Clara Hogan

With its stunning Victorian architecture, world-famous bridge and sweat-inducing hills that reward wtih sweeping views, San Francisco’s seven-by-seven mile radius is packed with sights, sounds, tastes and experiences that you’ll be hard pressed to find elsewhere on the map. With one of the world’s best dining scenes, endless natural beauty and eccentric culture, there’s a reason so many leave their heart in this gem of a town. While the go-to city attractions, like the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz are worth a visit, the best local experiences take place when you go well beyond major attractions like Fisherman’s Wharf (trust us.) From sipping cocktails in a sky-high historic bar with 360 views to eating burritos in the Mission to hanging out on a sunny day at Dolores Park, this list of the 50 best things to do in SF will give you a true taste of this beautifully unique city. Just don’t forget your jacket.  🎨 The best museums in San Francisco🛏️ The best Airbnbs in San Francisco🏨 The best hotels in San Francisco This guide was updated by San Francisco-based writer Clara Hogan. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. 

Don’t be fooled by San Francisco’s relatively compact size—just seven miles wide by seven miles long—as this Northern California city packs in a ton of attractions. San Francisco is home to an impressive collection of museums, natural wonders, parks and historic buildings. (Plus, despite the hills, it’s actually a quite walkable city.) From a city park that’s 20 percent larger than New York’s Central Park to an iconic modern art museum to beloved local sports teams, here are the must-see attractions you won’t want to miss while you’re in the City by the Bay.

San Francisco cocktail culture dates back to the Gold Rush days, when rumor has it that the Bay Area birthed some of the greats: Pisco Punch, Mai Tai, Cable Car, Lemon Drop Martini and even the classic Martini itself all have origin stories tracing back here. Today, San Francisco continues to boast some of the best bars in the world—from several that have graced the World’s 50 Best list to corner pubs, original tiki bars and brewhouses. Classic cocktails done right contrast innovative menus from top mixologists. And more than ever, non-alcoholic options feature prominently on menus. With no shortage of watering holes, these are the spots you should be drinking at right now.

Entering San Francisco’s Chinatown through the iconic Dragon Gate, you’re immediately immersed in a neighborhood with unique architecture, delicious Chinese fare (from all regions of the country) and stories of resilience. As one of America’s oldest Chinatowns, the neighborhood is vital to both U.S. and local history. Much of the area has changed over the decades, though it still offers fresh energy—especially from its dining scene, where a new wave of new restaurants pair contemporary flair with longstanding tradition. From timeless dim sum parlors to quaint tea shops and local art galleries, here are the top things to do in this beloved San Francisco neighborhood. RECOMMENDED:🥟 The best dim sum in San Francisco🍽️ The best restaurants in San Francisco👗 The best thrift stores in San Francisco📍 The best things to do in San Francisco🍳 The best brunch in San Francisco

The Statue of Liberty. The Golden Gate Bridge. The Washington Monument. All iconic attractions that are famous worldwide. And the list doesn't end there. Across the country, there are popular landmarks across the US that attract millions of visitors every year.  The top tourist attractions in the USA span coast to coast, including iconic buildings like the national monuments in Washington, DC, unique landmarks like the Space Needle in Seattle, and natural wonders like Niagra Falls and Old Faithful in Yellowstone.  While visiting tourist spots can often mean navigating long lines and crowds, we've rounded up the best attractions that are well worth the effort. If you’re looking for a bit more travel inspiration, check out the best places to visit in the USA right now.

