Welcome toSan Francisco
Whether you’re a first-time visitor or a long-time local, San Francisco welcomes all.
![The famous Painted Ladies of Alamo Square are pictured before the San Francisco skyline at twilight.](/sites/default/files/styles/hero/public/2022-10/painted-ladies-city-skyline-twilight.jpg.webp?itok=MVU3kPdc)
Home of the bold, the brave and the colorful.
This is the place to discover all things San Francisco and how you can experience the best of the city. A visit to San Francisco not only revitalizes the spirit; it leaves you inspired and more connected to yourself and to others. It all starts here.
![San Francisco Ballet in Tomasson's Swan Lake](/sites/default/files/styles/horizontal_3_2/public/2024-03/sf-ballet-swan-lake-2024.jpg.webp?itok=LBbSuYEN)
Your Guide to San Francisco's Performing Arts Events This Spring
See what's on stage in San Francisco this season and take in a show during your next visit.
Explore![The skyline of San Francisco is seen from the air in a golden light.](/sites/default/files/styles/horizontal_3_2/public/2022-09/san-francisco-skyline-from-the-air.jpg.webp?itok=UPfMIvCT)
Walking Through Women's History In San Francisco
A self-guided tour of women's history in San Francisco will take you through our most famous neighborhoods and past our most beloved icons.
Explore![The Golden Gate Bridge at sunset with a multicolored sky and the San Francisco Bay in the foreground.](/sites/default/files/styles/horizontal_3_2/public/2022-08/golden-gate-bridge-bay-sunset.jpg.webp?itok=VaL3AjW2)
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Be the first to know about upcoming events and festivals, new restaurants, special deals, and everything else happening in the City by the Bay.
Subscribe![Cable cars in downtown San Francisco](/sites/default/files/styles/horizontal_3_2/public/2022-10/cable-cars-downtown-san-francisco.jpg.webp?itok=GiWB7QY4)
View Our Digital Visitor's Guide
Check out our free San Francisco Traveler visitors' guide and learn how to explore San Francisco like a local.
View Guide
Explore San Francisco's
Neighborhoods
San Francisco is a city of neighborhoods, each with its own distinct flavor and charm. Choose a neighborhood on the map to learn more.
![Union Square during the daytime](/sites/default/files/styles/horizontal_3_2_small/public/2022-10/union-square-daytime.jpg.webp?itok=HlSW5FJ9)
Union Square
When the going gets tough, the tough go shopping in Union Square. Indeed, in a town with abundant citywide shopping, Union Square is the most renowned source of retail therapy.
![F Line in Fisherman's Wharf](/sites/default/files/styles/horizontal_3_2_small/public/2022-10/f-line-fishermans-wharf.jpg.webp?itok=bQwXtZDs)
Fisherman's Wharf
If there's one part of town that visitors — both first-timers and many-timers — equate with San Francisco, it's Fisherman's Wharf.
![SFMOMA next to the Yerba Buena Gardens](/sites/default/files/styles/horizontal_3_2_small/public/2022-11/sfmoma-soma.jpg.webp?itok=MzJNtcsK)
SoMa / Yerba Buena
In the 1970s, industry moved out and artists moved in. Now, SoMa has so much to experience, including the country's most beautiful ballpark.
![North Beach during twilight](/sites/default/files/styles/horizontal_3_2_small/public/2022-11/coit-tower-night-north-beach.jpg.webp?itok=DFelxGsr)
North Beach
Old Italy, the New Deal, memories of Kerouac and the Beats and echoes of the waterfront Bohemianism meet of-the-moment eateries in North Beach.
![Cable car on Nob Hill](/sites/default/files/styles/horizontal_3_2_small/public/2022-11/cable-car-nob-hill.jpg.webp?itok=u5BuD17x)
Nob Hill
Those little cable cars that climb halfway to the stars in Tony Bennett’s “I Left My Heart in San Francisco’’ are climbing Nob Hill, the historic and iconic neighborhood of San Francisco.
![The Ferry Building at Sunset from the bay.](/sites/default/files/styles/horizontal_3_2_small/public/2022-11/embarcadero-sunset-ferry-building.jpg.webp?itok=VyuBzxsm)
Embarcadero / Financial District
From captains of the high seas to captains of industry, the Embarcadero has often been where people first began their San Francisco journey.
