Washington, DC

Capital of the United States, and home to made-to-impress monuments and museums, Washington, DC is an obvious stop on any visitor's itinerary. And the city delivers.

CITY MAPPING
Washington, DC is divided into four quadrants- north-west (NW, with the bulk of sights), north-east (NE), south-west (SW, the smallest quadrant) and south-east (SE). The Capitol is the center of DC, where all the quadrants meet.

The bulk of the attractions in Downtown are located between the Lincoln Memorial and the Capitol, between Constitution Ave NW and Independence Ave SW.

SIGHTS
CENTRAL WASHINGTON
Lincoln Memorial and around
Just a stone's throw from the Potomac river, the Lincoln Memorial forms the western boundary of sights in Downtown DC. Just across the river is the town of Arlington, Virginia, where the Arlington National Cemetery and Pentagon are located.

This section takes you anti-clockwise leading from Lincoln Memorial around the Reflecting Pool.

The Lincoln Memorial, built in the honour of the 16th President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln, stands grand by the Reflecting Pool.

Lincoln Memorial

You can go inside the memorial to see a statue of Abraham Lincoln as well as inscriptions of two of his famous speeches. Up there, one has great views of the Reflecting Pool leading to the Washington Monument.

Walking east (towards the Reflecting Pool), if you turn right to walk around the Reflecting Pool, you will find the Korean War Veterans Memorial ahead.

Statues of the Korean War Veterans Memorial

The memorial consists of 19 statues, which represent a squad on patrol. While walking around the memorial, don't forget to take a look at the wall.

Continue walking east and you will stumble upon the small DC War Memorial.

DC War Memorial

The memorial commemorates DC citizens who served in the World War 1.

Walking north again, returning to the Reflecting Pool, at its opposite end with respect to the Lincoln Memorial lies the World War 2 Memorial.

The floor at the entrance to the memorial

A quote on a wall in the memorial

From here, you have a perfect view of the Washington Monument. With nothing around to compare, the monument surprises visitors with its size as they come closer.

Washington Monument

Built to commemorate George Washington, America's first president.

Going back to Lincoln Memorial from the other side of the Reflecting Pool, north-east of the memorial, you will come across the Vietnam War Veterans Memorial.

Tidal Basin and around

While walking around the DC War Memorial, you will notice another body of water, this is known as the Tidal Basin. 

Very close to the DC War Memorial, on the Tidal Basin, is Martin Luther King Jr Memorial.

Entrance to the memorial

Check out the wall in the memorial with a list of his famous quotes.

From the memorial, you have a perfect view across the Tidal Basin to Jefferson Memorial.

An impressive structure modeled after Rome's Pantheon, the memorial is a fitting commemoration to Thomas Jefferson, one of America's Founding Fathers and the main drafter of the Declaration of Independence, and America's third president.

Jefferson Memorial

From the memorial, you have an unparalleled view out to Washington Monument. 

The White House and around

For foreigners who have never been to DC, the White House is among one of the best known buildings in DC. Home to America's President, the White House is located north of the Washington Monument. 

White House South Facade

The South side can be viewed from E St NW. You can walk around it anti-clockwise to go the north side. Interesting architecture includes the buildings of the Department of the Treasury and Department of Commerce. The north side is at Lafayette Park. 

There is also some worth-seeing architecture, including the buildings of SunTrust and Bank of America at the junction of New York Ave NW and 15th St NW. 

The SunTrust Building

The National Mall and around
The stretch leading from Washington Monument to the Capitol, bounded approximately by 14 St, Constitution Ave NW, 1st St and Independence Ave SW is known as the National Mall, a vast open swathe, jogging ground, protesting ground and tourist attraction all rolled into one. Surrounded by renowned museums, many of them free, and good views of the landmarks around, the Mall is worth a stroll.

Just south of the mall on 14th St SW lies the US Holocaust Memorial Museum (free entry, from 1000 to 1730, daily), a touching memorial and museum to one of the greatest human-caused tragedies of the 20th century. Its exhibitions (where photography is not allowed), with pictures of the victims, continuous film plays, videos and other objects, make for an enriching experience.

Next to the museum is the beautiful building of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing.

Continuing east along the Mall, you'll encounter the National Archives at the corner of Constitution Ave NW and 7st St NW. Also free to visit, photography is not allowed. Start your visit by viewing the David M Rubenstein Gallery, housing the Record of Rights. With engaging interactive displays, the gallery shows the evolution of political rights and civil liberties in the United States, with original affidavits, letters etc which pushed for these. Move on to viewing the original Constitution, Bill of Rights and Declaration of Independence. A fun and exciting place indeed. The souvenir shop has some nice, non-cheesy souvenirs and gifts. 

