Don't buy cameras. Don't buy luggage. Don't dare go into one of those electronics shops, they are a complete rip off. But otherwise Fisherman's Wharf San Francisco is a fantastic tourist destination. I've lived in the San Francisco Bay Area for decades. I love that, as a local, I can be a tourist. Prices around fisherman's wharf are not exorbitant. There are actually some good restaurants. Pier 39 is a Great shopping mall If you're interested in something touristy. They've got one of the only remaining poster/prints shops. There's also a lot of history around fisherman's wharf. Visit the Jeremiah O'Brien, the last remaining Liberty ship unaltered. Visit the Hyde Street Pier. There's a fantastic early 1900s arcade. One of the unfortunate things you'll see, tons of homeless and vagrants. Do not give them money. Do not buy food at those sidewalk bacon wrapped sausage stand unless you want food poisoning. But take plenty of pictures of the San Francisco Bay. Take a bay tour on red and white or blue and gold fleet. Take the ferry across to Sausalito or Tiburon. Hang out at Aquatic Park and watch people swimming in the San Francisco Bay. You can even rent a bicycle and pedal your way all the way to the Golden gate Bridge, across the bridge, into Sausalito, then take the ferry back to fisherman's wharf. read more

Super Bowl 60 Edition: San Francisco will be flooded this week with visitors attending the Super Bowl . There will be fans from the New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks showing up in packs throughout the city. You will also finds from different teams through out the NFL cities for the Pro Bowl in San Francisco. The NFL has international fans from everywhere from Mexico to England. The Super Bowl is global event and San Francisco is the right city to go for pre- Super Bowl fun. There are over 100 events Super Bowl related before the Super Bowl game. There is one place where everyone will possibly visit to eat and drink in San Francisco and it's Fisherman's Wharf. On a Super Bowl stroll in San Francisco's waterfront and tourist trap a week before the big game I landed at Fisherman's Wharf. You will find seafood restaurants of all kinds and also regional and national chain stores. This is the place to grab seafood crab , fish, and shrimp. You can also grab a bowl of the San Francisco seafood original dish Cioppino. This place also has street performers some street vendors along with occasional concerts. You can also visit different museums and you can also hop on a boat for a tour . Fisherman's Wharf is a smaller version of a waterfront Times Square with a few digital billboards with some interesting ads. Go to San Francisco to Fisherman Wharf "stroll" during the week of the "Super Bowl" were games are determine by a touchdown and "field goal "then grab some seafood like Cioppino, Dungeness crab , shrimp and fillet of "sole" Grab your phone camera and press "record "get on a tour bus or boat and hop "aboard "and then watch ads on the streets rotate on the "digital billboard "and all while waiting for Sunday to which teams wins Super Bowl trophy "award " read more

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Happened to be doing work in the area last week and wanted to post 2 restaurants of which one is closed and the other, Scoma's is still my favorite when folks from out of town are visiting the wharf. Still a solid place for the food and the views. read more

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Fisherman's Wharf is an iconic spot in SF that seems to have gotten less busy over the years but maybe it was the day we came. Theres lots of shops and restaurants on the wharf, and it's great for walking around at. They have a giant ferris wheel that was $20 per person, so we skipped it. They have cute photo booths on either side of the wheel so you can take a picture to remember your time. read more

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Another short visit to the Wharf, mainly because we were staying overnight so close. We came during June, and the lack of crowds early in the morning really made it nice to stroll around. This time I focused more on the west side of the wharf, near where Hyde Street Pier is. Crews were doing a lot of street construction in the area, so traffic wasn't great. read more

Another place I've been coming for almost 50 years. It doesn't have everything it used to, but it is still a lot of fun. The original wax museum closed and became a madame Tussauds, but unfortunately that closed also. There is still a Ripley's believe it or not museum, which is a lot of fun. Shopping ranges from souvenir shops, to high-end art galleries. A few of the major seafood restaurants like Alioto's have closed, but there are still smaller places that are open. You can also buy things like fish and chips, crab, and shrimp, cocktails, etc. From little counters that front the street. Boudin sourdough is also a great place to eat. The views of the bay are great, and there is a Ferris wheel now. Two other great attractions, are the World War II submarine, the USS. Pampanito. You can go aboard, and you won't believe how tiny it is in there. This is the sub that was also used in the classic comedy, "down periscope." Another great thing to see is the. Musee mechanique. It has everything from current to classic pinball machines, classic video games, and lots of antique arcade games as well. It's fun to play, or just check them out. It was great seeing the wharf again. read more

