Ahhh San Francisco. The place where little cable cars climb halfway to the stars and the morning fog chills the air. (The morning fog also happens to be named Karl, and he has an Instagram). San Francisco is home to many neighborhoods, each with their own unique offerings, history, charm, and – in some instances – microclimates. Below is a list of San Francisco neighborhoods that you do not want to miss on your trip!

Note: I tried to keep these recommendations relatively close to the city center for ease of access. But you truly can’t go wrong while exploring!

San Francisco Neighborhoods to Visit

The Haight

Starting off the list strong with the famous “Haight-Ashbury”. The Haight is one of the most eclectic neighborhoods in San Francisco. If you’re imagining San Francisco as the “Janis Joplin, Jimmi Hendrix, Jerry Garcia, 70s-hippie-vibe”, this is the neighborhood that gets the closest. Art murals line the buildings, and blues music floats out of bars all day long. This neighborhood also boasts some of the best vintage shopping in the city, as well as the absolute best record shop I have ever stepped into: Amoeba Music.

The Haight is steps from both Golden Gate Park and Hayes Valley, so you could never run out of things to do in this neck of the woods. 

Chinatown

The Dragon Gate entrance to San Francisco’s Chinatown is, for lack of a better or more original word, “magical”. It really feels like you’ve stepped out of the Financial District and into an entirely new city with bustling, overstocked shops and some of the best darn food you have ever put in your mouth.

Chinatown’s is fascinating and, at times, painful. To fully appreciate this neighborhood’s history, I recommend taking a guided tour to get an in-depth understanding of the sites, landmarks, and traditions. I took a guided tour with Intrepid Travel, and learned so much about Chinatown’s history – and even got access to a few “hidden gem” locations in the neighborhood. It’s well worth it! 

Hayes Valley

Ahhh Hayes Valley. This neighborhood is jam packed full of cafes, restaurants, and parks. Located adjacent to Union Square, it is certainly more of a residential area. A few blocks to the east, and you are in the arts center of San Francisco: ballet, theater, you name it. A few blocks to the west? Alamo Square and the famous “Full House” Painted Lady homes.

If you’re interested in the arts and popping by the Painted Ladies on your way through the city, I recommend spending some time in Hayes Valley to snag a little time away from other tourists and crowds.

Fillmore (Lower Pacific Heights / Japantown)

Now, I’m biased here because this is where I used to live. My old stomping grounds if you will. I lived here for two and a half years, and never fell short of things to do. Fillmore Street is home to the famous Fillmore Theater (“Liiiiive from the Fillmoreeee…”). You can still see concerts there, which always feels like stepping into a sliver of history.

The Japantown Mall contains a peppering of hole-in-the-wall restaurants, stationary shops, bubble tea joints, and plant nurseries. You could spend a whole day here, especially during the Cherry Blossom festivities.

Lower Pacific Heights is also home to Pride of the Mediterranean, Fillmore Bake Shop, and Godzilla Sushi – some of my most favorite foodie stomping grounds. Alta Plaza Park boasts some of the best bird’s-eye views of the San Francisco Bay, and it is wonderful fun to spend the day on a blanket looking out at the view.

The best view of the city is, in my opinion, located on Fillmore Street juuuuuust before the hill starts to crest downwards toward the Marina. Hopefully, by this point in time, they’ve removed the port-o-potty that blocked the view for the last 8 months.

In my (very biased) opinion, Lower Pacific heights and Japantown are two of the top San Francisco neighborhoods to visit!

The Marina (and Cow Hollow)

Sure, this is where all the yacht-bros live. And you really won’t be able to turn your head without seeing the LuLuLemon logo plastered on hats, pants, and signs. But the Marina is one of my favorite places to take a stroll in the city. Toward the northern end, houses are serpentined together like a maze, and decorated with intricately designed landscaping.

Chestnut street is lined with delicious restaurants and bars, including one of my very favorite – Saiwalks. I recommend spending the afternoon picnicking in Marina Green and watching the ships float along the Bay. In the evenings on certain Fridays, make your way over to Fort Green for the food truck farmer’s market!

The Castro

The Castro is San Francisco’s vibrant LGBTQ+ neighborhood packed full of history and establishments that have stood tall since the 70s. Rainbows fly from every storefront and line the crosswalks. In this neighborhood, you’ll find The Castro Theater, which is one of the most iconic theaters in the city. I attended a Bohemian Rhapsody “sing-along” here, where they played the full movie, but the songs featured in the film were karaoke style. Brilliant. They host these fun activities regularly, and are also known for showing cult favorites like The Room and Rocky Horror Picture Show.

I recommend taking a walking tour of the neighborhood to learn more about its history and famous landmarks.

The Presidio

Okay… I guess this isn’t really a neighborhood, per se. But it is one of my favorite areas to visit in the city. The Presidio is a former-army-barracks-turned-hiking-trails-and-visitor-center. The heart of the Presidio features a quiet park and Disney Family museum.

To the North is Crissy Field, a wonderful strip of beach along the Bay waterfront. To the west you’ll find a path lining the way up to the Golden Gate Bridge. The southern section of the Presidio is filled with wild forest, hiking trails, and picnic areas.

This area is also home to my much beloved anxiety stump – a fallen down tree in the middle of the forest that I used to trek out to and lay on when I was “in the feelz and needed to escape for a bit”. I recommend walking along Lover’s Lane – a lit trail leading from the army barracks up to the neighborhoods above. You can also wander through Lucas Studios (yes… the Star Wars Lucas) to the Palace of Fine Arts. Another lovely stroll.

North Beach

This is the Little Italy of San Francisco. And boy oh boy, it does not disappoint. Head to this neighborhood to grab an espresso and chow down on some delicious Italian food. North Beach is also home to many ‘Beat Generation’ staples, including the Beat Museum and the City Lights Bookshop (located near Jack Kerouac Alley). City Lights Bookshop is the perfect way to end an afternoon.

Fisherman’s Wharf

Arguably the most “touristy” location on this list, Fisherman’s Wharf is definitely a place you shouldn’t miss. The Wharf is home to some of the most iconic locations in the city, including: Pier 39, The Buena Vista, Boudin Bread Factory, Ghirardelli Square, and Musee Mecanique. If you get bored watching the sea lions sumo themselves off of the pier, wander along the boardwalk and sample some delectable salt water taffys.

I recommend grabbing a bike tour in this neighborhood and peddling your way across the Golden Gate Bridge. Check out my Bike Riding over the Golden Gate Bridge post for more information!

The Mission

Rounding out the list is the famous Mission District, one of my most very favorite spots in the city. The Mission is a historic LATINX neighborhood that bustles with art, food, and music. Thanks to San Francisco’s micro-climates (yes – they are very much real), The Mission District is one of the sunniest, and most agreeable areas of the city. It’s rare that Karl the Fog makes his way down here.

I recommend spending the day in Dolores Park. Bonus points if the coconut-rum man pays you a visit. (If you don’t know what I’m talking about, you will know immediately if you see him). This is another neighborhood where I recommend taking a guided tour of the murals and art in the area.

Quick note on the Mission: the neighborhood is currently going through an intense period of gentrification due to the tech boom in the city. Families that have lived in the Mission for years are slowly being priced out as rents climb to meet the new demand. I encourage you not to move to the Mission District if you are considering a move to San Francisco. But absolutely pay it a visit! And often! Support local businesses, restaurants, and artists where you can. This is truly such a gem of the city. 

That’s All, Folks!

Hopefully this guide gives you a good understanding of a few of the greatest San Francisco neighborhoods!

Have you visited San Francisco? Tell us about your favorites in the comments below!