SAN FRANCISCO

Why is San Francisco worth a visit?

Next to Los Angeles, San Francisco is the absolute tourist hotspot on the west coast of the USA. With the spectacular Golden Gate Bridge, the world-famous cable cars and the legendary Alcatraz prison island, San Francisco has three world-famous sights to offer. But that is by no means the end of the story. Hardly any other city in the USA has so many different interesting attractions on offer and such a unique flair as San Francisco.

Here are our top 10 reasons to travel to San Francisco:

1. San Francisco is located at the end of a spit of land and is therefore a city of bridges. With the Golden Gate Bridge and the Bay Bridge, two of the most beautiful and spectacular bridges in the world connect the city with the “outside world”.

2. The cable cars of course. No other city in the world has a historic means of transportation that is so much fun to ride.

3. San Francisco is a city of hills. There are over 40 more or less high ones within the city limits. No wonder that from many points in San Francisco you have a magnificent view of the city, San Francisco Bay with its world famous bridges and the Pacific Ocean.

4. San Francisco has a lot of sights to offer. The list of places to visit is much longer here than in most other cities in the USA.

5. San Francisco is known for its great museum scene. It is home to some of the best science and art museums in the US.

6 By American standards, San Francisco is an exceedingly green city. San Francisco’s gardens and parks are among the most beautiful and famous in the country.

7. Not only is San Francisco itself a very beautiful city – nature around San Francisco is also one of the most beautiful spots in California.

8. San Francisco has great city beaches. The water is not exactly inviting for swimming, but you can surf, walk, picnic or play beach volleyball.

9. San Francisco has always been and still is a multi-cultural city. Chinese, Italians, Japanese, Mexicans and many other nationalities – they all shaped the city and make San Francisco one of the most interesting ethnic melting pots in the world.

10. San Francisco has a lot of flair. It’s hard to describe – you simply have to experience it for yourself.

For whom is San Francisco worth a visit?

Sightseers:

After New York City, San Francisco is certainly number 2 in the USA in terms of attractions. The Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, the Cable Cars, Fisherman’s Wharf, Lombard Street, Chinatown, the Golden Gate Park etc. – the list could be continued for a long time.

Bridge fans:

If you like beautiful and above all spectacularly located bridges, you will get your money’s worth in San Francisco. The Golden Gate Bridge is a household name anyway. But also the San Francisco Oakland Bay Bridge can easily compete with the Golden Gate Bridge in terms of beauty and impression.

Amateur photographers:

San Francisco is a photographer’s paradise. The city not only impresses with its unique location on a spit of land between the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay. It is also an extremely hilly city and accordingly offers an incredible number of great viewpoints.

Tram lovers:

The San Francisco Cable Cars are probably the best known and most popular historic streetcar in the world. Although only three lines are still in operation, lots of fun is guaranteed.

Museum visitors:

With the California Academy of Sciences, the Exploratorium, the de Young Memorial Museum and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, San Francisco is home to some of the finest science and art museums in the entire United States.

Nature lovers:

San Francisco is one of the most natural metropolises in the world. As soon as you leave the city, you find yourself in beautiful nature. The Golden Gate National Recreation Area around the city is one of the largest and most beautiful natural and recreational landscapes in the USA.

Foodies:

In San Francisco you can go out to eat very tasty. This is not only because there is fresh fish due to its location by the sea, but also because hundreds of thousands of immigrants have enriched the city with their cuisine over the centuries. Whether Chinese, Italian, Japanese or Mexican – in San Francisco you are spoiled for choice.

Freedom lovers:

No other city in the USA is as progressive and freedom-loving as San Francisco. Here, everyone can do their thing and be left alone.

Families and children:

San Francisco is one of the best city break destinations in the world with kids. There are great parks, beautiful beaches, lots of nature, an exciting waterfront, interesting museums and of course the cable cars.

Best time to travel

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Due to its location on the North Pacific Ocean, the weather in San Francisco is generally rather unstable. The best time to visit is from May to October. During this time, visitors can expect the most optimal climatic conditions with the highest temperatures, the most hours of sunshine and the lowest number of rainy days. With its many gardens and parks San Francisco can also be a very beautiful destination in spring (March, April) when the flowers begin to bloom. In the winter months, however, the city is often dull and rainy.

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Getting there

By car:

Next to Los Angeles, San Francisco is California’s second major transportation hub. In this respect, the city is easily accessible from all directions.

By train:

San Francisco itself is not well connected to the rail network. Most trains stop only on the east side of San Francisco Bay.

