São Francisco

Spurred into rapid growth by the California Gold Rush in 1848, San Francisco grew from a small town into a bustling city practically overnight. The entrepreneurial spirit and can-do attitude of San Francisco have only grown since then, creating the iconic seven-mile-by-seven-mile city that serves as the cultural and financial hub for Northern California.

At the foot of the Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco begins in the Marina district, where unabashedly large yachts are moored next to sundrenched Crissy Field, flanking high-end mansions. Rising from the Marina and running along an east-west ridge between the Presidio and Van Ness Avenue, the neighborhood of Pacific Heights commands breathtaking views of the San Francisco Bay. From Victorians to Edwardians to château-style houses, Pacific Heights features some of the oldest and grandest homes in the city.

Adjacent to Pacific Heights, unassuming Presidio Heights is a sedate and family-friendly community complete with wide, quiet streets and plentiful parks. Nearby, Hayes Valley provides a cultural village contained within five square blocks, anchored by the imposing edifices of the San Francisco Ballet, Opera, and Symphony. Housing here is predominately single and multifamily Victorians, the most famous of which are the postcard-perfect "painted ladies" along Alamo Square. 

San Francisco is also home to Lombard Street, widely reputed to be the world’s windiest road. Lombard’s famous hairpin turns zigzag down Russian Hill, an area rich with European charm, international cuisine, and boutique shopping. This is distinguished as a highly walkable neighborhood, with homes that feature Italianate, Spanish Colonial, Arts and Crafts, and Neo-Georgian architectural styles. A few blocks over, Nob Hill is elegant, swanky, and full of grand hotels. Baronial wealth is still on display, and pre-war luxury apartments are adorned with wedding-cake façades. 

In the heart of San Francisco, Noe Valley is a paradise for foodies, who revel in the vast array of culinary choices, including the Noe Valley Farmer’s Market. While generally thought of as a very family-oriented neighborhood, Noe Valley is also increasingly known for its nightlife, thanks in part to a growing music scene.

Beneath the foot of the Oakland Bay Bridge and next to AT&T Park (home to the San Francisco Giants), South Beach claims some of the best weather in San Francisco. This area attracts affluent homebuyers in search of luxury condos, high rises, and much-coveted lofts in reconverted warehouses. Neighboring SoMa (South of Market) is sprawling and varied; it experienced a cultural rebirth during the dot-com revolution, and has remained a haven for both up-and-coming businesses and nightclubs. SoMa boasts several attractions that draw tourists and natives alike: the SF MOMA, the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, and the San Francisco Ferry Building.

Bordered on one side by Ocean Beach and on the other by the world-famous Golden Gate Park, the Sunset area still has the feel of a small town, with a decidedly urban edge. Thanks to generations of immigrants who settled here, there is an eclectic mix of cultures and ethnic restaurants. The University of California medical campus is located atop the hill on Parnassus Street, attracting doctors, researchers, and grad students.

Telegraph Hill is one of the city's oldest neighborhoods, inhabited long before the gold rush by the men who worked on the nearby waterfront. Today, it has the largest concentration of pre-1870 buildings in San Francisco. Telegraph Hill is famed for its Italianate and Carpenter Gothic homes, as well as charming cottages with steeply pitched roofs and ornate wooden scroll work. Those examples of old San Francisco are joined by newer additions including modernist homes by noted architects Richard Neutra, Gardner Dailey, and William Wurster. The distinct profile of Coit Tower dominates the skyline of this residential community. While steep, the slopes of Telegraph Hill lead to the financial district, Fisherman's Wharf, and the waterfront.

From Chinatown to Alcatraz, San Francisco packs a vast amount of diversity into a relatively small area. There is truly something for everyone in this West Coast melting pot.

How Many People Live in San Francisco?

Population: 805,000

What Languages Are Spoken in San Francisco?

Language: English

What is the Currency in San Francisco?

Currency: USD

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