The glass elevators at the Westin St. Francis are key-card protected and not open to public…read moreanymore. You need a hotel key card to access one of the glass elevators, and I think it's used to be one of free things for locals and tourists years ago.

Wheee! What a fun way to see the city! This elevator is in…read morethe St Regis overlooking Union Square. If you act like you know where you're going, and just jump in with some random guest, you'll get to see a great view of the city for free! The glass elevators are constantly zipping up and down. You need a guest's key to get the elevator to work, so be sure to hop on with someone going to their room, and just start mashing the highest numbers on the keypad. It's kinda thrilling to know that they put in a card reader to keep out the public, but this is totally worth the trip if you don't stay here. Unfortunately, this Glass Elevator is not like the one written about in the sequel to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Unlike the one in Willie Wonka's Chocolate Factory, this one doesn't go sideways, through the roof, or upside down at all.

Heard about it and had to go see it…read more Umbrella Alley was an amazing experience! I was wowed by the incredible artwork and brilliant and vibrant colors everywhere. The creativity and energy of this place make it a true San Francisco, gem. A must visit

The Umbrella Alley is undergoing renovations when we went in May 2026. Some of the nice murals…read moreyou'd see in photos in the internet are there but only as copies. You won't find the umbrellas too. If you have limited time, would skip this one at least until the renovations are finished.

Still standing in its glory [San Francisco CA]…read more When we come to the City we try to stop by this Pacific Heights neighborhood and stop by for a respectful look as we remember the late Robin Williams. The three-level Victorian house sits in a prime location. Mrs Doubtfire is a really great movie and if you haven't seen it I would highly recommend it. 32 years later after the filming of the movie the house still stands and garners many visitors. The next time you're in San Francisco make sure you stop by 2640 Steiner Street to see the Doubtfire Victorian home used for the exterior shots in the film. Miranda actually mentions the actual address of the Hillard house in the movie. The door and the famous steps has been changed and the gate is installed by the current owner to keep fans from sitting on the steps to get their photos taken. Review #0958 updated

If you love the movie Mrs. Doubtfire then this is a good place to stop by and take a picture. It's…read moredown the street from the Painted Sisters.

Yeeees, beautiful views from these steps!…read more I've come here in the very early morning to see lovely views of the Bay Bridge and then in the afternoon to see the city humming with life below me. Never too crowded, but worth the work out for the view. 2024: 66/100

There are three sets of stairs that were built on the eastern slope of Telegraph Hill, and it's…read moreclear to me which one is which. With its leafy foliage, the Filbert Steps are Ginger, and with far less foot traffic than the Filbert Steps, the Greenwich Steps are Mary Ann. That must mean these stairs are Mrs. Howell because let's face it, they're the least sexy. Three stairways make up the Vallejo Street Steps, but the central one is the only one that allows you to wander the surrounding gardens. These steps are the closest ones to Broadway, and that counts for something. Isn't that right, Lovey? RELATED - Interested in climbing the stairways around the Bay Area? Here's a collection of steps I've walked and reviewed: https://bit.ly/3UkMHud

Just real fun. Reminds you of the movie "Big". The history…read moreof this creation Is heartfelt. FUN

The Musical Stairs, located at Pier 39, is straight out of that old movie 'Big' in the late 80s…read more So every time you step on a stair, you're playing a piano note. When It's crowded near hear, sometimes it can be kinda hard to hear it. Kids love these stairs, and why not!! And when I say kids, I mean kids of all ages!! So, if you're at Pier 39, keep a lookout for these. They are located about the middle of the pier on the right side when entering the pier. It's definitely worth checking out!!

It's a great picturesque hike of 200+ steps…read more Bring thick soled shoes and water. Glorious views abound; too many to count. Tip: start from the Ferry building. Use the bathroom here. Tip 2: bring two quarts of water.

I have been coming here for many years and each time I am wowed. It's always fun to bring somebody…read morevisiting, which is what I did yesterday I love climbing so I have no issues with the stairs but my friend has a fear of heights so was a bit leery. She persevered and was delighted she did so. No matter what time of year it's always lush here and through the seasons there are a variety of things blooming. To me it's always beautiful. And of course, arriving at Coit Tower is always spectacular. We intended to take the Greenwich steps back, but forgot to change course.

"I saw a werewolf with a Chinese menu in his hand Walking…read morethrough the streets of Soho in the rain He was looking for the place called Lee Ho Fook's Gonna get a big dish of beef chow mein" (Warren Zevon) San Francisco is home to the oldest Chinatown in North America. Covering 24 square blocks, its history can be traced to the early 1850s. The driving forces behind the immigration were the California Gold Rush and jobs on the Transcontinental Railroad. San Francisco's Chinatown today is a feast for your senses, with colorful lantern lined streets, produce markets, workers wrapping dim sum dumplings in the store's windows for your viewing pleasure, pagoda roofs, dragon gates, fishmongers, bakeries, and scores of restaurants. Walking through Chinatown was such a treat! We saw dragon dancers walking through the street, stopped at a fortune cookie maker and watched the workers fold up the little cookie bundles and had a family dinner at the oldest Dim Sum restaurant in America, the historic Hang Ah Tea Room. We loved our visit.