![City Hall illuminated in orange light](/sites/default/files/styles/horizontal_3_2_small/public/2022-11/city-hall-orange-lights.jpg.webp?itok=Vjs0CtWQ)
Civic Center / Hayes Valley
This central city district encompasses everything from stately concert halls and museums to animated restaurants and wide-open public plazas just west of Downtown.
![Palace of Fine Arts at night.](/sites/default/files/styles/horizontal_3_2_small/public/2022-11/palace-of-fine-arts-nightjpg.jpg.webp?itok=dVby35bj)
Marina / Pacific Heights
The Marina's boutiques and restaurants attract a hip, younger crowd, while the views and stately homes of Pacific Heights take your breath away.
![The Peace Pagoda in Japantown](/sites/default/files/styles/horizontal_3_2_small/public/2022-11/japantown-pagoda.jpg.webp?itok=6IllKx35)
Japantown
San Francisco’s Japantown is the oldest in the U.S. From its famous Peace Pagoda to a variety of great eats, learn about this vibrant historic neighborhood.
![Fillmore Jazz Festival](/sites/default/files/styles/horizontal_3_2_small/public/2022-11/fillmore-jazz-festival.jpg.webp?itok=TO-LR62m)
Fillmore
A neighborhood full of music history, fine dining, and upscale shopping, The Fillmore packs more into a few city blocks than you can believe.
![Line Hotel on Market Street](/sites/default/files/styles/horizontal_3_2_small/public/2022-11/line-hotel-central-market.jpg.webp?itok=eBepCuLS)
Central Market
A combination of enterprise zone, high tech, arts groups, retail and restaurants, Central Market is witnessing a boom.
![Chinatown Lanterns](/sites/default/files/styles/horizontal_3_2_small/public/2022-11/chinatown-lanterns.jpg.webp?itok=XETF1NGK)
Chinatown
With its pagoda-style architecture, ornate lamp posts, exotic menus and other distinctive elements, a stop here can feel more like a trip abroad than a neighborhood stroll.
![Skateboarder in the Bayview neighborhood.](/sites/default/files/styles/horizontal_3_2_small/public/2022-11/skateboarder-bayview.jpg.webp?itok=nL6-KD5l)
Bayview
Bayview is the sunniest neighborhood in San Francisco, home to 35,000 residents, nesting ospreys and some of the most urban, diverse sights and bites in the city.
![A colorful, large-scale mural covers the side of the Women's Building in San Francisco's Mission District.](/sites/default/files/styles/horizontal_3_2_small/public/2022-12/womens-building-mural-mission.jpg.webp?itok=oTkMifnY)
Mission District
The Mission District is one of San Francisco’s most of-the-moment neighborhoods, packed with trend-setting boutiques, restaurants, and more.
![Aerial of the Castro District](/sites/default/files/styles/horizontal_3_2_small/public/2022-11/castro-aerial.jpg.webp?itok=eK9nKwQb)
Castro / Noe Valley
Regardless of your sexual orientation, no trip to San Francisco is complete without a visit to the world-famous Castro District, one of the country's first gay Neighborhoods.
![Haight-Ashbury sign](/sites/default/files/styles/horizontal_3_2_small/public/2022-11/haight-ashbury-sign.jpg.webp?itok=8zsxMMHE)
Haight-Ashbury
Start your Summer of Love experience on the corner of Haight and Ashbury streets, where 1960s flower power blossomed.
![Tulips bloom beneath one of Golden Gate Park's famous windmills.](/sites/default/files/styles/horizontal_3_2_small/public/2022-11/golden-gate-park-windmill-tulips.jpg.webp?itok=YI_-K2XH)
Golden Gate Park / Sunset
Within Golden Gate Park, you'll find lakes, gardens, museums, golf courses and a herd of bison. The Sunset offers a zoo, views of the Pacific Ocean and tasty eats.
![Golden Gate Bridge Presidio](/sites/default/files/styles/horizontal_3_2_small/public/2022-11/Golden-Gate-Bridge-presdio.JPG.webp?itok=iBWQIysT)
Richmond / Presidio
The southern anchor of the Golden Gate Bridge, the verdant, scenic Presidio, artfully reclaimed Crissy Field, and the Civil War-era Fort Point are just a few of the attractions in the northwest corner of town.
![Aerial of Treasure Island](/sites/default/files/styles/horizontal_3_2_small/public/2022-11/aerial-treasure-island.jpg.webp?itok=n6HpQwmO)
Treasure Island
This gem of an island offers a bustling urban winery scene, popular flea markets and photo ops of San Francisco's downtown skyline.