Situated at the end of Market Street, the Ferry Building is the dominating symbol of the Port of San Francisco. Though not quite the bustling transit hub it once was, the Ferry Building has stayed relevant by featuring a wide array of local and artisanal food and goods as well as art and wares. It still serves as a functional ferry port, but today with transportation options like BART and Uber, the ferry traffic is no longer the focal point. Even though its significance in the transportation scene has diminished, it is still a bustling hub. It's the waterfront's daily flea market, and in addition it even features its own adjunct farmer's market. For a unique perspective, check out the lesser-known second level up above.
Though not the main form of commuter transit, the ferries are a great way to spend a day. They provide an ideal view of the city and its surroundings and are a nice way (without traffic) to explore neighboring Bay Area communities like Sausalito or Oakland. You can either book online or right at the pier. The Bay never gets too rough so even those sensitive to motion sickness shouldn't worry, but it does get cold.
Find your way with 156 Insider Tips from our Local Spotters
When I can hear the sound of spare coins jingling, I get an itch for a real pinball fix and head to the Haight and Free Gold Watch in San Francisco...
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When I want to know if the fog is coming in under the GG bridge in SF, I walk over to the public deck at UCSF's Helen Diller Medical Center...
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When I am in Golden Gate Park in SF, I almost always stop for a few minutes at the 6th avenue skate park to watch the skaters dance to the music...
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I love coming to the Golden Gate Parks Golf Course in SF in the morning, where it's almost 100% guaranteed to be foggy...
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The SF Columbarium is one of the only cemeteries within San Francisco city limits. Pair a diorama with a dash of biography & you have me hooked...
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"Green Apple Books" in San Francisco is one of my favorite places to get lost for an afternoon. Unmatched levels of discovery await...
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"Zazie" in SF is my perfect local French bistro, whether I'm up at 8 am, peckish at lunch or in the mood for the greatest pork chop in town...
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"The Turrell Skyspace" in San Francisco is a hidden oculus buried underground that provides a moment of either meditation or social overload...
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"Ushi Taro" is a tiny ramen house that specializes in beef ramen. A personal favorite is their spicy tomato beef ramen that never fails to warm my core...
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The "Corbin Steps" represent everything delightful & quirky about San Francisco. It's an art project composed of fantasy creatures built of found objects!
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"Ferry Plaza Wine" in the San Francisco Ferry building is, perhaps surprisingly, one of the best wine bars in the Bay Area...
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156 Insider Tips from our local Spotters
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