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Although I have never been here before, based on my wife's description of the place, I feel that the COVID pandemic did this place dirty. She described to me several features that are simply no longer present, but whose absence I can detect all on my own: bustling alleyways and side passages now closed off or boarded up; vendors missing or replaces; businesses closed or rebranded. The main draw of Fisherman's Wharf doesn't seem like much of a draw to me. Maybe it was, once, but those days appear to be gone....just like the sea lions! Seriously, where did they go?! Pier 39 is still fantastic, and there seem to be some excellent restaurants scattered about, but for the most part, what remains are a handful of tourist-trap shops and entertainment options, such as the various Alcatraz tour options, the Ripley's Believe It or Not museum, the Ferris wheel, and the assorted novelty shops, many of which you'll find some iteration of at any given seaside tourist destination. Maybe we were just here on the wrong day (it was a Monday, after all), or maybe things really have started to atrophy here, but I think the both of us felt a little underwhelmed and disappointed at the current state of Fisherman's Wharf: for my wife, the memory of what was, and for me, the possibility of what could be, neither of which were lived up to in any meaningful capacity. read more

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Just a regular tourist spot in San Francisco. Known for all the seafood you can imagine and waterfront scenic fronts anywhere you walk around the area. It's a thriving area, with all the shops and food places. Recommend to check out the Boudin Bakery and try out the Clam Chowder. Definitely add this to your "to visit" list when visiting the city. read more

Great vibes. Loved all the shops and eateries around. We went on a weekday in April so not so crowded.

I know it's touristy. It looks like businesses are trying to overhaul the area. Many old favorites have closed. The views are still good but not as good as they were. The sea lions are still an attraction. It's worth a few hours once every decade. read more

Fisherman's Wharf - Golden Gate - Bike tours Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Great place to walk and view the bay. The Goldern Gate bridge can be seen in the distance when the fog is lifted. read more

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This was a must see while we were in San Francisco. Parking was tough. We found a spot in the Ghirardelli chocolate lot and was reasonable. We wondered around taking in the sights, sounds and smells. Walked out on Hyde pier. Took a bunch of photos. Found a great little open area tht had music and food vendors so we grabbed a few things and some drinks. Would have loved to do the Alcatraz tour but we were to late and it was booked so just got some pics. Was a crazy place and traffic to and from was awful but we managed. Not sure I'd go back, but was worth the trip over. read more

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Iconic SF tourist spot with many restaurants to grab some fresh seafood. It's starting to look dated and old with the streets somewhat dirty. There's some street parking where you can pay with credit card at the meters. You have to be careful and not have anything valuable visible or your car may be broken into. read more

A must visit while in San Francisco. It looks like a lot of old restaurants have gone out of business and none have wanted to move back into the area with the city's high rent and crime issues. Still a fun area with great views of the bay and alcatraz. A lot of the touristy souvenir shops had good prices. read more

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This is a good location to take a stroll and people watch. While it can feel a bit touristy, I have great memories of Fisherman's Wharf. Watch out for aggressive seagulls, though! read more

