San Francisco Neighborhoods

It is often said that San Francisco is an eccentric and unique city, and although this is true, to fully understand this you will need to do more than just visit its most iconic attractions (e.g., the Golden Gate or Alcatraz). In fact, there is more to the city and you will discover its true essence as you go deeper into its most characteristic neighborhoods, each one with its own distinct personality and often pride in its own history.

How do you get around San Francisco’s neighborhoods

Out of the most famous and major cities that draw tourists, San Francisco is certainly not the largest. Think of New York City, which has a myriad of neighborhoods divided into the various city districts or in California, the vast city of Los Angeles, which has an area of about 500 square miles. In comparison, visiting San Francisco is much more manageable, since its most interesting neighborhoods are all fairly close to each other in the northern part of the peninsula, and the other neighborhoods can still be easily reached in a short time.

But what is the best way to get around the city? Let’s use as a reference the quadrants drawn by the Market Street (blue line) and Van Ness Avenue (red line) directions to figure out where the neighborhoods to visit in San Francisco are located on the map.

The northeast quadrant

The northeast quadrant, bordered by Market Street and the waterfront, encompasses virtually 80 percent of San Francisco’s historic neighborhoods, as well as the most interesting ones to visit. Regardless of how many days you stay in San Francisco, this is the area where you will probably spend most of your time.

The heart of this area is Union Square, which is teeming with shops, and is where most of the hotels in San Francisco are located. Near Union Square is Dragon’s Gate, the gateway to the Chinatown oldest in the entire United States; east of Chinatown – toward the waterfront district called Embarcadero – is the Financial District, where the Transamerica Pyramid and the other skyscrapers that shape the city skyline are located.

West of Union Square we find Nob Hill and Russian Hill, which you will have to reach (on foot or, better, by cable car) if you want to see Lombard Street, one of the most spellbinding streets in the world. Also in this quadrant is North Beach, San Francisco’s historic Little Italy, a neighborhood famous for being the birthplace of the Beat Generation.

To the northwest, last but not least we find Telegraph Hill, with the scenic Coit Tower and, at the foot of the hill begins San Francisco’s most distinctive and vital neighborhood. We are talking about Fisherman’s Wharf, where you can explore Pier 33 (where you can take transportation to Alcatraz), the lively Pier 39 and a myriad of restaurants, fun attractions, and places of historical interest.

West of Van Ness Avenue

Northwest of Van Ness Avenue there are other areas of San Francisco that are certainly worth visiting. In addition to the prestigious Pacific Heights, immediately adjacent to Fisherman’s Wharf there is also the Marina District with the lavish Palace of Fine Arts; then, if we continue westward, we find the Presidio of San Francisco, the area that was once a military fort erected by Spanish soldiers and that today includes, among other attractions, the undisputed symbol of San Francisco: the Golden Gate Bridge.

Also on this side of the city there is the Western Addition, home to Japantown and San Francisco’s highest concentration of Victorian houses, including the famous Painted Ladies in Alamo Square. Not far away, we find the very large Golden Gate Park and Haight-Ashbury, San Francisco’s most controversial neighborhood with a hippy, somewhat bohemian soul.

Lastly in the northwest end of the peninsula-between the Sutro Historic District and Lincoln Park-is Lands End, where there are a number of trails and scenic points. If you want to get to know a part of San Francisco that is usually frequented only by locals, then Lands End may be the place for you.

South of Market Street

It is uncommon to go on a thorough sightseeing tour in the area south of Market Street. While SoMa (the southeast quadrant) is to be avoided, there are some neighborhoods in the southwest quadrant that are worth mentioning: the first is Mission District which, as the name suggests, has historical significance in that in the 18th century Spanish settlers founded a number of missions there. Today the Mission District is a multicultural neighborhood that preserves numerous murals with strong identity and artistic significance.

The adjacent neighborhood known as Castro has historical importance. Originally the neighborhood of Scandinavian and Irish workers, then over the years it became home to an increasingly large gay community. Here, thanks to the political activism of city councilman Harvey Milk (later assassinated by fellow councilman Dan White), the rainbow flag, a symbol of gay civil rights, was born. Next to the Castro is also Twin Peaks. The neighborhood bears this name due to the presence of two hills which offer some of the best views in San Francisco.

The most dangerous neighborhoods in San Francisco

San Francisco is known to be a city full of contradictions. Next to the rich and prestigious neighborhoods (but also within them) are areas of great poverty that are dangerous and degraded. For safety’s sake it is always a good idea to try to avoid them when visiting the city. These areas are mainly found in SoMa (South of Market) and Tenderloin, a neighborhood adjacent to Union Square, but if you want to learn more about this topic, read our article on neighborhoods to avoid in San Francisco.

Guides to individual neighborhoods in San Francisco

Now that you have read this broad overview, here are some in-depth articles that may be helpful to you in better organizing your visit to San Francisco’s neighborhoods.

Discover Haight-Ashbury: The Hippy District of San Francisco

San Francisco has many faces and each neighborhood seems to have its own personality. Today we will venture into Haight-Ashbury, one of the most interesting districts in terms of history, …

Immerse Yourself in San Francisco’s Chinatown

You probably already know that San Francisco’s Chinatown is the largest Chinese community outside of Asia. Well, during a visit to the City by the Bay, these 24 city blocks …

Visit Fisherman’s Wharf: Recommended Itinerary in this Lively Neighborhood

I visited Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco for the first time shortly after visiting the Coit Tower. I went down to the water along the quiet residential streets of Telegraph …

Castro District: The Rainbow Flag Neighborhood of San Francisco

Some neighborhoods of San Francisco, although they are residential, can still be of interest because of their historical significance, giving visitors the opportunity to see first hand where historical events …

Visit North Beach: Home of Little Italy, the Beat Generation and Barbary Coast

In my opinion, one of the best ways to get to know the city of San Francisco is to walk through its most significant neighborhoods in search of history, and …

Visit Mission District, the Latino Neighborhood with Murals in San Francisco

The origins of the Mission District date back to 1700, when the first Spanish settlers founded some important missions there, including Mission San Francisco de Asis, which is still one …

Russian Hill San Francisco: a Guide to the Lombard Street Neighborhood

Russian Hill is one of San Francisco’s neighborhoods most famous worldwide. This very neighborhood is home to the famous Lombard Street, the street that with its bends has become one …

Pacific Heights in San Francisco: Things to Do in the Neighborhood

Like Nob Hill, Pacific Heights is also one of San Francisco’s wealthiest and most prestigious neighborhoods. All the more so because the views that can be enjoyed from its streets …

Nob Hill in San Francisco: Attractions and information about the neighborhood

The historic and elegant neighborhood of Nob Hill is often visited only in passing during a trip to San Francisco, yet its scenic location and the sophistication of some of …

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

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 …

Best Things to Do in Union Square, San Francisco

Whether you’re in town for a few days or for a long time, a must-see among the things to do in San Francisco is to enjoy the atmosphere of Union …

Guide to the Marina District San Francisco, Home of the Palace of Fine Arts

The San Francisco Bay Area has a unique charm, but the Marina District on the water is one of the San Francisco neighborhoods you should definitely include in your itinerary. …

A Guide to San Francisco’s Financial District

At first glance, the Financial District may not be a place where you would expect to find many points of interest, compared to the many other neighborhoods in San Francisco. …

You might also be interested in…

San Francisco Neighborhood Map