Under the blanket term “the San Francisco Bay Area,” you’ll find a multitude of vibrant cities on all shores of a beautiful blue bay. First is the city of San Francisco itself, surrounded by water (Pacific Ocean and the bay) on three sides. Take the Bay Bridge to visit the East Bay cities of Oakland, Berkeley and others, cross the iconic span of the Golden Gate Bridge to go north to Marin and the wine country cities of Napa and Sonoma or simply dip south down the peninsula to find Silicon Valley. There’s lively debate over what constitutes a true Bay Area city, but with a little generosity of spirit, we can expand the borders and welcome everyone into the fold. People come from all over the world to sample this region’s incredible weather, food scene, artistic offerings, museums, hiking trails, architecture and perfect postcard views. A trip to San Francisco is a must, but opening up your itinerary to things to do in the Bay Area at large gives you a better sense of what it’s like to actually live here. Enjoy—and bring a hoodie, since the fog here can be so atmospherically pervasive that it has its own Instagram handle. RECOMMENDED: The best things to do in San Francisco

Is there anything more refreshing than a scoop of ice cream on a hot summer day? Or a perfect milkshake to pair with a classic burger and fries? An iconic dessert and sweet treat on its own, ice cream has soared to new levels with a wave of new-generation scoop shops that churn up unexpected and delightful flavors, drawing from in-season produce and global cuisines. And while creativity is the name of the game for many ice cream brands today, there’s still a desire for that nostalgic sundae shop. We’ve compiled the best of both the long-standing parlors and the new-age shops—perfect for your summer road trip plans.  

As one of America’s grandest national parks, Yosemite National Park is a top-tier choice for scenic camping spots. But with growing demand and recurring challenges of construction and environmental impacts—in addition to a new-ish reservation system—it can feel more challenging than ever to not only choose a Yosemite camping spot but to secure it.  But the reward is worth the effort. If you can snag a spot at one of Yosemite’s most beloved campsites, you’ll relish the magic of waking up under the stars in one of the most iconic parks in North America. The super-popular sites like Upper, Lower, and North Pines tend to fill up quickly, so be open to looking a bit further out from the valley.  When you’re ready for a Yosemite trip, be sure you’re registered on Recreation.gov to make a reservation. Bookings for peak season (April to October) can be made up to five months in advance and have been known to sell out in seconds, so be ready! Reservations open on the 15th of each month at 7am Pacific. Note that several campsites may have extended closures for rehabilitation or due to extreme weather.  Though it sounds like a challenging process, snagging a coveted campsite at one of Yosemite’s campgrounds is well worth the effort as you’ll be rewarded with unrivaled beauty at every turn. 

Sushi has infiltrated the American palate in such a deep way that it’s now sold in deli cases of rural grocery stores—and you can find a California roll in many a gas station across the country. But it wasn’t all that long ago that sushi was still a somewhat unknown Japanese import to the American dining scene; while sushi was popping up at some swanky dinner parties in the early part of the century, strained affairs between the US and Japan—and then, World War II—fueled an anti-Japanese sentiment that halted sushi’s growth in the states. But post-war, sushi began its rise, ushering in an American style of sushi (think: California rolls and over-the-top, saucy, colorful creations).  Now, sushi is everywhere. From spicy tuna rolls on DoorDash to onigiri menus in top restaurants, America has cemented its status as a sushi capital. And while we love a takeout roll now and again, there’s no shortage of high-end sushi restaurants across the country that rival some of the best omakase experiences around the globe.  From the best sushi restaurants in L.A. to the best sushi restaurants in New York and everywhere in between, here are the best sushi restaurants in America.

Enchanting Carmel-by-the-Sea exudes romance, from its cobblestone streets to its storybook architecture. Already a beneficiary of the Monterey Peninsula’s dramatic coastal scenery, the forest-set village doubles down with secret gardens and window boxes brimming with picture-perfect blooms. (It is so exceedingly charming.) Cozy inns are the lodging of choice, with warming fireplaces and filling breakfasts. Thankfully, innkeepers have recently begun modernizing interiors, upping thread counts and assembling a quality spread worth getting out of bed for in the morning.Head east, further inland, and you’ll find Carmel-by-the-Sea’s comparatively rural cousin, Carmel Valley: think large ranches, sweeping vineyards, a row of small, independent businesses—and not to mention some of the most luxurious hotels in the area. To the south, you’ll find a handful of options in the Carmel Highlands, where hilltop resorts are hidden along the road to Big Sur. We’ve compiled the best places to stay in Carmel-by-the-Sea and Carmel Valley. Enjoy! Who makes the cut? While we might not stay in every hotel featured, we’ve based our list on top reviews, hosts and amenities to find you the best stays. This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines. 

