Walkers on a hike to the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco

Best Walks in San Francisco

San Francisco is a city to get lost in and the best way to achieve that is on foot. Sure, its many hills make for some steep climbs and descents, but you just know it's going to be worth it for those views: of the Downtown skyline, the glittering Bay, the soaring Twin Peaks, the majestic Golden Gate Bridge shrouded in summer fog. Former resident Jack Kerouac perhaps said it best in On The Road, when he waxed lyrical about ‘the city of San Francisco on her eleven mystic hills with the blue Pacific and its advancing wall of potato-patch fog beyond’. Step into your sensible shoes and take a stroll through the Golden City with us as we reveal our pick of the best walks in San Francisco.

Haight Ashbury and Golden Gate Park

Image of City, Bay Window, Window,

Start your day with a (literally) breathtaking climb to the summit of Buena Vista Park. Enter from the south side and, as you crest this really rather steep hill, your efforts will be rewarded with the awe-inspiring views that gave the park its name. Pause here for a well-earned rest as you take in that buena vista of the Golden Gate Bridge and its namesake park. Afterwards, amble down into the Haight Ashbury district, where the bohemian spirit of the ‘69 summer of love can still be felt in the colorful wall murals and laidback coffee joints. Spend some time meandering around Haight and Central, where rows of Victorian houses in flamboyant hues – cornflower blue, flamingo pink, mellow yellow – make for perfect Instagram eye candy.

Image of Grass, Nature, Outdoors, Park, City, Tree,

Onwards to Golden Gate Park, where strolling in more or less any direction will reveal untold wonders. It’s here you’ll find some of the city’s best museums: the majestic de Young fine art museum with its eye-catching burnished copper skin and soaring tower, and the huge California Academy of the Sciences, which houses an aquarium, planetarium, rainforest and natural history museum beneath the rolling green hills of its living roof. Visit the Japanese Tea Garden where gently winding paths, tranquil ponds and a splendid five-tiered pagoda make for a lovely stroll. Dedicated walkers can skirt the shimmering Stow Lake and make for the far end of the park, where bison roam their paddock and the traditional Dutch Windmill is one of the park’s most photographed attractions.

Lombard Street

Image of Garden, Nature, Outdoors, Grass, Park, Fence, Hedge, Neighborhood, City,

A short one, to be sure, but no list of the best places to walk in San Francisco would be complete without mentioning the most photographed street in the city. The steep, one-block section of Lombard that lies between Hyde and Leavenworth on Russian Hill is a rollercoaster ride of eight hairpin bends that’s said to resemble a playground slide. Stairs along both sides allow you to take your sweet time, admiring the street’s vibrant floral borders and quirky architecture and flooding your Instagram with as many snaps as you can.

Chinatown and North Beach

Image of Monastery, Shelter,

Start your Chinatown meander at Portsmouth Square, the heart of the neighborhood, where locals indulge in traditional pursuits including t’ai chi and Chinese chess, then head north into atmospheric lanes and alleyways that are alive with bustling markets, mah jong parlors and Chinese bakeries. Grab an egg-custard tart or three for sustenance as you wander to Waverly Place with its colorful flag-covered temple balconies, and Ross Alley, where workers in the tiny Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory assemble thousands of the crunchy future-predicting treats by hand every day.

Image of Building, Cityscape, Urban, City, Nature, Outdoors, Scenery, High Rise,

Head east along Jack Kerouac Alley to Columbus. This is Beat Generation territory, where Kerouac and fellow beatniks including Ginsberg and Cassady hung out in the 1950s, primarily at the Vesuvio bar and legendary City Lights bookstore. Hungry again already? Cannoli from the bakeries that line leafy Washington Square and its ornate, twin-spired church are some of the best in San Francisco. Suitably fortified, your steep climb up Greenwich Street to North Beach's iconic Coit Tower should just about be manageable. Finish with a walk down the Filbert Street Steps, where unusual wildflowers, chattering Telegraph Hill parrots and sweeping views of the San Francisco Bay Bridge and Treasure Island are all the reward you need.

Mission Murals

There are over 1,000 murals adorning San Francisco’s streets, with the highest concentration found in the trendy Mission district south of Downtown. You’ll find some of the best examples on narrow Clarion Alley, where local artists have covered seemingly every available surface with portraits, political art and tributes to the likes of George Floyd and Prince. Nearby Balmy Alley is no less colorful, with a large homage to great female artists including Frida Kahlo and Georgia O’Keeffe among its 40 or so pieces.

