I couldn’t spend time in my favourite city without snapping a few classic San Francisco images. A coastal city built on the hills, there are plenty of interesting sites and unusual things to do in San Francisco.
Golden Gate Bridge
The most iconic San Francisco images include the Golden Gate Bridge. Connecting the city to Marin County to the North, the bridge was once the world’s longest suspension bridge (until 1964). Construction on the bridge took four years and began in 1933, during the Great Depression. The US Navy had wanted to paint it black with yellow stripes. Personally, I am glad it is “international orange”.
Alcatraz island
Sitting in the middle of the bay, Alcatraz Island prison gave it’s prisoners a view of freedom out its windows. Now it is a National Recreation Area. It was once “home” to Al Capone and George “Machine-Gun” Kelly.
Cable car
I think it is the cable car that comes to mind first when people think of classic San Francisco images.
Buena Vista Cafe
Locals and tourists flock to Beuna Vista cafe for one of their famous Irish Coffees.
Palace of Fine Arts
One of my personal favourite spots in San Francisco, the Palace of Fine Arts was built for the San Franciso’s Panama-Pacific Exposition in 1915. It exhibited works of art. It was rebuilt in 1965 and retrofitted in 2009. Visiting here is often thought of as one of the romantic things to do in San Francisco.
Chinatown
The Dragon Gate welcomes tourists to Chinatown along Grant Ave (at the intersection with Bush Street). While filled with shops, they tend to attract tourists. Locals wanting Chinese goods tend to do their everyday shopping one block to the west on Stockton Street.
Transamerica and Sentinel buildings
The Transamerica Pyramid Building (white) is the tallest building in San Francisco. The green building in the foreground is the Sentinel Building, home to American Zoetrope – the film studio founded by Francis Ford Coppola and George Lucas.
Faceless statues
Certainly one of the more unusual things to do in San Francisco, we stared up at these 12-foot faceless, hollow statues on the 23rd floor in the city’s financial district. There are 12 of them in total. Locals walk by daily without giving them so much as a glance.
Oakland Bay Bridge
Standing much longer than the Golden Gate Bridge, the San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge is not nearly as well known. In fact, a visit here would be considered amongst the non-touristy things to do in San Francisco. The bridge crosses the San Francisco Bay heading towards Oakland. A section of this bridge collapsed during the earthquake of 1989.
Coit Tower
Coit Tower on Telegraph Hill is named for Lillie Hitchcock Coit. She left a substantial bequest “for the purpose of adding to the beauty of the city I have always loved.”
Fisherman’s Wharf
The world-famous San Francisco Fisherman’s Wharf is still popular with tourists and locals. It’s also home to Boudin’s Sour Dough bread, a personal favourite of mine.
The Cannery
The Cannery is now a mall with several eateries. It was originally built in 1907 (after the big earthquake) by Del Monte as the world’s largest fruit-canning plant.
Getting to the classic sites of San Franciso
I know we missed a few, like Lombard Street and the Painted Ladies. But overall, I think we saw a good collection of the classics.
My favourite classic monkey bench
Everyone has their favourite spot in San Franciso. Most are one of the classic San Francisco images above. Mine is this “Speak no evil, see no evil, hear no evil monkey bench:”
Where to stay in San Franciso
We stayed at The Sir Francis Drake Hotel, a Kimpton property with a secret prohibition room. Getting up into it is definitely one of the unusual things to do in San Fransico. If you want to stay in the perfect spot, check for deals and low prices at booking.com.
Please Share
If you enjoyed these images, please share on social media, including Pinterest:
San Francisco is one of my favourite USA destination cities.
Tina
I loved San Francisco when I was there a couple years ago. I wasn’t able to make it to Alcatraz island though, I’d like to return to visit it.
Billy
Have you seen the murals of the Mission District? If not, check them out on your next SF visit. Off the standard beaten tourist path, but they are amazing! Nearby Dolores Park and Mission Dolores are also fantastic.
Rhonda Albom
I used to live in San Francisco, so most of what we do isn’t touristy. I will add this to my mental list for my next visit.
Villroses hage
Oh yes 🙂 Went there and took these pictures back in 1979!
Rhonda Albom
Yes, classic pictures. Some things really don’t change much.
TheChieftess
San Francisco is a beautiful city!! You captured snippets of it well! Love your Golden Gate Bridge photos!
Rhonda Albom
I took the photo of the Golden Gate Bridge on the side across from the city.
Martha Z
Great views of San Francisco, brought back many memories.
Rhonda Albom
Thanks Martha. It brought back memories for me too.