Behind the National Archives, on the opposite side of the corner of Pennsylvania Ave NW and 7th St NW is beautifully sculpted and detailed US Navy Memorial.

A section of the US Navy Memorial

On Madison Dr NW between 7th St and 4th St is the National Gallery of Art, also free to visit. 

Finally you arrive at the Capitol Reflecting Pool and right ahead looms the impressive structure of the US Capitol. 

The Capitol

Just south of the Capitol Reflecting Pool lies the US Botanic Garden.

Penn Quarter

North of the National Archives is the Penn Quarter, a bustling neighbourhood full of restaurants and shops. 

On 10th St NW between E St and F St is the house where Lincoln died.

Chinatown

North of Penn Quarter lies DC's Chinatown.

The beautiful Chinatown gate is located near the entrance of the Gallery Place-Chinatown metro station, at the corner of 7th St NW and H St NW. 

Mt Vernon Sq and around

The small pedestrian plaza at the corner of 10 St NW and I St NW is home to beautiful and well lit (at night) Christmas decorations during the season. 

GEORGETOWN

Home to lovely architecture, affluent homes and a lively shopping district makes Georgetown worth visiting. West of the centre, Georgetown has no metro station so reaching there requires some planning.

Who says all free worth visiting museums are located around the Mall? On 32nd St NW between R St NW and S St NW is Dumbarton Oaks, Now a property of Harvard University, the research library, museum and gardens is a historic estate. For the visitor, the points of interest are the gardens and museum. We visited in winter so the gardens were not in full bloom, however, the museum, with a large Byzantine collection, is worth visiting. The museum also has ancient objects from Mesoamerica.

A room at Dumbarton Oaks

A block west of 32nd St NW is Wisconsin Ave NW, one of the major Georgetown arteries with lots of shops and restaurants. Walk south until you reach its junction with M St NW, which forms a focal point of the neighbourhood.

If you continue walking south on Wisconsin Ave NW, you will finally reach the bank of the Potomac, and the Georgetown Waterfront Park. There are good views of the skyline of Arlington, Virginia.

Arlington, VA as seen from Georgetown Waterfront Park

The waterfront is a popular eating out place, with an ice skating rink during winters.

ACCOMMODATION

We stayed at the Embassy Suites Washington DC- Convention Centre, located at the corner of 10 St NW and K St NW, near Mt Vernon Sq. Got a great deal for a 4-people room with breakfast and evening snacks/drinks included. Overall satisfied with the experience. 

FOOD

Note that many restaurants in the Mt Vernon Sq area are closed on weekends. 

&Pizza- has several outlets across town, we went to the one at E St NW between 10th St NW and 11th St NW. Watch them make your own pizza. Choose from crust to cheese all the way to the finishing. Not very pricey too- less than $9 for a pizza. Good service, though seating is extremely limited- you may have to get a takeout. 

Thomas Sweet- on the corner of Wisconsin Ave NW and P St NW in Georgetown. Popular ice cream joint. 

Portion of the menu at Thomas Sweet

Native Foods Cafe- we went to the outlet of this vegan restaurant at Pennsylvania Ave NW near the National Archives. Found the food OK, though the drinks are interesting (example, a watermelon based juice) with free refills.

SAFETY

Standard big-city precautions apply in Washington, DC. While tourists are unlikely to stray into areas with the highest crime rates, and DC is no longer the murder capital, the area around Mt Vernon Sq becomes very quiet on nights and weekends when offices and even many restaurants and shops are closed. Although the area is not particularly dangerous, take particular care there. Watch out on the metro as you would on any public transport network- don't get engrossed in your phone/tablet etc and watch your bags and pockets. 

TRANSPORTATION

The metro will be mildly useful to travellers. Walking is the way though, along the Mall and the area around the memorials, to appreciate the architecture and setting. Signage in that area is quite helpful to locate various museums and memorials though having a map will be needed. You can pick up one from the information stands- there is one just south-east of the Lincoln Memorial.

Last visit- Dec 2014

No of visits- 1

New York

Yes, the skyscrapers exist. And so do the yellow cabs, as well as the world-famous Brooklyn Bridge. New York is all that. However, New York is all that and more. You can come here for all the above, but also to visit a truly multicultural and diverse city, a city of neighbourhoods and pretty parks. Enjoy your visit, for the city is like no other.

This post will focus only on Manhattan, as I simply did not have the time to visit the other boroughs! However, that certainly does not mean that they have nothing to offer.

