San Francisco travel guide

San Francisco situated on a peninsula between San Francisco Bay and the Pacific Ocean is a true mosaic of cultures. This city on the sea has represented since the 1960s’ the hope for a better life for many ethnic and sexual minorities excluded by American society. San Francisco is different from the rest of the USA for the blend of the multicultural population, the tolerance and the open disposition towards the outside world. The originality of San Francisco is reflected in the way of life, the individuality of the cultural movements, the hippy movement in the sixties originated there, and the trendy atmosphere. The city architecture unlike other American cities doesn’t have many tall buildings in the centre, as they must follow very strict and precise urban rules.
Among its many famous landmarks are the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge, the Golden Gate Bridge, Chinatown, the steep roads and the city’s cable cars.
Amongst the many city areas Downtown is good for shopping and exclusive restaurants; Russian Hill and Nob Hill are residential areas with the famous Victorian houses and the very steep streets. Haight-Ashbury, the former hippyland that today has become rather cool and trendy with the multicoloured houses, the revolutionary murals, the music and book shops is the epicentre of street fashion. Castro and Upper Market, the heart of the gay community, are lively both day and night and offer many trendy shops, bars and restaurants. North Beach and Telegraph Hill, the Italian district, offer plenty of restaurants and coffee shops. At night, Soma offers trendy bars, gay clubs and fashionable restaurants. Pacific Heights and Marina, the two wealthiest areas in San Francisco, the first on the hills and the latter on the sea are ideal for pleasant walks and shopping. At the two ends of the Golden Gate Park are the residential areas of Richmond and Sunset.
Check out the areas on our interactive maps, you can have an aerial satellite view of the street you wish to find.