10 Iconic Places In San Francisco

This itinerary can fit into a 3 or a 4-day trip, depending on your own pace. Of course, some people do it for less, but spend less time at each location. Let’s go all the way from number 10 to number 1.

There’s no doubt San Francisco is the crown jewel in Northern California. There’s so much to see and do in this city! From historic landmarks to chilly beaches and so much more in between. This is the absolute top 10 of iconic places you must visit if this is your first time in San Francisco!

This itinerary can fit into a 3 or a 4-day trip, depending on your own pace. Of course, some people do it for less, but spend less time at each location.

Let’s go all the way from number 10 to number 1.

10. HAIGHT ASHBURY

Part of San Francisco’s history is the Summer of Love and the Hippie era. This neighborhood will magically teleport you back fifty years ago. Even some of the people who walk on the streets here look like they are from a different time.

Haight Ashbury is known for its unique vibe and for being the main center of the hippie and counterculture in the 1960s. Here you will find vintage stores, smoke and tattoo shops, countless murals. You will feel like you are part of a different century.

Not many people include this neighborhood in their San Francisco itinerary, but in my opinion Haight Ashbury combines all that this city is about- history, diversity, colors, acceptance, and the freedom to be yourself everywhere!

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Interesting fact:

635 Ashbury Street is believed to be one of Janice Joplin’s residential addresses in San Francisco

How to get there:

Bus N7, N43, Line N

9. LOMBARD STREET

How many movies and shows have you seen Lombard Street on? I bet many. Well, it’s only going to take you fifteen minutes to explore it and it’s close to other popular attractions, so this is the one you’ll probably see anyway.

Lombard street stretches all the way from Presidio park to Embarcadero. It’s mostly famous for its one-block part located in Russian Hill (between Hyde and Leavenworth), known as “the crooked street”. This is definitely one of the most iconic and recognizable places in San Francisco.

This short part of Lombard Street gathers two million visitors per year and can be really crowded over the weekend. You can reach it from Columbus Avenue in North Beach or from Hyde St when coming from Fisherman’s Wharf. In both cases you will have to deal with the inclines that leave you breathless, not just from the views they provide, but also because of how steep they are.

Once you reach Lombard Street you can either walk around it and go on top of it (if coming from Columbus Avenue) or go all the way down (if coming from Hyde Street). No matter which way you pick, you will enjoy the view from the top and the cars driving slowly around the turns. If coming with a vehicle, note that you can only enter from Hyde Street since the crooked part of Lombard street is a one-way street. 

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Interesting fact:

It is actually believed that Vermont Street is the crookedest street in the city, even though most of the people have never heard of it.

Where:

1000 Lombard St, San Francisco, CA 94109

How to get there:

Bus N30, N8, N45 drop you off on Columbus and you need to walk a few blocks up. You can also reach it with a cable car from Fisherman’s Wharf or from Market Street.

8. ALCATRAZ ISLAND

The Rock! Alcatraz is another of San Francisco’s symbols, known as an area that was developed for a military and federal prison up until 1963.

The island is located in San Francisco Bay, 1.25 miles (2.01 km) offshore from the city. Multiple ferries depart a few times per day and take tourists to witness with their own eyes what the island with “impossible escape” looks like. Alcatraz not only holds the abandoned federal prison, but also the oldest operating lighthouse on the West Coast of the United States.

I recommend getting your tickets as early as possible. I personally like the night (evening) tour better, since darkness provides a little bit of a different and creepy (in a good way) experience. Upon entering the main building of the prison you will be provided with a listening device and headphone set, which will guide you through the halls and different parts of the facility (several languages available). Following the guide’s steps, you will be taken through hallways, cells, the main kitchen, the visitation center, and other cool remains of what back then was the Inescapable island.

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Interesting fact:

Al Capone was transferred to Alcatraz prison a few weeks after it opened. Back then he was a notorious gangster to the Americans. Upon arrival at Alcatraz in 1934 he was registered as Prisoner 85.

How to get there:

Ferry service is offered from the official ticket provider. Ferries around the island without departing on it are available too.

