The streets of San Francisco
Larina Arrowsmith recommends enthralling must-see San Francisco sites
With its modest population of under a million and spanning less than 130 square kilometres, one may be forgiven for wondering how San Francisco earned a reputation for being one of the best cities in the world. Well, it really does offer something for everyone and is a great place to start a trip to the US.
As autumn offers some of the city’s warmest temperatures, the best time to visit is between September and November when it is less crowded. Spring is a good option too due to the mild temperature and lack of rain.
Certainly not the cheapest place by any means, San Francisco is a must-see destination for its skyline and architecture alone. Add to that a compelling waterfront, diverse neighbourhoods, eclectic cuisine, a wide variety of art and culture, and its pièce de résistance the mighty Golden Gate Bridge.
If you fail to cover these attractions, your trip will most likely be disappointing.
The steep hills can be daunting at first but the city is surprisingly easy to navigate thanks to its famous cable car system, the underground metro and open top bus tours. Indeed, the only challenge will be deciding how to fit everything in!
San Francisco is a city of contrasts, from its climate to the economy where million dollar mansions stand next to tents and one neighbourhood could be experiencing fog while another bakes in the sun! It’s important therefore, to stand still for a moment or two and experience the city in its entirety.
With so many activities to choose from, it would be easy to lose yourself in a jam-packed itinerary and leave after a few days of busy sightseeing without having absorbed the atmosphere to its fullest.
But an afternoon spent relaxing and people watching is never a wasted investment. Sitting and enjoying a drink outside a cafe while watching the world go by provides a great opportunity to observe the locals as they get about their business. Certainly, their energy and outlook on life offer colourful insights into the real San Francisco.