The 10 Best Things to Do and See in the Bay City, San Francisco

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The 10 Best Things to Do and See in the Bay City, San Francisco

Nicknamed the 'Bay City' San Francisco's distinctive terrain is made up of water on one side and hills on the other, providing stunning views and experiences that can only be found in this beautiful city. As you might expect from a coastal metropolis, you'll find countless restaurants serving some great seafood all over the city along with some authentic foreign foods like Mexican and Burmese cuisine. Here are ten things you need to check out if you're planning on visiting San Francisco.

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The 10 Best Things to Do and See in the Bay City, San Francisco

1. City Hall

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The seat of government for the city, this beautiful old palace-style building is decorated with a stunning golden trim and ornaments on the stairs and windows that contribute to its incredibly striking appearance. The building has often been the setting for a number of movies that were filmed in San Francisco and most visitors will often find they recognize different parts while walking around inside.

2. Golden Gate Bridge

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The crown jewel of the city of San Francisco. This beautiful red bridge is well-known from featuring in countless movies, magazines and famous photographs. Most people don't actually realize you can cross the bridge on foot or by bicycle, which is highly recommended to see the city from a different perspective. Be sure to visit the Golden Gate Park (located next to the bridge) a green area that's always lively and full of people.

3. Twin Peaks

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Among the numerous hills found throughout the city, Twin Peaks offers the best panoramic views of the sprawling metropolis of San Francisco. The area is easy to reach by car and has a number of hiking trails and viewing points to see the stunning scenery below.

4. Lombard Street

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One of the most popular photography spots in the city, Lombard Street is famous for its steep, zigzagging streets. While hiking up the road you'll get some impressive views of the city, although the best photo opportunity is at the base looking upwards.

5. Pier 39 at Fisherman's Warf

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Another place you need to check out in San Francisco is Pier 39 located in the Fisherman's Wharf neighborhood. In addition to finding many attractions, make sure to visit the area where a large community of sea lions live. The area is always a hive of activity and from here you can also get on a boat tour to Alcatraz or around the bay. Be sure to try the seafood on offer here such as crab and clam chowder.

6. Union Square

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An area dedicated to trade in downtown San Francisco, as one of the sites with the most history and recognition in the city, it was named Union Square because there were many demonstrations in support of the Union Army during the war civil. In this place, apart from enjoying shopping and the best restaurants in the city, you can visit museums and theaters, among other things to see in San Francisco.

7. Golden Gate Park

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Another of the stunning landscapes of San Francisco, Golden Gate Park is a great place to walk and enjoy a natural environment while walking through pedestrian paths of more than 400 hectares of greenery.

8. The Palace of Fine Arts

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One of the most iconic structures of San Francisco, this beautiful palace is surrounded by nature, tranquility and green areas that make for a lovely afternoon to spend walking around. The place was built in 1915 for the exhibition of artistic works of the Universal Exhibition of San Francisco. Its structure is a round pergola located in front of a spectacular artificial lagoon.

9. Alcatraz Prison

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Once one of the world's most famous prisons, today, this island and the old buildings around it are one of the best things to do and see in San Francisco. The old prison has now become a museum with free entry where you can learn about the history of the prison and see how the prisoners lived along with many of the failed attempts to escape.

10. Presidio Park

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The Presidio Park is today a national park and a paradise to spend time enjoying spectacular views while visiting San Francisco. It was built and used as a military base in 1776 by the Spaniards, later passed onto Mexican hands and finally in 1847 to the US. In 1994 it began to be used as a park and ceased to be a military base after more than 200 years. From some of the hills that are part of the Presidio Park, you can enjoy beautiful views of the Golden Gate Bridge, the San Francisco Bay and the Pacific Ocean.

Conclusion

While these are some of the best things to do in the city of San Francisco, there's a multitude of activities and places to visit to fill any length of time you're planning to spend when visiting here. For anyone visiting North America's west coast, San Francisco is an unmissable destination that you need to check out.

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