Most people who visit San Francisco fall in love with the city, and why wouldn't they? Looking out across a beautiful bay with spectacular night life and a friendly vibe, it's a very easy place to enjoy, and you can spend days coming across new cafes and shops to dip into.
Things to see and do
• Alcatraz - you can get to this former island prison by taking a fifteen minute ferry ride from San Francisco.
• The Golden Gate Bridge - spans San Francisco bay and is a wonderful landmark, built in 1937.
• Vineyards - California is famous for its wines and if you drive north out of the city you'll find great wineries in the Napa and Sonoma valleys.
• The Cherry Blossom Festival - in April this is celebrated in Japantown and involves shows of martial arts and traditional food and drink.
Getting there
You can fly into San Francisco International Airport, Oakland International Airport or San Jose International Airport. San Francisco International Airport is the most popular of these and is only 20 kilometres from the city centre.
Weather and location
San Francisco is in Northern California, bordered by the Pacific Ocean. Temperatures are never very high, although in summer time the city can get muggy and stormy – and full of tourists! If you want a quieter, more temperate visit then go in early autumn or spring, but it's always worth looking up when the various cultural events and festivals occur.
Top Tip
One of the best ways to get around San Francisco is cable car: It's a very hilly city that falls victim to horrendous traffic jams so taking this exciting form of transport is practical too.
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