Destinations / City Breaks / San Francisco

Where to start with a holiday to San Francisco? This is a city with wow factor in bucketloads! From the iconic Golden Gate Bridge to Nob Hill, Pier 39 and Fisherman's Wharf, the city overloads the senses and mesmerises its visitors.

In the western USA on California's northern coast, the city borders the Pacific and San Francisco Bay and is one of the country's most densely populated cities. Experiencing rapid growth after the Californian Gold Rush in 1849, San Francisco went on to survive (barely) the devastating earthquake of 1906 and grew to the cosmopolitan, wondrous and wonderful city it is today.

Famous for its hills, from Nob Hill to Russian Hill, the other major attractions are the oldest Chinatown in North America, the former prison on Alcatraz Island (remember "The Birdman of Alcatraz"?) and, of course, cable cars. The Transamerica Pyramid is the city's tallest building, and nearby Silicon Valley which lures skilled IT experts worldwide has perhaps contributed mostly to the high quality of life enjoyed by local residents.

San Francisco holidays are a complete dream for visitors. Amazing sights, fabulous restaurants, quaint cafes, quirky boutiques and plenty of green spaces ensure holidays and city breaks offer endless variety and fun. Unlike many large connurbations in the US, San Francisco is also a great walking city with many lovely sights easily accessible on foot.

Holidays to San Francisco simply must include a visit to Fisherman's Wharf, an iconic tourist venue where it just all happens! Famous for Pier 39 with its resident colony of sea-lions, the Cannery Shopping Centre, Ghiradelli Square and a Ripley's Believe It or Not Museum, Fisherman's Wharf is also full of excellent seafood bistros, informal cafes and restaurants.

Some may even remember "Summer of Love" in the 60's when hippies and flower power had a stronghold in the city and, thereafter, San Francisco became a centre for the gay rights movement and is known for its liberal activism. A very cultural place, there are excellent theatres, museums, music venues and galleries, so no excuse for being starved of the arts.

Above all though, San Francisco is a city of colour and enormous vibrancy and it welcomes visitors with open arms. Book your city break to San Francisco now and enjoy a little bit of heaven in California and, by the way, don't forget to wear some flowers in your hair!

There are direct flights to San Francisco from Dublin with Aer Lingus and we offer a selection of hotels in the city