I had absolutely no idea what was waiting for me when I arrived in San Francisco back in 1994 – on my very first trip to the USA. Up until then, I only knew the city from TV shows and movies. One of them was “The Streets of San Francisco” with a young Michael Douglas – a series that had me hooked, episode after episode, thanks to the city’s unique and captivating backdrop.
Let’s be honest – we all know at least one iconic sight that makes this city unforgettable. Whether it’s the blazing red Golden Gate Bridge, the legendary prison island Alcatraz, the one-of-a-kind cable cars climbing the hills, or the famously twisty Lombard Street – San Francisco simply has that magic that grabs you and never lets go.
The moment you lay eyes on one of them, there’s no mistaking it – you instantly think of San Francisco. And maybe, just maybe, your mind drifts straight to the hippie movement that was born here in the swinging ’60s. Who doesn’t know that legendary anthem by Scott McKenzie – “San Francisco”? A song so iconic, it makes your fingers itch to light up a little something… and take a nice, deep hit.
But let me take you back to where it all began – to the moment I fell in love with this city.
My first trip to San Francisco was more than 20 years ago, but I still remember the many magical moments that burned themselves into my memory like it was yesterday.
Okay… there was one not-so-great moment, but we’ll save that juicy detail for the end.
What makes the city so unique is its wild landscape – the endless hills it’s been built on.
Let’s start with how I first arrived in this stunning place. Most people enter the city by crossing one of two legendary bridges – the Golden Gate Bridge in the north or the Oakland Bay Bridge in the east.
Back then, I came via the latter. The moment I hit the bridge, boom – there it was: that iconic skyline rising out of the water.
San Francisco is basically an urban island. Except for the southern land access, it’s completely surrounded by water. You’ll get the best view of that from the Coit Tower, a 64-meter-high lookout perched on a hill in the city’s east.
Once you reach the center of town, it won’t take long until you encounter one of San Francisco’s most legendary symbols: the Cable Car – truly iconic and yes, very famous.
Pulled by a steel cable that runs nonstop beneath the street, this thing conquers the city’s steep hills like it’s no big deal.
Here’s the twist: almost no locals ride it anymore, but they’re still packed to the brim. It’s a pure tourist magnet – and totally addictive. Sounds weird, but it’s true.
Whatever you do, don’t sit inside. So boring.
Stay outside, hang on to the side rails and pretend you’re doing budget subway surfing. That’s the way to go.
Feel the breeze, smell the city, and let San Francisco do its thing. But be warned – those standing spots are hot property. Blink, and they’re gone.
Right now, a single Cable Car ride will set you back $7.
Not exactly a bargain.
Pro tip: Go for the $20 day pass instead. It gives you unlimited access to all public transport – buses, trains, subway, and yes, Cable Cars included.
And trust me, it’s worth every penny. You can hop off at any stop, explore, and jump right back on the next ride.
Take my advice – never leave San Francisco without riding a Cable Car.
Quick Tip:
What does a ride on the Cable Car and public transport in SF cost?
– Single ride: $7
– 1-Day Passport: $20 (Unlimited rides)
Coming up next: the Golden Gate Bridge…
Another highlight you simply have to experience is walking across the legendary Golden Gate Bridge.
You can step onto it straight from the city side, or – for the full experience – first drive across to the far side, take the very first exit on the right, and park at the spacious “Vista Point” lot right by the bridge. If the weather’s on your side, this is the first of three ultimate photo hotspots where the bridge reveals itself in all its glory.
But hey, no slacking now! This is your moment.
Time to hit the bridge – on foot.
Because really, when else can you say, “I walked across the Golden Gate Bridge” if not now, right here, right in this moment?
It’s a feeling you’ll carry with you forever.
Suspended 67 meters above the water, you’ll have jaw-dropping views of the city skyline and the infamous Alcatraz Island.
The other two epic viewpoints are hidden in the hills just across the road. Simply take the second exit after the bridge, pass underneath Highway 101, and drive up to Battery Spencer and the Golden Gate Bridge Vista Point.