When you dim sum, go to Chinatown!…read more The oldest and largest Chinatown in America is in San Fran and it offers plenty of Chinese street food classics and of course a wide selection of baked, fried or steamed dim sum. Most shops open at 7 or 8 so get there before the lunch rush as some of the popular ones get sold out. After devouring all the dim sum, explore and walk around. Another must stop is the Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory which is a family run shop hand folding cookies since 1962. Watch the ladies fold, pack these iconic cookies and pick up a bag or two to take back home to your friends and family. Places we ate at: GOOG MONK KOK BAKERY WING SING DIM SUM DELICIOUS DIMSUM HOUSE OF DIM SUM GOLDEN GATE FORTUNE COOKIE

While most people like Lombard Street for its curves, I've found a host of qualities to love about…read moreit: 1. The view. 2. No stop lights--you can drive right through! 3. The sanitation (no poop!). 4. The lack of crime: No gangs, street races, or drive-by shootings. Nobody's getting away fast on this baby! 5. It's the least expensive site-seeing you can possibly do in San Francisco. Lombard Street, I'll see your 244 stairs, and raise you five gold stars.

Yes, it's touristy. Yes, everyone tells you to go. And yes--it really is worth it…read more My husband and I have been visiting San Francisco for over 20 years, but this was the first trip where we got to experience Lombard Street with our kids. Watching them run up and down the famous curves, peek through the gardens, and marvel at the steepness of the hill made us appreciate it in a completely new way. Ironically, this was also the first time we actually walked the street. In previous visits, we'd driven by or through it, but slowing down and exploring it on foot gave us a whole new appreciation for just how unique it is. One of my favorite San Francisco stories is connected to Lombard Street. Back in 2006, we had a taxi driver who came flying down the street at what felt like 50 mph on the way back to our hotel. It was equal parts terrifying and hilarious and has become one of those travel stories we still tell nearly 20 years later. This visit was much calmer. The flowers were beautiful, the views were fantastic, and the kids had an absolute blast. Sometimes iconic attractions are famous for a reason, and Lombard Street is one of them. It's a classic San Francisco experience that somehow manages to be just as fun for adults as it is for kids.

Yep... another reason to LOVE SF. Culture, community, and somehow... magically clean?! Like I don't…read moreknow what spell they cast over Japantown but the usual city "aroma" is nowhere to be found lol. Just good vibes, music, anime, cosplay sightings, and me absolutely losing it over a Japanese vintage shop like it was a life event. Gifts everywhere, manga on manga on manga... I blinked and suddenly I needed everything. You can literally watch fresh udon being made, bounce between ramen spots, sip tea like you have your life together, and yes... plenty of veggie and vegan friendly options so we're all thriving. And the history? Not just cute... it's legit. This is the OLDEST Japantown in the U.S. and one of only three left, built after the 1906 earthquake when Japanese communities relocated here and made it their cultural home (Japantown Cultural District⁠). It was once a booming hub with hundreds of businesses before WWII internment basically wiped it out, and the community had to rebuild from scratch after . So yeah... what you're walking through now is resilience with really good snacks. Hit the mall, the Peace Pagoda, the paper stores (origami, stationery, art... obsessed), and all the Ghibli love. Cute AND historic... we love a neighborhood with depth.

Love visiting this place when I'm in San Francisco. Lots of japanese shops and some great places to…read moreeat. If you're visiting San Francisco this is a place you much check out.

I've never actually seen 'the Parrots of Telegraph Hill' on Telegraph Hill but have seen them all…read moreover the Northeastern part of the city like Russian Hill, Pac Heights, North Beach, and the Embarcadero area. This is one of those things at least for me is that when I'm looking for them I won't find them but they turn up all the time when I least expect it. They are very distinct because these birds are LOUD. Especially if they are in a big group, they are really noticeable. It sounds like they are constantly arguing about something or chanting together with high pitched voices. The birds are quite pretty with a rich green hue and red head. If you are looking for them specifically the best bet would be to go to Ina Colbrith Park or across the street from Sue Bierman Park in the Embarcadero at the aptly named 'Parrot Park'.

Dang! These guys are loud! (But adorable)…read more First of all, this neat group of animals have a documentary featuring them: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0424565/ and a really cool website discussing their existence: http://www.markbittner.net/parrot_pages/wildparrots.html (by the author of a book bearing their name) Scoping out the parrots is one of my favorite free hobbies in San Francisco (free hobbies are few and far between in SF - hahaha!) The best way to hear and see them is in Sue Bierman Park, which is just west of the Ferry Building or on Telegraph Hill in and among the trees along the Greenwich and Filbert Steps. I find that they are loudest in the afternoons until sunset.