The individual districts of San Francisco can be divided up into streets, but for a better overview we briefly introduce the individual neighborhoods and name the respective sights. Each neighborhood has its own charm, but we especially like these ones:
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Union Square – Districts of San Francisco
Let’s start in the heart of the city, Union Square. Union Square is the pulse of the city. There is no corner in San Francisco that is busier, louder and more exclusive. Union Square is the heart of the high-priced shopping scene, the mecca of people proudly strolling through the streets with their luxurious shopping bags (the more, the prouder) and also boasting the highest density of hotels, restaurants and art galleries. It is from here that most of the city’s visitors start their discovery tours of San Francisco.
What to explore
- Union Square
- Cable Car
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Nob Hill / Russian Hill
In Nob Hill the streets seem to be a little steeper than in the other districts of San Francisco. But the strenuous climb is rewarded with a breathtaking view – from the sea to downtown. While Russian Hill is still a tourist destination with nearby Ghirardelli Square, Aquatic Park and Lomard Street, Nob Hill is home to the elegant, exclusive side of San Francisco. Four of the best hotels reside here (Big 4), here is the Grace Cathedral (a replica of Notre Dame, Paris) and beautiful parks such as Huntington Park with the wonderful fountain of the tortoises.
What to explore
- Aquatic Park
- Ghirardelli Square
- Lombard Street
- Grace Cathedrale
- Huntington Park
- Hyde Street Pier
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Japantown / Fillmore – Districts of San Francisco
Japantown is one of the last three remaining Japantowns in the USA and a kind of insider tip for San Francisco. The heart is the Japancenter with many shopping possibilities and Japanese restaurants. Here you’ll find a lot of photo machines with which you can not only take pictures, but also stage yourself as a manga character.
The Japancenter borders directly on the Fillmore District, a former jazz stronghold, where famous stars like Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong performed. This past is reflected in the Jazz Heritage Center, the Fillmore Auditorium and the famous Yoshis Jazz Club. The Fillmore is always busy, the crowd is young and the flair is sunny and open.
What to explore
- Japan Center
- Fillmore Auditorium
- Yoshi’s Jazz Club
Haight / Ashbury – Districts of San Francisco
The hippie district of San Francisco awakens the vibe of the 60s. Haight Ashbury has still lost none of its appeal. The former birthplace of the Flower Power movement, where legends such as Janis Joplin and Jimmy Hendrix lived, is still today the center of the alternative and creative scene in the USA. There are many cafes and restaurants here that are equally frequented by students, neo hippies, families and tourists. Tarot cards, vintage shopping, alternative medicine, street artists writing a poem on an old typewriter – that’s what Haight-Ashbury is all about.
What to explore
- Red Victorian Cinema
- Amoeba Music
- Buena Vista Park
- Victorian houses
- The Grateful Dead house – 710 Ashbury St.
- Janis Joplin home – 112 Lyon St. Golden Gate Park
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Chinatown – Districts of San Francisco
And suddenly you’re in another world: the street signs are in Chinese characters, the shops are small, overloaded and full of curiosities. Between the houses there are red lanterns, swinging cheerfully in the wind. Some may say, „Once you’ve seen a Chinatown, you know them all,“ but we see it differently. Chinatown in San Francisco is unbelievably huge and is even considered to be the second largest Chinatown in the world (Paris is said to have the largest one). The official entrance to the 24 block district is the Dragon Gate. But that doesn’t mean that you can only enter Chinatown through this entrance. But it definitely feels more magical, like immersing yourself in another world.
What to explore
- Grant Avenue
- Stockton Street
- Portsmouths Square
- Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Company
The mission – Districts of San Francisco
The Mission, also called the Mission District, is the Mecca of the Latin American population. It is also home to the city’s oldest building, Mission Dolores, founded in 1776 by Franciscan monks. The atmosphere here is completely different. On the one hand this is due to the culinary offer, on the other hand to the colourful murals. In the middle of this crucible lies Clarion Alley, the street that is decorated with impressive murals to the last corner.
What to explore
- Mission Dolores
- Mission Dolores Park
- Clarion Alley
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