• Date Cruise Ship PAX
    Apr 01 2024 Norwegian Bliss 4903
    Apr 02 2024 Koningsdam 3194

    The Port of San Francisco

    The Port of San Francisco
    Nestled on the Californian coast, San Francisco's cruise port offers stunning views of the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz Island. Enjoy the city's diverse culture and iconic landmarks.
     
    Pier 27, the James R. Herman Cruise Terminal, was created to provide a modern cruise terminal that will adhere closely to the new modern and operational requirements and technology of the cruise industry. This terminal is two stories high and will be the main cruise terminal of San Francisco.
     
    Along with Pier 27, Pier 35 serves as a secondary cruise terminal. Both piers are conveniently near Pier 39 and Fisherman's Wharf. San Francisco welcomes 200,000 and more passengers every year. As well as host from 40-60 ships annually.
     
    Pier 35 is San Francisco’s seconday cruise terminal. It’s also conveniently next to Pier 39. San Francisco can comfortably accomodate more passengers and ships with two piers! 

    Top 5 Attractions

    1. Golden Gate Bridge: Iconic red bridge offering breathtaking views of the bay. (Free to view, toll for driving)
    2. Alcatraz Island: Historic prison island with guided tours. (Admission fee for tours)
    3. Fisherman's Wharf: Waterfront area with seafood, shops, and sea lions. (Free entry)
    4. Golden Gate Park: Expansive park with gardens, museums, and the Japanese Tea Garden. (Free entry, some attractions may have fees)
    5. Chinatown: Vibrant neighborhood with shops, restaurants, and cultural experiences. (Free to explore)

    Nice to Know Facts

    1. San Francisco is famous for its fog, creating a magical atmosphere around the Golden Gate Bridge.
    2. Enjoy a ride on the city's historic cable cars, a unique and scenic way to explore the hills.
    3. San Francisco's diverse culinary scene ranges from seafood at Fisherman's Wharf to gourmet cuisine in Nob Hill.
    Things To Do
    Explore San Francisco's unique charm with its eclectic neighborhoods, historic sites, and culinary delights. A city known for innovation, it boasts landmarks like the Golden Gate Park and Fisherman's Wharf.
     
    San Francisco has a handful of activities and sights to see! Let’s start right at the piers.

    Embarcadero

    The Embarcadero is where all the piers are ranging from Pier 1 to 39. Pier 27 and 35 are usually the piers where the cruise ships dock.
    Right next to Pier 35 and not far from Pier 27 is the famous Pier 39! Pier 39 is one of San Francisco’s most popular tourist destinations. Pier 39, is a mini market place on a pier! There are so many different shops, a perfect area to find fun gifts from San Francisco or even silly gifts in general. As well as the many shops Pier 39 offers, there are also many dining venues.
     
    Pier 39 could be as simple as taking a stroll to enjoy the immense beauty. Surrounded by boats and the ocean, it’s very easy to find bliss. Towards the back left of the pier is where the sea lions come out to play, sleep, and bark all day! It’s a very fascinating sight to see and the sea lions enjoy being photographed! 
    Pier 39's Visitor Center is reliable and trustworthy place to book excursions. They have a list of activities to do from bay cruises, tours, and rentals. If you want to explore the city at your own pace, stop on in and grab a map!
    On the Embarcadero, there are two museums. There is the Aquarium of the Bay which is conveniently right next to Pier 39. Here you can see spectacular sea life. There also is the Exploratorium where you can learn about science, art, and human perception. Full of hands on activities in both places, also a great learning experience!
     
    A few blocks down from Pier 39, is Fisherman's Wharf. If you’re craving some ridiculously fresh seafood, this is destination you must stop in! Here you can buy fresh seafood or buy a quick snack of fried calamari, lobster rolls, crab, etc. And while you’re there stop by Musée Mécanique, a pier that has hundreds of old antique (but fun) arcade games!
    Downtown San Francisco that consists of Westfield Mall and many other stores also has the famous San Francisco Cable Car. Get a great mini tour on the cable car, but hang on tight!
     
