1. Golden Gate Bridge
Golden Gate Bridge. it is a true icon of San Francisco and California and the main attraction of San Francisco.
The Golden Gate Suspension Bridge across the Golden Gate Strait connects San Francisco with southern Marin County and other areas north of the city. Inaugurated on May 28, 1937, the construction of the bridge lasted 4 years, at the time of its completion, it was the longest suspension bridge in the world in 1964, became the second longest in the world. The bridge, illuminated in the evening, is about 3 kilometers away.
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| Golden Gate Bridge |
2. Alcatraz Island
The infamous Alcatraz Prison for Highly Dangerous Criminals located on Alcatraz Island in the San Francisco Bay is one of the most famous prisons in the United States. In Alcatraz sat one of the most famous criminals in the world, Mafia boss Al Capone. The island is also now known as a nesting site for seabirds.
The prison, built in 1868, functioned for almost 100 years, until in 1963 three prisoners made a daring escape, which ended successfully for the prisoners, they were never found, in the same year the prison was closed. And in 1973, Alcatraz opened its doors to tourists and despite the initial skepticism, it turned out that Alcatraz is popular with tourists and over time, the prison turned into a tourist attraction in San Francisco.
You can visit the island by ferry that runs constantly between the island and the city. A tour of Alcatraz takes 1.5 hours, but you need to book it in advance.
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| Alcatraz Island |
3. Fisherman's Wharf
One of the most popular tourist areas in San Francisco is the Fishing Wharf. The pier got its name during the gold rush; fishermen from all over the area gathered here. Fisherman's Wharf is located in northeast San Francisco and is a Marine Historical National Park. In addition to the national park, the famous sights of the fishing pier are also: the old chocolate factory, the cannery, the Girardelli square and of course pier 39.
Pier 39, now probably one of the most popular places in San Francisco, is home to the Californian Sea Lions.
For lovers of military history, the fishing pier will delight with ships and a submarine from the Second World War.
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| Fisherman's Wharf |
4. Cable Cars
The first cable car was commissioned in 1873 to help locals navigate the city, which is located on the hills. Now the few remaining funiculars offer tourists a great way to explore the city on their own. Since 1964, these trams have been declared a historical monument. Powell Mason and Powell Hyde are the most scenic routes.
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| Cable Cars |
5. Golden Gate Park
Golden Gate Park, a fabulous green space in downtown San Francisco, is often considered the "lung" of the city. The park also contains a number of beautiful gardens and museums. The park was laid out on the site of the former dry sand dunes in 1871. Currently, visitors to the park can enjoy a large network of walking and cycling paths, more than 5,000 different plant species and dozens of tree species, and several lakes. The park also has three museums, a Japanese garden, and a botanical garden. Golden Gate Park is one of those places that can easily take your time for a few hours or a couple of days. Bicycle rental is available and it can be a good way to explore the park instead of walking.
Official website: www.golden-gate-park.com
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| Golden Gate Park |
6. Chinatown
You may have visited Chinatown in other cities, but San Francisco's Chinatown is the largest Chinatown outside Asia and the oldest of its kind in North America. It was almost completely destroyed in 1906 during an earthquake. Chinatown was rebuilt and soon became even more attractive than before the disaster. Here you will see temples, theaters, workshops, small businesses, shops, antique and souvenir shops, teahouses and pharmacies with their old recipes, Chinatown has become one of the main places in San Francisco to spend your time. The main street in Chinatown for tourists is Grant Avenue.
Official website: www.sanfranciscochinatown.com
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| Chinatown |
7. Museum of Modern Art
San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA), a non-profit, private enterprise, the museum first opened in 1935 at the time it was the only art museum on the west coast. The museum is dedicated exclusively to 20th century art. The museum's contemporary collection includes over 29,000 pieces of painting, sculpture, photography, architecture, design and media art.
Official website: www.sfmoma.org
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| Museum of Modern Art |
8. Twin Peaks
These two unique hills are almost 400 meters high. They are not the highest, but they offer a truly grandiose view of the city and the bay. Twin Peaks are the only hills in San Francisco that have not been built up and remain in their original form.
Located at a distance of 200 meters from each other, the hills have their own names. The northern one is Eureka and the southern one is Noe. On the northern hill is the popular observation deck known as the "Christmas Tree Point". This fenced area offers a wonderful 360-degree view of San Francisco and the bay, and there are telescopes. Many people think that the night view from Twin Peaks is even more interesting. You can get to Christmas Tree Point by car, parking is free. Even on warm days, strong cool breezes blow from the Pacific Ocean into the hills, especially at the end of the day. Warm clothing is recommended.
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| Twin Peaks |
9. Ghirardelli Square
Ghirardelli Square is located in a renovated area next to an old factory, surrounded by shops, galleries, restaurants and restored industrial buildings. The square was inaugurated in 1964 and was the first of a series of projects designed to give new life to abandoned factory complexes. The former Ghirardelli red brick chocolate factory has been transformed into a hub for shoppers and art connoisseurs.
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| Ghirardelli Square |
10. Beaches San Francisco
San Francisco is certainly a city of many beaches. The most popular, among all the others, is "Baker", on weekends you should arrive earlier than ten in the morning in order to have time to take a free seat, of course this beach is the attraction of this Californian city. On the small beach "China", located in the prestigious area of Siclif, it is much easier to meet locals than tourists. It is located in a sheltered bay from the winds, making it one of the few safe swimming spots in San Francisco. Among the active part of the population and fans of extreme sports, Ocean Beach is the most popular.
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| Beaches San Francisco |
11. Asian Art Museum
The Asian Art Museum is undoubtedly one of the most important museums in San Francisco. It has one of the most complete collections of Asian art in the world. The museum owes its origins to donations from the Ch ikaga millionaire Avery Brundage , who was a major collector of Asian art. Brandage donated funds to build a museum in the city of San Francisco to bridge the gap between East and West. After his death in 1975 at the age of 88, the museum also inherited his art collection. The museum now contains an extensive collection of sculptures, paintings, bronzes, ceramics, jade and architectural fragments from Japan, Korea, China, India, Iran and other Asian cultures. The works span over 6,000 years.
Official website: www.asianart.org
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| Asian Art Museum |