A beginner's guide to San Francisco

Ellie Seymour

Ellie Seymour

A tiny bayside city of steep hills, tech giants, cable cars, sourdough and psychedelic roots in the Summer of Love, San Francisco continues to draw the crowds with its incredible Michelin-starred restaurants, distinct neighbourhoods and dramatic waterfront scenery. Here's a little introduction to the City by the Bay to get you in the mood for a trip.

Conquer San Francisco's hilly streets by tram
Conquer San Francisco's hilly streets by tram © Meinzahn - Dreamstime.com

Getting to San Francisco: don't miss the current savings on holidays with TUI*, which departs from London Gatwick.

Appreciate the Golden Gate Bridge

This 1.7-mile icon of the San Francisco Bay region deserves our full attention. The classic way to appreciate it is from the south side of the bridge at the Welcome Centre, dedicated to telling the story of this architectural feat dating back to 1937.

A few dollars buy you tickets up the Coit Tower and to its observation deck for a birds-eye view of the bridge and a 360-degree panorama of the city and the bay.

The view from Battery Spencer
The view from Battery Spencer © Jerdad - Adobe Stock Image

Hiring a bike and cycling to the north side of the bridge is also fun, where you'll find a relaxing viewpoint on the green hills of Marin Headlands. Many argue the best view, however, is from a nearby 19th-century fort called Battery Spencer, which offers an almost eye-level view of the bridge towers.

Take your time in Golden Gate Park

Golden Gate Park is at the heart of San Francisco, a place of respite where locals and visitors alike find tranquillity. There are several gardens to wander, including the vast San Francisco Botanical Garden, the other-worldly greenhouse-style Conservatory of Flowers, and the peaceful Japanese Tea Garden.

Over in the park's northeast corner nestles a cultural hub, home to the city's oldest museum, the architecturally striking de Young Museum, with its expansive collection of fine art, and the California Academy of Sciences, with interactive science exhibits including a planetarium.

Elsewhere is Hippie Hill, where every weekend for 50 years since the late sixties Summer of Love, a group of drummers assembles to jam together.

Immerse yourself in Alcatraz Island Museum

A trip to San Francisco's infamous prison island in San Francisco Bay is a must. Even 50 years since it reopened to the public as a museum, Alcatraz Island Museum is still one of the best and quirkiest in the US.

A visit is an immersive experience, which starts when you disembark the ferry and you enter the Alcatraz cell house building through the dark and echoey basement shower block, as inmates once would have, where you collect an audio tour headset.

Be chilled in the hallways of Alcatraz Island Museum
Be chilled in the hallways of Alcatraz Island Museum © Yury Cherenkov - Dreamstime.com

This is the star of the show, bringing a walk around the cell house to life. Starting on a corridor in the north of B and C blocks, nicknamed Times Square by inmates, it's narrated by former guard, Pat Mahoney, who guides you around the prison.

Ride a historic cable car

Rattling through the streets and neighbourhoods of San Francisco on a historic cable car, especially while hanging off the side, is exhilarating and a taste of classic San Francisco.

There are various stops around town. The most popular is where the Powell-Mason Cable Car line turns around at Powell and Market streets, while the Powell-Hyde Cable Car line is quieter.

Visit the free-to-enter Cable Car Museum
Visit the free-to-enter Cable Car Museum © Paul Vidler - Alamy Stock Photo

Check out the MTA website for more information on getting tickets. The city's free Cable Car Museum tells the story of these historic streetcars that have crisscrossed the city since 1873 and features three antique cars.

Immerse yourself in the food scene

San Francisco is a food city. It's home to over 30 Michelin-starred restaurants and counting, many making use of fresh local ingredients available in the surrounding countryside.

Not to mention all the cafés, delis, supermarkets and bars, making it one of the best places in the United States* for an exciting food-themed holiday. It has the largest Chinatown outside of China, so dinner at a Chinese restaurant here is a must.

A memorable choice would be Empress by Boon, to experience their dainty yet filling five-course tasting menu overlooking Francisco's iconic Coit Tower on Telegraph Hill. It's also the spiritual home of sourdough bread, which, once you've tasted it, you'll be dreaming about for years.

Discover the city's real neighbourhoods

Away from the tourist areas of Fisherman's Wharf and Union Square many international cultures have made San Francisco home, forming distinct communities.

The Mission District is one of the most intriguing. Historically a Latin neighbourhood, it now shares space with the hipster crowd, where some of the best Mexican food can be found and colourful murals scattered around depicting the neighbourhood's struggle with gentrification.

Explore the neighbourhood of Haight-Ashbury
Explore the neighbourhood of Haight-Ashbury © Franco Ricci - Dreamstime.com

Elsewhere, if it's Summer of Love vibes you're in search of, head to Haight-Ashbury for immersion in hippie culture; North Beach has a predominantly Italian-American flavour and was once a liberal enclave for artists and the legendary Beat Generation poets, while next door Chinatown is the largest outside of Asia.

Climate in San Francisco

  Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Maximum daytime temperature °C
Hours of sunshine (daily)
Days with some rainfall
Sea temperature °C

The above guide shows the climate in San Francisco. Find out more about the conditions across the state in our complete guide to the climate in California and the wider United States.

Ready to discover San Francisco? Check out the latest online offers from TUI, which has great deals on city breaks.

TUI sale: up to £300 off holidays in 2025/2026

More about San Francisco

San Francisco by month

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Ellie Seymour

Ellie Seymour

Ellie Seymour is a Brighton-based freelance travel writer, author and blogger. A lover of New York City, she specialises in destinations across the USA and southern Europe. She writes for The Independent, The Guardian and LoveExploring among others. She is also the author of two bestselling guidebooks, Secret Brighton and Secret Sussex.

Posted on Tuesday 24th October 2023 in: City Culture North America

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