Foggy and progressive, San Francisco is the crown jewel of Northern California. This compact, hilly city at the center of the wider San Francisco Bay Area has witnessed many of America’s most influential cultural moments, from hippie counterculture in the ’60s to the dot-com revolution at the turn of the last century and today’s tech boom.  

Though characterized by its history of resistance, San Francisco is struggling against the pull of a tech-driven future. The impact of gentrification can be seen in the city’s soaring house prices and the rapid transformation of neighborhoods like SoMa and the Mission, where the friction between old-school San Franciscans and the influx of young professionals is palpable.

Introducing San Francisco

Even with all its hills, San Francisco’s small size makes it a walkable city. Those with calves of steel are rewarded with a showcase of its architectural splendor; the view from Alamo Square – brightly colored Victorian houses against a backdrop of Downtown skyscrapers – is particularly iconic. Of course, taking in the Art Deco masterpiece that is the Golden Gate Bridge is a must on any San Francisco trip, as is a visit to the former prison on Alcatraz Island. 

Every neighborhood has a story to tell. The heart of the ’60s hippie revolution, Haight-Ashbury, is the place to go to relive the Summer of Love all year round, while the nearby Castro district is one of America’s first gay neighborhoods and a magnet for LGBTQ+ travellers to this day. North Beach, the birthplace of the Beatnik movement and home of the City Lights bookstore, is equally historic. SF also boasts the oldest and largest Chinatown in North America, which explains the city’s reputation for great dim sum.

San Francisco attractions and sightseeing

San Francisco neighborhoods

From the Hollywood hills to the Venice Beach boardwalk, Los Angeles is a cinematic city of dreams, where every sunset feels like a scene from a movie. The center of the entertainment world, La La Land may be home to countless celebrities, television studios and film sets, but it’s not all about star-spotting and brunching in Beverly Hills. 

LA is a sprawling county with myriad different cultures and communities: the coastal enclaves of Long Beach and Santa Monica; the built-up, bustling Downtown and Arts District; Compton, birthplace of some of rap’s biggest names; bohemian Venice; and the trendy neighborhoods of Silver Lake and Echo Park. Attracting the world’s most ambitious and extravagant characters, every neighborhood in this eclectic, showy city is prime for people watching.

Introducing Los Angeles

A must-visit on any LA trip is Hollywood Boulevard, home to the legendary Walk of Fame and TCL Chinese Theatre. Movie fans will also enjoy the rides at Universal Studios and the resting place of the stars, Hollywood Forever Cemetery; art lovers should make a beeline for the Getty Center, a hilltop gallery that houses an impressive permanent collection of European and American works. LA’s urban sprawl is flanked by golden beaches and spectacular hills and canyons, making surfing and hiking popular pastimes among Angelenos. Try Runyon Canyon and Griffith Park for relatively easy trails that take in views of the Hollywood Sign and the Griffith Observatory. There are plenty of great beaches to catch a wave, but first-time visitors should hit the sands in Malibu, where LA’s surf culture began.

Best of LA tourism

Los Angeles neighborhoods

Things to do

Food & Drink

Places to stay

Get your pumpkin spice latte fix or keep it simple with a cappuccino at these coffee shops in Lusaka, Zambia. 

Africa

Zambia

Lusaka

The Best Coffee Shops in Lusaka, Zambia

Get your pumpkin spice latte fix or keep it simple with a cappuccino at these coffee shops in Lusaka, Zambia

These the Best Coffee Shops in Lusaka, Zambia

From private homes that have been made open to the public to the national museum, these are the best places to view art in Lusaka.

The Best Art Galleries in Lusaka, Zambia

From private homes that have been made open to the public to the national museum, these are the best places to view art in Lusaka, Zambia's capital city. 

These Are the Best Places to see Art in Lusaka

Read our guide to discovering the best street art in Lusaka, Zambia's capital city.

A Street Art Tour of Lusaka, Zambia

Here is our guide to the best places to see street art in Lusaka, Zambia's capital city.

A Street Art Tour of Lusaka

Read our guide to the best music spots in Lusaka, Zambia where you can listen to everything from modern covers to local music.

The Best Music Venues in Lusaka, Zambia

An evening in Lusaka, Zambia is not complete without visiting one of these live music spots.  

These Are the Best Music Venues in Lusaka

Read our guide to the best day trips from Zambia's capital city Lusaka which includes activities like game drives and river cruises. 

The Best Day Trips From Lusaka, Zambia

From visiting orphaned elephants to game viewing to renting a houseboat on Lake Kariba, these are the best day trips from Lusaka, Zambia's capital city.

These are the Best Day Trips from Lusaka

Read our guide to everything you need to know about the first annual Restaurant Week in Lusaka, Zambia.

Everything You Need to Know About Lusaka’s Restaurant Week

Enjoy meals from almost 50 restaurants in Lusaka, Zambia during the first ever Restaurant Week Lusaka 

Restaurant Week is coming to this Southern African country for the first time

One of the fastest developing cities in Southern Africa, Lusaka’s restaurant scene is booming. Check out our top 10 choices.

Top 10 Restaurants In Lusaka, Zambia

Read our guide to what to see and do the next time you have 24 hours to spend in Zambia's capital, Lusaka.  

How to Spend 24 Hours in Lusaka

Have a 24 hour layover in Lusaka, Zambia's capital? Our guide has you covered on what to see and do. 

Watch elephants being fed, stock up on souvenirs or enjoy a sundowner in this capital city. 

Enjoy rooftop views or a cocktail served in a skull at these bars in Lusaka, the capital city of Zambia.

The Best Bars in Lusaka, Zambia

Ever heard of the 'bae' cocktail? This bar in Lusaka, Zambia serves social media inspired drinks.  

These Are The Best Bars in Lusaka 

It’s said to be the most important meal of the day, so read our guide to the 10 best breakfast and brunch spots in Lusaka, Zambia. 

The 10 Best Breakfast and Brunch Spots in Lusaka, Zambia

From brunch by a natural pool to all day breakfast, these are the 10 best breakfast and brunch spots in Lusaka, Zambia.

Los Angeles’s top attractions include a cemetery-cinema, unconventional museums, a mega-shopping destination and outstanding urban hiking.

19 Must-See Los Angeles Attractions

San Francisco is full of well-kept secrets and bustling tourist attractions. See all that it has to offer during your next visit to the City by the Bay.

20 Must-Visit Attractions in San Francisco

Check out some of the best films based in the San Francisco Bay Area and you might learn a thing or two.

17 Famous Films Set In San Francisco

The Best Travel, Food and Culture Guides for California, USA - Local News & Top Things to Do

California

See & Do

19 Must-See Los Angeles Attractions

Los Angeles’s top attractions include a cemetery-cinema, unconventional museums, a mega-shopping destination and outstanding urban hiking.

See & Do

20 Must-Visit Attractions in San Francisco

Film & TV

17 Famous Films Set In San Francisco