A Brief History of San Francisco's Fisherman's Wharf I have lived in San Francisco near the border of North Beach and Fisherman's Wharf for almost 25 years. However, before I moved here, I visited the city and both of these neighborhoods as a teenager when I came for a visit in the mid-70s with my mom and dad. The city was very different back then, and the Wharf was not as pretty as it became during the following couple of decades. During that first visit, I never thought I would live here one day, but life has unpredictable twists, so here I am. Over the years, I have read about the history of the city and the Wharf. I thought I would share a basic summary of it here and offer you some links that you may find fun to read. Fisherman's Wharf is a well-known part of San Francisco, famous for its seafood restaurants, shops, and tourist attractions. However, it actually began as a simple fishing village. Long ago, before San Francisco became a big city, it was a small town near the ocean. The people living there made their living by fishing. They caught fish and sold them to others in the town. As more people moved to San Francisco, the fishing village expanded and eventually became known as Fisherman's Wharf. The fishermen would return their boats to the wharf to unload their catch. In the 1800s, San Francisco experienced rapid growth, attracting many people searching for work. Some of these individuals started businesses near Fisherman's Wharf to cater to the needs of the fishermen and visitors. By the early 1900s, Fisherman's Wharf had become a popular tourist destination. People came to see the boats, savor fresh seafood, and admire the beautiful views of the bay. Today, Fisherman's Wharf is one of the most renowned places in San Francisco. It offers opportunities to delve into the city's history and enjoy delicious food and entertainment. For those of you visiting for the first time, please keep in mind that the COVID-19 pandemic and the multiple lockdowns have significantly reduced visitor traffic to the city and the Wharf. As a result, many small and large businesses have closed their doors forever. However, the city and the Wharf still remain a beautiful and fun place to visit. The Wharf is slowly making a comeback, but visitors may notice many "Up for Lease" signs. Hopefully, this will change, and the city and the Wharf will rebound to something even better. You may find these fun to read: wharf history https://www.fishermanswharf.org/plan-your-visit/wharf-history/ Tides of Change: Fisherman's Wharf (1870-1930) https://maritime.org/tides-of-change/ And if you are a food lover: Golden State Plate: The Fishy Origins of Cioppino https://www.kqed.org/news/11695791/the-fishy-origins-of-cioppino read more

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As a girl from the Jersey shore... I really enjoyed the wharf! At first, I was going to skip it because everyone told me it's just so crowded and touristy, but I found myself on a bus going back to my Airbnb with the Wharf as it's destination, so I said why not let's stay on. There were so many cute little shops, food, ice cream, but my favorite thing, of course, was checking out the sea lions and all their sleepy, noisy glory. There were also several areas that had live music, with attitude, the fun family-friendly ambiance. read more

Fisherman's Wharf is one of San Francisco's most touristy spots, but it's also a classic destination, especially for first-time visitors or if you're in the mood for a quintessential SF seafood experience. The area is lined with seafood restaurants and stalls offering everything from clam chowder in bread bowls to fresh crab, which is a must-try if you're in the area. One of the popular stops is the Boudin sourdough shop, where you can see bakers shaping the iconic SF sourdough bread in various fun shapes (like animals!). It's fun to grab a fresh loaf or some clam chowder there. If you're looking for something more familiar, there's a large In-N-Out. Just a short walk away is Ghirardelli Square, a great place to grab some famous chocolate or an indulgent sundae after exploring the Wharf. Aside from the restaurants and shops, there isn't too much else to see. The street performers and souvenir shops can be fun to browse, but the main draw here is the seafood and waterfront views. It's also close to Pier 39, where you can watch the sea lions lounging on the docks. Having visited often over the years, I've noticed that several restaurants have closed down or has been vacant for some time. The Wharf still has its charm, but it does feel like some of the vibrancy has faded with these closures. Parking can be a challenge, so consider taking public transportation or arriving early to find a spot. read more

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What a fun day in SF. Thoroughly enjoyed walking with my dog, taking pictures, the seafood smells, various sights and nostalgic memories, people watching and chatting with the locals. This area ultra clean, free of trash, not many displaced people (homeless), friendly vibes. Beautiful weather with bluebird skies. Sad to see some fish restaurants closed, some that I visited as a kid. The seafood is amazing, so many selections and great smells. read more

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There is a lot to do here. You definitely need at least two days to be able to check everything out on this strip. While we were there I stopped at one of the restaurants to get some food. San Fran is known for their clam chowder served in a sourdough bowl! YUM. The bread factory was also super cool. So many fun designs made out of bread!! The only downside about the wharf is the bathrooms. They are gross and over run by homeless people and dr*g users. Really an inconvenience, especially for people that have kids. read more

