Top 10 Places in San Francisco

Dear Class of 2028,

The thought of starting your college life in a foreign country can easily feel exciting and overwhelming at the same time. As you embark on your first-year journey in San Francisco, I thought I would put together a list of places where you can study, relax, hike, or even just be a tourist. In these spots, I found a little piece of home within the enormous city. I genuinely hope you will find at least some of them welcoming, too.

1. Salesforce Park

Salesforce Park is one of my favorite places in San Francisco as it brings urbanism and nature together. In this jungle in the middle of the noisy city, you can lie on the grass, get a cappuccino from Andytown Café or study at one of the tables outside. Salesforce Park even offers free zumba and yoga classes, bird walks and garden tours, activities that Minervans often participate in.

2. Cafe International

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Cafe International is a place where cultures from around the world feel at home in the heart of San Francisco. Be it breakfast bagels with jam, or hot chocolate served with extra whipped cream, this place radiates pure coziness. The café is only a twenty-minute bus ride away from both residence halls, so you might want to take advantage of their stable Wi-Fi when attending classes.

3. The LINE

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The LINE Hotel is right across the street from the Turk residence hall. You will often find Minervans there at any hour of the day, as it is open all day long. If you feel like you need to change your working environment late at night, the LINE will always welcome you with reliable Wi-Fi, good coffee, and many outlets. It is so quiet and relaxing you can even take classes from there!

4. Twin Peaks

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If you want to relax for a bit, you might enjoy an easy hike. Twin Peaks is one of my favorite places to go to when feeling overwhelmed – perhaps the height of the mountains will make you realize how small your problems are. It is also a ideal for group outings; for me, the hike to Twin Peaks is one of my earliest and dearest memories of the Class of 2027 as a community.

5. Lands End

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Speaking of relaxing hikes, Lands End is one of the most stunning natural wonders accessible by a simple (but quite long) walk. Having visited Lands End on my last day in San Francisco, I nearly missed this beautiful sight – and I am so glad I did not skip it! I believe Lands End is a perfect place for reflection, offering a splendid and calming escape from the chaotic city.

6. Japanese Tea Garden

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One of the many perks of living in San Francisco is the ease of experiencing other cultures in an authentic way. If you do not want to hike but need to blow off some steam, I recommend you pay a visit to the Japanese Tea Garden. This lovely complex is built and arranged in Japanese style and has more than just plants, panths, and ponds – it also has a little tea house!

7. Ocean Beach

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Similar to Twin Peaks, Ocean Beach is one of the first places where our Class of 2027 community truly bonded. We not only made countless bonfires at Ocean Beach, but also witnessed several wonderful sunsets. Whether you like to surf, windsurf, or simply lay on the beach, Ocean Beach will surely take your breath away every single time you visit it.

8. The Ferry Building and Pier 39

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Whenever I think about the Ferry Building, I reminisce about one of my core memories created in San Francisco. It was my third day in the city when me and my fellow Romanians decided to take a long walk to visit some sights of our new home. Walking around the Ferry Building and later Pier 39, a postcard in one of the tourist shops immediately caught my eye: ‍“One day, if I go to heaven/I’ll look around and say,/‘It isn’t bad, but it isn’t/San Francisco.’” Extra tip: The Ferry Building is also a food hall so feel free to explore what local restaurants and cafés have to offer!

9. Chinatown

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Speaking of the more touristy spots, a visit to Chinatown is an absolute must – San Francisco’s Chinatown is the largest outside of Asia! Within this quite large neighborhood, you can experience anything from dazzling shops to restaurants and bakeries that offer authentic cuisine (my favorite is Wong Lee Bakery). Chinatown is a beautiful symbol of a community reconnecting with its roots, claiming its cultural identity and language.

10. The Palace of Fine Arts

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The Palace of Fine Arts is a landmark that becomes even more breathtaking at night – if that is possible. If you haven’t fallen in love with San Francisco as soon as you stepped foot in it, you should immediately visit this stunning monument that looks straight out of a fairy tale.

All these charming spots are just a glimpse of what San Francisco has to offer, yet these places comforted me amid the occasional chaos. I encourage you to visit some (if not all!) of them, and most importantly, make a bucket list for this unique city! Do not miss out on anything that you truly long for. Happy exploring!

Warmly,
Ani