Attractions

The Handlery Hotel is just steps from a cable car stop, where you can hop aboard a cable car for the 20-minute ride to Fisherman’s Wharf, just as San Franciscans have been doing since 1873.

Take a short stroll over to Union Square, where you’ll find the major department stores, boutique shops, international fashion houses, art galleries, outdoor cafés and restaurants, theaters and nightclubs.

From stunning bay views and majestic sea lions sunning themselves on the rocks to the freshest seafood, chowder bread bowls, local wines and a variety of restaurants and bars, this famous waterfront district is exactly the San Francisco you’ve come to discover.

Beyond its iconic entry gate, the largest Chinatown outside of Asia and the oldest in North America offers a rich and vibrant immersion into Far Eastern culture, cuisine and heritage.

The second you set foot on “The Rock,” you’ll understand why every one of the 2,000 inmates who did time hard here wanted nothing more than to get off. Serving as a federal prison from 1933 until 1963, this desolate, wind-battered island in the middle of chilly San Francisco Bay hosted some of the country’s most notorious criminals, including Al "Scarface" Capone and George "Machine Gun" Kelly, and The Birdman of Alcatraz.

Whether you’re looking for a place to jog, walk, bike or throw down a blanket and soak up a little sun, this 1,000-acre park extending from the Haight all the way to the Pacific coast is just the place to do it. From woods, trails, lakes and gardens to sports facilities, museums and a buffalo habitat, Golden Gate Park has something for everyone.

This dramatically designed gem is a testament to eco-friendly, energy-efficient design and biodiversity with a plant–covered living roof, retractable ceiling, three-story rainforest and a massive planetarium. Animal exhibits include a rare albino alligator, penguin habitat, butterfly exhibit and a living coral reef.

With its remarkable all-copper façade and 144-foot tower offering spectacular panoramic views of the city, the de Young Museum is worth a visit for its architecture alone. Inside, you will find one of the world’s foremost collections of American, African, and Oceanic art, and ever-changing special exhibits.

Perched upon a cliff overlooking the San Francisco Bay and the Golden Gate Bridge, this European art museum houses over 20 galleries exhibiting everything from English and European porcelain artifacts to ancient Assyrian, Greek, Roman, and Egyptian art. And ever-changing traveling exhibits.

This magnificent forest is home to some of the oldest and tallest old-growth coast redwood trees in the country, including one tree that is 252 feet tall and another that is 14-feet wide. Many are believed to be between 800 and 1,000 years old, while a few may date back as many as 1,500 years. The park has trails for visitors of all ages and fitness levels, including several wheelchair accessible trails.

Catch Major League Baseball’s three-time world Series Champions, the San Francisco Giants, in action at Oracle Park, whose bayfront setting makes it one of the most spectacular parks in all of baseball. It’s just a twenty minute walk away.

The first West Coast museum devoted to modern and contemporary art, SFMOMA houses a world-class collection of international and domestic art encompassing six terraces, a new sculptural staircase and Roman steps. Highlights include works by Alexander Calder, Chuck Close, Frida Kahlo, Jackson Pollock, Gerhard Richter, Richard Serra, Cindy Sherman and more.