The 4th of July in San Francisco is back in full force. In the City by the Bay, you’ll find the usual events—from parades to fireworks (though the fog usually makes those a bit of a bust)—but you can also enjoy some nontraditional options (bar crawl anyone?) And, of course, hitting up a new restaurant or bar is always an option. To help you plan your holiday festivities, we’ve rounded up the best 4th of July events in San Francisco. Head out with the tourist crowds in Fisherman’s Wharf, find a spot at one of the best places to watch fireworks in the Bay Area or simply enjoy some killer ice cream to celebrate—there’s something for everyone. 

Hiking is a favorite American pasttime. Lacing up your boots and hitting the trail does wonders for your mental health. After all, walking is proven to improve mood and energy, and when you do that walking among nature and while taking in stunning scenery, well that's a recipe for  time well spent. Whether you're an avid hiker looking for a multi-day (or multi-week!) hike, or a casual hiker wanting an experience one afternoon, we have rounded up the absolute best hiking trails across the US. With such an enormous amount of trails in every state, compiling this list was no easy feat.  From hiking the fjords in Alaska, to taking in the beauty of Yosemite, California to walking along the beach in Hawaii, these hiking trails won't just satisfy your hiking urge —they will blow you away.  RECOMMENDED: 🏞️ Best national parks in the U.S.🏕️ Best glamping in the USA

What is the Golden Gate Bridge? Built in 1937 to connect San Francisco with the Marin headlands, the Golden Gate Bridge is one of the most universally recognized landmarks and most photographed bridge in the world. Visitors stand in awe of its 746-foot tall towers and bold International Orange color, which is repainted year-round. Is the Golden Gate Bridge worth visiting? The Golden Gate Bridge is the number one landmark in San Francisco—don't miss a chance to witness its stunning architecture, be it heading across the bridge or taking in views from San Francisco or Marin. Whichever way you choose, just don't forget a jacket—Karl the Fog is often looming nearby.  What's the best way to see the Golden Gate Bridge? Visitors often choose to experience crossing the bridge by foot, bike or car. Bikes and cars are permitted access 24 hours a day, while walkers can cross using the east sidewalk between 5am-6:30pm (5am-9pm during Daylight Savings Time).  Looking for a good viewing spot instead? You'll have plenty of options, including Crissy Field, Fort Point, Baker Beach or our favorite, the brand-new Presidio Tunnel Tops. What's good to eat near the Golden Gate Bridge? There aren't a lot of options directly near the base of the bridge on either side. On the San Francisco side, your best bet is in the Presidio—try Il Parco for a casual option in the Presidio Tunnel Tops park or Dalida, a buzzy new Mediterranean restaurant. On the Marin side, we continue taking in the views from Farl

You can hear the Napa Valley Wine Train before you see it. Starting in Downtown Napa at the McKinstry Street Station, the train rumbles through towns like Yountville and iconic vineyards like V. Sattui on a 36-mile round trip journey to St. Helena and back. The cavalcade of railroad cars were built in 1951 by the Pullman Standard Company and  refurbished for the modern era with details nodding to the original time period such as plush booths and mahogany paneling. Passengers can choose from a variety of dining journeys, including the Gourmet Express (a multi-course meal), Romance on the Rails (dinner and wine in a private booth on the train's Vista Dome) and Murder Mystery (a murder-mystery– themed dinner). One of the most intimate option is the Champagne Vista Dome experience, which guarantees you a private table. This car features curved glass windows in the observation-style dining car that give even more expansive views of Napa's lush countryside.  The three-hour lunch and two-hour dinner rides generally stick to the rails, but if getting off and exploring the vineyards is more of your thing, opt for one of the winery tours; most go to a few wineries and include lunch or dinner on the train.

