Four Seasons Hotel San Francisco

Founded in 1935, SFMOMA was the first museum on the West Coast devoted to modern and contemporary art. From the outset, the museum has championed the most innovative and challenging art of its time, and we continue to exhibit and collect work by both modern masters and younger, less-established artists. We always have a dynamic schedule of thought-provoking exhibitions on view, including special exhibitions and changing presentations from our collection of more than 26,000 artworks, photographs, and design objects. Audio guides, docent tours, video screenings, interactive kiosks, and public programs offer opportunities to learn more about modern art. Located just a short walk from downtown San Francisco, our landmark building features a soaring atrium topped by our signature turret and oculus skylight. The MuseumStore offers the West Coast's finest selection of modern and contemporary art books, as well as exceptional design objects, furniture, jewelry, and children's products. Meanwhile, our cafe serves gourmet fare in a light-filled space with indoor and outdoor seating. We invite you to take a closer look and discover all the exciting things that are happening at SFMOMA.

Once home to a fleet of over 400 boats, nowadays Fisherman's Wharf supplies only a tiny fraction of the fish served in San Francisco restaurants, but a few vintage Monterey Hull fishing boats and modern diesel boats still work from here, and if you get up early enough, you can watch fishermen bring in their catch. Often tourist-packed, today's Fisherman's Wharf is home to sidewalk seafood vendors, souvenir shops and other attractions. While there's little "real" here, most visitors feel they haven't seen San Francisco unless they go. It's popular with all ages and interests.

Embracing a range of artistic disciplines and media, the Museum’s exhibition program includes contemporary art and historical objects, film and music, conversations, lectures, literary readings, and other live performance. Dynamic and ever-changing, the Contemporary Jewish Museum is a non-collecting institution that partners with national and international cultural institutions to present exhibitions that are both timely and relevant and that represent the highest level of artistic achievement and scholarship. At the heart of our programs is a focus on education and outreach to the broader community with the goal of fostering interfaith and intercultural dialogues.

The Golden Gate Bridge, recognised the world over as the international symbol of San Francisco, has a 1.7-mile (2.7-kilometre) suspension span and was built in 1937. Designed to withstand gale-force winds and earthquakes, it handles over 40 million vehicles a year that make the crossing over the strait separating Marin County from the city. It is one of five bridges that span San Francisco Bay and can be crossed by car, on bicycle or on foot.

For the visitor, San Francisco cable cars are not a means of transportation but a destination, one of the things one has to "see" if they go to the City by the Bay. They also provide transportation to many of the city’s most popular areas: Powell-Hyde: Goes from Market and Powell to Aquatic Park., past Union Square, the Cable Car Barn Museum, Nob Hill, Russian Hill, Lombard (crookedest) Street, ends at Ghirardelli Square. Look for brown signs on the cars. Powell-Mason:Goes from Market and Powell to Bay and Taylor Streets, through North Beach and ends near Fisherman's Wharf. Look for yellow signs on the cars. California Street: Runs Drumm to Van Ness on California St., through the Financial District, Chinatown, Nob Hill. If you want to ride once just for the fun of it, this is the line to choose. Get off at the top of Nob Hill and you'll save your legs a steep climb.

The Asian Art Museum of San Francisco is one of the largest museums in the Western world devoted exclusively to Asian Art, with a collection of over 17,000 artworks spanning 6,000 years of history. The museum is a public institution whose mission is to lead a diverse global audience in discovering the unique material, aesthetic, and intellectual achievements of Asian art and culture.

Most people know that Alcatraz was once a world-famous federal penitentiary, but the island’s history before and after the penitentiary era is less well known. For example, few realize that it was also the site of the first American lighthouse on the West Coast and that the island served as a huge harbor defense fort during the Civil War. After the fort became obsolete, the U.S. Army turned the island into a grim military prison. Following the closing of the penitentiary, Alcatraz became the site of a American Indian protest movement that would change modern American history.

Point Bonita Lighthouse is reached by a halfmile trail that is steep in parts. Discover Point Bonita’s wild landscape, geology and fascinating history. The tunnel halfway to the lighthouse is open only during visiting hours: Saturdays, Sundays & Mondays 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.