San Francisco
Seven by seven miles of steep hills, fog rolling through the Golden Gate, and neighborhoods that shift every few blocks. San Francisco is the sourdough, the cable cars, and Chinatown — but it's also the burritos in the Mission, vintage shops in Haight-Ashbury, and that moment when the fog clears and you see the bay. Smaller than you'd think, but there's a lot packed in.
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San Francisco travel FAQ
How many days should I spend in San Francisco?
3–4 days covers the highlights. Day 1: Golden Gate Bridge walk, Fisherman's Wharf, and cable car ride. Day 2: Alcatraz (book weeks ahead), Chinatown, and North Beach for Italian food. Day 3: Mission District for burritos and murals, Castro, and Haight-Ashbury. Day 4: Day trip to Muir Woods or Wine Country. The city is walkable but those hills are no joke.
Is San Francisco safe for tourists?
Tourist areas like Fisherman's Wharf, Union Square, and the Embarcadero are generally safe. The Tenderloin neighborhood can be rough — worth knowing its boundaries. Car break-ins are common, especially near tourist spots — never leave anything visible in a parked car. Use common sense and you'll be fine. The city overall is walkable and friendly.
What food should I try?
A Mission burrito is mandatory — La Taqueria or El Farolito are the classics. Sourdough bread at Boudin Bakery on the Wharf (it's touristy but actually good). Dim sum in Chinatown — try Good Mong Kok Bakery for the BBQ pork buns. Clam chowder in a bread bowl at the Wharf. For a food hall experience, Ferry Building Marketplace has some of the best artisan vendors in the country.