The San Francisco City Guides answer what every first visit raises: where to eat crab and dim sum without Wharf prices, how to see the bridge, Alcatraz and the hilltop views without losing a day in queues, which North Beach bars still feel real and how to reach Marin or Berkeley without a car. Every guide is a short, opinionated list that tells you why each place made the cut, what to order or look for and one useful tip, and it opens in your browser right after you pay.
About the San Francisco City Guides
- 139 places
- 6 guides
- 13 languages
- Works offline
- Print or PDF
- Instant access
- Free updates
The six San Francisco guides
Food guide
24 places
Mission burritos and cheap dim sum, century-old seafood counters, neighbourhood dining rooms worth booking, the markets and the best sweets and coffee.
Things to do guide
23 places
Museums for foggy days, the bridge and Alcatraz done the smart way, viewpoints over the bay and walks through the best neighbourhoods.
Family guide
24 places
Playgrounds with city views, hands-on science museums, sea lions and an aquarium on the waterfront and food stops that suit young eaters.
Nightlife guide
24 places
Speakeasies and classic cocktails, Beat-era dives in North Beach, historic music halls and views and late food after dark.
Day trips guide
20 places
Wild Pacific beaches, ferries to Sausalito and Angel Island, Berkeley and Oakland by BART and days down the Peninsula, all without a car.
Budget guide
24 places
Free museums, free views from the hills and the bridge, filling cheap eats and the tricks that make getting around cost less.
Why an interactive guide beats a list
Tick places off
Mark each place as done and watch your progress, so you always know what is left.
Your own notes
Write notes on any place and add your own finds. They stay on your phone.
One tap to Maps
Every place opens in Google Maps, and the day route puts your picks in a sensible order.
Open now, near me
Filter by what is open right now or what is closest to you.
Works offline
Open the guide once with a connection and it keeps working without data.
Print it or save as PDF
On a computer, print any guide or save it as a PDF to take with you.
Three places from the guides
Swan Oyster Depot
Polk Gulch, 1517 Polk St
A narrow marble counter that has served seafood since 1912, with only a handful of stools. Crab, oysters and chowder are the order, and the lunchtime queue is part of the ritual. From the food guide.
Coit Tower
Telegraph Hill
A 1930s tower on top of Telegraph Hill, with Depression-era murals in the lobby and the whole city spread around you from the top. Pick a clear day for the view. From the things to do guide.
Muir Woods National Monument
Mill Valley, Marin
Tall coast redwoods along flat boardwalk trails, an easy hour or a half day in the shade. In winter the forest is quiet, damp and deep green. From the day trips guide.
Plan your days in San Francisco
Day one: walk the Golden Gate Bridge and the Presidio with the things to do guide, have lunch in North Beach from the food guide and spend the evening in its old bars with the nightlife guide. Day two: take the ferry to Sausalito or BART to Berkeley with the day trips guide, then catch the sunset from Twin Peaks, a free view from the budget guide. On a foggy or slow day, the family guide’s museums, the Cable Car Museum and a long dim sum lunch keep you warm and busy.
Questions about the San Francisco guides
What do I get with the San Francisco City Guides?
Six guides, 139 places in all: food, things to do, family, nightlife, day trips and budget. Each place has the reason to go, the area, notes on when it opens and a practical tip.
When do I receive the guides?
Straight after payment: the links appear on your order page and in your order email. Any browser on a phone or laptop opens them, with no app and no sign-up.
Will the guides work offline in San Francisco?
Yes. Load each guide once with a connection and it carries on working offline, ticks and notes included. Opening map links needs data.
Which languages are the guides in?
The guides open in English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Dutch, Portuguese, Greek, Polish, Chinese, Japanese, Korean and Arabic. You can switch the language inside the guide at any time.
Can I buy a single guide?
Yes. One guide costs $5.99, two $10.99, four $18.99 and all six $23.99.
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