CITY MAPPING
New York is a city of five boroughs, Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens and Staten Island. Two of the airports serving the area, JFK and LaGuardia (LGA), are located in Queens, the largest borough while the third, Newark Liberty airport (EWR) is located in New Jersey.

The island of Manhattan is long and thin, and can be broadly divided into Downtown (the southern part with the main financial district), Midtown and Uptown. These definitions are not precise, and are used here simply for the purpose of this post.

SIGHTS
Downtown
New York's downtown is home to some of the city's globally famous icons, such as the Statue of Liberty.

Statue of Liberty and Battery Park
"Liberty ... is one of the greatest blessings that Heaven has bestowed upon mankind"
                                                                                                 - Miguel de Cervantes

A supreme symbol of friendship, the Statue of Liberty was a gift from France to the United States, the Statue of Liberty is the first sign many new immigrants saw of America- a symbol of freedom. A large proportion of newcomers arrived in these very waters, and were processed for entry at Ellis Island, where the immigration center now houses a museum.

Statue of Liberty

There is only one licensed operator which takes you by ferry to Liberty Island, where the statue is located. Tickets come in various classes, the tickets to the crown sell off months in advance, and even tickets to the pedestal level face a demand-supply mismatch. You can directly buy tickets over the web and turn up at the ferry terminal at South Ferry in Battery Park, or you can buy them on the spot (you can expect queues) at the nearby Castle Clinton.

Security is tight, and there will be a check just as you enter the island, and another one to go inside the statue (provided you have applicable tickets). Lockers ($2 per hour) are available at the second security check, where all food items and big backpacks must be stored, as only small personal bags and cameras are allowed in the statue. 

There is an interesting museum in the statue, which details the entire history and story of the statue, with models of the statue's foot and ear, as well as newspaper clippings showing the reactions of the statue. The pedestal level (where I went till) offers good views of the city. 

View of the city from the Statue of Liberty

The tours go until Ellis Island, however I didn't go there. 

Battery Park offers nice views of Statue of Liberty, as well as Downtown's skyline. It is home to Castle Clinton, America's first immigration station, now a national monument.

Battery Park to Wall St
If you walk north on Broadway as soon as you leave Battery Park, you will come across the beautiful facade of the National Museum of the American Indian. Continue walking straight and you will come across the Charging Bull, also known as the Bull of Wall Street. The bull is a symbol of financial optimism and this sculpture was installed following the 1987 stock market crash. Tourists are constantly huddled around the bull for photos.

The Charging Bull

At the junction of Broadway and Wall St is Trinity Church.

Interior of Trinity Church

Built in the Gothic Revival style, the Trinity Church has a small chapel with certain relics, such as the foundation stone of the church.

Wall Street
Center of global finance, with some of the most important financial institutions in the world, Wall Street has a large impact on the entire world. Some great architecture here includes the buildings of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and the Federal Hall.

New York Stock Exchange

City Hall and around
The area around City Hall Park is home to some grand buildings which house major municipal institutions, such as the City Hall and Civic Centre.

Very nearby begins the Brooklyn Bridge, connecting the boroughs of Manhattan and Brooklyn. Completed in 1883, the bridge was an engineering marvel of the time as it was the first steel-wire suspension bridge. Pedestrians and cyclists have a nice path offering good views over both the boroughs.

Brooklyn Bridge, looking towards Brooklyn

City Hall to Little Italy
New York is truly a multicultural city. You can experience this first-hand if you walk into, say, Mulberry St and enter Chinatown. There are a great number of Chinese and Vietnamese shops, and not to forget the food!

Chinatown

Along the way, Chinatown blends into Little Italy, where Italian restaurants, delicatessens with their cheeses and other goodies, and cannolis all vie for your attention.

Washington Square and around

Around W 4th St in Greenwich Village is Washington Square Park, one of the city's most well-known parks. Greenwich Village itself is a beautiful neighborhood and its cobblestone streets reminiscent of Europe are worth a meander (in particular, Bleecker St). 

Washington Square Park

The surrounding neighbourhood is home to New York University.

Union Square to Madison Square

In the Flatiron district, Union Square is located at the junction of Broadway and W 14th St. It has a very popular Christmas market in December.

Walk north on Broadway until you reach Madison Square, another city park. The junction of 23rd St and Broadway is home to the Flatiron Building with its unique triangular shape, built in 1902, and one of New York's icons.

Flatiron Building

Midtown

Midtown is home to a vast array of sights, from beautiful churches and busy street corners to famous skyscrapers. 

