Top 5 Unmissable Architectural Wonders in San...

Rich with culture, art and beautifully designed buildings, San Francisco is one of the greatest cities in the world. While famous for its renowned bridges, San Francisco has plenty of other beautiful and important buildings and monuments across the city.

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San Francisco City Hall

Located in the heart of the city in the Civic Center neighborhood, City Hall is the place of local government for San Francisco county and city. Originally built in 1899 after 27 years of planning, the original city hall was destroyed in the 1906 earthquake. The present building was reconstructed in the similar Beaux-Art or Neoclassical architectural style as the original building. Films that feature San Francisco City Hall include Raiders of the Lost Arc and Milk. The city hall is open 8:00 am to 8:00 pm Monday through Friday and offers tours to the public.
San Francisco City Hall, 1 Dr Carlton B Goodlett Pl, San Francisco, CA, USA, +1 415 701 2311

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Uncover my top 3 recommended places from each continent on the map.

CentralAmerica

Gorgeous Guatemala

5 days . Mini

1. Guatemala

An express adventure for those with limited time off. Prepare yourself incredible experiences. You will hike a volcano, visit mayan temples and witness a ceremony and take in beautiful colonial Antigua.

CentralAmerica

Beachy Belize

5 days . Mini

2. Belize

A quick trip not too far away for those seeking a relaxing mini break. You will have plenty of free time to relax but also some awesome activities to experience the rainforest and the caribbean sea.

CentralAmerica

Colonial Mexico

5 days . Mini

3. Mexico

An exciting mini trip exploring the lesser known colonial towns of central Mexico. This is hte perfect trip for someone with limited time off and still wants to turn on explorer mode and do something different.

SouthAmerica

Adventurous Ecuador

8 days . Epic

1. Ecuador

A remarkable 8 days adventure through the Andes and the Amazon rainforest. The best choice for adventure seekers wishing to visit the 2 most iconic areas of South America, in only 1 week and no flights.

SouthAmerica

Ancient Peru

9 days . Epic

2. Peru

An alternative itinerary to classic Peru, from Cusco to Arequipa. This itinerary is great combination of highlights Cusco and Machu Picchu with the lesser known Arequipa and Colca Canyon.

Europe

Seductive Southern Italy

10 days . Epic

1. Italy

The ultimate Italian experience from the vibrant streets of Naples to the breathtaking sceneries of the Amalfi Coast followed by Matera and down to Puglia with its golden beaches, intense flavours and fascinating destinations.

Europe

Edinburgh And The Scottish Highlands By Train

7 days . Culture

2. Scotland

Embark on this great adventure starting from London all the way to Scotland with a true Scottish experience made of breathtaking sceneries, whisky tasting and ..lots of fun! Ideal for train lovers and explorers.

Europe

Complete Portugal By Train

8 days . Culture

3. Portugal

A wonderful train journey around Portugal, from the romantic city of Porto to the Douro Valley, to the beautiful Aveiro all the way to Lisbon and Sintra. The perfect trip to train, culinary and culture lovers.

Asia

Soulful South Korea

10 days . Epic

1. South Korea

Discover incredible temples, mountains and modern cities on this 10 day adventure. This trip is perfect for those seeking immersion in the cuisine, culture and natural wonders of South Korea.

Asia

Thailand, Cambodia & Vietnam

11 days . Epic

2. Thailand

From Bankgok to Angkor Wat to Ho Chi Minh City and everything in between - adventure through the heart of South-East Asia. Taste the delights, see history brought to life and unwind on a Mekong River cruise.

Asia

Secrets Of Sri Lanka By Train

10 days . Culture

3. Sri Lanka

A fantastic adventure that showcases Sri Lanka's fantastic landscapes, wildlife and flavours. With 3 epic rail journeys, 3 UNESCO heritage sites and time to relax, this trip has loads to offer at a great price

Africa

Epic Morocco

11 days . Epic

1. Morocco

An epic journey across Morocco: from Casablanca to Marrakech, through the blue city of Chefchaouen to the wonders of the desert and deep to the High Atlas Mountains - this trip has it all! Ideal for true explorers!

Africa

Ultimate Egypt

9 days . Epic

2. Egypt

From Cairo to Aswan, this trip brings the land of the pharaohs to life. You'll visit the Pyramids, Valley of the Kings and Luxor Temple and cruise down the Nile in style. This is the perfect way to explore Egypt.

Africa

Immersive Kenya

8 days . Epic

3. Kenya

An immersive blend of culture and wildlife for first time travelers to Africa. Learn about Nairobi, sample local coffee in the Aberdares and finish up with a fantastic safari stay in the Masai Mara.

Transamerica Pyrmaid

Building

The Transamerica Pyramid, which is covered in crushed quartz, is the tallest skyscraper on the San Francisco skyline. Previously housing the headquarters of the Transamerica Corporation, which now resides in Baltimore, the pyramid is now home to companies such as URS and Bank of America. During Christmas and the anniversary of 9/11, the top of the building twinkles, which locals refer to as the ‘Crown Jewel’.

The Palace of Fine Arts

Building, Theater, Theatre

The beautiful Palace of Fine Arts was originally constructed for the 1915 Panama-Pacific Exposition, a world fair held in San Francisco to celebrate the completion of the Panama Canal, as well as the recovery of the 1906 earthquake. The palace, located in the Marina District of San Francisco, was inspired by Greek and Roman Architecture. Along with hosting events and exhibitions, it remains a popular tourist attraction and sight for wedding photographs and parties. A miniature replica of it was built in Disney’s California Adventure. The palace’s upcoming events include Jane Lynch: SeeJane Singand Witness and Rebirth: An Armenian Journey.

Conservatory of Flowers

Located in San Francisco’s vast Golden Gate Park, the Conservatory of Flowers is a green house and botanical garden that is home to numerous exotic flowers and plants. The conservatory was the government’s response to 19th century urbanization, and is a popular place for both relaxing on a weekend or hosting events. The conservatory is open to the public Tuesdays through TO Sundays 10:00 am to 4:30 pm, and offers free admission every first Tuesday of the month.

Conservatory of Flowers, 100 John F Kennedy Dr, San Francisco, CA, USA, +1 415-831-2090

Grace Cathedral

Cathedral, Church, Yoga Studio

Grace Cathedral is San Francisco’s very own Notre Dame. Located in the Nob Hill district of San Francisco like the Notre Dame, the Grace Cathedral is French Gothic in style. It originally began 1849 Gold Rush San Francisco but was rebuilt after the 1906 earthquake. The cathedral is quite famous in popular culture. Ansel Adams is known to have frequently photographed the beautiful church and the cathedral is featured in several movies such as Bicentennial Manand Hitchcock’s Family Plot. Grace Cathedral is a beautiful place to visit, both religiously and non religiously.

Volcanic Iceland Epic Trip

meet our Local Insider

Hanna

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A GUIDE?

2 years.

WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR JOB?

It's the personal contact, the personal experiences. I love meeting people from all over the world... I really like getting to know everyone and feeling like I'm traveling with a group of friends.

WHAT DESTINATION IS ON YOUR TRAVEL BUCKET-LIST?

I have so many places on my list, but I would really lobe to go to Africa. I consider myself an “adventure girl” and Africa feels like the ULTIMATE adventure!

Every CULTURE TRIP Small-group adventure is led by a Local Insider just like Hanna.

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KEEN TO EXPLORE THE WORLD?

Connect with like-minded people on our premium trips curated by local insiders and with care for the world

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.