Pastel-coloured villages perched on dramatic cliffs overlooking the azure sea - it's this picture-postcard scenery that makes the Amalfi Coast so special.
Explore the awe-inspiring Rocky Mountains and the vibrant cities of Victoria and Vancouver on a holiday that’s packed full of magnificent sights and scenery.
This fascinating introduction to the diverse landscapes of Vietnam also includes a visit to Cambodia's Angkor temples.
Discover San Francisco’s famous landmarks, vibrant neighbourhoods and waterfront.
See the iconic Golden Gate Bridge and enjoy spectacular views across the bay.
Explore Alcatraz, ride a cable car and discover areas such as Chinatown and the Mission District.
Experience the city’s museums, galleries, restaurants and thriving cultural scene.
Discover San Francisco and more of America’s West Coast on a Travelsphere USA tour.
San Francisco is one of America’s most distinctive cities, famous for its steep streets, historic cable cars, colourful neighbourhoods and spectacular setting beside the bay. From the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz to fascinating museums and vibrant districts, here are some of the top things to see and do during your time in the city.
Stroll along the Embarcadero, San Francisco’s bay-side pedestrian promenade. Explore the affluent San Francisco neighbourhoods of Nob Hill or Haight-Ashbury, full of cafés and boutiques. Haight-Ashbury is particularly famous for its role in San Francisco’s 1960s counterculture and still retains plenty of its colourful, alternative character.
Take in views of the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz from one of the 43 hills that make up the city. If the hills get too much (or even if they don't), jump on one of the city’s iconic trams. The historic cable cars have been carrying passengers up and down San Francisco’s steep streets since the 19th century and have become one of the city's most recognisable sights.
A tour of Alcatraz, the prison island in San Francisco Bay which Al Capone called home, is fascinating. The former federal penitentiary operated from 1934 to 1963 and held some of America's most notorious criminals, including George ‘Machine Gun’ Kelly as well as Capone. And, as a bonus, you get to leave on the ferry at the end of the day, unlike its former residents!
San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge is just as famous as the city itself. Spanning approximately 1.7 miles across the Golden Gate strait, the bridge opened in 1937 and was once the world's longest suspension bridge. Why not hire a bicycle for a ride over this feat of engineering and through the beautiful Golden Gate Park? The park itself stretches for more than three miles through the city and encompasses gardens, lakes and cultural attractions.
The Mission District boasts an array of independent restaurants catering for a wide range of tastes, and countless hipster bars. It also remains San Francisco’s main arts hub, which makes for a vibrant nightlife scene too. Look out for the colourful murals that cover buildings and alleyways throughout the neighbourhood, reflecting everything from local culture and community life to the area's Latino heritage.
San Francisco is home to symphony, opera and ballet companies of international repute, and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. Known as SFMOMA, the museum has an extensive collection of modern and contemporary art, including painting, sculpture, photography and design. Check out the California Academy of Sciences too – which boasts, uniquely, an aquarium, planetarium, natural history museum and a rainforest all under one roof in Golden Gate Park!
Every Travelsphere holiday offers exceptional value for money. Included in the price are return scheduled flights/rail travel and internal flights, where applicable, overseas transfers and transportation, carefully chosen hotels, many meals and excursions and the services of a Travelsphere Holiday Director or Local Guide.