    Union Square is also a popular destination amongst travelers. Here you can shop at all the surrounding stores! As well as that, it's a great photo spot too! During the winter, there will be a huge Christmas tree on display and an ice rink!
    San Francisco Chinatown holds many Chinese treasures- great authentic Chinese food, cheap fruits and vegetables, and cheaply priced souvenirs. Right next to Chinatown is North Beach, otherwise known as Little Italy! You can eat a wonderful Italian meal or grab a scoop or two of Italian gelato!
     
    Golden Gate Bridge 
    The Golden Gate Bridge was constructed from January 5, 1933 to April 19, 1937, but officially opened on May 27, 1937. This 4200 foot span connects North Bay to San Francisco. This historical sight is one of the most benefiting bridges that has been built. There is no greater experience than walking the bridge! 
     

    Culture

    There is not just one culture, there are many cultures. San Francisco is one huge melting pot and is very well known for its diversity in people. San Francisco welcomes people with open arms.
    The city itself is filled with young entrepreneurs, business men and women, tourists, near by locals, college students, etc. It’s a very lively city and there is no sole age group.
    There are three different parts of San Francisco that really focus on three cultures: Chinatown focuses on the Chinese culture and North Beach focuses on the Italian culture, Japantown focuses on the Japan culture. While these three mini "towns" focuses on a specific culture, they are all very welcoming! It's a great way to experience a completely different culture without having to actually fly to the country.
    Not only is San Francisco diverse with people, but also with various forms of art, whether it is paintings, murals, and music.
    In San Franicisco you can find the Musuem of Modern Art, which holds some of the finest modern and contemporary art in the world. There also is the Palace of Fine Arts. Not only does the Palace of Fine Arts hold beautiful masterpieces, the architecture of the palace is breathetaking in itself.
    Music is found at almost every corner in San Franicsco. There is not just one genre or style, there are many. There might be someone playing guitar in one corner, violin at the next, or maybe even Chinese violin! There are many different venues you can watch musical shows like San Francisco Opera, San Francisco Symphony, and many more.
    Where ever you go there is always a new cultural experience! 
     
    Immerse yourself in history and culture: - Take a guided tour of Alcatraz Island for insights into its notorious past. - Explore the murals and art of the Mission District on a cultural walking tour.

    Food & Drinks
    No matter what area of San Francisco you travel to, there is always a great restuarant near by! Some restaurants are very well known, while others are not as known but the food is just as amazing. Don't judge a restaurant by it's cover! 
    You can find many different types of food: Chinese, Italian, American, Thai, and the list goes on and on. The choices are endless.
    Pier 39, has many restuarants on the pier. They are all very good; there is no wrong choice! Some of the restaurant on the pier are: Hard Rock Cafe, Chowders, Crab House, Bubba Gump and many more! They also have stands that sell sweet quick bites like the Crepe Cafe or Dreyers Ice Cream Shop!
    Chinatown has a handful of tasty restuarants. Some of them do not look that fabulous on the outside but the food is absolutely delicious. It's very authentic and new experience! Z &Y restaurant is one of the best for Schezuan food (very spicy). New Asia is great for a fun dim sum experience where they have people roll carts around with dimsum and other fun plates and you personally get to choose which one you want.
    Japantown has some of the best authentic Japanese food around! Here you can grab a delicious bowl of miso soup, sushi, udon noodles, and their famous crepes! Everything here is done with fine precision!
     
    The cutest crepes ever seen! Green tea ice cream with red bean, whip cream, and other delicious add ons!
     
    North Beach has mouth watering and authentic pizza, pasta, and gelato on every corner. One place that really stands out is Tony's of North Beach, always very crowded but has one of the best pizzas in town! Another great place is Caffe Baonecci.
    Pizza from Cafe Baonecci!
     
    You can even find great food at the food court in Westfield Mall. This is not your average food court, the food court in the mall has many different cuisines to satisfy everyones taste! There is even a small grocery market where you can buy some food too! 
     
