South of Market Travel Guide

Tourist Guide

A cityscape with modern skyscrapers, a central park with pathways, and a few people walking.
A fountain in an urban park with tall buildings in the background.
A cityscape with modern high-rise buildings and a yellow building with a glass facade.
A cityscape with modern buildings, including a distinctive white skyscraper with a unique architectural design.
A public square with a central tree, surrounding buildings, and a circular paved area.

From baseball games to top-notch art exhibits, find endless entertainment in one of San Francisco’s fastest-growing neighbourhoods.

Explore South of Market (SoMa), one of San Francisco’s most up-and-coming neighbourhoods. Home to many of the new tech companies and other start-ups flocking to San Francisco, the area is still fairly undeveloped. Many of its attractions centre around three points: South Park, Yerba Buena and Folsom Street.

The neighbourhood name comes from the area’s old nickname, “South of the Slot,” which referred to its location on the grittier side of the Market Street cable car line during the California Gold Rush. Today, find it a bustling area with a busy downtown vibe, largely following the city’s tech boom.

Enjoy a sunny day or people watch in the elliptical South Park, modelled after London’s Berkeley Square and New York’s Gramercy Park. Walk toward the waterfront promenade. Watch a ballgame at AT&T Park, home to the San Francisco Giants. Whether you’re a diehard fan of the Major League Baseball team or a casual observer, the ballpark is a delight for spectators. Enjoy its classic design and beautiful view across San Francisco Bay.

Investigate the world-class collections in San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, known as SFMOMA. The striking building with 21st-century additions is as interesting as the exhibits inside. See pieces by Jackson Pollock, Andy Warhol and Georgia O’Keeffe, among the 30,000 works in the collection.

Cross the street to Yerba Buena Gardens. Stroll through the beautiful gardens or go bowling or ice-skating. See the latest exhibit in the Yerba Buena Centre for the Arts or take kids to Children’s Creativity Museum, formerly Zeum, an interactive technology museum.

Discover the exciting cultural scene of unique boutiques and restaurants around Eleventh and Folsom streets. Folsom Street is also home to the famous Folsom Street Fair, an annual celebration of the leather and fetish culture.

Find this sprawling area between Embarcadero and Eleventh Street, bounded between Market and Townsend streets. With its constant evolution, South of Market is always an interesting and entertaining place to visit.


Stay near popular South of Market attractions

Activities


Our pick of the best South of Market Hotel Deals

Hyatt Regency San Francisco Downtown SOMA

Hyatt Regency San Francisco Downtown SOMA

4 out of 5
50 3rd St San Francisco CA
The price is NZ$483 per night from 31 July to 1 Aug
NZ$483
31 July - 1 Aug
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this business-friendly hotel in San Francisco. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, breakfast (surcharge) and a 24-hour fitness centre. Our guests praise the helpful staff ...
9.4/10 Exceptional! (1,269 reviews)
"No"

Reviewed on 1 July 2026

Hyatt Regency San Francisco Downtown SOMA
Hyatt Place San Francisco Downtown

Hyatt Place San Francisco Downtown

3 out of 5
701 3rd St San Francisco CA
The price is NZ$435 per night from 5 July to 6 July
NZ$435
5 July - 6 July
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this hotel in San Francisco. Enjoy free breakfast, free Wi-Fi and parking (surcharge). Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful staff in their ...
9.4/10 Exceptional! (2,206 reviews)
"Well organized, well maintained, professional staff, and very clean. Overall, the hotel was a great place to stay. The only shortcoming is the lack of secure parking available on-site at a reasonable price."

