San Francisco - Attractions & Things To Do

Perhaps America’s most un-American major city. Sometimes its difficult to pinpoint exactly what country you’re in on a first visit to San Francisco, in some areas you could be in the soul of a Chinese market, whilst in others there is the distinctive sophisticated atmosphere of Europe.

You can visit San Francisco comfortably any time of year; the climate is moderate, except for the occasional chill that accompanies the rolling in of the fog. The temperature seldom drops below 40°F, nor rises to 80°F.

It is advisable to pack sweaters, jackets, and clothes for layering because of year round variations in temperature. Include shorts or cool cottons for summer and a bathing suit, as most hotels have a pool. The city can be chilly at any time of the year, especially in summer, when the fog descends and stays for longer periods. Rainfall amount is low year round, but humidity is often high due to the fog.

Although casual dress is the norm in California, men will need a jacket and tie for many good restaurants in the evening, and women will be more comfortable in something somewhat dressy.

Earthquakes:
Earthquakes are part of life in California. Most of which cause little tremors too small to notice. In case of a noticeable earthquake: seek cover; do not run outside. Stand under a doorway or against a wall and stay away from windows. If you exit a building after an earthquake, use stairs, not elevators. If you are in your car, pull over to the side of the road and stop, but not until you are away from bridges, overpasses, telephone poles, and power lines. Stay in your car. If you're out walking, stay outside and away from trees, power lines, and the sides of buildings. If you're in an area with tall buildings, find a doorway in which to stand.

Electricity:
The U.S. electrical standard is 110 volts-60 cycles AC. Foreign visitors travelling with dual-voltage appliances will not need a converter, but they will need a plug adapter. The standard U.S. electrical outlet takes a plug of two flat pins set parallel to one another. Accessibility

Telephones:
The country code for the United States is 1. The 415 area code is used in San Francisco and Marin County. The area code south of San Francisco on the Peninsula is 650. San Jose and other South Bay cities use 408. Oakland and Berkeley use 510, and a new 925 area code covers the area east of the Oakland Hills, from Walnut Creek to Concord to Moraga. The area code in the Wine Country is 707.
For assistance from an operator, dial "0".

International Calls:
International calls can be direct-dialled from most phones; dial 011, followed by the country code and then the local number the front pages of many local telephone directories include a list of overseas country codes. To have an operator assist you, dial "0" and ask for the overseas operator.

Long-Distance Calls:
Competitive long-distance carriers make calling within the United States relatively convenient and let you avoid hotel surcharges. By dialling an 800 number, you can get connected to the long-distance company of your choice. For details, contact AT&T 800-225-5288, MCI 800-888-8000, or Sprint 800-366-2255.

Public Phones:
Telephone-card phones, so popular elsewhere in the world, are becoming increasingly common. Grocery stores, newsstands, and other establishments sell the disposable phone cards, available in varying amounts from $5 and up. To activate the card, dial the code number and follow the instructions printed on the card.

Tipping:
At restaurants, a 15% tip is standard for waiters; up to 20% may be expected at more expensive establishments. The same goes for taxi drivers, bartenders, and hairdressers.

Holidays:
New Year's Day Jan. 1
Martin Luther King, Jr., Day 3rd Mon. in Jan.
President's Day 3rd Mon. in Feb.
Memorial Day last Mon. in May
Independence Day July 4
Labor Day 1st Mon. in Sept.
Thanksgiving Day 4th Thurs. in Nov.
Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Dec. 24 and 25
New Year's Eve Dec. 31.

Area Code:
The area code for San Francisco is 415; for Oakland, Berkeley, and much of the East Bay, 510; for the peninsula, 650. Business Hours Most banks are open Monday to Friday 9am to 3pm. Several stay open until about 5pm at least 1 day a week. Many banks also have ATMs for 24-hour banking
Most stores are open Monday to Saturday from 10 or 11am to at least 6pm, with shorter hours on Sunday. But there are exceptions: Stores in Chinatown, Ghirardelli Square, and Pier 39 stay open much later during the tourist season, and large department stores, including Macy's and Nordstrom, keep late hours. Most restaurants serve lunch from about 11:30am to 2:30pm and dinner from 5:30 to 10pm. They sometimes serve later on weekends. Nightclubs and bars are usually open daily until 2am.

