San Francisco is the fourth largest city in size in California and the second largest city in density in the United States of America, with an estimated population of 800 000 in 2006. San Francisco is located on the top of the San Francisco Peninsula and is the central place of the geographical area called San Francisco Bay Area.
San Francisco is famous for the fog phenomenon that sometimes lasts several months, for the steep hills, for the combination of Victorian architecture and modern architecture, for its peninsular position surrounded by the Pacific Ocean and the San Francisco Bay. The most famous monuments and places to visit in San Francisco are: the Golden Gate Bridge, the Alcatraz Island, the Transamerica Pyramid building, the cable cars, Coit Tower and Chinatown.
Golden Gate Bridge is the first thing we usually associate San Francisco with, being one of the most photographed bridges in the world thanks to its beauty. Golden Gate Bridge is a suspension bridge that is located at the entrance of the San Francisco Bay into the Pacific Ocean. Its construction lasted four years, between 1933 and 1937 and it is completely made of iron. Millions of tourists arrive in San Francisco and head to the Golden Gate Bridge to take pictures there, so that they have a souvenir of this charming town. It is a must among the places to visit in San Francisco.
Mainly due to its impressive history, the Alcatraz Island is one of the main places to visit in San Francisco. The island hosted for a long time a federal prison, which replaced a fort built in the 1600s. In 1963, the prison was closed completely and now it is one of the main attractions in San Francisco, visited by millions of tourists every year. In addition, the history of the prison is very interesting, so those who travel to San Francisco really need to visit the island and fort that dominates it.
Perhaps one of the most interesting museums in the world, the Exploratorium in San Francisco features an impressive collection of 475 exhibits that delight all those interested in art, but especially in science. This is one of the most visited tourist attractions in the city.
The San Francisco Bay is another of the main places to visit in San Francisco, mostly because it offers a great landscape show. The bay can be crossed by ferries, being an unforgettable ride. Moreover, those interested can take part in activities such as windsurfing and kite surfing, as they are provided by some companies around the bay.
