Things to do in San Francisco

The best way to explore San Francisco is one neighbourhood at a time. This is a city that is truly the sum of its parts, with each distinct area bringing its own special flavour to the mix. Whether its the flamboyance of the Castro or the Latin vibes of the Mission, each neighbourhood is an attraction in its own right. The citys cultural venues such as the Buena Yerba Centre and Museum of Modern Art are among the worlds finest, and of course there are all of the iconic San Francisco sights such as the cable cars, Golden Gate Bridge and Golden Gate Park. Youll never see it all in one trip, so spend the time to get to know a few parts of the city well, and plan for your next visit.

Asian Art Museum

One of the western hemispheres largest collections of Asian art is contained in this comprehensive museum, which boasts more than 15,000 beautiful objects spanning 6,000 years of Asian history. Paintings, sculptures, jade items, bronzes and ceramics make up the bulk of the collection, which comes from every region of Asia and is supplemented by visiting exhibitions and special lectures (tel: +1 415 581 3500).

Cable Cars

The trademark cable cars of San Francisco are one of the things you must experience at least once during your visit. They clank up and down the steep hills of the city like giants toys, as theyve been doing for decades. Youll have to wait a while in line at the Market Street station, but its well worth it.

Chinatown

One of Americas largest Chinese communities is here in this city, and its Chinatown is a fascinating neighbourhood to explore. By simply crossing one street, youll feel as though youve stepped right into China. The streets are lined with authentic Chinese restaurants, markets and shops, and the air resonates with the sounds of Chinese being spoken by the residents.

Fishermans Wharf

No visit to San Francisco is complete without a leisurely afternoon wandering around the Wharf. Although there isnt much fishing going on these days, the atmosphere is still wonderfully nautical and always entertaining. Essentially, the Wharf is now one big area for shopping and eating, but its still well-worth a visit. The hundreds of California sea lions who live on the floating docks off the Wharf add to the fanciful air of this historic district (tel: +1 415 956 3493).

Golden Gate Park

You owe it to yourself to visit this expansive and wonderfully diverse city park at least once during your visit. Opened in the 1860s, Golden Gate Park continues to provide a leafy green refuge for the citys residents. Wooded trails and paved paths traverse hundreds of grassy lawns and flower gardens. Scattered around the park are a number of sights, such as the Conservatory of Flowers, the Japanese Tea Garden, Strawberry Hill and Stow Lake. This is the ideal spot to meet some of the locals and spend some time relaxing in the crisp, clear air.

The Exploratorium

This engaging place is a mad scientists laboratory, educational lesson and penny arcade all rolled into one. The hundreds of fascinating exhibits are designed to be interactive and fun, especially for children. Visitors can touch a tornado, finger paint using a computer or shape the lightning of an electrical charge. You can easily spend a day exploring this vast working laboratory (tel: +1 415 563 7337).

Yerba Buena Center for the Arts / Yerba Buena Gardens

San Franciscos main cultural centre overflows with events and activities. The Centers two buildings offer dance, theatre, music and visual arts performances throughout the year. Cutting-edge multimedia shows, as well as contemporary exhibitions and performances, can be seen in its high-tech galleries. The 5-acre Yerba Buena Gardens are equally popular for their innovative outdoor sculptures and it hosts regular free outdoor festivals throughout the summer months. This is the place to go for cultural arts in San Francisco (tel: +1 415 978 ARTS).