Emergencies:
Dial tel. 911 for police, an ambulance, or the fire department; no coins are needed from a public phone

Post Office
There are many post offices around the city. The closest to Union Square is inside Macy's department store, 170 O'Farrell St. tel. 800-275-8777.

Crime-Prevention Information:
For crime-prevention information, phone San Francisco SAFE tel. 415-553-1984. Smoking Each year smoking laws become stricter. As of January 1, 1998, smoking was prohibited in restaurants and bars. Hotels are also offering more non-smoking rooms

Taxes:
An 8.5% sales tax is added at the register for all goods and services purchased in San Francisco. The city hotel tax is 14%. There is no airport tax.

Transit Information:
The San Francisco Municipal Railway, or Muni, operates the city's cable cars, buses, and Metro streetcars. For customer service, call 415-673-6864 weekdays 7am to 5pm, weekends 9am to 5pm.

Weather:
831-656-1725
Winter road condition information: 415-557-3755

San Francisco International Airport:
415-761-0800, just south of the city, off U.S. 101. Several domestic airlines serve the Oakland Airport tel. 415-577-4000, which is across the bay but not much farther away from downtown San Francisco via I-880 and I-80, although traffic on the Bay Bridge may at times make travel time longer. Flying times: 6 hours from New York, 4 hours from Chicago, and 1 hour from Los Angeles.
New SFO International Terminal;
Highlights of the new 2.5 million square foot terminal include: 24 additional gates with expanded U.S. Customs facilities to have passengers on their way in 45 minutes.
Faster baggage handling, with ten more baggage carousels than at the current International Terminal.
Twice the amount of ticket counter space as in the previous International Terminal to reduce lines.
18 new restaurants serving a wide variety of international cuisine.
37 new retail stores.
A $10 million permanent art collection.
An 11,000 square-foot Aviation Library and Museum.
3,200 new parking spaces.

A taxi ride from SFO to downtown costs about $30. Airport shuttles are inexpensive and efficient. The SFO Airporter $10 picks up passengers at baggage claim lower level and serves selected downtown hotels. Super Shuttle stops at the upper-level traffic islands and takes you from the airport to anywhere within the city limits of San Francisco. It costs from $11 to $13 depending on your destination. Inexpensive shuttles to the East Bay among them Bayporter Express also depart from SFO's upper-level traffic islands; expect to pay around $20. To drive to downtown San Francisco from the airport, take U.S. 101 north to the Civic Centre 9th Street, 7th Street, or 4th Street exit. If you're headed to the Embarcadero or Fisherman's Wharf, take I-280 north the exit is to the right, just past 3Com Park and get off at the 4th Street-King Street exit. King Street becomes the Embarcadero a few blocks east of the exit. The Embarcadero winds around the waterfront to Fisherman's Wharf.

By Train:
Amtrak: 800-872-7245 trains-the Zephyr, from Chicago via Denver, and the Coast Starlight, travelling between Los Angeles and Seattle-stop in Emeryville 5885 Landregan St. and Oakland 245 2nd St. in Jack London Sq.. Shuttle buses connect the Emeryville station and San Francisco's Ferry Building 30 Embarcadero at the foot of Market St.

Driving a Car in the City:
Driving in San Francisco can be a challenge because of the hills, the one-way streets, and the traffic. Remember to curb your wheels when parking on hills.
Exploring the city involves navigating a maze of one-way streets and restricted parking zones. Cable cars, buses, and trolleys can take you to or near most attractions. If you plan to visit distant outlying areas which are not accessible by subway, it is best to ret a car for the length of such trips, and plan to walk or use public transportation in the city of San Francisco and environs.

Subway:
BART, or Bay Area Rapid Transit ( 650-992-2278) provides efficient transportation to Oakland, Berkeley, Concord, Richmond, Fremont, Colma, and Martinez and other points. Trains also travel south from San Francisco as far as Daly City and Colma. Fares are low.

Taxi:
Whenever possible, avoid using taxis. Rates are high, and it is almost impossible to hail a passing cab, especially on weekends. If you must use one, either phone or use the nearest hotel taxi stand.

MUNI:
The Citywide public transportation agency is the San Francisco Municipal Railway, better known as Muni. It operates the world-famous cable cars, buses, trolley buses, a metro system, and historic streetcars trams.

