As promised in a previous post , here I am talking about
Lets talk about San Francisco , the world capital of extravagance and the unusual, as well as one of the most fascinating cities in the USA , a step that you cannot miss if you are planning a California tour for your holidays .

San Francisco is the nerve center of the San Francisco Bay Area , a vast metropolitan area of ​​about 7 million inhabitants, and the fascination it has had for millions of tourists for decades is due not just to its particular geographical location, which sees it soar with the its many hills and at the same time it flows directly onto the sea.
The city is not huge, but we must know how to organize ourselves to fully enjoy it and not miss the main attractions. The main places of interest are concentrated in a rather limited area and, with careful planning, in 3 days you can see a lot. Let's try to understand then what are the steps not to be missed, here's  what to  see in San Francisco :

- The Ferry Building: the starting point to visit San Francisco
- Ferry Building, where to have a great breakfast immersed in a beautiful landscape
- Cable Car: San Francisco's historic trams
- Early morning group gymnastics in the square in front of the Ferry Building.

The Ferry Building is the perfect place to start. In the past it was a very important transport hub, but now it has become a gourmet emporium. The variety and assortment of products are endless and of first choice. The best time to visit the Ferry Building is the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market , when the square in front is crowded with stalls.

- Coit Tower and Lombard Street

San Francisco is the panoramic city par excellence . His continuous ups and downs create breathtaking views and perspectives scattered throughout San Francisco.

- Chinatown in San Francisco
The San Francisco's Chinatown is the oldest and Chinese community in the US and looks exactly like the Chinatown immortalized in so many American cop shows: picturesque arches ( Chinatown Gate ), of red lanterns beams hung in the street, dragons decorated, Rates Buddhists, gilded portals and brightly colored balconies.

Walking along the Golden Gate
The Golden Gate , the great red bridge that connects San Francisco to the county of Marin, is the symbol of San Francisco, one of the most daring challenges to nature ever launched by American architecture: 2700 meters long supported by 2 gigantic pillars called to resist to the strong winds and the rushing currents of the bay. One of the most beautiful ways to see the Golden Gate is to rent a bicycle and cross it to Sausalito , a charming seaside town also known as the Portofino of America.

Muir Woods
Continuing after crossing the Golden Gate a short distance from San Francisco (about a 40-minute drive) you will find Muir Woods , a beautiful forest of giant sequoias that also set the scene for the recent film Apes Revolution - Planet of the Apes . 

Fisherman's Wharf of San Francisco
The great symbol of Fisherman's Wharf dominates the neighborhood
The mad city, which wants to have fun and show off, is all here: at the Fisherman's Wharf ( Fisherman's Wharf ), one of San Francisco's most noisy and party-goers. It is still a mooring point for fishing boats and many sea lions, but above all it is an area full of shops, clubs and restaurants. 

Union Square and the Financial District
The heart of San Francisco is Union Square , the main square and important point of passage, surrounded by luxury hotels, beautiful monuments, classy shops and theaters. If you are a cheesecake lover, go up to the top floor at Macy's and don't miss the Cheesecake Factory (yes it is the Big Bang Theory show): you will find many types of American cheesecake, of which we have given some taste here ->  original recipe American Cheesecake .

With a leisurely 20-minute walk you can drive to the Financial District, where you can admire another of San Francisco's iconic landmarks: the Transamerica Pyramid , a building that seems to have fallen directly from the film Blade Runner.
Alcatraz: visit to the historic prison

The bay of San Francisco is also home to the island of Alcatraz , home to the infamous prison that closed its doors in 1963. It is possible to take a tour of about an hour on the island, accompanied by an audio guide and reconstructions of life inside the prison.

Painted Ladies: to take a souvenir photo
The most photographed suburb of San Francisco is undoubtedly the one near Alamo Square , where you will find the famous Painted Ladies , a grouping of private houses that has earned itself in full the status of "attraction". In fact, in San Francisco there are several Victorian-style blocks of flats with these features (you can look around in the Haight-Ashbury and Nob Hill districts for example), but those in Alamo Square are certainly the most representative and photographed.

To reach the area you can take bus 21 which stops at the intersection of Hayes and Steiner Street, just a stone's throw from the ladies. If you have children you can take advantage of the playground which is right in front of the colorful houses. In our article dedicated to the subject we have revealed to you how to "find" the main Painted Ladies of San Francisco .