Fisherman's Wharf

Carnivalesque Fisherman’s Wharf teems with sights, sounds, tastes, and activities to entertain the whole family. Here you can enjoy panoramic views of the San Francisco Bay, the Golden Gate Bridge, and Alcatraz Island; walk through underwater tunnels at the Aquarium of the Bay; and board historic ships and a World War II submarine at the Hyde Street Pier. The wax collection at Madame Tussauds and the theatrical San Francisco Dungeon are also popular, while the antique penny arcade Musée Mécanique is a must-see for gamers.

As one of the most popular attractions in San Francisco, Fisherman’s Wharf is featured on most full-day and half-day city tours. Explore the wharf and surrounding neighborhoods on a Segway, bike, or coach tour; enjoy craft brews on a walking tour of North Beach and Fisherman’s Wharf bars; or visit on a full-day excursion to such famous Bay Area sights as Alcatraz, Chinatown, Haight-Ashbury, and Muir Woods.

• Fisherman’s Wharf is a must-see for first-time visitors to San Francisco.

• Choose a half-day city tour or a full-day excursion that includes top Bay Area sights to get an introduction to the area.

• Public parking is available nearby and public transit is easily accessible.

• The wharf is wheelchair accessible, although the sidewalks are often crowded.

Fisherman’s Wharf lies on the city’s northern shore, next to Ghirardelli Square, Fort Mason, and the San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park. The area is easy to access via public transportation. Both the Powell–Hyde and Powell–Mason cable car lines end near the wharf (opt for the more scenic Powell–Hyde line). Alternatively, take MUNI’s historic F-line streetcar to Taylor Street or the 30-Stockton bus to North Point and Hyde streets.

The wharf is a year-round destination. Summer is the most popular time to visit, when street performers are out in force and attractions are at capacity. To avoid crowds, visit on a weekday and arrive early, but remember that most shops and attractions don’t open until about 10am. Sunny days are best for a visit, but the wharf has enough indoor attractions for dreary days.

Fisherman’s Wharf is an ideal jumping-off point for visiting other San Francisco attractions. To pick up the city’s most famous treat, head west to Ghirardelli Square, a former chocolate factory that now houses boutiques, sweet shops, and wine tasting rooms. Continue west on Bay Street to visit Marina boutiques and enjoy the natural wonders of the Presidio, or head south down the Embarcadero for the Ferry Building gourmet marketplace and the hands-on Exploratorium science museum.

Yes, Fisherman's Wharf is worth seeing. There's nowhere else in San Francisco to embrace kitschy tourist attractions, check out hidden gems like the Musee Mecanique and the carousel, try chowder and fresh crab, and say hello to rowdy sea lions. The wharf is also near ferries to and from Alcatraz.

Yes, it’s generally safe to visit San Francisco’s Fisherman's Wharf. The wharf is one of the city's busiest tourist areas, and is near the highly trafficked Marina and North Beach neighborhoods. That said, car break-ins are common, so it's best to carry valuables rather than to leave them in your car.

Pier 39 is a tourist attraction and shopping center built on a pier that's part of Fisherman’s Wharf, a neighborhood that’s another popular tourist attraction. The neighborhood runs along San Francisco’s northeastern waterfront roughly from Pier 35 to Ghirardelli Square—Pier 39 is the next pier west of Pier 35.

Yes, mostly—Fisheman's Wharf is a neighborhood-sized area with many attractions, restaurants, and public spaces. Most sidewalks and the walkways in Pier 39 are wheelchair accessible, as are many restaurants, museums, and other attractions in the area. Most public buses and railway cars servicing the area are also wheelchair-accessible.

Fisherman's Wharf is a hugely popular attraction and draws crowds nearly every day throughout the year. To avoid the masses and to find better parking, start your visit at 9am when most businesses begin to open. To experience a lively scene with all the area attractions open, try the early evening.

While Fisherman's Wharf was once the center of the local fishing industry, those days are long gone. Outside a few fishing boats, the wharf caters to tourists with kitschy attractions, a bevy of seafood restaurants, and ferry service to and from Alcatraz. That said, it's still very much worth visiting.