embarcadero san francisco things to do

Embarcadero San Francisco: What Are the Best Things to See?

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One of the first images that come to mind when you think of San Francisco are the rises and falls of its seven hills. But there is one flat area that attracts millions of visitors, tourists and residents every year and that I recommend putting on your list of things to see in San Francisco: the beautiful bayfront neighborhood known as the Embarcadero. Here is some historical information and advice on how to visit the area.

General Information and History of the Embarcadero

storia embarcadero san francisco

San Francisco’s waterfront at its eastern end was once one of the city’s busiest and most chaotic places: its harbor was a bustling commercial crossroads of goods and people. After the construction of the Bay Bridge, the decline of ferries as a means of transportation, and the rise of container shipping that facilitated Oakland‘s expansion, however, the Embarcadero neighborhood began to decline in importance.

Certainly in the 1950s there was the construction of the Embarcadero Freeway, which again increased transit in the area, but also caused a sharp division between the coastal area around the Ferry Building and the rest of the city. When the terrible 1989 earthquake destroyed much of the freeway, City Hall decided not to invest in rebuilding the freeway but rather in a project to redevelop the entire area with parks, boulevards, and plazas. Public transportation lines were also expanded and reorganized, and today the neighborhood is one of the easiest to reach thanks to its excellent public transportation links.

Today Embarcadero is a pleasant area with great views of the bay, stores, restaurants, various parks, and a long bike path for joggers to enjoy, but also simply walking.

How to Get to the Embarcadero


Embarcadero is the name given to the eastern coastal area of the Port of San Francisco, specifically the area starting at Oracle Park and continuing north to Pier 39 at Fisherman’s Wharf. The heart of the neighborhood, however, is at the end of Market Street and is dominated by the Ferry Building, the skyscrapers of the Financial District behind it, and the Exploratorium museum.

Getting to this vibrant neighborhood is really easy, especially on public transportation. Just get off at the stops called Embarcadero on the following public transportation:

  • the F line of the Historic Streetcars (also the E usually but at the time of writing it is temporarily suspended)
  • the GREEN, BLUE, RED and YELLOW lines of the BART trains
  • the Muni metro lines J, K, M and N
  • the California Street – Van Ness Avenue Cable Car Line, which has its terminus right here (from the terminus it is a 5-minute walk to the Ferry Building)
  • the various ferries that run along the bay from the various piers in the area.

Things to Do at the Embarcadero


Here is a list of the main attractions in the Embarcadero.

Ferry Building

Cosa Vedere a San Francisco
San Francisco’s iconic Ferry Building

The Ferry Building was the brainchild of American architect A. Page Brown and was completed in 1898. The iconic clock tower with its 245-feet height inspired by Seville’s Giralda bell tower has towered over the bay for more than 100 years. As the use of ferries declined as the main means of transporting and shipping goods, the large spaces of this terminal were gradually adapted: today on the ground floor in the former baggage handling area, for example, you will find a rich and picturesque marketplace. Part of the second floor has, on the other hand, been dedicated to housing offices.

Skillful restoration in the early 2000s has given new life to this historic building, which is thus no longer just a terminal but an important gathering place for tourists and locals.Why not take advantage of this and during your walk along Embarcadero, not stop for lunch or breakfast at the Ferry Building Marketplace? And then if it’s Tuesday, Thursday or Saturday, don’t miss the stalls at the famous Ferry Plaza Farmers Market!

Exploratorium

The other important building you absolutely must visit if you find yourself strolling along the Embarcadero is located at Pier 15 and is San Francisco’s science museum, the Exploratorium. Thanks to the inventiveness and funding of Frank Oppenheimer, younger brother of Julius Robert Oppenheimer, the museum was founded in 1969, and today it attracts thousands of tourists and Californians who are eager to experience the many exhibits in the stations on display firsthand and touch them with their own hands, which all help to understand the principles of physics and chemistry that underlie our existence. A must-see institution, one of the most important museums in San Francisco.

Boarding for Alcatraz

Alcatraz Cosa Vedere

Among San Francisco’s islands, the most famous is undoubtedly Alcatraz. If America’s most renowned penitentiary is on your list of things to see in the city, you’ll find it useful to know that the ferries of the Alcatraz Cruises company depart from the Embarcadero district. Associated with the National Park Service, Alcatraz Cruises offers both transportation to and from the island and a useful audio-guide, with information and details about this historic maximum-security prison. Alcatraz Cruises ferries depart from Pier 33, and during peak season it is advisable to book them well in advance. Read our guide on how to visit Alcatraz.

