This island in San Francisco Bay is one of the city’s most popular attractions. It is the site of an infamous prison that operated for almost 30 years between 1933 and 1963. It is reached by ferries operated by Alcatraz Cruises (tel (415) 981 7625 (981 ROCK); website www.alcatrazcruises.com) from Pier 33 at Fisherman’s Wharf. It is extremely popular and during summer it is recommended to book tickets up to a week in advance.

San Francisco Bay (ferry from Hornblower Alcatraz Landing, Pier 33, Fisherman's Wharf)

Ferry Alcatraz Cruises

Tel (415) 981 7625 (981 ROCK)

Website www.nps.gov/alcatraz/ and www.alcatrazcruises.com

Admission sites on the island are free, but the ferry costs $24.50-31.50

Open first ferry 9am

California Academy of Sciences

This natural history museum features the 378,500 litre Steinhart Aquarium and the Morrison Planetarium.

875 Howard Street, San Francisco, CA 94103

Bus 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 9X, 12, 14, 14X, 16AX, 16BX, 21, 30, 31, 38, 38L, 45, 71, F, J, K, L, M, N BART Powell Street Muni Subway Powell Street

Tel (415) 321 8000
Website www.calacademy.org
Admission $10 ($6.50 students), free 1st Wed of month
Open 10am-5pm daily

California Palace of the Legion of Honor

The California Palace of the Legion of Honor is part Holocaust memorial and part art museum with an impressive collection that includes works by many of the great masters.

Lincoln Park, 34th Avenue & Clement Street, San Francisco, CA 94121
Tel (415) 863 3330
Website www.legionofhonor.org
Admission $10, free 1st Tue of month
Open Tue-Sun 9.30am-5.15pm

Coit Tower

Dating from 1933, this 64m-high tower on Telegraph Hill offers great views of the city and San Francisco Bay.

1 Telegraph Hill Boulevard, San Francisco
Bus 39 (Muni)
Tel (415) 362 0808
Admission $3.75
Open 10am-6pm daily

Exploratorium

Like many other science museums the Exploratorium is aimed at children, although many people still claim that it’s worth visiting for the pitch-black Tactile Dome.

3601 Lyon Street, San Francisco
Tel (415) 561 0360
Website www.exploratorium.edu
Admission $14 ($11 students)
Open Tue-Sun 10am-5pm

Fisherman’s Wharf

The touristy Fisherman’s Wharf at the northern end of the Embarkadero is a collection of bayside shops as well as several historic ships. It’s a pleasant spot to spend a few hours but the influx of tourists means that it is a long way from the working fishing port that it once was.

The Embarkadero (between Piers 39 & 47), San Francisco
Tram Embarkadero Cable car Powell-Hyde, Powell-Mason

Golden Gate Bridge

This 3.25km-long suspension bridge spans the Golden Straits that separate San Francisco City from Marin County.

Bus 28, 29
Tel (415) 921 5858
Website www.goldengatebridge.org
Pedestrian walkway open Jan-Apr 6am-6pm daily; May-Oct 5am-9pm daily; Nov-Dec 6am-6pm daily

Grace Cathedral

This Nob Hill cathedral is one of America’s largest Gothic buildings. It is noted for its stained glass and the contemporary murals that adorn its interior.

1100 California Street, San Francisco
Tel (415) 749 6300
Website www.gracecathedral.org
Admission $3 donation
Open Mon-Fri 7am-6pm, Sat 8am-6pm, Sun 7am-6pm; tours Mon-Fri 1pm-3pm, Sat 11.30am-1.30pm, Sun 12.30pm-2pm

Lombard Street

Lombard Street is often billed as ‘The Crookedest Street in the World’. This steep residential street is noted for its curves, which were built to enable horse-drawn carriages to make it up the steep hill.

Museum of Craft & Folk Art (MOCFA)

This museum displays decorative and functional art from around the world including furniture, clothing and jewellery.

51 Yerba Buena Lane, San Francisco, CA 94103
Tel (415) 227 4888
Website www.mocfa.org
Admission $5
Open Tue-Fri 11am-6pm, Sat-Sun 11am-5pm

San Francisco Art Institute

This art school has produced many leading American artists and its gallery hosts student exhibits. A highlight of the institute is the Diego Rivera Gallery, which features a 1931 Rivera mural.

800 Chestnut Street, North Beach, San Francisco
Tel (415) 771 7020 800 345 7324
Website www.sfai.edu
Open Jan-May Tue 5pm-7pm; Jun-Aug 9am-8pm daily; Sep-Dec Tue 5pm-7pm

San Francisco Museum of Modern Art

This excellent art gallery features five floors of exhibits including the west coast’s largest collection of 20th century art.

151 3rd Street, San Francisco
Tel (415) 357 4000
Website www.sfmoma.org
Admission $12.50 ($7 students), free 1st Tue of month
Open Jan-May Mon-Tue 11am-5.45pm, Thu 11am-8.45pm, Fri-Sun 11am-5.45pm; Jun-Aug Mon-Tue 10am-6pm, Thu 10am-9pm, Fri-Sun 10am-6pm; Sep-Dec Mon-Tue 11am-5.45pm, Thu 11am-8.45pm, Fri-Sun 11am-5.45pm

Destination Guides > North America > USA > West Coast > California > San Francisco> Sights

San Francisco

Sights

African-American Historical & Cultural Society Museum

Alcatraz Island