Fisherman's Wharf

Fisherman’s Wharf is one of the busiest tourist areas in town, on the northern waterfront. At every turn, souvenir shops and stalls that sell crab and clam chowder in sourdough bread bowls appear, as do postcard views of the bay, Golden Gate and Alcatraz.

There’s also a colony of sea lions to see and to visit historic ships. Boutiques and eateries reside in the popular former chocolate factory at Ghirardelli Square.

Fisherman’s Wharf can be reached by cable car, tram, public bus or simply by car. Parking spaces and a large multi-store car park are available but Fair warning: parking in San Francisco is very expensive (between $ 2 and $ 8 per hour).

There’s always something going on at Fisherman’s Wharf. Many street musicians and other street performers are waiting for a dollar or two from tourists.

Restaurants and many small seafood stalls line up and vie for customers. Typical fish delicacies are offered at numerous food stalls. Shrimps, crabs and crabs are particularly popular here. Also traditional is the well-known chowder soup, a sea crab soup that is served in a hollowed-out sourdough bread.