Cable Cars:
There are three cable car routes in San Francisco. Two of these routes, the Powell-Hyde and the Powell-Mason, begin at the corner of Powell and Market Streets, and run north-south to and from Nob Hill and Fisherman's Wharf. At Fisherman's Wharf, you can board the Powell-Hyde line at Hyde and Beach Streets and the Powell-Mason line at Bay and Taylor Streets. The third line is the California line running east-west on California Street between Market Street and Van Ness Avenue, serving the Financial District, Chinatown and Nob Hill. This line tends to be the least crowded. The transfer point for all three lines is at Powell and California Streets. Cable cars can be boarded at any designated stop along the route. However, during the busy summer months, it is a good idea to wait at the terminal, as the cable cars usually fill up at the beginning of the line. There may be a 45- to 60-minute wait during the summer.

Buses-Trolley Buses:
Muni's buses and trolley buses run all over The City in frequent intervals usually every five to 20 minutes. Each route has a number and a name, i.e. 5-Fulton, 24-Divisadero, 42-Downtown Loop, which are prominently displayed on the front and side of the bus, along with the route's destination. Some routes, such as 38L-Geary Limited or 14L-Mission Limited, make only limited stops along their routes. Others, such as 9X-San Bruno Express or 31AX-Balboa "A" Express, operate non stop from downtown to the outer regions of The City. For more clarity on Muni service, purchase a Muni map.

Historic Streetcars Trams:You can travel back in time on the distinctive collection of historic streetcars.. Each car is painted in its original colours designating its origin in Boston, Chicago, Milan, or some other country in the world. . You can find these beautiful streetcars running along the centre of Market Street from the Transbay Terminal in downtown to the Castro District. They are collectively known as line F-Market.

Metro:
Beginning downtown at Embarcadero Station, the Muni Metro's five underground streetcar lines J-Church, K-Ingleside, L-Taraval, M-Ocean View and N-Judah take you under Market Street to various points of interest in the western and southwestern regions of The City. The J and N lines branch off after Van Ness station and operate on the surface, and the K, L and M continue underground to West Portal Station before splitting into their own separate surface lines. In the subway section of the system, J and N cars are often coupled together, as are K, L and M cars.

Because of ongoing repairs, the Metro currently closes every evening at 10 pm. Shuttle bus service is available until 12:30 am on the K, L, M and N lines, and the F-Market historic streetcar service is extended during this time to cover the J line. Board F-Market streetcars and shuttle buses at the island stops on Market Street.
Call for current fare schedule.
Please have the exact fare ready when you board; Metro fare gates do not accept any dollar bills.

Transfers: A two-part transfer slip is provided when you pay your fare on buses, streetcars and Metro lines. This transfer allows you to transfer two more times to any bus, streetcar or Metro line. No transfers are given or accepted on cable cars; single fares must be paid each time you board.

Hours Of Operation:
Monday-Friday 5:30 am-12:30 am
Saturday 6 am-12:30 am
Sunday 7:30 am-12:30 am
Limited late night service is also offered on some lines.
Muni offers three discount transit passes, subject to availability. All can be purchased at the Visitor Information Centre at 900 Market Street, downstairs from the Powell-Market cable car terminal. Just walk to Powell and Market. The banners hanging above the cable car terminal will point you to the Centre.

The Muni:
Passports include the cable cars, Muni buses, Muni Metro and the F-Market streetcars. You can travel anywhere within San Francisco with the Passport. In addition, you will receive savings on your entrance fees at most city museums and many of our city's attractions when you show your Muni Passport. One, three and seven day passports available.

Gold was discovered at nearby Sutter's Mill in 1848, since then visitors from all over the world have flocked to San Francisco, then as entrepreneurial gold diggers, and today as residents and visitors

San Francisco Bay was the source of the city's livelihood for a very long time, and it remains the key to the city to this day. The Golden Gate Bridge, a San Francisco icon, is 1.7 miles long and frames the Bay. Located around the Bay are several remarkable beaches and parks. Golden Gate Park contains several museums, gardens, and open spaces. The Presidio, a 200 year old Spanish Fort, is also a well-known Bay Area attraction. Fisherman's Wharf and Pier 39 are national landmarks, offering breathtaking views, fine restaurants and great shopping. Steinhart Aquarium is the oldest municipal aquarium in America, featuring a wide selection of creatures from both the Bay and the Pacific Ocean. Of course, no tour of the Bay would be complete without mentioning Alcatraz, America's most famous prison, and now San Francisco's number one tourist attraction.

Moving away from the Bay, San Francisco only gets better. The city's famous steep hills and trolley cars run back and forth between museums like the Museum of the Legion of Honor and attractions like the San Francisco Zoo, which houses over 1000 animals on 65 acres. The world-famous San Francisco Opera is also a perennial favourite among visitors, as are the city's numerous restaurants. In fact, inhabitants of San Francisco spend more on dining out per person than any city in America. For a breath of fresh air and a temporary escape from the city a ferry trip over to the artists colony and fishing town of Sausalito is a must. Take a look here at some of the best attractions the city and its surroundings have to offer.

Cable Car Barn & Museum
1201 Mason/Washington Tel; (415) 474-1887
Visitors come here to learn about one of San Francisco's most enduring icons, the cable car. Displays on the history of San Francisco's cable cars include information on how they work, how they developed, and how they are built.

Hershey Factory & Visitor Centre
120 South Sierra Ave., Oakdale. Tel; (209) 848-8126
For some inexplicable reason kids love this place! Visitors enjoy free tours showing the process of making Hershey chocolate from cocoa beans to candy bars. The world of Hershey is vast, and guests get to see it all. Free samples of the end product are available.

 PIER 39
Beach/Embarcadero (M, 2) (415) 981-PIER
It may be a little tacky and it may be a little expensive but no visitor to city can leave without wandering around here with its magnificent views across the bay to Alcatraz and beyond. This is San Francisco's version of the old-fashioned boardwalk, and features over 100 specialty shops, 10 restaurants and family attractions including Turbo Ride, the Venetian Carousel and the famous California sea lions.

Aquarium of the Bay
PIER 39 (M, 2) (415) 546-2700
This World takes you right to the fish in a very unique way! Aquarium of the Bay is America's first "under the sea" aquarium experience. Visitors walk through the all-new 707,000-gallon aquarium in sea-through tunnels. Guests get to get much closer to marine life than conventional aquariums allow.

Alcatraz
No visit to San Francisco would be complete without a visit to America's most famous prison. No one has ever escaped from "the Rock" to tell the tale. This prison housed some of America's most feared criminals in the middle of San Francisco bay. Closed for over several decades, Alcatraz is one of San Francisco's most visited attractions. Visitors tour the island and get a taste of life "on the inside."

Golden Gate Bridge
This landmark is a symbol of San Francisco and the Bay Area. The Bridge is an architectural marvel, and is one of the longest suspension bridges in the world. The two towers are purposely out of alignment in order to compensate for the curvature of the earth. Its orange shape is beautiful to behold, whether it is on a clear day, or peaking above the rolling fog of the bay. Visitors should drive across it, take photographs of it, and enjoy this national landmark.

Blue & Gold Fleet
PIER 39, (M,2) (415) 773-1188.
This fleet brings guests along on a spectacular 1-hour narrated tour of the San Francisco Bay. The cruise includes passing under the Golden Gate Bridge and sailing around Alcatraz.
 
Chinatown
Some of San Francisco's first immigrants were from China, and they're influence on the city is notable. Chinatown has grown over the years, and is now a Mecca for Asian culture and cuisine. Visitors will enjoy the atmosphere, the history, and the contribution of this important group of San Francisco residents. From the original Chinese laundries, to the best Chinese food in the West, Chinatown has lots to offer everyone.

Fisherman's Wharf
Millions visit this part of San Francisco each year to gaze across the piers, take in the local scene, and enjoy the attractions of numerous restaurants and fun things to do. Fisherman's wharf represents a modern San Francisco, but at a little slower pace. Visitors love the neighbourhood and take in the sight of regulars and other visitors. San Francisco bay is beautiful from here!

San Francisco City Information

Population:
740,000 in the city and 6.5 million if the surrounding Bay area is included.

Location:
at the northern end of a hilly peninsula between the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay in northern California.

Elevation:
Built on 43 hills; so elevation varies from close to sea level to 929 feet.

Area:
46 square miles

Languages:
Less than half the population was born in the US, and over 100 languages are spoken. Newspapers and magazines are published in 31 different languages.

Time Zone:
San Francisco is in the Pacific standard time zone, which is 8 hours behind Greenwich mean time and 3 hours behind eastern time. For accurate time, tel. 415-767-8900.

Weather: Average Temperatures(in Fahrenheit):

San Francisco top highlights and attractions

• Alcatraz Island
• Attractions & Things To Do
• Cable Car Ride
• Sausalito
• The Golden Gate Bridge
• Union Square