San Francisco holidays

San Francisco holiday highlights

Old meets new in the pretty city of San Francisco, whether you’re taking the boat over to Alcatraz Island for the haunting history of The Rock (book tickets in advance) or checking out the creative new gallery spaces in much heralded SFMOMA – San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. Head to the Bay for a sunset cruise under the Golden Bridge, taste salt and pepper crab in the oldest Chinatown in the USA (don’t forget Japantown too) and make your way to the top of Twin Peaks for incredible city views. Buy fresh flowers for your hotel room from Ferry Building’s Farmer’s Market (or grab the ferry from here to Angel Island), cycle to Golden Gate Park and visit the copper-clad fashion and arts deYoung Museum. Expect giant ice creams, vintage bookstores and fantastic cocktails in Mexican-style Mission District area and Italian flavours, sidewalk cafes and literacy delights in North Beach. The beloved San Francisco waterfront is the best area to hang out in for laid-back atmosphere and crisp fresh air. There are Pier 39’s resident sea lions, a slew of independent boutiques and those picture-postcard views, and you’ve got African penguins, giant butterflies and a four-storey living rainforest to see in the lauded California Academy of Sciences.

Where is San Francisco?
On the west coast of the USA in northern California on a peninsula surrounded by water on three sides, San Fransicsco city is bordered by the Pacific Ocean, the Golden Gate strait and San Francisco Bay.

Getting around
There are lots of pretty neighbourhoods and sights to explore in San Francisco but it’s also a very hilly city. It’s actually not that large, at only 49 square miles, and the best way to get around is by using the buses, cable cars and trolleys. You can buy a day, 3-day or 7-day Muni pass to use on public transport. The famous cable cars go to Union Square, Fisherman’s Wharf, China Town and Ghirardelli Square but the queues are generally quite long. The SF Muni buses will take you to nearly everywhere, including the Golden Gate Bridge and Park, and the historic ‘F’ Line Trolley travels along Market Street, Embarcadero and Fisherman’s Wharf.

Shopping
If you’re looking for the big American department stores of Barneys and Macys, and high end international brands then head to Union Square, for vintage finds and independent boutiques it’s the eclectic Mission District or Hayes Valley and for European boutiques and beauty brands such as MAC, its all about the celebrity favourite suburbia of Pacific Heights.

Food & drink
A divine café culture (black percolated coffee is the favourite), beautiful seafood Bay side dining and artisanal churn-to-order ice cream – San Francisco loves its food! Expect old-school glamorous oyster bars with wallpaper worthy Instagram content, Champagne cocktails with rose-scented ice cubes, design-led tech cafeterias with gourmet treats and award winning dining in top chef restaurants. Signature cuisine spans many countries - expect gourmet Mexican, soulful Spanish and delicious Chinese dumplings. You’ll find plenty of pies, pizzas and meatballs to satisfy all the family but also swanky supper clubs and romantic waterfront dining made for two.