Reviewed on 30 June 2026

Hyatt Place San Francisco Downtown
YOTEL San Francisco

YOTEL San Francisco

3 out of 5
1095 Market St San Francisco CA
The price is NZ$239 per night from 31 July to 1 Aug
NZ$239
31 July - 1 Aug
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this hotel in San Francisco. Enjoy free breakfast, free Wi-Fi and a fitness centre. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms in their ...
8.2/10 Very good! (1,001 reviews)
"The room is very small. Not even a chair or table - just a bed, nightstand, TV, and bathroom. This was fine but upon arrival I had no power in the room - not even the lights or something to charge my phone. It was pitch dark which made unpacking a challenge at 1:15 AM when I arrived. They were full ..."

Reviewed on 30 June 2026

YOTEL San Francisco
Palace Hotel, a Luxury Collection Hotel, San Francisco

Palace Hotel, a Luxury Collection Hotel, San Francisco

5 out of 5
2 New Montgomery St San Francisco CA
The price is NZ$724 per night from 17 July to 18 July
NZ$724
17 July - 18 July
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this luxury hotel in San Francisco. Enjoy 2 restaurants, 2 bars/lounges and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the helpful staff and the comfy ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (1,000 reviews)
"Hotel was far from a 5 star hotel. Rooms were dirty and not cleaned well. Hair on the carpet, dust on top of everything. Hallways dirty and dusty. Hot tub water was filled halfway. Very rundown hotel."

Reviewed on 30 June 2026

Palace Hotel, a Luxury Collection Hotel, San Francisco
LUMA Hotel San Francisco

LUMA Hotel San Francisco

4 out of 5
100 Channel Street San Francisco CA
The price is NZ$475 per night from 18 July to 19 July
NZ$475
18 July - 19 July
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this hotel in San Francisco. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, breakfast (surcharge) and room service. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms in their ...
9.6/10 Exceptional! (2,543 reviews)
"This is my go-to hotel in SF if it's reasonably located to where I need to be. Clean and quiet rooms - I've never had any noise issues and have always been able to sleep well. The area can get a little crazy if there are baseball games happening though, but it's manageable and mostly locals attending ..."

Reviewed on 30 June 2026

LUMA Hotel San Francisco
The Pickwick Hotel

The Pickwick Hotel

3.5 out of 5
85 5th St San Francisco CA
The price is NZ$197 per night from 7 July to 8 July
NZ$197
7 July - 8 July
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this business-friendly hotel in San Francisco. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, a fitness centre and parking (surcharge). Our guests praise the helpful staff and the ...
7.8/10 Good! (1,359 reviews)
"Room was great. Staff was friendly. And if you’re too early, the staff can hold your bags in storage until check-in. Deposit is better if you plan to go only on night. And you get the deposit back within 2 hours. Great hotel. Close to BART, restaurants and AMC theaters. Highly recommended. 9/10."

Reviewed on 1 July 2026

The Pickwick Hotel
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Our guide on where to stay in South of Market

Find the best South of Market areas for the activities you enjoy most.

Fisherman's Wharf

Travellers love Fisherman's Wharf for its popular shops, and you can see more of San Francisco by jumping on the metro at Jones St and Beach St Stop or Jefferson St & Taylor St Stop. You might spend time checking out top sights like Pier 39 and San Francisco Bay.

Union Square

Known for its charming cafes and popular shops, there's plenty to explore in Union Square. Check out top attractions like Westin St Francis Hotel Glass Elevators and Union Square, and jump on the metro at Powell St & Geary Blvd Stop or Powell St & Post St Stop to see more of the city.

Downtown San Francisco

Known for its fascinating museums, popular shops and acclaimed art galleries, there's plenty to explore in Downtown San Francisco. Top attractions like Oracle Park and Chase Center are major draws. Catch the metro at Market St & 5th St Stop or Market St & Taylor St Stop to see more of the city.

Nob Hill

Gourmet restaurants Chinatown and top sights from SF Masonic Auditorium to Cable Car Museum – discover Nob Hill, a destination also famous for its shopping.

Marina District

The beautiful waterfront views and popular shops are just a few highlights of Marina District. Make a stop by San Francisco Bay or Chestnut Street while you're exploring the area.



South of Market Travel Guide

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