There is something unusual about the city of San Francisco, that pulls tourist here. Every toirists favourite city, is located at the tip of a peninsula between the San Francisco Bay and the Pacific coast. This compact city wrapped by water from all three sides is most famous for its summer fogs, Victorian architecture, cable cars and stunning vistas. The giddiness of anticipation of hanging off the side of a cable car, the fascination of sea lions at Pier 39 is totally unmatchable. Walking the streets for long hours, admiring the architecture and exploring different neighborhoods and looking at the magical and mystical Golden Gate Bridge without getting tired is something that every tourist dream off. This youthful and mesmerizing city will fill every never sinew in your body with excitement and adventure. The maddening beauty of this city will make you thirsty for this city!
Without much ado let's dive into these astounding places that is sure to sweep you off your feet.
1. Golden Gate Bridge
The most iconic suspension and internationally renowned symbol of San Francisco and California is a charismatic vista to just stare at. Connecting to Marin County to the north, this bridge took 4years to be completed. The famous red-orange color of the bridge was specifically chosen to make the bridge more easily visible through the thick fog that frequently shrouds the bridge.
2. Alcatraz
Popularly known as "The Rock" was once a favourite destination of all the criminals. Surrounded by freezing waters of the San Francisco Bay this place was believed to be inescapable. Alcatraz has served as a lighthouse, military fortification and a prison. Opened by the national park service this place is a favourite destination of tourist.
3. Fisherman's Wharf
Most famous for its historic waterfront for over a century was the hub of San Francisco’s fishing fleet and is still famous for having some of the best seafood restaurants in the city. Other tourist attractions at the wharf include museums, souvenir stores, historical buildings, scenic vistas over the Bay and the famous sea lions at Pier 39.
4. Lombard Street
The most amusing place in San Francisco, Lombard street is called "crookedest street in the world", although its neither the crookedest nor the steepest street in San Francisco. The one-block portion of Lombard Street that contains eight hairpin turns was created to reduce the hill’s natural steep slope. The speed limit in this section is a mere 5 mph (8 km/h).
5. Transamerica Pyramid
Located at the heart of financial district the Transamerica pyramid is a famous icon of the city. Its architect says the pyramid is the ideal shape for skyscraper, offering the advantage of letting more air and light in the streets below. Finished in 1972, this is still the tallest skyscraper in the San Francisco skyline with a height of 260 meters(853 feet).
6.Cable Cars
The world-famous Cable Cars run on three lines in the steep streets of San Francisco between Market Street and Fisherman’s Wharf. A stunning attraction in the weekends garners staggering crowd from all over the place. These cars are a fun ride, especially if you get to stand on the running board, if a bit impractical for everyday use though residents do, in fact, use them on a regular basis.
7. Golden Gate Park
Once an area of sand dunes, Golden Gate Park is a large urban park with windmills, bison, museums, lakes and a carousel among its many attractions. A popular tourist attraction is the Japanese Tea Garden with charming plants, ponds, bridges, and Japanese-style structures including a tea house. Its about 20% larger than New York's Central park at about 1017 acres.
8. San Francisco's China Town
Established in 1840s, San Francisco’s Chinatown is reputed to be the oldest and one of the largest and most famous of all Chinatowns outside of Asia. Many of the Chinese who settled here were merchants or immigrant workers, working on either the transcontinental railroad or as mine workers during the Gold Rush. The tourist section of Chinatown is mainly along Grant Avenue, from Bush to Broadway.
9. Palace Of Fine Arts
The only structure remaining from the 1915 World’s Fair, the Palace of Fine Arts features a classical Roman rotunda with curved colonnades situated in an idyllic park setting with a classical European-Style lagoon. It’s a great place to unwind, have a picnic, and watch the swans float elegantly by. It also has a theater offering a variety of shows, musical and cultural events
10. Legion of Honor
The most impressing Neoclassical Beaux-Arts building in an amazing setting, the California Palace of the Legion of Honor is the San Francisco's most exquisite museum. The Legion of Honor museum has a magnificent collection of European embellishing arts, sculpture, and paintings, along with antiquities from the Mediterranean and Near East.The museum is in Lincoln Park, a gorgeous plush green space with a golf course and coastal woodlands and a chatismatic place for a leisurely strolls. Just outside the museum, tourists follow the path along Lincoln Highway, which boasts spectacular ocean vistas and perfect outlooks onto the Golden Gate Bridge. Those thrill seeking hikers can head to the Land's End Trail. This winding cliff side trail in a wild, rugged terrain offers sweeping Pacific Ocean views and panoramas of the Golden Gate Bridge.