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!
Happy Halloween!I live in San Francisco - I've been here almost 30 years, and was born just across the Bay - 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 from the Marin HeadlandsBrowse 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
Things to do in SF
San Francisco Museums
Fun Day Trips
When I travel, I love to get suggestions from the people who actually live there. And now you know someone in San Francisco!
Take a look and get recommendations for:
- Fun things to do in the city.
- Great restaurants, where the locals eat.
- Attractive (and safe) places to stay.
- Tourist attractions that are really worth seeing.
- Ideas for day trips out of SF.
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.
The Sutro BathsCheck 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.
San Francisco native...after a long day of sightseeing.COVID-19 Status: at midnight on Monday, March 16, San Francisco was placed under a "shelter-in-place order.
All residents were ordered to stay home, except for necessary trips to grocery stores and essential medical visits, and solo outdoor activities like hiking.
The city has been gradually reopening of many businesses and activities, but others have been placed on hold.
Most recently, SF has been moved to the least restrictive tier (yellow) of the risk tiers in California due to a low infection rate of around 1% of tested residents.
Public transportation options have been cut way back. See SF transit for more info.
See COVID rules for current SF status.
Highlights of changes: everyone in SF is now required to wear a mask when they are outside and within 30 feet of other people.
Parking lots for SF beaches and the Golden Gate Bridge are now open (as well as the beaches and bridge).
Restaurants can offer indoor as well as outdoor dining, up to 50% capacity, and businesses can also allow customers inside.
Muir Woods, the SF Botanical Garden, Japanese Tea Garden and the SF Zoo are now open. The zoo and Muir Woods require reservations.
Alcatraz is open as of Monday, August 17, but only the outdoor areas are accessible. Day tours only. See Alcatraz.
Sept. changes: hotels, gyms, tour buses, and boat cruises opened (though not all are availing themselves, check individual businesses). Also indoor hair and nail salons/barbershops can open.
Museums Open: de Young Museum, SF MOMA, California Academy of Sciences, Asian Art Museum, and Conservatory of Flowers.
Museums Opening: Legion of Honor (Oct 30).
Exploratorium: spring 2021.
Playgrounds: open.
Schools: many private schools have begun reopening; SF public schools still on hold, except for a few charter schools.
On hold: indoor movie theaters, and swimming pools.
Last to open will be concerts, live theater, sporting events, nightclubs and festivals.
For info on what's open in other cities and counties of California, see California reopening schedules.
See coronavirus news in the SF Chronicle for articles and updates.
Also see site closures for the National Park Service (Alcatraz, Muir Woods, etc).
Plus helpful info on which parks and hiking trails are open in the Bay Area.
And to check the air quality (fires) in SF and the Bay Area, see airnow.gov and the SF Chronicle map showing current tests.
Get the latest tips on visiting San Francisco.
SF Bus, BART & Cable Car Routes
FogCitySecrets.com
Inside-Guide-to-San-Francisco-Tourism.com
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