7. UNION SQUARE AND THE AREA

This area is known for the big variety of high end designers and other shopping options. All four sides of Union Square are covered with what every passionate shopaholic needs. Those options stretch all the way to Market Street with its Westfield Mall, Bloomingdale’s, Nordstrom Center, and many others.

Union Square itself is a nice spot to stop by, have a coffee, take a few pics, and do some people watching! Often you will catch an exhibit, open cinema, dance festival or other events held here. The square is also known as a home of some of the “San Francisco Hearts” – installations, part of the San Francisco General Hospital Foundation’s project. They are changed once every few months and their purpose is to raise donations for the hospital.

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Interesting fact:

Labor Union leaders came up with the idea for a holiday to honor the American workers and held the first Labor Day Parade in Union Square back in 1882.

Where:

333 Post St, San Francisco, CA 94108

How to get there:

Bus N8, N30, N45

6. COIT TOWER

It’s a fun fact that San Francisco doesn’t really have many observation decks as tourist attractions. There are a few great bars on top of one of the most famous hotel chains but overall, because of the many hills and parks on them, San Francisco only has one real observation deck- the one at Coit Tower.

Coit Tower is located on Telegraph Hill in North Beach. You can park somewhere in the neighborhood and easily reach it by walking. Finished in 1933, Coit Tower provides 360-degree views of San Francisco from its 13th floor- you can enjoy Pier 39, the Financial District and the Ferry Building, Lombard Street, Twin Peaks, along with Angel Island, Alcatraz, Treasure Island, and both the Golden Gate Bridge and Bay Bridge.

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Interesting fact:

Coit Tower was dedicated to the volunteer firemen who had died in the city’s five major fires and was named for Lillie Hitchcock Coit- San Francisco philanthropist and adorer of local firefighters. Some people claim that the tower was designed to look like a fire hose nozzle, but this is still just a theory.

Where:

1 Telegraph Hill Blvd, San Francisco, CA 94133

How to get there:

Bus N39

5. NORTH BEACH / LITTLE ITALY

North Beach a.k.a. Little Italy is one of the most popular neighborhoods in San Francisco. Not just for the tasty food and cool nightlife, but also because of the history of the area and tons of opportunities for fun. Not just an iconic place, a whole neighborhood!

It’s a must to try some of the homemade pasta or artisan sandwiches made with Italian brand products. The main part of the neighborhood is Columbus Avenue, home of tons of restaurants, bakeries, coffee shops, and stores. Grab a cup of joe and buy some of the Italian brand’s goods. Pick up a dessert and chill at Washington Square Park. Check out the jewelry and book stores, then head to Telegraph Hill. You will definitely see the symbolic Transamerica Pyramid while walking on Columbus Avenue, so one more thing crossed off the list!

If you’re looking for a place out of the crowds with an amazing view- Ina Coolbrith Park is your spot. The little hidden park offers one of the best city views along with some quietness, far away from the busy streets.

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Interesting fact:

At age 34 the well-known businessman with Italian origin Giannini launched a small bank in the neighborhood. The bank managed to stay open and to keep its services even after the massive earthquake in San Francisco in 1906. In November 1930, the Bank of Italy in San Francisco changed its name to Bank of America. And that’s how one of the most popular banks in the country was established.

How to get there:

Bus N30, N45, N8

4. PALACE OF FINE ARTS

Each of the iconic places in San Francisco is on this list for a reason. Some of them for even more than one. Like the well known Palace of Fine Arts. People not only love it because of the amazing architecture and history, but also because they feel like they have been taken to another country.

The park around the pond is a preferred picnic place for the locals and a preferred wedding photography spot.

The Palace of Fine Arts is one of the ten structures originally constructed for the 1915 Panama-Pacific Exposition- a world’s fair held in San Francisco. Completely rebuilt from 1964 to 1974, this beautiful landmark impresses mostly with the open rotunda which you can see from many high spots in the city.

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Interesting fact:

The building has had a few different purposes through the years. The military used it to store their jeeps and trucks during World War II. It also served as a flag and tent storage depot, even as a temporary Fire Department headquarters once.