And if the weather’s on your side – brace yourself.
The views from up there?
Absolutely mind-blowing.
This isn’t just a bridge.
It’s a 20th-century masterpiece.
A monument.
A once-in-a-lifetime photo backdrop.
Alcatraz
Another One for the Bucket List – My Long-Awaited Visit to Alcatraz
One of those unforgettable, once-in-a-lifetime experiences that I didn’t manage to tick off until 2015 was finally setting foot on the infamous prison island of Alcatraz. Back in 1994, during a previous visit to San Francisco, we had no chance of getting tickets. Totally sold out. And let me tell you – that was beyond frustrating. You’re standing there, 8,952.82 kilometers from home, staring across the water at this iconic rock… and yet, you can’t get on it. Madness!
But in 2015, I made it happen. I booked my tickets two months in advance online – and here’s a word of advice: Do the same. Don’t leave it to chance and try buying on the spot. You’ll likely be out of luck. But hey, each to their own. 😉
We boarded the ferry and crossed over to Alcatraz. And for me personally – this visit was powerful. To walk through the halls of one of the world’s most notorious prisons… goosebumps! Just imagining what it must have felt like to be locked up there – so close to the freedom and the life of San Francisco, yet completely cut off. That thought alone is intense.
Escape? Basically impossible. The currents around the island are brutal. Even though over 30 inmates supposedly tried, officially, none ever made it.
The atmosphere on the island was eerie – heavy. As soon as I entered those tiny, inhumane cells, I felt the weight of the place. A haunting silence filled the air, only lifting once the ferry pulled away from the dock and the city skyline came back into view.
Alcatraz may be just a tourist attraction now, a closed chapter in San Francisco’s past – but it’s one that still hits hard and sticks with you.
I’m incredibly glad I finally went.
Pro tip: If you’re planning to go – get your Alcatraz tickets here!! 🎫🌉
Chinatown
Back in the city. Back in real life.
From the docks, it’s just a short walk to Market Street – San Francisco’s beating retail heart. And from there, it’s only a stone’s throw to the bustling Financial District. On weekdays? Total madness. Deals are made, suits are running the show – and hidden right in the middle of it all: the largest Chinatown in the U.S., home to around 100,000 residents.
But let me tell you – once you step into Chinatown, you might forget you’re still in the U.S. It’s a world of its own. Colors, smells, signs in Mandarin – total cultural reset. If you stop for a bite (which you absolutely should), you might even spot grandma at the next table, skillfully crafting dumplings by hand. Charming – until she leaves the room and the bowl of raw meat sits out for half an hour without refrigeration.
Yeah… that moment stuck with me. The ghost of the minced meat haunted my stomach all the way out of the restaurant. Phantom stomach cramps included. All good in the end – but I won’t lie: I had my doubts.
The real life of the city is, of course, on its streets. And I loved walking them. But here’s the twist: San Francisco has hills – real ones. And they don’t mess around. If you’re not hopping on a cable car, get ready to sweat. Especially if the California sun decides to join the party.
One of these legendary hills? Lombard Street – a.k.a. the world’s most crooked road. Tourists from all over the globe line up in rental cars just to make the iconic, serpentine drive. Our rental? A beastly GMC Yukon XL – basically a cruise ship on wheels. Way too bulky for those tight corners. hehe No problem – we tackled it on foot. A humbling, but epic experience nonetheless.
Earlier, I mentioned the hippies. Their spiritual HQ? Haight-Ashbury. This district still echoes flower power and freedom. Here, you’ll find those colorful Victorian houses that made San Francisco famous – plus vintage stores, peace signs galore, and every now and then, the unmistakable whiff of someone’s mid-afternoon joint. Business as usual in this part of town. 😄
Now let’s talk food – because San Francisco is a feast for the senses. The city’s diversity spills right onto the plates. One spot you must visit: Fisherman’s Wharf. Located in the northeast, this old harbor district is seafood heaven. Especially if you’re into fresh crab. The restaurants here are legendary – each dish more mouthwatering than the last.