Image of Landscape, Nature, Outdoors, Scenery, Grass, Park, Panoramic, Building, Cityscape, Urban, City, Person,

While you’re in the neighborhood, take a stroll down quirky Valencia Street with its eclectic mix of fab coffee roasteries and interesting shops (Pirate Supply Store, anyone?). Then grab a gut-busting ‘Mission Burrito’ from one of the long-established local taquerias and head up to Dolores Park for sunny skies and great views of the Bay and Downtown.

The San Francisco Bay Shoreline

Pick up some of the sweet stuff at historic Ghirardelli Square, where the legendary Ghirardelli Company’s chocolate and ice-cream emporium has all the supplies you need to fortify you for your shoreline walk. Join the paved path that weaves westwards along the coast towards the Golden Gate Bridge and watch boats bob along in the Bay, carrying eager tourists to Alcatraz and the Angel Island State Park beyond. Both should be visible from here, fog permitting. Follow the trail as it passes through the Maritime National Historical Park, passing the picturesque Fort Mason wharves, and continue to the Palace of Fine Arts as you enter the Presidio.

Image of Nature, Outdoors, Scenery, Arch, Gothic Arch, Water,

Built for the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition, this faux palace is a monumental beaux-arts beauty that’s surrounded by swan-filled lagoons and lush green foliage. It’s a great spot to pause and cram in some more of that delicious chocolate before rejoining the path up to Fort Point, a Civil War-era fort beneath the Golden Gate Bridge which is where your hike ends, unless...

The Golden Gate Bridge

Image of Photography, Face, Happy, Head, Person, Smile, Adult, Female, Woman, Water, Waterfront, Portrait, Coat, Jacket,

Now you’re here, it would really be foolish – nay, rude – not to. For here’s where you’ll find some of the best views in all of San Francisco, not least the Downtown skyline and out shimmering azure blues of the Pacific. The best thing about walking the iconic red bridge is that you can go as long or short a distance across it as you like. But we recommend going the whole way to really make the best of its many vantage points. Head down into downtown Sausalito for a restorative beer and save your legs by taking the ferry back across to San Francisco.

Save on attractions in San Francisco

Save on admission to San Francisco attractions with Go City. Check out @GoCity on Instagram and Facebook for the latest top tips and attraction info.

Stuart Bak
Stuart Bak
Freelance travel writer

Stu caught the travel bug at an early age, thanks to childhood road trips to the south of France squeezed into the back of a Ford Cortina with two brothers and a Sony Walkman. Now a freelance writer living on the Norfolk coast, Stu has produced content for travel giants including Frommer’s, British Airways, Expedia, Mr & Mrs Smith, and now Go City. His most memorable travel experiences include drinking kava with the locals in Fiji and pranging a taxi driver’s car in the Honduran capital.

