The Unofficial Guide
to San Francisco Tourism
...insider tips from a local

San Francisco has a mystique all its own.

The pretty Victorians climbing its steep hills, the clang of the cable cars, the fresh sea air and the swirling fog...there's magic afoot!

karen portrait circle

Hi, I'm Karen (please, no jokes about my name!).    I was born just across the Bay, and spent over 30 years in San Francisco, but the City still casts its spell over me. 

I want you to enjoy it as much as I do, hence this guide. I'll tell you what it's really like, unlike the usual tourist websites.

  • Candid reviews of the popular attractions.
  • Insider tips on what to see and do (or not do!).
  • How to get discounts on popular tours.
  • Where the locals go: our favorite haunts.
  • Where the locals park ;-)
View of Golden Gate Bridge and SF from Battery SpencerView from the Marin Headlands

Browse through the site to get some ideas for fun things to do in San Francisco.

First-timers, repeat visitors, and local Bay Area folks, welcome!

Popular SF Attractions

Golden Gate Bridge
Alcatraz prison exercise yardAlcatraz
Pier 39 San Francisco, view of bayPier 39
Cable car at Grant Avenue in San Francisco ChinatownChinatown
Blooming Hydrangea bushes on Lombard Street, San FranciscoLombard Street
Cable Cars
Crab stand at Fisherman's Wharf, San Francisco.Fisherman's Wharf
Ghirardelli Square
Rowboats for rent at Stow Lake, Golden Gate Park, SFGolden Gate Park
Haight Ashbury
Twin Peaks
SF Zoo

Check out more San Francisco attractions.


Things to do in SF

View of Alcatraz on Blue and God FerryBay Cruises
Biking the Golden Gate BridgeBike the Bridge
View from Lands End Coastal TrailLands End HIke
View from Top of the MarkTop of the Mark
Yellow GPS Go CarsRide the Go Cars
View of Ocean Beach San FranciscoSF Beaches

See my list of the best things to do in San Francisco!


San Francisco Museums

California Academy of Sciences, living roofAcademy of Sciences
Exploratorium color exhibitExploratorium
de Young Museum, Golden Gate Park, San Franciscode Young Art Museum
Legion of Honor Art Museum
Conservatory of Flowers
Musée Mécanique


Fun Day Trips 

Napa Valley VineyardsNapa Valley
Muir Woods National Park entrance signMuir Woods
Angel Island, San Francisco BayAngel Island

When I travel, I love to get suggestions from the people who have actually lived there. And now you know a San Francisco local!

Take a look and get recommendations for: 

Want some bad travel tips for San Francisco?

I've collected a few groaners I found floating around the web. 

When is the best time to visit San Francisco? Each season has its advantages, but here are my tips on when to visit.

Come and join us...  Sit in a cosy San Francisco cafe, order an Irish coffee, and listen to the foghorns while the mist gathers outside.

Wander the streets where Sam Spade, Janis Joplin and the Beat Generation hung out.

Go off the beaten track... See some sights that most visitors don't see, like the haunting ruins of the Sutro Baths. 

Ruins of the Sutro BathsThe Sutro Baths

Check out my tips for finding the best views of the Golden Gate Bridge, like the one at the top of this page.

Ready to explore San Francisco like a local? Take a look through the site and see what sparks an interest.

Blue hippie VW busIt's always 1967 in San Francisco.

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Need to rent a car when you're visiting? Check out Discover Cars to compare rates and available cars over a number of rental companies.


Tuxedo cat sleeping in a planter box with purple pansies.San Francisco native...after a long day of sightseeing.