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Basically it's among the most popular of the many San Francisco tourist attractions. Fisherman's Wharf is all kinds of crap and more. It has much more in and around it than can be mentioned so just know there's a lot there. A lot of interesting restaurants and shops to check out. There's always crowds and things are often a ripoff including the food and souvenirs. A pretty important part of the local economy. It's pretty much a big tourist trap to be honest. This consists of the area that's from Ghirardelli Square and Van Ness Avenue east to Pier 35 and Kearny Street. A lot of places to drink and eat. There's mostly seafood but there's some other things like pizza. Mostly the stuff is on Jefferson Street or around it. This goes along the water. A lot of piers with various attractions. Pier 39 has the most stuff. Family friendly stuff like an aquarium and carousel. There's also plenty of bars and restaurants in here so it can get fucking crowded with all the drunks and everyone. Lots of crazy ass people around. There's some that are pretty scary but some are just having some good ass fun times to be honest. Getting here by public transportation is best. It's a money saver on parking. Transit options include the F Market Streetcar, and the Powell/Hyde Cable Car, and there's buses that take longer but are cheap though. read more

Every time I go to Fisherman's Wharf, I have a different experience: the warm sunshine, the cute and lazy sea lions, the colorful shops, the delicious freshly made seafood restaurants, the romantic Ferris wheel, and the smiles on everyone's faces! It's so comfortable! read more

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It's a great space to walk around. Parking can be a bit tough, but there's a lot of things to do.

Visitors and locals alike can enjoy both indoor and outdoor dining, unique shopping, bay cruises, family-friendly attractions, museums, and fantastic outdoor activities. It's worth noting that Fisherman's Wharf and PIER 39 are separate attractions in San Francisco. Both are located in The Embarcadero, with PIER 39 situated about two blocks east of Fisherman's Wharf (at The Embarcadero and Beach St.). Each offers distinct restaurants, shops, entertainment, and other experiences. read more

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We were covering all the touristy hot spots I had never been to despite numerous trips to San Fran over the years. After riding the cable car from Market St, we got off at Fisherman's Wharf for lunch. I don't know what I expected but I thought there would be more to it. We had lunch at Boudin and walked around for a few before heading elsewhere. I thought there was more attraction and grandeur to the area (even if super touristy), but it seemed to be mostly restaurants and that was it. read more

Fisherman's Wharf - Bike tours Near Me - San Francisco, California

I'm typically all about exploring hidden gems and going off the beaten path when I travel, but gotta give a heads-up: some parts of San Francisco can be a bit sketchy if you navigate to the wrong side of town. Sticking to the well-known tourist spots is a safer bet! We grabbed a crepe, savored the sunset, and indulged in a seafood meal. It was a fantastic way to wrap up our trip during a layover in San Francisco. We were so worn out that we ended up dozing off a bit while sitting on a bench looking at the sunset. read more

Fisherman's Wharf - Golden hour - Bike tours Near Me - San Francisco, California

Love coming here The fresh seafood is amazing We love eating here and it's easy to find parking read more

Arguably the most visited attraction in San Francisco, Fisherman's Wharf gets its name from back when Italian immigrant fishermen came to the city, or at the very least, that's Wikipedia's take on it. Today it's known as essentially a boardwalk, composed of Pier 39, where you have restaurants and shopping central. Other caveats worth noting - its proximity to Alcatraz (as you take the ferry there to get to the island) and the infamous Bush Man. Admittedly I was a target of the Bush Man. That's what I get for being so enthralled in a conversation that I forgot about him entirely. The guy was super nice, though, and it was a good laugh. From what I've read he's not the original Bush Man, but still, the tradition lives on. Also, get ready to see an ode to sea lions. While I personally didn't see one, I did get to see many sea lion statues, even posing for a photo with one. The entire wharf is very picturesque, although get ready to smell fish like you've never smelled it before. Even Pike Place Market in Seattle doesn't smell as fishy and they have a fish market smacked in the center of it! read more

Fisherman's Wharf - Fisherman's Wharf to the left. - Bike tours Near Me - San Francisco, California

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The food is trash! It's a little better than a microwave dinner... I had the Fish and chips They were cold read more

If you have never been - I strongly recommend you is it at least once. It is definitely a tourist attraction and depending on the season a little over priced but the experience is amazing. read more

