Visit California

With its iconic bridge, historic cable cars, and beautiful Victorian architecture, San Francisco is undeniably one of the world’s great cities. The entire region, in fact, demands to be explored. The vibrant and diverse East Bay, with cities like Oakland and Berkeley, is a cultural and culinary hotbed. Napa Valley and Sonoma County produce some of the best wine in the world. San Jose, and the Silicon Valley, is an essential hub of innovation. Plus, you’ll find quaint waterfront towns, incredible shopping, fantastic museums, and endless outdoor delights at Point Reyes National Seashore.

Featured

5 Amazing Things to Do in San Francisco

The City by the Bay packs an impressive amount of eclectic cultural charm into just 46 square miles

California Welcome Centers in the San Francisco Bay Area

Abundant beauty, family fun, culture

Piers & Boardwalks

So You Think You Know the East Bay?

Look beyond the top-10 lists and discover less-traveled destinations on the sunrise side of San Francisco Bay

5 Amazing Things to Do at the Golden Gate Bridge

See San Francisco's most iconic structure from every angle—by foot, bicycle, boat, and more

Alcatraz

Visit the prison-turned-national landmark where nefarious history and natural beauty converge

5 Amazing Things to do in Berkeley and Oakland

The East Bay’s vibrant cities attract a young, free-spirited crowd with avant-garde art and culture, a ridgeline graced by tree-lined parks, and a revolutionary food and cocktail scene

Sonoma County’s Hidden Gems

Four in-the-know locals share insights about their favorite wineries, restaurants, shops, and neighborhoods

5 Amazing Things to Do in Santa Cruz

From beachside boardwalks to redwood forests to waves of surfers’ dreams, this iconic coastal community makes for an unforgettable trip

5 Amazing Things to Do in San Jose

Culture and quirkiness abound at these spots in Silicon Valley

California Welcome Center - San Francisco

San Francisco, an Internationally acclaimed city entices all to come

Napa Valley Wines & Wineries

Where to find top vineyards in Napa wine country

California Welcome Center - Santa Rosa

World-class food and wine, giant trees, and Peanuts

Arts & Culture

5 Best Hikes out of San Francisco

Get a fresh look at the Bay Area on these scenic hikes

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Places to Visit

Santa Clara CountySan Jose

Arrive by plane and San Jose’s unmistakable techy-ness starts right off the bat.

San Francisco CountySan Francisco

It may measure less than 50 square miles and have a population that doesn’t even crack a million, but San Francisco justly ranks as one of the greatest cities in the world. Famous for grand-dame Victorians, cable cars, a dynamic waterfront, and a soaring golden bridge, this city truly has it all. With trend-defining cuisine ranging from Michelin-starred dining to outrageous food trucks; world-renowned symphony, ballet, theater, and opera; plus almost boundless outdoor adventures, San Francisco justifiably stands out as one of the ultimate must-visit cities on any traveler’s wish list. The hardest part may be deciding where to go first. (Well, that and packing for the city’s famously unpredictable weather.) The Golden Gate Bridge is one of the city’s most iconic landmarks; you can walk or bike across the span to the Marin Headlands. Or stay on the San Francisco side and stroll over to the San Francisco Palace of Fine Arts, the Presidio, or Lands End, a rugged, windswept playground where you can watch for whales and check out the ruins of the Sutro Baths. Fisherman’s Wharf beckons with its seafaring vibe and amazing seafood restaurants; look out across the water and you’ll see another fascinating destination not to be missed, Alcatraz Island. The bustling plazas of Union Square and Ghirardelli Square offer shopping and more great dining options. The city’s patchwork of distinct neighborhoods—the Mission District, Chinatown, North Beach, Haight-Ashbury, Nob Hill, and so many more—offer endless diversions both day and night. Despite its famously steep hills, San Francisco is remarkably easy to get around. Clanging cable cars are beloved icons and a convenient way to travel between the waterfront and Union Square. Historic streetcars run along the Embarcadero with stops for Fisherman’s Wharf, the Ferry Building Marketplace, and Oracle Park, home of the Major League’s Giants baseball team. For an easy, affordable ride, look for one of hundreds of bikeshare stations and hop on a Bay Wheels bike (or ebike) and go. The underground BART metro system travels within and beyond San Francisco, with routes south to San Francisco International Airport and east to Berkeley, Oakland, Pleasanton, and other communities. And San Francisco’s local MUNI buses travel citywide. Insider tips: If you plan on visiting several of the attractions it can cover, consider getting a CityPASS; it allows prepaid admission to the California Academy of Sciences; a Blue & Gold Fleet Bay Cruise Adventure; a choice between the Aquarium of the Bay or the Walt Disney Family Museum; and a choice between The Exploratorium or San Francisco Zoo and Gardens. Another economical option is the San Francisco C3; with it, you can visit any three attractions, choosing from the above CityPASS options plus SFMOMA, Bay City Bike and Parkwide Bike Rentals, and the de Young Museum + Legion of Honor.