    Downtown San Francisco (around Market Street) is filled with shops and restuarants. If you're in the mood for Thai food, King of Thai is one of the best Thai places in the city! Everything is delicious and don't forget to order a Thai tea! Or maybe try the Cheesecake Factory and have one of their famous cheesecakes for desserts!
     
    Here are just some of the restuarants you can find throughout the city and there are hundreds more.
    Good Eats!
    Tipping: Always tip! Tipping range from 10%-20%. Usually with parties of 6 or more 18% gratuity will be added on to the bill.
     
    Shopping
    Discover unique finds: - Shop for souvenirs at Pier 39 in Fisherman's Wharf. - Explore Union Square for high-end fashion and department stores.
     
    There is always somewhere to shop in San Francisco whether it is for souvenirs, jewelry, or clothes. The shopping is endless.
    One of the biggest malls in San Francisco is Westfield Mall. It is a whopping 1.5 million square foot shopping mall consisting of over 200 stores! You can find top name brands like Juicy Couture or if you’re looking for something less expensive, H&M. Westfield Mall
     
    All around Westfield Mall are many different stores that are not in the mall itself. And just a block away is Union Square. There are shops like Apple, Louis Vuitton, and the famous Macy’s at Union Square.
    Near the cruise terminal, there is plenty of shopping to do at Pier 39! There are souvenir, sport, toy, hats, and many more shops!
     
    View of Pier 39 from the bridge that connects Pier 39 to the parking garage!
     
    Near the cruise terminal you will also find the San Francisco Ferry Terminal towards Market Street, where there are many locally owned shops and cafes. A true taste of San Francisco! 
    There are many other souvenir shops are located in streets between Pier 39 and Fisherman's Wharf.
     

    Transportation Options

    Train Services

    Efficient train services to nearby destinations:

    • Golden Gate Park: 30 minutes, 10 km. Experience the green oasis of San Francisco. (Train station near the port)
    • Union Square: 15 minutes, 5 km. Shop and dine in the heart of the city. (Train station in the city center)

    Bus Services

    Convenient bus services to explore nearby attractions:

    • Alcatraz Island: 20 minutes by ferry. Discover the history of the infamous prison. (Bus stop and ferry terminal near the port)
    • Chinatown: 10 minutes, 3 km. Immerse yourself in Chinese culture. (Bus stop in the city center)

    Other Means of Transportation

    Taxis, ride-sharing, and cable cars offer convenient ways to explore the city's diverse neighborhoods and hills.

    Fun for Families

    Up to 6 years old: Explore the Children's Creativity Museum for interactive exhibits. (Approximately 10 minutes from the port)

    7-12 years old: Visit the Exploratorium, a hands-on science museum on the waterfront. (Approximately 15 minutes from the port)

    13-18 years old: Bike across the Golden Gate Bridge for a thrilling adventure. (Bike rentals available)

    Popular things to do

    1. Explore the historic architecture of Union Square and shop at upscale boutiques.

    2. Take a ferry to Sausalito for charming waterfront views and art galleries.

    3. Enjoy a seafood feast at one of the many restaurants at Fisherman's Wharf.

    Local Food and Drinks

    Indulge in local flavors: - Try clam chowder in a sourdough bread bowl at Fisherman's Wharf. - Savor Mission-style burritos in the vibrant Mission District. - Experience gourmet dining in Nob Hill for a taste of upscale cuisine.

    Local Customs

    San Francisco embraces diversity and innovation. Respect local cultures, be open-minded, and enjoy the city's progressive atmosphere.

    Google maps

    San Francisco City Center on Google Maps

    San Francisco Cruise Ship Terminal on Google Maps


    Notice: Content and travel advice presented is created by a port moderator and/or AI, courtesy of ChatGPT. It is specifically designed for cruise passengers visiting this port of call. A port moderator could be a local individual, destination expert, port authority, or a tourism agency. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, we recommend that you verify critical information like visas, health and safety, customs, and transportation with official sources before departure.