San Francisco is packed with must-do’s, must-see’s, and definitely must-eats. This city is simply next level.
Two tips for a relaxed Sunday?
Golden Gate Park – and let the magic unfold.
Explore the Golden Gate Park, nestled in the western part of the city – one of the largest urban parks in the world.
Believe it or not, it’s even bigger than Central Park in New York. On sunny days, it’s buzzing with life – the green lungs of San Francisco. Here, you’ll encounter every kind of person, every kind of vibe. And the best part? No one feels like a stranger. Everyone’s from somewhere else, and somehow, everyone belongs.
San Francisco is a melting pot of colors, cultures, and identities. Every skin tone, every race, every orientation – this city embraces it all. It’s that spirit of openness and tolerance that defines San Francisco.
Okay, granted – these days, not everyone can afford to live here anymore. As tech giants like Facebook, Apple, Intel, Google, AMD, Adobe, Symantec, Yahoo, eBay, and Nvidia turned Silicon Valley into a millionaire factory, the rent prices in the city skyrocketed. The Bay Area has seen an insane economic boom – but with it, a growing gap between rich and poor.
I saw it with my own eyes last year. And still – I love this city deeply. I always will. There’s something magical about it. But living here? Probably not in this lifetime – it’s just too pricey now.
Anyway… let me take you back to what I love about this region:
Sausalito & Stinson Beach – coming up next.
Another Side of San Francisco
The Bay Area is a dazzling mosaic of breathtaking places – so much so that staying in San Francisco alone just isn’t enough. You absolutely have to make a quick detour across the legendary Golden Gate Bridge to the charming little coastal town of Sausalito. Nestled right on the Bay, its scenic promenade becomes magical at night – offering spectacular views of San Francisco’s glittering skyline. That is… unless the infamous Bay fog rolls in again. If that happens, well – say goodbye to the view and hello to the mystery. 😉
Another stunning spot isn’t far off either – just on the other side of the hills, facing the open sea: the beach town of Stinson Beach. Here you’ll find a wide, public beach that seems made for warm summer days, when the sun practically begs you to go for a dip.
I hope I’ve sparked a bit of wanderlust in you to one day explore this city for yourself. Go discover it with your own eyes and feet. I bet you’ll walk away with the same unforgettable memories I did – twice already. San Francisco has carved itself into my soul, and I feel incredibly lucky to have experienced its magic. Because…
My heart belongs to San Francisco.
P.S. A Personal Story I’ve Never Really Told
At the beginning of this post, I mentioned that during my very first visit to San Francisco back in 1994, I also had an experience that wasn’t quite so magical. And I’ve rarely talked about it since. But now feels like the right time to finally share it.
We were walking through Chinatown and stopped by a small fast-food place. I had just picked up my order and taken a seat at a little two-person table by the window. A fellow traveler from our group sat down across from me. Just as I was about to start eating, a delivery van screeched to a halt right outside.
I couldn’t see much, but what I heard made the blood drain from my face.
On the far side of the van, a sliding door slammed open – and then: rapid machine gun fire. Loud. Sharp. Real.
It’s a completely different feeling hearing those sounds in a movie theater than experiencing them just meters away from you. We couldn’t see anything, but the sounds told a chilling story: glass shattering, people screaming, pure chaos. Something terrible was happening just out of sight.
It lasted maybe 20 to 30 seconds, then the van sped off and disappeared.
What I saw next across the street haunts me to this day – a Chinese electronics store with its front completely destroyed. The door was blown open, glass everywhere, and then… a shadow appeared. A man stepped into the sunlight, bleeding from the forehead – but thankfully, he was alive and didn’t seem seriously hurt.
Within minutes, two police cars arrived and sealed off the area. Rumor had it the Chinese mafia may have been involved, but to this day, I still don’t know what really happened.
I couldn’t take my eyes off the scene. I never touched my food. After just a few minutes, I stood up and left – needing to put distance between myself and that moment. I’ve never experienced anything like it again, and I hope I never do.
Wrong place, wrong time. That can happen anywhere in the world.
And yet, San Francisco will always be a dream city for me.
