San Francisco Airport lies 13 miles south of downtown San Francisco. It is the second busiest airport in California after Los Angeles Airport.
Founded in 1776, San Francisco has since grown into the second most densely populated city in the USA after New York.
What is There to Do in San Francisco?
Drive over to Pier 39, a popular tourist destination with a shopping centre built on the pier. Take a boat tour of the surrounding area or visit the Aquarium of the Bay, a public aquarium focused on local aquatic animals from San Francisco Bay.
Head over to Alcatraz Island and the infamous prison. This is the site of the oldest operating lighthouse on the west coast of the United States. The Island has become a tourist attraction in its own right and offers guided tours day and night.
Take a trip to Lombard Street; the iconic weaving road you may recognise from several movies and TV shows. Head over the Golden Gate Bridge and drive across to the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. This area protects 80,002 acres of ecologically and historically significant landscapes.
To the south of the bridge is Golden Gate Park, a large urban expanse consisting of 1,017 acres of public grounds. It’s home to the California Academy of Sciences which is among the largest museums of natural history in the world. The Conservatory of Flowers, a greenhouse and botanical garden that houses a collection of rare and exotic plants, is also home to the Japanese Tea Garden with tours offered daily.
Ocean Beach is a 3.5 mile stretch of white beach with few tourists and no high-rises. It's just you, the waves and the seabirds; great for strolling and flying kites.
San Francisco’s Chinatown centred on Grant Avenue and Stockton Street is the oldest in North America and the largest Chinese community outside of Asia. Home to many great restaurants and shops, it is definitely worth a visit.
Day Trips From San Francisco
San Jose is the third largest city in California and a short drive from San Francisco. Downtown San Jose is ideal for exploration with your rental car. It offers museums, the library, a major public university, parks and more within a short distance of each other.
While in San Jose take a visit to the Cathedral Basilica of St. Joseph, the oldest parish in California. Visit the Lick Observatory, which was once home to the largest telescope in the world or go for a drive in the Santa Cruz Mountains.
Oakland, a major west coast port city located across San Francisco Bay is a short drive across the San Francisco – Oakland Bay Bridge.
Oakland also offers attractions such as the Oakland Zoo, Grand Lake Theatre, Grizzly Peak, and the Oakland Museum of California. This is an interdisciplinary museum dedicated to the art, history and natural science of California.
Sacramento is the capital city of California and close to Yosemite National Park. Marvel at the combination of incomparable beauty with fine wines, glamorous holiday dinner performances and culinary delights from the nation’s best chefs.
Take a look around the capitol buildings of Sacramento. Visit the California State Capitol Museum, the Sacramento History Museum, or the California State Indian Museum.
