The majority of travellers have a strong preference for either exploring large cities such as London or New York or lounging around in beach areas like Thailand or Hawaii. The latter group sometimes describe cities as boring, unimaginative and difficult to navigate.

One city that truly breaks that mould is San Francisco, California -­ one of the most eclectic cities in the world. There really is something for everyone in the City by the Bay with many great attractions including museums, art and plenty of activities to keep every member of the family busy.

But the main thing that sets San Francisco apart from other cities is its neighbourhoods. There are over 100 neighbourhoods in San Francisco and before you visit, you’ll need to do your research on which neighbourhoods you want to spend time in.

There are two neighbourhoods that you just can’t miss during a visit to San Francisco -­ Fisherman’s Wharf, the most visited tourist destination in the city and The Castro, a must-­visit neighbourhood for anyone interested in gay lifestyle and culture.

Fisherman’s Wharf

Any tourist to San Francisco can’t leave the city without at least spending a day at Fisherman’s Wharf. There are several attractions here that are worth visiting, particularly Pier 39 where you can get up close with hundreds of Sea Lions (or “Sea­‐Lebrities” as some like to call them).

There’s also the historic Hyde Street Cable Car Turnaround and if you do somehow get bored of Fisherman’s Wharf, the ferry terminals to Sausalito, Tiburon and Alcatraz are there to take you away to another enjoyable destination.

The Castro

The Castro was homosexualized during the gay liberation movement of the 1960’s and 70’s and is now the largest gay neighbourhood in the United States. Here you will find history, the famous Castro Theatre and plenty of colour.

It is the perfect place to locate yourself if you want to explore the rest of the city due to its links to public transport.

Fisherman’s Wharf and The Castro are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to San Francisco – there is so much of this city to explore that you could easily spend a few weeks here and still not see everything on your list!