Since 1994, the old stone cottage in the heart of wine country that houses the French Laundry has stood among the holiest of holy grails not only for destination diners, but aspiring industry pros around the world. Chef Thomas Keller’s influence on the culinary world is inestimable; without him, there’d be no Noma, Alinea, Benu or Frasca Food and Wine, to name just a few iconic restaurants his mentees have gone on to open. The pilgrimage to this intimate, 17-table Napa Valley institution remains at the very top of foodies’ bucket lists. Reservations open a month in advance, with seatings occurring daily from 4pm to 8:15pm. Every meal begins with a crisp salmon tartare cornet paired with a glass of champagne. From there, diners select one of the two prix fixe menus (one for meat eaters and one for vegetarians) and are then promptly taken on a three-to-four hour culinary journey. Dishes consist of classic and refined, yet unstuffy, French cuisine that showcase California-fresh produce sourced from the culinary garden across the street. The French Laundry has served as the pinnacle of fine dining for 25 years, with hospitality as unwaveringly pristine as the food. The restaurant has been awarded three Michelin stars every year since the first Michelin guide to the San Francisco Bay Area was issued in 2007, making Keller the only American chef to have two three-star restaurants at the same time (the other being Per Se in New York.)  The restaurant recently underwent a stunning $1

Think of San Francisco’s largest Halloween pub crawl as trick-or-treating for adults. Thousands of costumed revelers take over Polk Street for drinks, music and dancing, and costume contests. This year, whether you show up on foot or via the San Francisco Party Bus, you’re sure to be in spooktacular company at 20 haunted watering holes including Mayes, Nick's Crispy Tacos, Del Mar, and Wonder SF. It’s free to join the festivities.     

Napa Valley’s BottleRock festival is back this year for its first “normal” event since 2019. The festival was canceled in 2020 due to COVID-19 and, in 2021, it was delayed until the fall and had pandemic precautions in place. This year, BottleRock is back in all its glory in its usual slot, Memorial Day weekend, with big-name headlining artists from Pink to Metallica and Luke Combs. Other performers include Twenty One Pilots, Kygo, Pitbull, Alessia Cara, Vance Joy, and Amos Lee. The event will also host a slew of other activities from famous chefs and celebrities on the culinary stage to an impressive food and drink line-up and a series of more intimate performances outside of the main event.  We’ve rounded up answers to all of your questions to give you everything you need to know about BottleRock 2022. We also have you covered on where to go, eat, and sleep in Napa Valley should you want to explore more.  What is BottleRock?BottleRock Napa Valley, presented by JaM Cellars, is a three-day music, wine, craft brew and culinary festival that started in 2013.  When is BottleRock? BottleRock 2022 will run Memorial Day weekend, May 27-29, in downtown Napa at the Napa Valley Expo fairgrounds. How do I buy BottleRock tickets? Three-day tickets are sold out, but one-day general admission tickets for Friday and Saturday are still available through the BottleRock website. You can also still buy sold-out passes through the official ticket exchange Lyte. How much are BottleRock tickets?

What is Alcatraz? Alcatraz was once host to the first lighthouse on the West Coast, but it is most famous for serving as a former maximum security federal prison from 1934 to 1963. A small island situated in the middle of the San Francisco Bay, the formidable fortress was home to some of the 20th century's most notorious criminals. Today, the site is run by the National Park Service, and you can visit “The Rock” on a reserved tour. After taking a ferry departing from Pier 33 Alcatraz Landing, you'll receive a headset that allows you to take a self-guided audio tour of the prison.  Is Alcatraz worth visiting? A trip to Alcatraz is worth it both for the scenic ride out and back—where you can take in sweeping views of the bay and cityscape—and for the enthralling tour of the abandoned prison. Narrated by former inmates and guards, the audio tour will tell you stories of harrowing escape attempts, prison riots and the 19-month long occupation of the site by Native Americans demanding reparation for broken treaties in 1969. What's the best way to see Alcatraz? There is only one way to visit Alcatraz: book a tour (which often book up in advance, so look early.) The site is operated by the National Parks Service and only one ferry company — Alcatraz City Cruises — has a contract to transport people to and from the island. Tours are offered year-round, and ferries depart every half an hour throughout the day. To get a more creepy bang for your buck, opt for a night tour. Plan to spe