Trekking with Becky
Great shots! 😀 I love seeing the classic shots (that I know) as well as the others. 😀
Rhonda Albom
There is no shortage of photo opportunities in San Francisco. Although I didn’t get to take a shot of my sourdough rolling down the hill. I was in shock and disbelief.
indah nuria
classic but beautiful, Rhonda..I can’t never get bored with it 🙂
Rhonda Albom
Thanks. There is so much to see in San Francisco.
Merlinda Little ( @pixiedusk)
Lovely photos and the Architecture ones are my favorites!
Rhonda Albom
Thanks Merlinda.
Jay @CraftySpices
Definitely The Golden Gate Bridge image is one of San Francisco must have shots. Not to say you did get some really nice pictures all together.
We have never been to San Francisco but it’s a place that I would like to visit one day.
Thanks for sharing !
Rhonda Albom
I agree, that’s why I added the older shot.
Kathe W.
one of my favorite places- we’ll be there in August!
Rhonda Albom
Have fun, and remember a jacket. The fog rolls in on August afternoons.
Deb Nance
You did great! Hope you stopped by City Lights Bookstore, though.
Rhonda Albom
Missed it this time.
Brooke
Your photos made me miss San Francisco! It must have been wonderful to photograph a city with so much color and vibrant designs. I always have a special place in my heart for this city.
Rhonda Albom
It’s a wonderful city for just about everything. I miss living there.
Sharon
One of my favorite cities! You’ve captured it well! My last visit, we rented bikes and rode across the Golden Gate Bridge. Such a fun adventure! Thank you for taking me on a photo journey to lovely San Fran!
Rhonda Albom
Bikes across the bridge, I haven’t done that since I was single. Quite a long time ago.
Stacy Uncorked
Awesome shots, Rhonda! Brought back so many memories of my visits there – it’s been waaaaay too long since we’ve been there, might have to talk the hubby into revisiting all our favorite spots! 🙂
Rhonda Albom
That was how I felt, way too long. Yet for us it was only a few years.
Buckeroomama
We were just there a few weeks ago and looking through your pictures brings back memories. 🙂
Rhonda Albom
Good memories, I hope.
Parent Club
San Francisco is on my bucket list
Rhonda Albom
I hope it moves to the top quickly.
Kristin Aquariann
Awesome photos! I hope I get to visit San Francisco again some day with a digital camera – the last time I was there I was still using film.
Rhonda Albom
LOL – was that a really long time ago, or did you hang on to your favorite technology?
Teresa Kindred
You make such great pictures! Wish I had your talent!
Teresa
Rhonda Albom
Thanks Teresa 🙂
Karren Haller
Beautiful shots, I had the opportunity to vacation in San Francisco and had a wonderful time including Lombardie Street, that was when it was still open to drive down.
Rhonda Albom
Without a car, climbing the hill to photo Lombard Street just felt like too much.
stevebethere
Brilliant shots Rhonda and I agree with Alex 🙂
That Green Sentinal building is amazing, whenever I see photos of San Francisco it always reminds me of that series “Tales Of The City” from the 80’s
Have a santastic day and I like that photo of you both too …cheers 🙂
Rhonda Albom
{Blushing} Thanks
Terri Vanech
great shots!
Rhonda Albom
Thanks Terri
Nancy
Great shots of some San Francisco icons!
Rhonda Albom
There are so many icons in SF.
Amila @Leisure and Me
Beautiful views from San Francisco.The bridge is really wonderful!
Rhonda Albom
It is a beautiful city 🙂
Patrick Weseman
Very shots of the place I was born in and the place I work in.
Rhonda Albom
Thanks Patrick.
Carola Bartz
Wonderful images of this beautiful city. Crossing the Golden Gate Bridge still gives me goosebumps every time – after 15 years! My favorite image is the one of the Chinese lanterns. The red really pops.
Rhonda Albom
That’s what I was trying to explain to my friends who were trying to pull me away, the lanterns were a shot to be taken.
L. Diane Wolfe
You captured it beautifully. That Sentinel Building has so much personality.
Rhonda Albom
Such a cool building, with the added fun of wondering what is going on inside.
Tanja (the Red phone box travels)
great photos! they’re classic for a reason:)
Rhonda Albom
Very true.
Comedy Plus
I love any shot of the Golden Gate Bridge. It’s a beautiful sight from the land and especially on the water. Been under it in our boat several times.
Have a fabulous day Rhonda. 🙂
Rhonda Albom
I have been directly under it in a boat, but never crossed completely. Our insurance only covered us to the center.
Janie Junebug
My favorite place in San Francisco is City Lights Bookstore, but I also love the Museum of Modern Art.
Love,
Janie
Rhonda Albom
Two that I missed. MOMA only just reopened after three years being closed, so I just imagined the queue to be too long.
Alex J. Cavanaugh
Awesome shots! You need to make your own book on traveling through San Francisco.
Rhonda Albom
Wow Alex, thanks. I am blushing.