Continue reading

San Francisco skyline and the Golden Gate Bridge illuminated at night
Blog

San Francisco in February

Should you be willing to brave the regular windchill and rainfall of San Francisco in February, you’re bound to find yourself handsomely rewarded. In its winter low-season, the Golden City tends to be quieter than ever, leaving its top attractions and photo ops ripe for the picking. Visiting San Francisco in February Average Temperature: 48 - 61°F • Average Rainfall: 10 days/mth • Average Sunshine: 9 hours/day Continuing to plod through the winter months, San Francisco very much maintains its low-season character. Though you’ll still find plenty of tourists passing through the Golden City, this is one of the best times to explore some of its iconic sights and attractions without the need to battle with huge crowds. What’s more, many hotels tend to operate at somewhat of a discount on high-season rates, meaning you can often grab yourself quite the steal if you book sufficiently in advance! Though famously somewhat cooler than its other California neighbors in the summer, San Francisco maintains a minimum baseline throughout winter. Though you’d be best advised to wrap up for February to combat the inevitable wind chill, temperatures typically flirt between cool and pleasantly mild throughout the month. You’ll also want to pack an umbrella for the likelihood of at least two days of rainfall per week. Things to do in February Naturally, visiting San Francisco should come with the obligatory tour of some of its top monuments and landmarks. Take a stroll among the fiery beams of the world-renowned Golden Gate Bridge and sit back with a picnic in Alamo Square Park across from the iconic Painted Ladies. Be sure to also snap some photos of motorists attempting the twists and turns of the world’s most crooked road, Lombard Street. If you’re keen on exploring the city from a new perspective, there are few better ways to do so than atop a popular Bay Cruise, sitting back as you drift by the picture-perfect skyline. And if you’re looking to zip around the city a little faster, a Hop-On, Hop-Off Big Bus Tour operates a convenient route via most of San Francisco’s top sights, accompanied by optional audio commentary in several major languages. Families and the insatiably curious alike can easily fill a day or two exploring some of the Golden City’s brilliant educational centers. Electrify your senses with the interactive science exhibits at the Exploratorium – best experienced in the evening to avoid the rush of school groups. If that doesn’t quite scratch your itch, then perhaps the planetarium, aquarium, natural history museum and indoor rainforest of the California Academy of Sciences will do the trick. Those looking to feed their inner art enthusiast should head to the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, exhibiting contemporary art in its various mediums through the work of both well-established and lesser-known artists. In the same vein, complementing the large East Asian influence visible throughout the city, the Asian Art Museum exhibits over 17,000 art pieces from across the Asian continent. If history is more up your alley, make your way to the California Historical Society to gain some fascinating insight into the history of both San Francisco and California as a whole. And to complement the fourth-largest Jewish population in the US, the Contemporary Jewish Museum explores various facets of Jewish pop culture, history and artistic expression. Whether you’re visiting with kids or looking to embrace your inner child, the delightful exhibits of the Walt Disney Family Museum are bound to bring about a smile, exploring the life and work of the world’s most famous cartoonist. You’ll learn through over 40,000 square feet of engaging and interactive exhibits just how one man’s vision evolved into the family-favorite media empire we know and love today. Some of the best areas to explore in San Francisco largely reflect the city’s large East Asian-descended population. Both Chinatown and Japantown stand as some of the most trendy neighborhoods throughout the city, characterized by traditional architecture from their respective countries alongside various authentic cultural eateries and retailers. What’s On in February Chinese New Year Given its significant Chinese-descended population and its claim to the most impressive Chinatown in America, it comes as little surprise that the San Francisco Chinese New Year celebrations stand as some of the largest and most vibrant in the world. Naturally, the exact month of this celebration differs depending on the year, so be sure to double check if you’re keen to join in. Attracting a crowd of over three million observers from both near and far, the event is marked by various traditional markets, fairs, balls and cultural activities. Topping off the celebration is the famous Chinese New Year parade, featuring performers carrying flags, lanterns and drums along with a procession of colorful floats, not least of all the iconic 28-foot-long golden dragon. Valentine’s Day Whatever your perfect Valentine’s Day date night may look like, San Francisco has you covered. Whether you’re looking to take an intimate cruise through the bay, take a stroll through some of the city’s beautiful green spaces or wine and dine from a unique prix fixe menu under candlelight, there are few better places to treat that special someone to a date to remember. SF Indie Fest Independent cinema fans visiting San Francisco in February are in for a real treat, with almost two whole weeks of the month dedicated to the San Francisco IndieFest. The festival brings to the limelight the independent media usually overshadowed by stiff Hollywood blockbusters, celebrating independent and alternative films and the manpower that goes into them. Throughout the festival, visitors can attend a variety of screenings from both around the world and around The Bay. Those keen to absorb as much of the alternative cinema atmosphere as possible can grab a pass covering the whole event, providing access to all screenings throughout the festival. SF Beer Week Rarely is there a whole week more refreshing in San Francisco than SF Beer Week. Featuring more than 30 San Francisco Brewers Guild members alongside dozens more Northern California craft breweries, this week-long event celebrates the city’s local beer venues by inviting visitors to explore different beers up and down the Bay Area.
Robert Heaney
Iconic row of houses on Alamo Square
Blog