Herald Square and around

Herald Square, the corner of W 35th St, 6th Av and Broadway, home to Macy's flagship store. A block east, at the junction of W 34th St and 5th Av is the jaw-dropping Empire State Building, one of the world's most famous skyscrapers. 

Empire State Building

When completed in 1931, it was the world's tallest building, a title it held for around 40 years. 

A few blocks west, at W 33rd St and 8 Av is Madison Square Garden, a major indoor arena. At the same corner is the beautiful building of the United States Post Office. 

Walk further a couple of blocks west to 10 Av to reach the entrance of the High Line.

High Line

A glance at Manhattan's map would show you how precious any available space is. The High Line therefore is an ingenious plan- some greenery and jogging space above ground on disused rail tracks. It goes south till the Meatpacking District, at the corner of Gansevoort St and Washington St. There are great views of streets to be had from there. Definitely worth a stroll!

High Line

View of a Chelsea street from the High Line

Times Sq and around

Not a square in the usual sense of the word, the 'Crossroads of the World' is an X-shaped junction of Broadway and 7 Av in the heart of Midtown. Famous for its brilliant lighting day and night, Times Sq is effectively in the Theater District. 

Start your Times Sq adventure by taking in the views of the square from the staircase of the TKTS ticket booth at the junction of Broadway, 7 Av and W 46th St. 

View from the TKTS ticket booth

Walk to the heart of Times Sq at 42nd St and turn left. At the corner of E 42nd St and 6 Av, you will find Bryant Park, a piece of serenity in the buzz of Midtown. During Christmas, there is a beautiful Christmas tree and skating rink. There is also a nice view till the Empire State Building.

View from Bryant Park

Right next to Bryant Park is the New York Public Library.

New York Public Library

Walk down E 41st St from the library to have a look at some literary quotes.

At the corner of E 42nd St and Park Av South is the Grand Central Terminal. Now only serving trains to Upstate New York and Connecticut, this station used to serve the Amtrak too, until Amtrak train services were shifted to Penn station in 1991.

Grand Central Terminal

Visitors can enter the station to marvel at the interior.

Interior of the Grand Central Terminal

Only a block away, and easily visible from outside the Grand Central Terminal, is the Chrysler Building, an Art Deco skyscraper which was the tallest in the world when built in 1930, only to be surpassed 11 months later by the Empire State Building.

Rockefeller Plaza and around
This section considers the area between 6 Av, 51st St, Park Av and 49th St.

At Park Av between 50th and 51st St is St Bartholomew's Church, with a lovely neo-Byzantine interior.

St Bartholomew's Church

Interior of the church

At the corner of E 50 St and 5 Av is one of New York's most touristy and popular churches, St Patrick's Cathedral. Built in Gothic style, the cathedral is renowned for its stained glass. 

St Patrick's Cathedral

Interior of the cathedral

Rockefeller Plaza, bounded by 6 Av, 50th St, 5 Av and 49th St is a particularly festive place during the Christmas season, with a skating rink and an impressive Christmas tree. Home to the commercial buildings of Rockefeller Center, visitors can go up to the Top of the Rock observatory for amazing views over New York.

View from the Top of the Rock

At the corner of E 59 St and 2 Av, you'll find the access to the Roosevelt Island Tramway, an aerial tram which connects to Roosevelt Island, where you can enjoy fabulous views of the Manhattan skyline.

Columbus Circle and around

The south-western junction of Central Park, Columbus Circle is a large traffic circle, home to a Christmas market during the season. Also located around is the Maine Monument, to commemorate the 260 sailors who died when their battleship exploded in Havana in 1898.

Maine Monument

Uptown
Home to the city's largest park, Central Park, Uptown too has a large range of sights to keep visitors interested.

Upper East Side
This area covers Uptown east of Central Park.

The area is home to some of the greatest museums in the city. Most are located on Museum Mile, the stretch of 5 Av between E 80th and E 92nd St.

Occupying a portion of Central Park, the Metropolitan Museum of Art straddles 5 Av between 80th and 84th St. With an eclectic range, from ancient Egyptian to Byzantine to Renaissance, one can spend hours in the museum.

The suggested donation is $25 per adult but you are free to pay below that amount.

The highlight of the Egyptian section is the Temple of Dendur, moved from its Nile-side location to the museum.

Temple of Dendur

Other interesting sections include the Byzantine and medieval European art.

The Italian Renaissance section includes the studiolo walls from the Ducal palace at Gubbio. 

The studiolo walls

ACCOMMODATION
We stayed at The Lucerne Hotel, located in Upper West Side.

