Plan Your Trip
San Francisco is an exciting destination for all, home to diverse neighborhoods, historic landmarks, glamorous restaurants and bars, and some of the best museums in the world. Views of the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay are often laced with fog, creating a romantic mood in this “most European of American cities.”
The city has a colorful past, growing from a small village to a major city nearly overnight because of the 1849 gold rush. The writers of the beat generation, the hippies of the Summer of Love in the late 1960’s and the LGBTQ+ population have all contributed to making San Francisco the fascinating and diverse place that it is today.
What to Do in San Francisco
Dining
San Francisco is home to one of the most innovative, diverse, and forward-thinking culinary scenes in the United States. Fresh, locally sourced food is served at many restaurants year-round, and San Francisco’s unique cultural diversity is reflected in the many ethnic cuisines available throughout the city. San Francisco is a city of delicious depth and range, its dynamic restaurant scene shaped by world-class chefs drawing on the bounty of local farms.
Sightseeing
When you think of San Francisco, the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz Island, and steep city streets often come to mind. These mainstays never lose their luster! With endless museums to explore – from world-class aquariums and zoos to interactive science exhibits and diverse art collections – you’ll have no problem filling your free time and entertaining your family.
The reasons to visit San Francisco don’t end outside Fisherman’s Wharf. Each of San Francisco’s major neighborhoods has its own distinct culture and charm, from shopping around Union Square to dim sum in Chinatown. Don’t be afraid to wander a little farther into the many diverse neighborhoods that San Francisco has to offer.
San Francisco’s Welcome Ambassadors
While you are in San Francisco, you’ll find plenty of friendly faces ready to greet you. Meet the official San Francisco Welcome Ambassadors.
Welcome Ambassadors are knowledgeable, multi-lingual, and committed to sharing their love of San Francisco with visitors. You can find them out and about, 7 days a week, in some of our most popular neighborhoods—including Chinatown, North Beach, and SoMa—from 8am to 8pm. Just look for their bright orange jackets—the same color as the Golden Gate Bridge.
Not sure how to get to Fisherman’s Wharf? Welcome Ambassadors can provide directions to popular visitor attractions. Looking for restaurant recommendations near your Union Square hotel? Welcome Ambassadors can help you find exactly the kind of meal you’re craving. Need someone to take a picture of you and your fellow travelers in front of a legendary San Francisco landmark? Welcome Ambassadors would be happy to do that for you. For visitors and residents alike, Welcome Ambassadors provide a friendly welcome during commuting hours at main transit stops along Market Street from Powell Street to the Ferry Building.