Where:

3601 Lyon St, San Francisco, CA 94123

How to get there:

Bus N30, N45

3. PIER 39/FISHERMAN’S WHARF

I know it’s corny, it’s touristy, but it’s true- you can’t come to San Francisco and not go to these places. They are a significant part of the city and its culture and despite what some people say- they are fun! Here you will find many seafood restaurants, souvenir shops, experiences, and street performances. This is also the departure point for some of the most popular ferry cruises in the bay- the one to Alcatraz, Sausalito, Tiburon, and the ones that go around the Golden Gate Bridge. You can also rent bikes or GoCars and explore the area.

Pier 39 and Fisherman’s Wharf are full of cool places to have fun at- the Bay aquarium, the Mirror Maze, Madame Tussauds museum, Museum of illusions, Ghirardelli Square. You name it. 

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Interesting fact:

In 2008 the new carousel from Italy that you see at Pier 39 today, replaced the original one.

How to get there:

Line F, Bus N8

2. EMBARCADERO AND BAY BRIDGE

Embarcadero is a favorite spot to many people- those who love walking, those who love jogging, those who enjoy the bay view. With its many restaurants and symbolic Ferry Building, Embarcadero is known to be one of the most popular areas in San Francisco. It connects the northern piers with the southern ones and provides a breathtaking view to The San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge.

I know the Golden Gate Bridge is the highlight of the city but some people, who haven’t been in San Francisco, don’t even know that the Bay Bridge, which connects the city and Oakland, is actually much longer than its famous orange “brother”. While looking shorter when being observed from Embarcadero, the Bay Bridge goes for a few more miles after its connection with Treasure Island. It’s actually considered a complex of bridges. It carries about 260,000 vehicles a day in ten lanes of Interstate 80 and it’s divided by two decks.

Driving on the bridge provides a great view when coming from Oakland- San Francisco is laying on your right side and you get to drive on the upper deck. 

When on Embarcadero, don’t miss the farmers markets on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. You can also check the Exploratorium and the Cupid span in Rincon Park. After the sun sets down, enjoy the 25,000 LED lights that graced the 1.8-mile West side of Bay Bridge.

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Interesting fact:

A man named Joshua Abraham Norton, known as a self-proclaimed emperor in the mid 19th century, issued three decrees to build a bridge at this location. He was referring to himself as “Emperor of the United States” with no legal authority and he wanted a bridge built in the 1870s.

Where:

1 Ferry Building, San Francisco, CA 94105

How to get there:

Blue, Green, Red, Yellow lines on Market Street, Lines J and M, Bus N9, N9R, N5

1. THE GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE

We all know that on the top of the 10 iconic places in San Francisco will always be the Golden Gate Bridge. There’s no doubt. You can’t come to San Francisco and don’t see the Golden Gate Bridge. Actually, you can. It’s true that some people come to San Francisco and don’t get to see it. Not because of bad scheduling though, but because of the fog that frequently shows up around it.

The Golden Gate Bridge is an icon for not only the city and the state, but for the country in general. The specific color is recognizable internationally.

Opened in 1937, the most photographed bridge carries about 112,000 vehicles per day along with pedestrian and bicycle traffic. Favorite thing for both tourists and locals is to bike on the bridge all the way to Marin County and Sausalito.

At the time of its opening in 1937, it was both the longest and the tallest suspension bridge in the world. The color was specifically chosen because of the natural surroundings and the bridge’s visibility in fog. The official color of the bridge is “orange vermilion” called also international orange. 

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Interesting fact:

Not many people know that underneath the Golden Gate Bridge lies a steamboat that sank in August 1890. The SS City of Chester from Asia was approaching the bay, but due to the dense fog it collided with another vessel and sank in six minutes.

How to get there:

Bus N28. Also lines 101, 130, 150 – more expensive than regular public transport; Clipper card works on it too.

I know many of you will ask where the Painted Ladies are. Walking around San Francisco and being surrounded by hundreds of Victorian houses makes me think that going to Alamo Square and observing the Painted Ladies can be done on your second trip to the city by the bay. If you absolutely insist on seeing them or you’re a big fan of “Full House”- I highly encourage you to go, but in my opinion there are other places with more interesting history that deserve to be seen first.

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Which is your favorite place in San Francisco? Let me know in the comments below!

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If you’re alive, you can’t be bored in San Francisco. If you’re not alive San Francisco will bring you to life.

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