San Francisco Visitors Planning Guide - 2017
Neighborhood Map
2017-01-09 14:35:57
Each of San Francisco’s major neighborhoods has its own culture and charm. And some would add, climate. The Mission District is known for its sunny disposition; however, as you get closer to the Pacific, temperatures can drop and fog is common. Here’s an introduction to the city’s most prominent locales. Discover more about these San Francisco neighborhoods and many others at sftravel.com/neighborhoods.
1. RICHMOND/PRESIDIO
Comprised of Golden Gate National Recreation Area, the Presidio has fragrant eucalyptus trees, hiking trails, a campground and golf course, while the adjacent Richmond district offers eclectic shopping and dining.
2. SUNSET/ GOLDEN GATE PARK
The Sunset offers a zoo and Pacific views. Within Golden Gate Park, you can find lakes, gardens, museums, golf courses and a herd of bison.
3. CASTRO/ NOE VALLEY
Find outdoor cafés and bustling bars in the “gay capital of the world.”
4. MISSION DISTRICT
San Francisco’s oldest neighborhood has hip restaurants, music venues, boutiques, an impressive events calendar and the city’s largest concentration of murals.
5. BAYVIEW
Home of the oldest opera house in San Francisco, this area also boasts a vibrant artists’ colony at the old Hunters Point shipyard, billed as America’s largest art colony.
6. CHINATOWN
Rebuilt after the 1906 earthquake, San Francisco’s Chinatown is the oldest in North America. This thriving Chinese American community’s restaurants, gift shops and grocery stores make it an irresistible attraction. And the pagoda roofs and dragon lampposts serve as great photo backdrops.
7. CENTRAL MARKET
A bustling combination of enterprise zone, tech businesses, arts groups, retail and restaurants, Central Market is witnessing a boom.
8. FILLMORE
One of the primary incubators for the city’s revitalized music scene, Fillmore is where musical greats like Billie Holiday and Duke Ellington headlined jazz clubs back in the day. Catch a concert at the famed 1960s Fillmore music emporium.
9. FISHERMAN’S WHARF
The waterfront markets, fishing boats, kitschy souvenir shops and famous sea lions make Fisherman’s Wharf one of San Francisco’s most popular destinations.
10. HAIGHT-ASHBURY
The Summer of Love is immortalized in Haight-Ashbury’s vintage clothing, book and record stores, while Alamo Square’s tight formation of Victorian homes is one of the most photographed scenes in San Francisco.
11. JAPANTOWN
The oldest of only three Japantowns left in the country, the area is packed with cultural gems, including Sundance Kabuki Cinema and Benkyodo, which has supplied the city with handmade rice confections since 1906.
12. MARINA/ PACIFIC HEIGHTS
From the posh plateau of Pacific Heights to the bayside Marina Green, these neighborhoods offer views, scenery and a restored “palace” from 1915.
13. CIVIC CENTER/ HAYES VALLEY
Civic Center is home to some of the city’s largest governmental and cultural institutions, while bustling Hayes Valley has antique and book shops, restaurants, galleries and the SFJAZZ Center.
14. EMBARCADERO/ FINANCIAL DISTRICT
Lined with deep-water piers, this historic area boasts views of soaring skyscrapers; the Ferry Building, a public space housing a food hall and farmers’ market; and The Exploratorium, a future-forward learning laboratory.
15. NOB HILL
Known not only as a geographic high point but an economic one, too, with a history of wealthy residents, Nob Hill is now home to luxury hotels, beautiful gardens and impressive homes.
16. NORTH BEACH
Rich in Italian heritage, North Beach has Italian restaurants, cabarets, jazz clubs, galleries, inns, boutiques and gelato parlors.
17. SOMA/YERBA BUENA
This neighborhood is one of the densest neighborhoods for art outside New York and has nightclubs, “pocket parks” and AT&T Park, home of the San Francisco Giants.
18. UNION SQUARE
Union Square is the center of San Francisco’s shopping scene with art galleries, restaurants and small boutiques, designer shops and name-brand stores.
19. TREASURE ISLAND
Views of downtown San Francisco, several urban wineries, special events and weekend flea markets are the draw to this mid-point for the Bay Bridge.
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