Rooms- 7/10 Good rooms, though small (yes, it is Manhattan). No minibar or kettle in the room was very surprising though.
Staff- 8/10 Helpful staff, no special comment here.
Location- 8/10 Great location- just a block from the subway, two blocks from Museum of Natural History and Central Park. Many dining options in the vicinity.
Overall- 23/30 Recommended.

FOOD
With its stunning diversity, New York offers a large variety of cuisines. It is true that the city may be expensive but given its diversity, there are a surprising number of places to eat cheaply and well.

CHINATOWN AND LOWER EAST SIDE
Ah, Chinatown, where you can pop into unassuming bakeries and enjoy baked, steamed and fried treats for around $1 each.

Deluxe Green Bo Restaurant - Extensive menu of delicious Chinese dishes. They have good options for vegetarians too and while service may be on the slower side, people are courteous and the food is fabulous and portions are filling.

Lung Moon Bakery - Delicious variety of buns, sesame balls and other bakery items. Very good value for money.

Good Century Cafe - Another great stop for superb Chinese and Vietnamese delights.

Vanessa's Dumpling House - Much cleaner and organized than you may expect, this busy little place serves excellent dumplings, other simple fare and a heavenly steamed red bean bun. Be prepared to share tables assuming there is space or take out.

GREENWICH VILLAGE AND AROUND
Taim - A decent falafel place, they have some interesting falafel flavours beyond your average falafel place. Seating is very limited.

Bantam Bagels - An interesting concept of small bite-bagels stuffed with cream cheese and served warm (each bagel is about 100-110 calories). There are some interesting flavours and the bagels are very good.

UNION SQ
Maoz Vegetarian- Get your sandwich and add any toppings from the salad bar for free. Very nice apple cider too.

Max Brenner- Very popular place for all things chocolate. A bit overpriced and overrated in my opinion, though.

CHELSEA
Chelsea Market - A city highlight, Chelsea Market brings together dozens of gourmet vendors, from bakeries to gelato to numerous other things.

TIMES SQ and around
Abitino's Pizzeria- At Broadway between 40th and 41st St. Tasty, if a bit too oily, pizzas by the slice.

UPPER WEST SIDE
Zabar's- A New York landmark, Zabar's is both a supermarket and a restaurant next to each other at the corner of W 80th St and Broadway. Good sandwiches, and the supermarket has interesting items too.

Cafe 71- At Broadway and W 71st St. Wide variety of sandwiches.

Celeste - A very popular neighbourhood spot, Celeste offers superb Italian cuisine. No cards accepted. The owner greets everyone at the door and service is professional and courteous.

HARLEM
Coffee Break - This is not your average unassuming tiny coffee shop/bakery. The bakery products are delicious and they also whip up simple, quick meals. Prices are much lower than their quality should suggest, for New York.

Levain - A branch of the popular bakery, come here for its mammoth and sinful cookies - deliciously gooey from the inside.

Best Market - Not only a great place to pick up on groceries, but their bagels are of top quality at very reasonable prices.

TRANSPORT
Within Manhattan, subway is generally a good way to get around. A single ride costs $2.75. If using the machines to buy, note that machines will not dispense more than $8 in change, and tickets can only be bought individually so if buying single-ride tickets, have coins (pennies are not accepted).

Walking is also a great way to get around the island.

If taking taxis, note that Midtown is especially prone to terrible rush-hour traffic.

SAFETY
The tourist areas of Manhattan are generally safe during the daytime and shouldn't cause problems while walking. As in any big city, trust your instincts.

The subway has become much safer and cleaner over the decades, but as always, watch your pockets and bags when the car is crowded.

Last visit- Dec 2014
No of visits- 2
First visit- May/Jun 2002

San Francisco

Pretty houses on a slope, a beautiful orange bridge and a climate which seems incompatible with California, San Francisco is a unique city. And while it may sound cliched, it's true nonetheless.

INTRODUCTION
San Francisco is famous for several things: be it the famous ex-prison Alcatraz, the Victoria-style houses (Victorians), its steep slopes, and several more. Whatever your main highlight, you'll leave satisfied.

CITY MAPPING
San Francisco's centre is pretty compact. The centre is surrounded by the bay on the north and east. Much of the northern part of the centre consists of upscale residential districts- such as the Marina, Nob Hill and Cow Hollow. Slightly south is North Beach as well as the true downtown with the famous Union Sq, and around are Chinatown, the Financial District and the Western Addition. Slightly west is the Golden Gate Park. South of Downtown is the SoMa (South of Market St) and South Beach.

San Francisco's airport (SFO) lies around 14 miles to the south of the centre.

