Fisherman's Wharf San Francisco

Every visitor the San Francisco has to take a trip to the Wharf at least one time. Mixed in with the street vendors, and souvenir stores are some great places to eat fresh seafood.

Dining choices run from small street shops to full service restaurants. After filling up on Fresh Dungeness crab take a stroll around the shopping area or climb aboard one of the boat tours of Alcatraz or the bay. Near-by attractions are Ripley's Believe it or Not museum, the Wax Museum and Ghirardeli Square.

The Wharf is definitely worth a day trip with many activities to keep you busy. There are many hotels in the area if you are traveling from a distance. One day parking will cost anywhere from 15 to 30 dollars some stores have vouchers.

Fisherman's Wharf gets its name and neighborhood characteristics from the city's early days during the Gold Rush where Italian emigre fishermen settled in the area and fished for the Dungeness Crab.

From then until present day it remained the home base of San Francisco's fishing fleet. Despite its redevelopment into a tourist attraction during the 1970s and 1980s, the area is still home to many active fishermen and their fleets.

Fisherman's Wharf is the most popular tourist attraction in San Francisco. It roughly encompasses the northern waterfront area of San Francisco from Ghirardelli Square or Van Ness Avenue east to Pier 35 or Kearny Street.

The F Market streetcar runs through the area, the Powell-Hyde cable car lines runs to Aquatic Park, at the edge of Fisherman's Wharf, and the Powell-Mason cable car line runs a few blocks away.

Attractions in Fisherman's Wharf area are the Hyde Street Pier which is part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, the USS Pampanito, a decommissioned World War II era submarine, and the Balclutha, a 19th century cargo ship.

Tour boats depart to Alcatraz Island from the wharf area. Admission to the Island museum is free but you will need to pay for the boat trip. Some tours only circle Alcatraz so be careful on which trip you take.

Fisherman's Wharf San Francisco can be reached by cable car from Union Square. Tours of the bay and Alcatraz leave from here. Parking can be a real problem. Be sure to get a voucher from one of the merchants or you will end up paying a huge sum to park.

San Francisco Deals and Special Offers

Go San Francisco offers admission to 45 of the best San francisco attractions.

City Sightseeing San Francisco includes a 2-Day Hop-on Hop-off ALL Loops Ticket

California Academy of Sciences explore earth, ocean and space - all in one place

Fisherman's Wharf with Wharf Pass. Your choice of Fisherman's Wharf Attractions:

Alcatraz Island is a must see destination while visiting San Francisco.