Guide to Visiting Fisherman’s Wharf
Mark Twain said, “the coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco.” True, the climate is not the hottest, especially if you visit the metropolis in summer, in practice their autumn, so to speak, since the contrast between the sunny land and the cooler sea often generates dense fogs, but it matters little. The moment you find yourself near Fisherman’s Wharf, one of the most beautiful and evocative places, certainly, on the list of attractions in San Francisco, everything else will take a back seat. Wind included.
The promenade lined with stalls, restaurants, clubs, street performers and boats that float placidly on the calm sea will be attractions that will steal your heart, never to leave it free. Among its most sought-after attractions, moreover, the sea lions deserve an honorable mention. With the favor of the sun that warms the docks, they often go up to the mainland and beach within reach of tourists.
In the hot spot of Fisherman’s Wharf, the activities with which to spend a pleasant day full of discovery are genuinely countless. Here are some selected for you.
Two steps in history
Walking along the Bayside History Walk allows you to embark on a short but intense journey through the history of the port of San Francisco. It tells the story of the life and the adventures of the fishing community that here, for centuries, have set out to sea to find fish to sell to feed their families. Those same boats that ancestors, great-grandparents, and grandparents before them chose as their partial home. The fishermen who meet today in the port of San Francisco are, in fact, descendants of generations of fishers.
And most of them have Italian origins. If you are lucky, it will not be unusual to meet old fishers who will tell you their harrowing story by inserting, here and there, some terms in Italian or dialect. Therefore, walking along the Bayside History Walk, you will have the opportunity to discover the history of this community. And their boats and feluccas, the ancient ships used in the past and now make a good show of them on the water.
Crabmania
If you are a lover of fish and shellfish, Fisherman’s Wharf is the place for you. Renowned for the quality and variety of fresh fish served daily, perhaps not everyone knows that annually on the occasion of crab fishing, there is a celebration of the “harvest” here. But above all, the famous San Francisco Dungeness Crab. The crab season opens in November and, for the occasion, the quay is filled with steaming cauldrons in which the crabs are cooked as soon as the boats dock and unload their catch.
As this party lasts for several weeks, if you visit Frisco in the winter, be sure to visit Fisherman’s Wharf to enjoy fabulous crab cocktails. If street food is not your thing, no problem: during the Dungeness Crab season, all the restaurants in the area offer dishes based on this delicious crustacean.
Pier 39
Perhaps the most famous and popular spot in the area. Pier 39 is a complex that covers an area of 45 acres, overlooking the waterfront. Among restaurants, shops, stalls and attractions of all kinds, here you risk losing the notion of time. After enjoying a magnificent and unforgettable view of the San Francisco Bay, with annexed Alcatraz Island and Golden Gate Bridge, we recommend that you visit one of the following places.
At the Aquarium of the Bay, the little ones will be delighted by the beautiful species of fish that live there. Twenty thousand marine creatures showcase them and allow visitors to discover the richness and diverse life forms that inhabit the port of San Francisco. From sharks to lunar jellyfish to rays, here you can set out to find the fascinating underwater world. Cost of admission: adults $ 22, children under 3 get in free. Otherwise, they pay $ 13.
At the Musical Stairs (literally, musical stairs), you can admire an interactive art exhibition where everyone can create their music. The installation artist, Remo Saraceni, has produced musical scales that respond to the pace with which one walks (or runs) on the staircase.
On the West Marina of Pier 39, the main attractions are the sea lions. These lovely (but not too friendly) beasts began to elect Pier 39 as their terrestrial residence following the 1989 earthquake. Initially, there were 10 to 50 specimens there, depending on the period. Later, thanks also to the welcome received and to the city’s environmental and animal protection program, the number settled on the remarkable figure of 300 sea lions (but during the winter, the number can grow up to as many as 900 units! ).
Finally, be sure to admire the magnificent San Francisco Carousel. This horse carousel, entirely handmade in Italy, hand-painted, reproduces famous places of the metropolis, including the Golden Gate Bridge, Chinatown, Lombard Street. Illuminated in the evening by 1,800 LED lamps, the carousel hosts 32 animals to ride, including sea lions, dragons, dolphins, horses.