SIGHTS
UNION SQ and around
Union Sq, bordered by Powell St (west), Geary St (south), Stockton St (east) and Post St (north), is a popular public place in this part of town. It is frequented by office folk during lunch time, as well as shoppers taking a break and tourists. Indeed, this area is now a popular shopping area, with department stores right next door. Saks Fifth Avenue is on the northern side, Macy's is on the southern, Neiman Marcus is closeby, and only slightly away are many individual stores and other shopping centres.

Union Sq

To view a history of the square, check out the granite on the south-western side.

There are often exhibitions in the square. There are 2 cafes, and some good seating. Sit and watch the world go by!

Union Sq at night

Powell St is one road where the famous cable cars drive by. Sitting on the square, watching the cable cars go by, while listening to the cables running steadily below, is a typical San Francisco experience. The cable car is generally very crowded when going north- as it gets full from its southerly end at Powell and Market, so waiting at the cable car stop opposite Union Sq is probably going to be fruitless in the mornings and evenings- better to line up and wait at Powell and Market.

Cable car on Powell St

Powell St, well till its southern end at Market St, remains an important shopping street, with plenty of stores.

The junction of Powell St with Market St is perpetually busy, as here the iconic turning around of the cable car for the return journey takes place.

(However the same process takes place at the other ends, for example at Taylor and Bay streets, the other end of the Powell-Mason line, where crowds are much lower.)

MARKET STREET
Market Street is one long road, and a major thoroughfare, which runs from the southern part of the city all the way to the Ferry Building on the seaside (the seaside road from Fisherman's Wharf in the north to South Beach is called the Embarcadero; the Ferry Building is roughly somewhere in between). This section will concentrate on the stretch of Market Street mainly in the Downtown district. Along the road run the vintage streetcars (line F) and buses. There are also stations for the streetcars from underground for lines J, K, L, M, N and T.

The Ferry Building is a landmark, from where some ferries depart (for example, to the town of Sausalito). It also is home to several restaurants. From this area, you can enjoy a nice view of the Bay Bridge and nearby skyscrapers.

Ferry Building with its clock tower,
note the streetcar  along the
Embarcadero

Bay Bridge

Going south-west on Market St, you will enter the Financial District with its myriad skyscrapers. Some nice buildings here include the Hobart Building (582 Market St). On the junction of Market, Geary and Kearney is the Lotta's Fountain. Nearby is the Phelan Building, the largest flat-iron structure in the city.

Phelan Building

Continuing south-west, the road becomes increasingly lined with shops- fashion as well as stores such as CVS Pharmacy and Walgreens, which are convenient for supermarket supplies. The road, however, becomes less interesting, as you enter the Tenderloin area.

FINANCIAL DISTRICT

If you like modern architecture and skyscrapers, you'll enjoy walking through this area. One of San Francisco's landmarks, the Transamerica Pyramid is located here. To see it closely, get to it at the southern end of Columbus Avenue. However, as this post continues on, you'll see various places from where you can get good views of it from afar.

Transamerica Pyramid

Other interesting buildings include the Pacific Coast Stock Exchange.

On Sundays, however, the area is pretty quiet and even the restaurants are closed (except for, say, Subway). It is recommended to visit it on a weekday afternoon. Then, it could be nice to just see the bustling activity and the traffic flowing past, especially while sitting somewhere in the Financial District on Market Street.

CHINATOWN

Immediately west of the Financial District is Chinatown. Come here, say, after 10-11 am when the area really starts to become bustling. Just start walking and checking out the various merchandise in the shops- it is an interesting area.

The Chinatown gate is located at the junction of Grant and Bush. 

Chinatown Gate

Chinatown

At the edge of Chinatown, bounded by California, Grant and Pine is the Old St Mary's Cathedral.

Old St Mary's Cathedral

NOB HILL

West of Chinatown, Nob Hill is a peaceful, posh residential district. With a greater than fair share of San Francisco's steep slopes (duh, where did the word "hill" come from?), walking will be slow, but the cable car (the Powell-Hyde line) runs through the district. 

Residences of Nob Hill

On California St, is the Grace Cathedral. The California cable car line runs right past it.

Walk north 5 blocks on Taylor St, till you reach Broadway. On Broadway, between Taylor and Jones, there is a perch from which you can enjoy amazing views of the area. Beware of the slope (there are steps on the last stretch if you have difficulty on the slope). A small cartoon celebrates your arrival to the perch.

Do not forget the views!

RUSSIAN HILL

North of Nob Hill is another residential area called Russian Hill. These areas share similar attributes; vantage points and slopes. The Powell-Hyde cable car line runs through the area.

This area is famous for its crooked section of Lombard Street, and that area also offers good views.