The local coffee scene across American cities has exploded in recent years — but which city loves its coffee the most? That would be the City by the Bay, at least according to one recent report. San Francisco is the number one coffee city in America, ranked by a survey from the personal-finance website WalletHub. The calculation compared the 100 most populous cities across the US using 12 key metrics, including the average spending on coffee per household, the share of homes with coffee makers, the number of coffee shops and manufacturers per capita, and the number of coffee-centric events.  After San Francisco, Seattle, Orlando, Honolulu, and Portland rounded out the top five coffee cities.  Source: WalletHub Coffee has played an important role in San Francisco's history: the first cup of restaurant coffee in the West was served there, large coffee brands such as Hills Brothers and Folgers started in the city, and the Italian espresso houses of North Beach were popular meeting spots for famous Beat poets. Today, the "third wave" of coffee shops has meant a coffee boom.  San Francisco's top coffee shops are independent, full of local personality, and spread throughout the city. Favorites include Ritual Coffee, Andytown Coffee Roasters, and Farley's. A few of the factors for SF's number one rating — it had both the highest number of affordable coffee shops and cafes rated 4.5 stars or above per capita, as well as the highest number of manufacturers. It also ranked number on

Add another must-do to your San Francisco bucket list: the Presidio Tunnel Tops, a project 30 years in the making. The new federal parkland is now officially open, offering 14 acres of space to play along the bay and take in stunning views of the Golden Gate Bridge.  Tunnel Tops, located within the Presidio, a national park formed out of a former military outpost, debuted on July 17 to an outpouring of crowds eager to see the city's newest national park destination. It is a creative solution to creating usable green space in a densely packed city, located on top of the busy Presidio Parkway highway tunnels and connecting the center of the Presidio to the park’s Crissy Field waterfront. The unique design feat was a perfect fit for James Corner Field Operations, the firm behind New York City's High Line, which also found ways to connect urban streets to more peaceful, nature-focused settings.  The park is already a hit with locals and visitors alike, featuring picnic sites, a campfire circle, trails, native plant gardens as well as the Outpost, a sprawling two-acre, nature-inspired play area for children.    Photograph Courtesy of the Trust for the PresidioTunnel Tops   Getting to the Tunnel Tops is easy from most places in the city. Several of the city’s MUNI lines stop at the nearby transit center and there's a free PresidiGo shuttle from downtown.  If you get hungry, you can count on a variety of food trucks and carts nearby, in addition to a slew of eateries offered with

イギリスの金融商品比較サイト、Money.co.ukは新しい分析調査を実施し、LGBTQ+コミュニティーに最も友好的な世界の都市ランキング『The most LGBTQ+ accepting cities』を発表した。 分析に使われたのは、さまざまなデータ。例えばSocial Progressから入手した各国の受容度に関する世界的な指標、人口10万人当たりのLGBTQ+施設の数を示すTripadvisorのデータといったもの。出生証明書や運転免許証の性別表示変更が州相当レベルでどれだけ容易か、成人におけるLGBTQ+自認の割合、子育てをしている25歳以上のLGBTQ+成人数なども含まれている。 その結果、世界で最もLGBTQ+の人々を受け入れていのは、アイスランドのレイキャビクとなった。同地のLGBTQ+受容度スコアは満点の10ポイント。LGBTQ+専用のバーやクラブが最も多くあり、それらの質も高いことが結果に反映されたようだ。 2位、3位はオランダのアムステルダム、ロッテルダムが続いた。アムステルダムは、惜しくもレイキャビックにトップの座を譲ったが、スコアの差はほとんどない。受容度も9.8ポイントと非常に高く、ナイトライフについても数、質ともに大差がなかった。ロッテルダムは、LGBTQ+向けの施設の数が上位2都市に比べると少ないため、この順位になったようだ。 4位に入ったのが、アメリカのサンフランシスコ（アメリカの都市として1位）。同地は、人口10万人当たりのLGBTQ+施設の数が全都市中2番目に多く、それらのTripadvisorの平均評価も星4.2つと高い。サンフランシスコが高順位になったことは、この都市がLGBTQ+コミュニティーにとってリベラルで進歩的な避難所であるという長年の評判や、LGBTQ+運動の歴史を考えると大きな驚きではないだろう。 このランキングのトップ20を見てみると、、アメリカからはボストン（11位）、シアトル（12位）、ロサンゼルス（16位）、シカゴ（17位）の5都市がランクインしている。 ただ、同時発表されたアメリカの州別ランキングで1位になったのは、カリフォルニア州ではなく、ハワイ州だった。同州では人口の4.6％がLGBTQ+を自認。労働安全や出生証明書の性別表記を変更する手続きなどでも高い評価を受け、LGBTQ+コミュニティーで子育てをしている割合が30％と、上位5州の中で最も多い。ハワイに続く2位にはメイン州、3位にはバーモント州がランクイン。カリフォルニア州は4位となった。 ランキングと分析内容は、Money.co.ukの公式サイトで確認できる。 原文はこちら 関連記事 『ブライダル大手が同性婚のためのウエディングプ���ンを紹介』 『東京、学びのクィアスポット6選』 『日��のジェンダー観や婚姻制度のあれこれ、もう一度社会の前提を疑おう』 『ニューヨーク歴史協会がLGBTQ+博物館の設立を発表』 『6年で日本は「ジェンダー平等」に近づいたのか、公平な制度の実現へ』 東京の最新情報をタイムアウト東京のメールマガジンでチェックしよう。登録はこちら