On board a “historic vessel”: the USS Pampanito
For history buffs, specifically of the Second World War, and for lovers of the stories told by the waves of the sea, a visit to the USS Pampanito Museum and Memorial is worth a visit, moored at Pier 45, where you can admire this submarine that sank six Japanese ships. Following the restructuring of the boat, the Maritime Park Association decided to open the cabins and decks to tourists and onlookers.
The boat can now be fully visited and you can admire the original on-board equipment and other details of absolute historical value. By relying on the audio guides provided at the entrance, you will be able to learn about the history of this submarine, the life conducted by the sailors on board, explore the torpedo room, the control room, and more in detail. Admission costs $ 15 for adults, while children under 6 get in for free.
The Liberty Ship still in operation: SS Jeremiah O’Brien
One of the two Liberty Ships still operational and with all the features of the time, this boat was also used during the Second World War. Docked at Pier 45 at Fisherman’s Wharf, she is undoubtedly one of San Francisco’s most exciting attractions. Getting on the O’Brien means leaping back in time and, at times, experiencing the sensations that accompanied the sailors on board, a mixture of tension, euphoria, fear and hope.
This giant of the seas, over the years, has sailed the waters of England, Ireland, India, and Australia. After years of careful and careful restoration, the ship now shows itself in all its original splendor. Audio-guided tours cost $ 20 for adults and $ 10 for children over four.
The magical and crazy world of Ripley’s Believe it or not!
Imagine entering a museum. Not just anyone, but a place where you can admire 95 years of collecting. Of all kinds. There are as many as 25,000 collected objects at Ripley’s, ranging from science to technology, from computers to space. Certainly one of the strangest museums in the world. Collected oddities include the three-legged horse, shriveled human heads, cannibal skulls, elephant armor and even a portrait of Michael Jackson made entirely of candy. And the list, we assure you, could go further. Having its founder traveled to over 200 destinations worldwide, the collection of souvenirs of odd provenance and artifacts of all kinds and crafts make Ripley’s a must-have for travelers stopping over in San Francisco. The cost of the entrance ticket is not exactly cheap, but it’s worth it. Adults pay $ 18.99, while children pay $ 9.99 (only if you buy tickets online).
Where to eat
Recommended by locals: Cioppino’s. Many of Fisherman’s Wharf restaurants are named after the fishing family who has worked (and still work) here for decades. Cioppino’s is one of these, even if the family’s real surname is still a mystery today. Here you have to order the Cioppino, their main dish. An extravagant show of Dungeness crabs, clams, mussels, snapper, squid, shrimp and cherry tomatoes. The restaurant also serves excellent first and second courses of meat and fish. Price per person from 50 $
Recommended by us: Scoma’s. Very fresh fish, shellfish, meat, and vegetarian dishes, the culinary experience is heavenly at Scoma’s. The rustic and vaguely retro atmosphere completes the picture of this restaurant on the water. Their main dish is grilled wild salmon on lobster ravioli—price per person from 60 $.
Where to sleep
In the heart of Fisherman’s Wharf is The Wharf Inn, which offers free parking, Wi-Fi, coffee and complimentary newspapers. Price per room, per night from 220 $.
Where to shop
More to take a look and discover the background of the life of fishers than to do actual shopping, be sure to stop by The Wharf Store – Marine Division. Here you will find everything a true fisherman needs: from boots to beachwear, oilcloths and lines, fishing rods, knives and much more. The Wharf Store is a fundamental institution.
For those with a sweet tooth, a visit to Ghirardelli Chocolate is a must, a confectionery paradise founded by Domenico Ghirardelli, a native of Rapallo, back in 1852. Among pralines, chocolates, bars, hot and cold drinks, pastries and cupcakes, here chocolate makes it a master.
If you are looking for clothing, souvenirs, home accessories or other items, stop by Macy’s or Anchorage Square. If the former needs no introduction, we highly recommend the latter. It is a shopping center where you can find everything from shoes to clothes, from liqueurs to Californian wines to Russian cigars.
Things you should do before leaving
- Eat a sundae in Ghirardelli Square
- Savor sourdough bread at the Boudin Sourdough Factory Museum
- Try the take away clam chowder (you can easily find it near the stalls along the quay)
- Make a playful stop at the Musée Mécanique