NORTH BEACH and around

North Beach is San Francisco's very own Little Italy. Filled with Italian restaurants with outdoor seating, this area is also home to Washington Square. It is located east of Russian Hill.

Washington Sq has a nice park and a church. 

Washington Sq with the Peter and Paul Parish church

Another of San Francisco's landmarks is the Coit Tower, on top of Telegraph Hill. Bus 39 passes by Washington Sq and will drop you right at the top of the hill, at the base of Coit Tower. You can also walk up Telegraph Hill, a walk which is supposedly very steep. The entry fees to the tower is $7 per adult and the observation deck affords 360 degree views of the city.

Coit Tower

As said, the views are legendary.

View of the Financial District from Coit
Tower. The Transamerica Pyramid
looms large.

And for great views of the bay from up there...

Per the above picture, Alcatraz is at the left. Boats are moored at around Fisherman's Wharf, in the foreground.

FISHERMAN'S WHARF and around

Fisherman's Wharf is located north of Russian Hill. To get here, take the Powell-Hyde cable car which will end at Beach and Hyde. Alternatively, streetcar F from Market will end around, at the Embarcadero. 

It is home to Ghiradelli Square- where you can savour its famous ice-creams and take back home a multitude of chocolates. 

Around the cable car stop at Beach St, there is a very good viewpoint with the Golden Gate bridge in the distance.

THE EMBARCADERO

The Embarcadero is the seaside road which links Fisherman's Wharf with South Beach. It is used to access the many piers along the way from which ferries to various destinations are taken. 

The F streetcar passes along the road from Market St to Fisherman's Wharf.

A theme-park like atmosphere surrounds Pier 39 with its surfeit of shops and restaurants. If you're in the area and don't know where to eat, have a look here.

GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE & around

When a tourist thinks of San Francisco, the Golden Gate Bridge is probably among what comes to mind first. This magnificent bridge links the city to Marin County and is about 2 miles in length. Pedestrians are allowed to walk across on the East side.

And on the bridge...

The views are stunning too (unfortunately I don't have a good photo).

Nearby, the district of Marina is another posh residential area. It is home to the Palace of Fine Arts.

Palace of Fine Arts

WESTERN ADDITION 

This area is south of Pacific Heights (which is south of Marina).

San Francisco is home to many Victorians, but many tourists prefer to see the Painted Ladies here, east of the viewpoint of Alamo Square.

Alamo Square itself is a nice garden, offering good views not only of these 'Painted Ladies' but also of other parts of the city. To get here from around Union Sq, take Bus 5 from the junction of Market and Powell. Get down at McAllister and Pierce and walk one block south.

The Victorians with the Financial District

Painted Ladies

CITY HALL and around

Very close to Union Sq, just west of the Tenderloin, lies the impressive structure of the City Hall.

City Hall

Also around are the Symphony Hall and the Opera House.

While it is close to Union Sq, if you're starting from there, you may not like to walk here as you will have to cross the Tenderloin- so take the streetcar J, K, L, M, N or T to Civic Center and walk 2 blocks on Grove St/McAllister St (till you reach Van Ness Av) to reach City Hall.

TENDERLOIN

Walk only 1 or 2 blocks from Market St into, say, Golden Gate Av or Turk St, and the atmosphere changes completely. You are now in the Tenderloin. This area is an unfortunate part of town, blocks away from the wealthy areas, where streets are full of the homeless and the mentally ill. While it isn't very unsafe during daytime, it is not a nice area to walk through and you should exercise caution. But don't worry- displaying a camera and similar really isn't a problem.

Located on Golden Gate Av, 2 blocks from Market St, is the St Boniface Catholic Church. 

SoMa (SOUTH OF MARKET STREET)

As the name says, this is the area south of Market St, until South Beach. If you like seeing fast flowing traffic, come here for its broad roads.

Located on 3rd street is the famous SFMOMA (San Francisco Museum of Modern Art). Very close by, accessible from both 3rd St and Howard St is the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts. Its garden has a beautiful setting, with a church right in front, with a good view of the surrounding skyscrapers.

TOUR TO ALCATRAZ

This famous ex-prison can only be visited on a tour, that too, only by one company. Look here for details. 

The tour is very good, and the audio-guide has interviews with actual prisoners and officers. Cost is $30 for an adult and remember to book around a week in advance- although you can book even sooner.

Cellhouse

The ferry is also excellent and offers great views. The ride will last about 20 min one way. 

Perfect views from the ferry

Built as a military facility, it was turned into a high-security prison in 1930s (known as "The Rock" by inmates). It was then closed in the 60s and now is a tourist attraction. On a visit, you will discover the cellhouse, the administration quarters and viewpoints from the island.