A new study shows which cities around the world are the most friendly toward the LGBTQ+ community, and we're not that surprised at the winners.  The study, conducted by Money.co.uk, analyzed cities based on a variety of criteria, including a worldwide indicator sourced from Social Progress on the level of acceptance in each country, Tripadvisor data showing the number of LGBTQ+ establishments per 100,000 people, as well as how easy it is at the state level to change the gender marker on your birth certificate and driver's license, the percentage of adults who identify as LGBTQ+, and how many LGBTQ+ adults over 25 are raising children, among other factors.  In the United States, San Francisco came out on top as the number one most accepting city in America, and fourth in the world. The city has the second-highest number of LGBTQ+ establishments per 100,000 people and has an average rating of 4.2 stars.  San Francisco coming in the first place isn't a huge surprise, given the city's long reputation as a liberal and progressive haven for the LGBTQ+ community and its history of LGBTQ+ activism. Out of the top 20 most accepting cities, five are based in the US: Boston ranked 11th; Seattle ranked 12th, Los Angeles placed 16th and Chicago came in at 17th. At the worldwide level, Reykjavik, Iceland was number one. That was followed by Amsterdam and Rotterdam in the Netherlands.  In terms of states in the US though, California wasn't number one. It came in fourth. Hawaii actually cam

Napa Valley is a bucket-list destination for every wine lover – the rolling vineyard hills, award-winning wineries, and gourmet California cuisine make it a foodie mecca that people around the world flock to. And one of the most magical ways to take in all that wine country has to offer is aboard the Napa Valley Wine Train.  The wine train is an iconic piece of Napa that’s been operating for more than 30 years, running directly through the valley on a rail line originally built in 1864. It was on a long hiatus during Covid, but officially re-opened in May. And now it's bringing back its popular Murder Mystery rides starting this month through October. The themed rides include 'Crime and Punishment,' 'Death of a Gangster' and a 'Wizards and Witches' tour that sounds perfect for Harry Potter fans (wizarding robes and hats are highly encouraged).  Photograph: Courtesy Napa Valley Wine Train While aboard the refurbished 1951 Pullman coaches, guests will have two hours to solve a murder (all while being served a multi-course fine-dining experience). On the Wizards and Witches tour – which takes place October 2, 9, and 16 – feel free to dress up as your favorite Hogwarts character and imagine you're aboard the Hogwarts Express!  Not into dress-up? The train offers a variety of other tours. Choose from various experiences and times, including daytime and evening rides, an intimate meal in the Champagne Dome, as well as those that includes stops at wineries and special ones like j