San Francisco in December

Already one of the United States’ most recognizable cities for its iconic architecture, vibrant culture, complex history and wealth of excellent activities, San Francisco adopts a whole new festive persona throughout December. Whether you’re keen to explore one of California’s most culturally diverse cities or cash in on some unique festive spirit, a trip to San Francisco in December could be just the ticket. Visiting San Francisco in December Average Temperature: 46 - 55°F • Average Rainfall: 10 days/mth • Average Sunshine: 6 hours/day As the winter period begins to unfold, San Francisco waves off the final few shoulder-season tourists enjoying the idyllic conditions of fall, while beckoning in a whole new wave of holiday season revelers. Though certainly quieter than the peak months of the year, San Francisco in December remains a bustling metropolis. Airfare and hotel rates tend to rise throughout this period, though may still come at something of a discount on summertime rates. Entering into December, the Golden City adopts a more modest climate, with temperatures averaging between cool and mild. Though you can expect somewhat regular sunshine, you’ll want to pack appropriately for the likelihood of at least two days of rainfall per week. For those looking to experience a festive wonderland, San Francisco unfortunately tends to see very little snow throughout December. Things to do in December Families and the inherently inquisitive alike are bound to get a kick from the Golden City’s wealth of educational hotspots. The California Academy of Sciences, for example, boasts a digital planetarium, an aquarium, a natural history museum and even an immense indoor rainforest. Meanwhile, the Exploratorium stands as the intersection between art and science, offering a wide range of engaging interactive exhibits to scratch your curiosity. Those looking to embrace their inner Dolittle should head to the San Francisco Zoo & Gardens, home to over 2,000 endangered and rescued creatures from around the world, alongside 100 acres of tranquil gardens populated with stunning plant species both local and exotic. If you’re keen to get up close and personal with some 20,000 beautiful marine animals, then follow up with a visit to the Aquarium of the Bay. If you’ve a hunger for the arts, San Francisco has you covered there, too. The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art explores various mediums of contemporary art, hosting established artists such as Andy Warhol alongside more experimental pieces. And nestled among much of the largely Asian influence throughout the city, the Asian Art Museum exhibits over 17,000 art pieces from across the continent, complemented by a selection of delicious and traditional cultural dishes served at the in-house café. History buffs should find their way to the California Historical Society, exploring various facets of the state’s history, with a general focus on San Fran itself. The USS Pampanito and USS Hornet each offer unique insights into American naval and nautical history, while the Contemporary Jewish Museum explores various aspects of Jewish pop culture, history and art. Of course, much of what San Francisco has to offer comes in the form of its architecture and landscape. If you’re looking for an engaging way to explore the city, then a Hop-On, Hop-Off Bus Tour offers both flexibility and expert insight throughout the day. For something a little more authentic, you simply can’t go wrong with a Bay Cruise, allowing you to sit back while you glide past many of the city’s top waterfront landmarks. With the holiday season in full swing, why not make the most of the festive spirit by exploring Union Square? Each year, Union Square becomes the epicenter of San Francisco’s holiday scene, boasting an awe-inspiring Christmas tree alongside a popular ice skating rink, making for an overall warm and jovial winter atmosphere. Round of the experience with a trip to Westfield Mall around the corner to bag yourself some holiday bargains! What’s On in December Dickensian Festivities Credited for having pioneered modern holiday spirit, Charles Dickens has permanently etched his place among worldwide Christmas tradition. In San Francisco, locals and visitors alike celebrate the holiday season with tickets to a Christmas Carol theater performance. Each year, the American Conservatory Theater puts on a delightful adaptation of the popular story, complete with a bubbly cast, vibrant costumes and a host of spooky ghosts. Tickets sell out very fast, so be sure to act quickly if you’re interested in catching one of these lauded performances. That isn’t the end of San Francisco’s Dickens-mania, though. For a series of weekends throughout the holiday season, the city hosts The Great Dickens Christmas Fair, complete with festive market stalls among an impressive replica of Victorian London. Visitors can enjoy various Victorian-themed events and pick up some treasures while exploring the world which so inspired the famous nineteenth-century writer. SantaCon You’d better watch out, as Santa Claus is coming to town in his masses! Each December, Union Square and its surrounding streets, bars and venues become overtaken by a colossal procession of Christmas characters, most of which end up in quite the drunken state as the day rolls on. This Santa-themed celebration comes complete with caroling, costume contests and stockingfuls of merriment. Though entirely free to enter, SantaCon asks that visitors bring unwrapped toy donations of any size and value to help local charity drives aimed at disadvantaged families across the city. And, of course, festive fancy dress is highly encouraged! New Year’s Eve The Golden City is considered to be among the top five destinations in the United States to spend New Year’s Eve, and that certainly isn’t without merit. Like many cities, San Fran veritably lights up with activity for the twilight hours of the year, with many of its top restaurants, bars and venues filled to the brim with jovial revelers. Throughout the night, the city hosts a number of popular live events and concerts to beckon in the turn of the new year. As the night reaches its peak, many flock to the waterside to watch as barges 1,000 feet out in the bay set off a magnificent firework display, illuminating their surroundings in a blaze of vibrant color. The most popular site to catch the show is typically just south of the Ferry Building near Pier 14.
Robert Heaney

Have a 5% discount, on us!

Sign up to our newsletter and receive exclusive discounts, trip inspiration and attraction updates straight to your inbox.

Thick check Icon