Picture Gallery of Alcatraz

Before entering the main cellhouse, you'll come across a small building with old photos of Alcatraz when it was a prison.

Photo of prisoners at work

ACCOMMODATION

We stayed at the Westin St Francis bang opposite Union Sq. It has maintained some historic charm and rooms are very spacious, considering its city location.

HOTEL REVIEW: WESTIN ST FRANCIS
Rooms: 8/10 Very spacious given the downtown location and they come with the usual amenities.
Staff: 8/10 Most of the staff are pretty helpful and friendly.
Location: 10/10 Bang opposite Union Sq and close to many restaurants and transportation, you really can't ask for more.
Breakfast: 8/10 It is pricey and the spread is rather limited but quality is excellent.
Total: 34/40 Recommended.                      

FOOD

San Francisco is famous for its dining scene- you have loads of choices.

UNION SQ, TENDERLOIN & MARKET ST

Being a prime tourist area, there are infinite possibilities here.

- The basement food court in the Westfield Shopping Centre has many choices. It is located on Market St, right opposite the junction with Powell St. There are also other restaurants located on the upper stories of the mall. The food court gets crowded on weekday afternoons due to the office crowd. 

- Cafe Bellini on Powell St (between Geary and O'Farell) is a nice restaurant, and also has breakfast options. Open from 7am. Great macaroons, too.

- Little Delhi serves Indian food on Eddy St (between Mason and Cyril Magnin).

Besides, this area has the usual chains- such as Chipotle (amazing Mexcian food; we went to the outlet on O'Farell St, between Cyril Magnin and Powell), Starbucks, Subway etc.

- Peets Coffee has several branches on Market St. Good for a drink and watching the world go by.

SoMa

This area also offers good eating possibilities.

- Check out the cafes on Mint Plaza, off Jessie St. 

- Sunrise Deli, located on 2nd St between Stevenson and Jessie, also has other branches across town. Serves good Lebanese cuisine.

PIER 39

- Mangoes serves very good Mexican food. Sit out, if the weather permits. Views are good.

TRANSPORTATION

San Francisco is served by San Francisco International Airport, lying around 14 miles south of the centre. A taxi will cost around $40 + tip to around Union Sq. 

The city's main transport network is run by MUNI, which runs buses, streetcars and the cable cars. If you're staying for more than 4-5 days, get a MUNI 7-day passport ($28) which can be used on any MUNI transport without any extra surcharge. MUNI also issues 1-day and 3-day Passports.

An individual cable car ride is $6.

Taxi flagfall is $3.10.

BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) connects San Francisco with the airport, East Bay, Daly City and Colma. MUNI passes aren't valid on BART, even for inter-city rides.

Another commuter train, called CalTrain, connects San Francisco with Gilroy, stopping at places such as Palo Alto.

Cable Car
MUNI runs three cable car lines. One runs on California St, from Van Ness to Market. Then there are two lines, with one end at the Powell-Market junction. The Powell-Mason line ends at Bay and Taylor, while the Powell-Hyde line ends at Beach and Hyde. The latter is better to appreciate the city's steep inclines but both are good experiences.

SAFETY

San Francisco is by large a safe city, but be careful of pickpockets in crowded public transport. The city has a large number of homeless people but they are unlikely to create much hassle, as long as you leave them alone. But you should be careful in the Tenderloin area. Well further south, around Bayview/Hunter's Point, you must exercise caution but as a tourist, you are very unlikely to end up there. Take advice from your accommodation.

ITINERARIES
One day
Walk down Market St all the way to the Ferry Building. From there take the streetcar to the Embarcadero and take in the views of the Golden Gate bridge at Beach St, at the end of the Powell-Hyde cable car. Then take the cable car till Union Sq, appreciating San Francisco's steep inclines and end at Union Sq, and sit and relax, and watch the world (and the cable cars) go by. In the evening, go to the Golden Gate bridge.

Two Days
Do Day 1 as above, getting a brief overview of the city. On the second day, visit Chinatown in the morning, followed by Washington Sq and roam around North Beach. Visit the Coit Tower and then in the afternoon, get to the Financial District- check out the Transamerica Pyramid from close. In the evening, take a stroll through Nob Hill and visit Grace Cathedral.

Three Days
Do the Day 2 Itinerary as above. On the third day, visit Alcatraz (book in advance!). Depending on the time of the tour, adjust in a stroll through Fisherman's Wharf and Ghiradelli Sq.

For more about the city, check out this report (also by me).
Last visit- Apr 2013
No of visits- 1