The Embarcadero is a long and broad stretch of waterfront, dotted with piers in San Francisco’s Financial District. Along its course, you’ll find fantastic shops, superb restaurants, plenty of attractions and wide open spaces. The Fisherman’s Wharf neighbourhood is a favourite with visitors and Pier 39 has plenty of entertainment in the form of shopping, dining and a colony of sea lions!
Take a leisurely stroll along the bay, or if you’re feeling energetic, join the throngs of joggers who frequent this part of the city to take in the views and enjoy the cool breezes that come off the ocean.
The Embarcadero attracts lovers of all things food-related on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays when the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market is in town, offering superb organic produce. There are more than 100 stalls along the pavement outside the Ferry Building between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays and between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Saturdays. The vendors sell an array of beautiful flowers and tempting fruit, cheeses, ice cream and pre-prepared meals. Pick up some freshly-baked goodies and fresh produce to enjoy al fresco. On market days, if you want to improve your cooking skills, you can join a cookery class run by the Center for Urban Education about Sustainable Agriculture (CUESA).
The previously-mentioned Ferry Building, located at the foot of Market Street, is well worth a visit. This grand structure is the perfect place to spend some time people watching, or to enjoy some delicious food in one of the gourmet bistros or cafés. Behind the Ferry Building, there are uninterrupted views across San Francisco Bay and the Bay Bridge to the south.
About 1.6 kilometres north from the Ferry Building, you can find Pier 33, which is a great location to relax and watch the world go by, eat or just grab a coffee. You can take a ferry across to Alcatraz Island from here or take a boat tour. A little further north, you’ll find Fisherman’s Wharf and the Aquarium of the Bay. Buying a Wharf Pass will give you discounted access to all these attractions and a whole lot more.
The Embarcadero is an easy, flat area of the “city of the seven hills”. However, cable cars do run the length of the wharf road in both directions.
