Moscone Center – Experiences

At the tip of a peninsula in Northern California, the city of San Francisco is actually quite small, so it is possible to see a great deal of the city in one day. Visiting the Moscone Center will place you in the heart of San Francisco. Because San Francisco is only about 47 square miles, it is easy to go from the heart to some of the outskirts and see many of the major sights and attractions.

Iconic San Francisco sights include the Golden Gate Bridge, Fisherman’s Wharf, Victorian houses, cable cars, and distinctive cultural neighborhoods like Chinatown. You can’t forget the year-round fog you’ll find engulfing parts of the city either! In this guide, we will provide you with suggestions for how to see the most of San Francisco in a day surrounding the Moscone Center.

Near the Moscone Center, there are about 5,000 spots to park in parking garages. You could park your car and head out on foot and public transportation for the day, or you could utilize the various modes of public transportation from start to finish.

 

Morning

Noon

Night

 

Morning

Starting a bit farther from the Moscone Center, tucked away in a cute neighborhood with a cozy atmosphere is our recommended stop for breakfast, Alamo Square Cafe. This little coffee house is close to your next stop, so you can either grab a seat or get the food to go and head over toward Alamo Square Park. Regardless of your choice, Alamo Square Cafe serves fresh breakfast foods ranging from bagel breakfast sandwiches to fresh pastries. Their coffee will pick you right up and give you a kick start to your day.

Moscone CenterAfter breakfast, your next stop is off to see the best looking gals in San Francisco, the Painted Ladies. At the corner of Hayes and Steiner Street, you’ll find the colorful Victorian houses that are known as the Painted Ladies or “Postcard Row.” This is by far one of the most photographed spots in the city and rightfully so, with its bright colors and backdrop against the city’s skyline. Other distinct features of these Victorian homes include multiple balconies, large porches, and being either two and a half or three and a half stories tall. Get your camera ready to get that perfect snapshot to post on Instagram!

An option for visiting the Painted Ladies is to schedule a tour of one of the houses ahead of time. Additionally, if you took that coffee from Alamo Square Cafe to go, you can take your photos of the Painted Ladies and laze about in Alamo Square Park for a bit before heading back toward the Moscone Center.

To keep the morning rolling, you have two possible options. The first option is to take public transportation toward the Moscone Center about 25 minutes to the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, or “SFMOMA.” SFMOMA is the largest museum of modern and contemporary art in the United States. Exhibits, whether sculpture, photography, painting, architecture, or media arts, are always changing because SFMOMA believes in art with a purpose. They choose pieces and exhibits that they hope will open minds and make the world a better place.

If you plan on visiting SFMOMA, it is recommended to buy a ticket online in advance. However, there are 45,000 square feet of art displayed that do not require a ticket, so if you are on a budget, you can still come and view beautiful art pieces for free.

Moscone CenterJust in case you’re not an art enthusiast or if this is your very first time in San Francisco, another option to end your morning excursions is the place that most likely comes to mind when you hear San Francisco: the Golden Gate Bridge. It will take close to a half hour to reach the Golden Gate Bridge from the Painted Ladies by public transportation.

When you arrive, you’ll, of course, want to find the perfect spot to snap a photo. You can walk around the surrounding area to do so, and pedestrians on foot, wheelchair, or bike can go on the sidewalks of the bridge and reach vista points. Depending on the time of day, the bridge can become rather crowded. Also, if you want to spend more time here, keep an eye out for free walking tours that take place.

 

Noon

Not too far from the Moscone Center is Coit Tower. If you are coming from SFMOMA, it will take roughly twenty minutes. From the Golden Gate Bridge, it will be about a half hour. To get the most out of your time, buy tickets for Coit Tower in advance online. This will ensure less time waiting to catch an elevator ride to the top.

Coit Tower honors a local firefighter patroness, Lillie Hitchcock Coit. Before her passing, she stated that she wanted to add more beauty to the city that she loved so dearly. Now guests can go to the top and get a 360-degree view of the city.

When you finish taking in the breathtaking view from Coit Tower, make your way to the hairpin turn section of Lombard Street. Gorgeous flowers and shrubbery line this narrow and crooked street. It is another great place to stop and take photos. This is within walking distance of Coit Tower. Walking or taking public transportation will take about the same amount of time, roughly 15 to 18 minutes.

When you’ve taken your fill of photos, either walk or take public transport 15 minutes over to Fisherman’s Wharf. Waterfront stores and a ton of history make this area very fun and interesting. You’ve probably seen pictures from this area that showcase the many sea lions that relax in the sun. It’s a fun and lively area to walk around and shop.

You’ll stay in this area for lunch, eating at the Franciscan Crab Restaurant. This restaurant, located right against the bay, has huge windows to give you a great view of the bay area no matter where you are sitting. This is the spot to go for fresh seafood. Dishes include crab cakes, crab alfredo, steamed clams, oysters, and salmon. If you don’t care for seafood, they do have options without, such as garlic noodles, fettuccine and tomato sauce, and burgers. When you’re done here, you will head back toward the Moscone Center.

 

Night

From Fisherman’s Wharf, you will want to take public transportation about 18 minutes to Chinatown. This is a neighborhood rich with places to explore and a wonderful spot to shop around. When you explore Chinatown, you can stick to Grant Avenue, which has streets perfect for photography and a number of shops, or you can wander the streets to find some hidden gems.

To give you an idea of places to see, here are some recommended buildings to include on your very own walking tour: Chinatown Gate is the first spot that is highly photographed. This leads you into the neighborhood. After this, two other buildings to add to your list are Sing Chong and Sing Fat, which face each other on Grant Avenue and California Street. Old Saint Mary’s Cathedral is close by. This cathedral was rebuilt after being destroyed in an earthquake.

Now continue down Grant Ave toward Washington Street to find the Old Telephone Exchange. Portsmouth Square is around the corner and is considered the heart of Chinatown. After walking, shopping, and taking pictures, Portsmouth Square is a nice place to sit and relax.

Moscone CenterWhen you’re ready, head two minutes away and find City View Restaurant on Commercial Street. Reviewed highly, this is the place to find authentic Asian cuisine and some of the best dim sum in San Francisco, as they specialize in Oriental-style dim sum. Dim sum is a dumpling stuffed with a variety of fillings,  and it is offered either steamed, fried, or baked. Some of their dim sum fillings include chicken, pork, spinach, or mushroom. You can also add sides like rice or noodles. This is a wonderful place to come alone but is even better with a group so you can share different dishes and get to try more of the menu.

To end the night, you’ll take a five-minute walk from City View Restaurant, passing by the second-tallest skyscraper in San Francisco, Transamerica Pyramid, to The Punch Line. The Punch Line offers a selection of drinks to enjoy while listening to stand up. You might catch an up and coming local comedian or be there on a day with a well-known headliner. You’ll want to check their website ahead of time to buy tickets. There is a two drink minimum per person, but the drinks do not have to be alcoholic. This venue is a great place to unwind at the end of a busy, sightseeing day and have some laughs in good company. Ending here will also put you back relatively close to the Moscone Center.