Area Attractions

Serene and world-class Golden Gate Park's Japanese Tea Garden is the oldest public Japanese garden in the United States. Gentle paths among idyllic gardens lead to a beautiful and authentic Japanese tea house where refreshments can be savored. See panoramic >

The Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA) is one of the largest urban national parks in the world. The total park area is 75,398 acres of land and water. Approximately 28 miles of coastline lie within its boundaries. It is nearly two and one-half times the size of San Francisco. See panoramic >

Originally designed for the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition by Bernard Maybeck the Palace of Fine Arts today houses a 1,000 seat performing arts theater and the Exploratorium a collage of over 650 science, art, and human perception exhibits. A backdrop to numerous movies, the Palace presents a photo opportunity for every visitor. See panoramic >

Perched 900 feet (274m) above sea level, the Twin Peaks offer some of the most impressive views available anywhere in the Bay Area. This depiction of Twin Peaks can only be enhanced by a personal visit. See panoramic >

Two blocks from the Hilton San Francisco’s doorstep, Union Square is one of the top world-class shopping areas in the state. The largest Macy's outside of New York, Saks Fifth Avenue, Tiffany's, and designer boutiques make this a shopper’s paradise. See panoramic >

From this 460 foot high vantage atop the roof of the Hilton’s landmark tower, it’s plain to see how centrally located the hotel is and how incredibly beautiful is this destination, truly one of the greatest cities in the world. See panoramic >

San Francisco. A city like no other. Since the gold rush days, San Francisco has enjoyed a wealth of adoration, admiration and awe. Innovative. Unsurpassed physical beauty. Creative. Unique. Words barely scratch the surface to describe the place that everyone has come to love as “The City that Knows How.” Climb half way to the stars aboard a cable car or simply sit and enjoy a quirky day in the life of one of the world’s most fascinating cities, there will never be only one way to best experience San Francisco. Come once and you’ll want to come often. Enjoy renowned dining, theatres, shopping, historic landmarks, new museums and vibrant culturally diverse neighborhoods. There’s always plenty to see and do in ways like no other city. Here's what our resident hotel experts suggest you do while in San Francisco.

Day 1
Walk 2 blocks to Union Square to shop, get discounted theatre tickets, cruise galleries and catch either the Powell/Hyde Sts. or Powell/Mason Sts. cable cars to Chinatown, North Beach and Fisherman's Wharf. Chinatown for tchotkes, North Beach for fresh focaccia and the Wharf for sea lions, crab and bellying up to the bar where Irish Coffees were invented.

Day 2
Take the F-Market St.trolley car to the Ferry Building where you'll find a collection of restaurants (Slanted Door), artisan food stores, hand-crafted chocolates and other specialty foods. From the Ferry Building climb half way to the stars by cable car (caught on California St) to Nob Hill where the robber barons called home and Grace Cathedral is on display. Continuing a short cab ride or bus ride up California, go to Fillmore St. where local fashionistas and young urbanites rule over San Francisco's cafe scene.

Day 3
Neighborhood Explore Day - It takes all of San Francisco rich multi-cultural neighborhoods intertwined with several ethnicities to form the cosmopolitan urban tapestry that is the city . Get a feel for it by visiting Alamo Square, Hayes Valley, the Mission, Little Saigon and Japantown within short distances of each other.

Day 4
Experience a good flashback - re-visit the Summer of Love with a quick short but fun trip to Haight Ashbury. Funky shops, famous residences (Janis Joplin, Charles Manson, Danny Glover, etc.), piercings, tatoos and more. Pig out at the Pork Store. Score some vintage at Aardvark's Odd Ark. Pay the piper at the Haight Ashbury Free Clinic. Then stroll over to Golden Gate Park through the Golden Arches (yes an urban MacDonald's) to enjoy the re-built Conservatory of Flowers, The Strybing Arboretum & Botanical Garden, Japanese Tea Garden, Dutch windmills, Stow Lake and the fabulous new museum masterpiece, the De Young Museum.

Action-packed Day - Rent a bike from Fisherman's Wharf and embark on 3.5 miles of the city's most scenic biking. From the promenade of the Golden Gate National Park Area ride by the Wave Organ, Crissy Field, Farrallones Marine Sanctuary, Fort Point (where Jimmy Stewart dove in to save Kim Novak) and the Golden Gate Bridge. Come back through the Presidio, George Lucas's Digital campus and Union St. or Chestnut St. for much-earned rest and recuperation.

Day of Passive Pursuits - Concentrated in one area, only four blocks away, visit the Museum of Modern Art, Zeum, the Academy of Science, the Cartoon Art Museum and the Museum of the African Diaspora. When you've had enough passivity, get into full swing at the bowling alley, an indoor year-round ice skating rink, a beautifully restored carousel and an outdoor playground - all in the same area.

Links to other San Francisco attractions: