San Francisco is a city located in the state of California, on the west coast of the United States of America. In addition to the city of the same name, the metropolitan area of San Francisco also includes the cities of San José, Oakland and Berkeley, all of which are located around the Bay of San Francisco. Typical of San Francisco are the many hills. The city is built on a total of 43 hills, so you almost always see height differences in television programs and movies set in San Francisco. According to many who know America a little, San Francisco is one of the nicest cities. This is mainly due to the very liberal atmosphere by American standards. There is no taboo on drugs and homosexuality here. See 800zipcodes for American cities that start with letter Z.
Top 10 San Francisco Attractions
Alcatraz
This island in San Francisco Bay was used for a high-security prison from 1934 to 1963. A famous prisoner of that time was Alphonse “Al” Capone. Several films have been made of this famous Alcatraz prison. Today it is a museum and national park. Often there are various exhibitions. The island can only be reached by ferry.
Golden Gate Bridge
This Golden Gate Bridge connects the peninsula of San Francisco with Marin County. The bridge is visited by approximately nine million visitors annually. It is a special bridge that makes a big impression with its size, color, light and sound. The bridge features a sidewalk no less than 1.7 miles long. Roller skates and dogs are not allowed. Nearby is the city park “Golden Gate Park”.
Alamo Square
Alamo Square is a residential area, but also a park. The houses there are special and characteristic of San Francisco because of their Victorian architecture. Because this neighborhood is located on a hill, you also have a fantastic view over the city of San Francisco. The houses are also called “painted ladies”, because they often have multiple colors.
Chinatown
This oldest Chinatown in North America has a lot to offer visitors. Many Asian buildings adorn the streets in this part of San Francisco. The best way to see it all is with a real Chinatown tour, passing a fortune cookie factory. Inside you can see how these are made and how they travel the world from here.
Fisherman ‘s Wharf
If you want to spot very lazy seals, you should definitely go to Pier 39. Dozens of seals lie here enjoying the sun and find it best to be watched. Of course there is more at Pier 39. The Pier is located in an old seamen’s neighborhood called “Fisherman’s Wharf”. Today it is a landmark with many seafood restaurants, shops, some attractions and often live entertainment.
Golden Gate Park
This very large urban park of San Francisco is located next to the Golden Gate Bridge. The park is about 4.1 km² and is one of the most visited parks in the United States. There is also a large natural science museum and botanical garden.
San Francisco Jazz Festival
Jazz enthusiasts can go wild at the San Francisco Jazz Festival every year. Big names are booked for the festival, which annually entertains the public with phenomenal performances.
Transamerica Pyramid
San Francisco’s tallest skyscraper is not to be missed. Its height of 260 meters and special design attracted the attention of many attendees. Several companies are in this Transamerica Pyramid with a total of approximately 1500 employees. Unfortunately, it is not accessible to visitors who are not guests of one of the companies.
Fine Arts Museum of San Francisco
The fine arts museum in San Francisco consists of 2 locations. One museum “de Young Museum” is located in Golden Gate Park. The museum mainly offers art from the 17th to 21st century and international contemporary art. The building of the Young Museum itself is worth a visit. The other museum is in Lincoln Park and is named Legion of Honor. This museum with great allure resembles the Palace de la Legion d’Honneur in Paris. It offers painting, photography and graphic arts, among other things.
Tram
A very authentic way of getting around in San Francisco is by tram. There are three routes that can be recognized by color for the tram. It is possible to buy a ticket from the conductor.