Districts

Each district of San Francisco carries its own unique and distinct culture. This map is predominantly based on the 11 official governmental districts of San Francisco, but it has been adapted to suit the purposes of this travel guide. Some districts of particular interest to travelers have been broken up into popular neighborhood groupings, while others, mainly residential districts, have been merged together.

Golden Gate
Fashionable neighborhoods, e.g., the Marina District, Cow Hollow, and Pacific Heights, with extensive views and historical landmarks - Fort Mason, The Presidio, and the iconic Golden Gate Bridge.

Fisherman's Wharf
A touristy waterfront neighborhood which encompasses Ghirardelli Square, Pier 39, and the ferry launch to Alcatraz Island, as well as a plethora of seafood restaurants and souvenir stores. 
 Nob Hill-Russian Hill
Two ritzy neighborhoods with upscale hotels, cable cars, panoramic views and steep inclines. 
 Chinatown-North Beach
Two vibrant immigrant communities; the crowded and largest Chinatown outside of Asia next to the stylish laid back 'Little Italy', as well as Telegraph Hill and Coit Tower. 
 Union Square-Financial District
Union Square is the center of shopping, theater and art in the city, next to the many skyscrapers of downtown and Market Street. 
 Civic Center-Tenderloin
The neoclassical Civic Center next to the grit of the Tenderloin. While the 'Loin' is grittier compared to its ritzier neighbors downtown, there is still plenty of interesting architecture and attractions to see here. 
 SoMa (South of Market)
A rapidly changing neighborhood of downtown that is the center of a lot of new construction, including AT&T Park, home of the San Francisco Giants. 
 Western Addition
A historic neighborhood with many Victorian homes that was once a hotbed of African-American culture. Within the area is also Japantown, once the center of San Francisco's Japanese population, still populated with many Japanese stores and restaurants, and hotels that cater to Japanese travelers. 
 Haight
Famous for being the home of the Hippie movement, this once bohemian area is still an eclectic treasure. 
 The Avenues
Includes both the foggy Sunset and Richmond Districts, separated by the scenic Golden Gate Park and bounded on the west by Ocean Beach. 
 Twin Peaks-Lake Merced
Covering most of southwestern San Francisco, this area is home to many of the taller hills of San Francisco and the large Lake Merced park which contains the San Francisco Zoo. 
 Castro-Noe Valley
Colorful and cohesive, the Castro is historically known for being the cultural center of the city's LGBTQ community. 
 Mission-Bernal Heights
This colorful area is home to a large Hispanic community as well as new urban artisans. 
 Southeast San Francisco
A mostly lower income residential area, this district contains several bay-side neighborhoods, many nice parks, and Candlestick Park, home of the 49ers NFL team.