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Iconic Landmarks

There is enough to experience and explore in San Francisco to fill a hundred itineraries, but most visitors want to see the more famous sights right away.

The stunningly beautiful Golden Gate Bridge, century-old cable cars (one of the only moving National Historic Landmarks in the U.S.), lively Fisherman’s Wharf, mysterious Alcatraz Island, bustling Chinatown, charming Victorians—San Francisco overflows with iconic landmarks known around the world.

Did you know? The Great Highway was listed as one of the New York Times’s 52 places to visit in the world this year.  A two-mile stretch of the Great Highway, a beachfront promenade that runs along the city’s western edge, has become a new weekend destination in San Francisco. As of 2025, the Great Highway as been permanently closed off to become San Francisco’s newest city park, called Sunset Dunes, and welcomes visitors who want take in the panoramic views of the Pacific.

Culinary Highlights

One of San Francisco’s biggest draws is its renowned culinary landscape. The city’s diverse food scene is one of the reasons people say they want to visit San Francisco. Food and drink are intricately woven into the region’s history and traditions, making the Bay Area a dining destination like no other.

Thousands of restaurants featuring all cuisines and price points. A food and wine lover’s paradise, San Francisco and the Bay Area boast the greatest concentration of Michelin stars anywhere in the Americas.

Did you know? San Francisco has more restaurants per capita than anywhere else in the U.S. Bay Area chefs are blessed by the year-round bounty of fresh ingredients from artisanal purveyors and local farms. San Francisco’s innovative and diverse food scene is why U.S. News & World Report hailed it as the “best foodie city” in the country. 

Distinguished Arts & Culture

San Francisco is home to world-renowned opera, symphony, and ballet; international film festivals; acclaimed museums, galleries and theaters; and a dynamic, diverse year-round calendar of events that put the city at the forefront of the national arts scene.

Art is so intrinsic to San Francisco’s DNA that it is home to over 4,000 public artworks, 65 museums and over two dozen annual film festivals. Standout museums include the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA), California Academy of Sciences and the San Francisco LGBT History Museum. The city is also home to the country’s longest-running free outdoor music festival – the Stern Grove Festival.

Did you know? San Francisco is home to America’s oldest professional ballet company, SF Ballet (founded in 1933), and the San Francisco Opera, which is only the third US opera company to celebrate its 100th anniversary.

Diverse Neighborhoods

San Francisco is home to over 800,000 people from a variety of backgrounds which is reflected in the diversity of the city’s neighborhoods.

The city boasts the first and largest Chinatown in the U.S. and the oldest – and one of only three – Japantowns in the country. North Beach is home to more than 100,000 residents of Italian descent.

The Summer of Love lives on in Haight Ashbury through its vintage stores, present and former homes of musicians, and legendary venues.

The Mission District is one of San Francisco’s most of-the-moment neighborhoods, packed with trend-setting boutiques, restaurants, and more, and its namesake Mission Dolores is one of the city’s oldest icons.
The Castro is the country’s most famous LGBTQ neighborhood and welcomes all. Explore historical sites, enjoy a meal, and shop until you've worked up a thirst for one of the city’s many bars and nightclubs.

Did you know? San Francisco was named one of the safest cities in the world, tied for 15th with London, by The Economist in its annual Safe Cities Index 2021. The index ranks 60 cities across 76 indicators covering digital, health, infrastructure, personal and environmental security.

Facts & Figures

• San Francisco enjoys a temperate marine climate with temperatures seldom rising above 24C (75F) or below 7C (45F).

• While there is seasonal morning and evening fog, San Francisco is one of the sunniest major cities in the U.S.

• Within its 49-square miles, there are over 1,000 miles of streets.

• The skyline, best known for the Bay and Golden Gate Bridges, also boasts over 480 high-rises.

• 3,400 acres of city parks within San Francisco provide endless opportunities for hiking, walking, biking, relaxing and enjoying the sunset over the Pacific Ocean.

• The city is home to more than 300 historic landmark buildings, 12 historical districts and 14,000 Victorian homes.

• Only city in the world where you can currently ride both a Cable Car (one of the oldest forms of public transportation) and take Driverless Cars to your destination!

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