San Francisco is more than just Alcatraz, the Golden Gate Bridge, and cable car rides. In and around the city, visitors can explore a vast aircraft carrier, great photo spots, and the world’s twistiest street. We’ve gathered a collection of tips on what not to overlook when visiting San Francisco.
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What to See in San Francisco
While typical tourists flock to Lombard Street, we recommend Vermont Street. This route is actually more scenic and even steeper than the renowned Lombard, just not in as tourist-friendly a location. It’s first on our list. You may recognize it from Clint Eastwood’s Magnum Force or Ken Block’s Gymkhana Five.
Following that, we delve into the traditional areas of the city and its surroundings, including the well-trodden Lombard Street (map). The well-known attractions probably need no description, so let’s move onto the lesser-known ones.
Devil’s Slide (map) is a location with a beautiful Gray Whale Cove State Beach and a World War II bunker. The bunker is on private land, but it is accessible. Be aware that you might encounter a police officer.
Along the coast, you will find a variety of former artillery forts, including Fort Point (map) located directly under the Golden Gate Bridge, which are generally free to visit. The Sutro Baths (map) and Cliff House (map), a former spa with swimming pools and a functioning restaurant, are similar to the Barrandov Terraces.
To get to the Point Bonita Lighthouse (map) at Marin Headlands, you’ll need to cross the bridge and plan carefully, as the tunnel to the lighthouse is only open from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m., Saturday through Monday. The road to the lighthouse offers stunning views. We also explored Battery Wallace (map). If you find a Czech crown there, it’s likely ours.
What to See Around San Francisco
Most tourists will end up at Vista Point (map) or Battery Spencer (map) to snap a photo of the bridge and then move on. Those with more time and sturdy shoes can descend to Kirby Cove (map), where Battery Kirby and one of the famous swings are located, with dozens dotted around San Francisco.
A Few Pointers
- Treasure Island (map) – the island in the middle of San Francisco – Oakland Bay Bridge. If you’re into photography, there’s a splendid view of the city and bay from the Great Lawn.
- Berkeley Point (map) – the start of Berkeley Pier, a long pier extending from Berkeley towards Alcatraz and originally reaching almost to Treasure Island. Today, due to its condition, the pier is no longer accessible.
- Grizzly Peak Blvd (map) – another great location for photography enthusiasts. Situated above the Caldecott Tunnel near Oakland, there are several viewpoints.
- USS Hornet CV-12 (map), an aircraft carrier now serving as a museum, is moored at the former Alameda Naval Base.
- Those who are fascinated by the Wild West can visit the grave of Wyatt Earp located in Hills of Eternity Memorial Park Cemetery in Colma (map).
We also visited Mt. Diablo (map), the highest hill in the area. It serves as a park, with admission costing $10.00 per car. (I last updated the price on June 16, 2024.) The scenery is particularly enjoyable in the summer and on clear days, the views around the Bay Area are truly magnificent. We went there at the end of November, where even a t-shirt wasn’t sufficient, let alone a winter jacket at the peak. The piercing cold wind was penetrating. You can also get a view of San Francisco from up there, though we found it somewhat obscured by the foggy haze.
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