Top-Rated Places to Visit in San Francisco

Famous for the 1.6 km wide Golden Gate Bridge that connects the Pacific Ocean with the San Francisco Bay, San Francisco is an eclectic city to visit in the US. The culture, music, diversity and sheer beauty of the place intrigue people to come here and enjoy. With a strong history, museums, parks and entertainment centres, San Francisco is one of the best places to visit in West Coast USA.

Within the city and around it, you are going to find a plethora of beautiful places to visit, from the Fisherman's Wharf to Alcatraz Island. The sightseeing experience in San Francisco is exhaustive, to say the least, and if you are a food lover too, then do not miss out on visiting Chinatown which is known to be the largest of its kind. For what they are worth, San Francisco tour packages can make it easier to experience the sights and sounds of this wonderful city.

1. Golden Gate Bridge

The Golden Gate Bridge is an iconic landmark that is characterized by brilliant engineering and art. One of the most photographed sites in the city, the bridge is about 764 feet high and one of the best places to visit in San Francisco. You can take a stroll on the sidewalks and enjoy the mesmerizing views all around you. When you are here, make sure to head out to the Golden Gate National Recreation Area to click some amazing photographs.

2. Alcatraz

Alcatraz is another San Francisco tourist attraction that should be on your list of places to visit near San Francisco. Made even more famous by the Sean Connery and Nicolas Cage starrer “The Rock”, it is an island that is situated about 2 km offshore from the city in the San Francisco Bay. Initially a military prison, Alcatraz was later turned into a federal prison. However, it was shut down both the times due to the high operational cost.

During your trip to the island, make sure you interact with the rangers on the island to get a good historical context about it. Since San Francisco sees a lot of travellers during the summer, make sure to book a ferry early. That’s because about 1 million people visit this place every year! There three tour ticket options available for the visitors which are the day-tour, night-tour and behind-the-scenes-tour.

3. The Golden Gate Park

The massive and beautiful Golden Gate Park houses a museum, a Japanese Garden, and a lot of trekking and hiking trails inside its vicinity. Spread over approximately 5 sq. km., the park is 20% larger than the famous Central Park of New York. In fact, such is the expanse of the park that if you were to walk from one end of the park to the other, it will take you half a day to complete it. No wonder it is one of the best places to visit in San Francisco.

4. Palace of Fine Arts

The Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco is a remnant of the Roman-Style Panama-Pacific International exposition which was built in the year 1915. With time, it has gained a lot of popularity amongst the travellers and is now one of the best places to visit in San Francisco. The rotunda and the lagoon around it are the reasons behind many beautiful photographs. Take a stroll around the lagoon, click some pictures, and enjoy the calmness of the place.

5. Baker Beach

San Francisco is not known for beaches, but Baker Beach is an exception. It is the perfect resting point for sightseeing enthusiasts and considered one of the best beaches in California. Apart from this, Baker Beach is also known for the sweeping view of the surroundings and the Golden Gate Bridge. Enjoy clicking pictures, playing in the sand, and having a picnic here. And yes, don’t forget to bring an extra layer of clothing irrespective of the time you are visiting here.

6. Fisherman’s Wharf

You can’t help but include Fisherman’s Wharf in the list of San Francisco tourist attractions because this place is picturesque despite being crowded. You will find a lot of food shops along the road that serve scrumptious food to the visitors. Another attraction of the place is the street performances; a lot of people stop-by while enjoying their sightseeing activity to watch these performances.

San Francisco is a city that satisfies the needs of every traveller, be it an adventure enthusiast or a nature lover. That’s because everyone has a lot of things to do. So, make sure you have a lot of time to spare when you visit the best places in San Francisco.