Pier 7

pier 7 san francisco

A few minutes’ walk from the Ferry Building you will find Pier 7, one of the most interesting, scenic spots in the San Francisco Bay Area. The length of this pier’s walkway, in fact, makes it a perfect and still not very well known place to take beautiful photos of the Bay Bridge, the San Francisco skyline with the famous pyramid-shaped Transamerica building and Coit Tower, and the Bay in general. Although perhaps less famous than others, Pier 7 could still be considered one of the city’s many scenic spots.

Pier 14

pier 14 san francisco

Among the residents, it is famous for being a good fishing spot, among tourists for the splendid view of the bay and the Bay Bridge. Pier 14 is the pier along the Embarcadero that welcomes acclaim from everyone, locals and outsiders alike! Strolling along this walkway is ideal both during the day, admiring the ferries and ships that travel the bay and pass under the bridge, and at night when the Bay Bridge with its lights is at its best.

Rincon Park

Rincon Park san francisco

Rincon Park is a small park perfect for relaxing after a walk along the Embarcadero and enjoying views of the skyscrapers in San Francisco’s financial district, the bay and the Bay Bridge. The nearest stop to Rincon Park is The Embarcadero / Folsom Street, which is right in front of the park. Since 2002, the artwork Cupid’s Span by sculptors Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen has characterized Rincon Park: the arrow and large Cupid’s bow partly implanted in the ground remind visitors that San Francisco has always been the home of Love and Eros.

Pier 24 Museum

pier 24 photography museum
Photo by Scott Loftesness

San Francisco’s beautiful Pier 24 Museum of Art and Photography is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. but by appointment only. Admission is free, with prior reservation, of course. The fact that only a few visitors are allowed in at a time makes it a quiet museum to visit with photographic works to admire at leisure. Pier 24 Photography is located between Pier 26 and the fire station. The best stop is The Embarcadero & Harrison St served by MUNI’s N and T lines.

Best Places to Eat at the Embarcadero

embarcadero dove mangiare

What makes the Embarcadero one of the most popular areas of San Francisco is not only the opportunity to stroll along the bay, the fresh air and the beautiful views of the city, but also the huge variety of fine restaurants and eateries where you can have breakfast, lunch, dinner or just enjoy a drink in harmony with your surroundings. You can choose from starred restaurants such as Kokkari Estiatorio on Jackson Street serving Greek cuisine, Spanish and South American restaurants specializing in paella, tapas, and Latin dishes such as Coqueta on Pier 5 and Piperade on Battery Street, La Mar Cebicheria Peruana on Pier 11/2, and, if you prefer to stick to American cuisine, Hillstone on Montgomery Street, Fog City on Battery Street, Pier 23 Cafe, and the scenic and romantic Waterfront Restaurant at 7 The Embarcadero.

Also not to be forgotten is the farmer’s market held every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at the Ferry Building with lots of delicious local produce and dishes: not to be missed!

Where to Stay at the Embarcadero

The Embarcadero neighborhood can be a good area to stay during your San Francisco vacation. The area is suitable if you love to walk. It is scenic, well connected to the main tourist attractions by public transportation and full of nice restaurants and clubs.

If you are traveling with young children or older people, the fact that the area is mostly flat in a city characterized by hills is undoubtedly another point in its favor. At the same time, however, it must be said that there are not many hotels in this area, most are concentrated in the area near the Ferry Building, so you may not be able to find your lodging here.

My advice is to read our guide on where to stay in San Francisco, where you can find advice on the best areas for overnight stays and the best hotels.


Our Tip:
Looking for accommodations for your trip from California to other parts of the Southwest? Read our guide that contains reviews of hotels and strategic tips for finding accommodations near major attractions: Where to Stay: Our Tips for the SouthWest Area

Warning: Operating hours can change and closures for extraordinary events can occur, so we strongly suggest to check the venues official websites.

Flora Lufrano
Flora Lufrano

I am a translator and teacher. I love to travel, meet new people and cultures and never cease to be surprised by the beauty of our planet.

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