First time visit to SF and this was on my checklist. I do agree with previous reviews that this spot is super busy with tourists. Two-three hours is more than enough time to sightsee, grab a bite to eat and relax on a bench to take in the scenery - people watch or enjoy an ice cream cup/cone. read more

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A must when you're visiting SF. Parking can be a pain, so I recommend taking public transportation or staying at a nearby hotel. The wharf touristy but it embodies SF. There's lots good eats and fun family activities. You get great views of the SF skyline and Alcatraz too. read more

Fisherman's Wharf - Beautiful SF - Bike tours Near Me - San Francisco, California

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It's definitely a must stop if you're a tourst! It's a long stretch of ocean front shops and sea lions galore! So many fun shops to stop in and some kiddie rides and games. We took a boat ride around the bay for like $20 and could BYOB, it was a super memorable part of the tour. When I came back with my girlfriend it was just for shopping and souvenirs. It is chilly close to the water so pro-tip to bring a sweater unless youre looking to buy one read more

If you're ever in San Francisco this place is a must... you have to come here many options to choose from the food is fresh and the view from here is beautiful overlooking the bay waters... read more

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Honestly is terrible . Crabs are $80 a pop everywhere . Just go somewhere else for seafood cause this place is terrible

"For street parking that's between 30 minutes and 2 hours, the rates vary between $1 to $12. Keep in mind, these rates are only effective from Monday through Saturday. On Sundays, all street parking is free. Prices for garage parking vary from $10 to $20. Pier 39 is one of the most visited places along fisherman's Wharf." Walked to pier 39 to see the seals and purchased some Biscoff crackers for my kids back home . Restrooms is towards the back to the water by the carousel to the left on the second floor . read more

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This place became iconic since the sign for the wharf is here. Whole wharf has been changed into a tourist spot so it's cool looking with lots of activities. Modern cable car has also a stop here. See images further reference. read more

Fisherman's Wharf - The sign - Bike tours Near Me - San Francisco, California

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My trip to SF would not have been complete without a visit to the Wharf. This is pretty much the tourist mecca of the city - think parallels to Times Square in NY and Hollywood Blvd in LA. I decided to carve out a morning/afternoon to explore the area plus the surrounding neighborhoods, so after a quick breakfast I made my way. It's best to walk around this area to soak in the aesthetics - parking was not an issue since there is an abundance of lots and such. Walking around, I noticed a lot of seafood spots, tours, gift shops, and restaurants. Specifically, I noticed there were a lot of Italian restaurants - we were close to Little Italy so I'm wondering what the history of Italians are in this area of the city. The famous sourdough bread bakery Boudin is located in the heart of the Wharf - be sure to stop in for some carbs (you know I did). Besides that, I did a couple of laps around the main strip - bought a few tchotchkes and did some people watching. You can easily spend the day in this area if you're looking to do one of the available tours, catch a trolley, or dine at one of the many restaurants along the strip. It's definitely worth stopping by if you're visiting the city, but I wouldn't spend all of your time here; there are many other points of interest in SF that are worth your time too. read more

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It's still a tourist spot, but I realized how much I love seeing people from around the world visit this place and experience the bay. Eat the clam chowder bowls, have some ice cream, find the sea lions (and the fake ones), and take photos! There's free parking the farther you walk from the pier. I couldn't find the closest Starbucks around here, but I did find a Quickly that sold popcorn chicken. read more

Fisherman's Wharf - Mermaid sea lion! - Bike tours Near Me - San Francisco, California

I'll start with the cons. There is a lot to do here, a lot of tours by boat and bus available. A lot of variety of food. A lot of gift shops. There are a few rides and an arcade. There are some attractions as well. We did get see some very active sea lions! Cons.. The smell of weed is overwhelming. It is pretty much anywhere you go on the pier. Most of the workers at the restaurants and shops seemed like they hated their job . Some of the street near the area are not well lit and there were more homeless during the evening. We did notice that parking is not cheap. We stayed nearby, and paid for parking at the hotel. There is an arcade, didn't notice until the end of our trip . It is kinda hidden in the corner. read more

Fisherman's Wharf - Bike tours Near Me - San Francisco, California

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