines or Stone Edge Farm Estate Winery. Or book a Napa and Sonoma Wine Country Tour. 
• For traveling families, there’s fun to be had at California Academy of Sciences, The Exploratorium, and the San Francisco Zoo.

The Painted Ladies at Alamo Square

Where to stay

Ranging from budget-friendly to high-end accommodation, each chosen for their high ratings.

• Airbnb – Private, Remodeled Home close to Golden Gate Park. 
• Airbnb – Perfect Haven near Golden Gate Park and Ocean Beach. 
• Airbnb – Downtown SF Studio Apartment near Civic Center. 
• VRBO – Upper Market Street suite overlooking Noe Castro district. 
• Airbnb – Private Studio with Kitchen, walk to Beach and Golden Gate Park. 
• Seaside Inn in the Marina District. 
• Hilton San Francisco in Union Square. 
• San Francisco Marriott Marquis near Union Square. 
• Queen Anne Hotel nestled amongst the charming Pacific Heights Victorian and Edwardian mansions, affectionately referred to as” the Painted Ladies”.  
• Fairmont San Francisco, luxury hotel atop Nob Hill. 
• The Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco in the scenic neighborhood of Nob Hill, the city’s only AAA Five-Diamond hotel.

San Francisco skyline

Where to eat

• Balboa Cafe (American Bistro). 
• Izzy’s (old-school steakhouse). 
• Keeva (Indian). 
• Dragon Well (Chinese). 
• The Codmother Fish and Chips, a food truck at Fishermans Wharf with British-style fish ‘n chips. 
• Brenda’s French Soul Food, Southern US cuisine, beignets, Po’ boys, gumbo. 
• Seven Hills, farm-to-table Italian Ristorante. 
• Hog Island Oyster Co., local seafood, oysters & clams. 
• Gary Danko, French Cuisine and a Michelin Star restaurant.

Sequoia Trees Muir Woods