By plane:

San Francisco has a large international airport. From Germany, there are daily connections with both Lufthansa and United from Frankfurt/Main and Munich to San Francisco. In addition, Swissair operates a daily connection from Zurich to San Francisco.

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Shopping

Shopping in San Francisco is a lot of fun. This is primarily due to the fact that San Francisco has a relatively compact center compared to other U.S. metropolises, which can be easily explored and experienced both on foot and by public transport. In this respect, one is not dependent on the car for a shopping tour in San Francisco (quite unusual for the USA).

The main shopping district is the area around Union Square. From Bloomingdales to Macy’s to Saks Fifth Avenue, all the major U.S. department store chains have a flagship store here. For those who like it even more classy, there are boutiques in and around Union Square of just about every well-known luxury brand in the world. And one special store is located in Union Square: the Levi’s Superstore. Levi’s stores can be found in just about every major city in the world, but it was in San Francisco that blue jeans were invented and made a global success by Levi’s. In this respect, a visit to Levi’s is a must. In this respect, a pair of Levi’s from San Francisco is something special.

On Market Street, the main artery of downtown San Francisco, things are a bit more mixed and thus also cheaper. This is where you’ll find the huge Westfield San Francisco Center, where it’s easy to fall into a shopping frenzy. Nearly 200 stores extend over nine floors.

If you are looking for a souvenir, you will find it in Chinatown or Fisherman’s Wharf. In both quarters, one souvenir store follows the next. But beware: prices tend to be higher in these areas due to the daily tourist crowds.

Speaking of prices: Visitors should be aware that San Francisco is one of the most expensive cities in the U.S. in terms of cost of living. Of course, this is reflected in stores as well. San Francisco is one of the most expensive shopping destinations in the USA. So if you want to have it a little cheaper, you should get in your car and drive to a mall or an outlet center a little outside the city.

San Francisco is also known for its many markets. Almost every district has its own market. For gourmets, a visit to the Ashbury Market in the old hippie stronghold of Haight-Ashbury is worthwhile. Here gourmets will find a very rich offer of delicacies. The farmers’ market in front of the Ferry Building on The Embarcadero is also a very popular destination for amateur chefs and lovers of fresh and organic produce. And last but not least, let’s mention the flea market on Treasure Island. Here, too, there are fruits, vegetables, flowers and culinary specialties of all kinds. And on Sundays, Treasure Island also sells antiques and other collectibles.

Food and drink

It is said that there are so many restaurants in San Francisco that all residents could go out at the same time and everyone would find a place. Of course, this cannot be verified. But one thing is certain: there is hardly any other city in the USA where you can eat so well and, above all, in such a varied way.

First to the “good food”: The fact that you can eat so deliciously in San Francisco is probably due to two good conditions. First, northern California around San Francisco is an agricultural stronghold. Just about anything that can be used in a pan or saucepan grows here. Accordingly, the ingredients used in San Francisco’s restaurant kitchens are usually fresh. And secondly, Californians are a demanding public when it comes to food. Here, a lot of people make sure that healthy and not fattening food is put on the table. Not surprisingly, San Francisco is also the cradle of so-called California cuisine. Its basic recipe: light dishes based on fresh and mostly organic ingredients from the region and taking into account the many ethnic cuisines of California’s immigrants.

That’s also the cue for “versatility”: over the centuries, Chinese, Germans, Italians, Japanese, Koreans, Mexicans, Russians and people from all over the world have come to try their luck in California. Accordingly, San Francisco’s gastronomy is as cosmopolitan as probably only that of New York City in the USA. There is practically no country or people here that does not have at least one “national” restaurant.

And San Francisco has another natural culinary advantage. With the Napa and Sonoma Valleys, two of the best and most famous wine-growing regions in the USA are right on the city’s doorstep. A good meal in San Francisco can always be combined with a good drop.

Nightlife and entertainment

In terms of nightlife, San Francisco is probably the only city in the US that can seriously compete with New York City (although it is many times smaller). Even during the gold rush of the 19th century, the city had an intoxicating nightlife that has lost none of its vibrancy to this day.

Part of the special flair of San Francisco’s bar, club and discotheque scene is the city’s liberal and progressive attitude. Here, more or less everything is allowed and accordingly a lot is tried out. However, San Francisco’s scene is also relatively volatile. The names or identities of venues often change – so you should find out in advance whether the bar or club where you partied a few years ago still exists today. San Francisco’s liberality is reflected above all in the city’s extremely lively gay scene. San Francisco’s more than 200 gay and lesbian clubs are often known far beyond the city’s borders.

And even those looking for a more classical evening program will not be disappointed by San Francisco. The city has an opera, a Symphony Hall and a very good theater scene.