San Francisco: Neighborhoods

Union Square/Nob Hill/Chinatown Explore big-name retail stores and high-end hotels in Union square, and discover cute boutiques and opulent apartment houses in Nob Hill. Nearby Chinatown is your stop for all things Chinese.

North Beach/Fisherman’s Wharf Home of San Francisco’s “Little Italy”, North Beach is loaded with cool cafés and family-owned eateries. Fisherman’s Wharf is the ultimate tourist attraction, with performers, shops, and fresh seafood.

Presidio/The Marina The Presidio, home to museums and golf-courses, served as a military garrison under Spanish, Mexican and American flags before becoming a national park in 1994.

The Castro District/Mission District The Castro is the city’s queer center. Find bookstores, shops and the Castro Theater here. Just east, historical Mission District has Victorian homes, A-list restaurants and nightlife.

South of Market/Yerba Buena “SoMa,” as it’s known, is popular for the Museum of Modern Art, Yerba Buena Gardens’ relaxing green space, waterfalls and cityscape views.

Haight-Ashbury/Golden Gate Park “The Haight” has changed dramatically over the years but it still maintains that hippie “Summer of Love” vibe. Starbucks-wielding commuters mingle in funky, incense-and-peace-symbol laden shops.

Japantown Chinatown’s popularity has waxed and waned, and Japantown is now the cool neighborhood on the block. Experience a traditional music and dance performance, see a Japanese film in one of the many movie theaters, watch martial arts performed outdoors, or pamper yourself with a relaxing treatment at one of the area’s several spas.