Discover San Francisco
Accommodation in San Francisco
San Francisco offers a range of experiences for a trip: Alcatraz Island and the Presidio showcase history. Golden Gate Park is an urban park; the California Academy of Sciences combines a planetarium and rainforest, while SFMOMA focuses on art. There are also trails and public transport connections. When choosing a hotel, it’s worth first considering whether you’d like to focus your stay more on history, green spaces, museums or a mix of these.
Alcatraz and the Presidio: history on site
Alcatraz Island is designated a National Historic Landmark for its significant contribution to the history of the United States. The island’s historic roles include a Civil War-era fort, a military prison, a federal prison and a bird sanctuary. It was also home to the first lighthouse on the West Coast. These different connections make Alcatraz a distinctive destination for anyone interested in the country’s history.
The Presidio of San Francisco also combines local history with a visitor experience: it is home to a national park and is a National Historic Landmark District. Visitors can explore historic sites on foot and view artifacts and exhibitions. The Presidio is part of the traditional territory of the Yelamu, a local tribe of the Ramaytush Ohlone—an important cultural context for understanding the place.
The Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail follows the route of the Spanish expedition that founded the Presidio. It is designated as a multi-use trail with paved and unpaved sections. Including the trail in your plans offers both a historical connection and practical guidance about its route and surface.
The Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail has paid parking, accessible restrooms and picnic tables; it can also be reached by shuttle and Muni bus. If you plan to use one of these connections, it’s a good idea to check the schedule in advance.
Park, rainforest and planetarium
Golden Gate Park is an urban park covering 1,017 acres and stretching three miles. It extends from the Haight-Ashbury neighborhood to Ocean Beach. Its size and named endpoints give you an idea of its scale; you can plan it as a separate focus alongside the historic sites.
The California Academy of Sciences brings two very different experiences together under one roof: its immersive planetarium has a dome 75 feet in diameter. The Osher Rainforest is a four-story rainforest inside a glass dome, where birds and butterflies fly freely. The experience ranges from viewing a large planetarium dome to observing a rainforest with free-flying animals.
Art and ways to get around
SFMOMA offers 45,000 square feet of free, art-focused public space that is open to everyone. You can make this an art-focused stop alongside the historic sites, the park and the nature exhibits at the California Academy.
The Golden Gate National Recreation Area can be reached from the Bay Area via Highways 1, 101 and 280, as well as Highway 80 and the Bay Bridge. Bus routes and Muni trains run to and through the area. The San Francisco Ferry Building is an active transport hub, with ferry connections to several destinations in Marin and the East Bay. If you plan to take a ferry, check the schedule in advance.
Discover more destinations: San Francisco, Riverside, Shasta, Lake, Santa Clara, Stanislaus, El Dorado, Alpine County
For the broader travel overview: California.
