South of Market Travel Guide

Tourist Guide

South of Market
South of Market
South of Market
South of Market
South of Market

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.


Popular places to visit

Activities


Our pick of the best South of Market Hotel Deals

YOTEL San Francisco

YOTEL San Francisco

3 out of 5
1095 Market St San Francisco CA
The price is NZ$271 per night from 25 May to 26 May
NZ$271
25 May - 26 May
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! (1,007 reviews)
Clean accommodations, staff let me check in earlier, breakfast had good coffee and pastries. The location is not ideal if you want to explore in the evening times.

Reviewed on 12 May 2026

YOTEL San Francisco
Hyatt Place San Francisco Downtown

Hyatt Place San Francisco Downtown

3 out of 5
701 3rd St San Francisco CA
The price is NZ$376 per night from 29 May to 30 May
NZ$376
29 May - 30 May
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this hotel in San Francisco. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, breakfast (surcharge) and parking (surcharge). Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful staff in ...
9.4/10 Exceptional! (2,153 reviews)
Fresh breakfast, very friendly staff. Especially at the front desk.

Reviewed on 14 May 2026

Hyatt Place San Francisco Downtown
LUMA Hotel San Francisco

LUMA Hotel San Francisco

4 out of 5
100 Channel Street San Francisco CA
The price is NZ$436 per night from 29 May to 30 May
NZ$436
29 May - 30 May
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! (2,502 reviews)
Very clean, very accommodating.

Reviewed on 12 May 2026

LUMA Hotel San Francisco
Hampton Inn San Francisco Downtown/Convention Center

Hampton Inn San Francisco Downtown/Convention Center

3 out of 5
942 Mission Street San Francisco CA
The price is NZ$258 per night from 27 May to 28 May
NZ$258
27 May - 28 May
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this hotel in San Francisco. Enjoy free breakfast, free Wi-Fi and a fitness centre. Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful staff in their reviews. ...
7.8/10 Good! (1,283 reviews)
Worst stay of our lives. Room was much smaller than the photos and dusty enough that my friend had severe allergies the whole trip even on prescription antihistamines, which was made worse every time the AC turned on. Breakfast was limited. Area feels unsafe even in daylight. The only positive we ...

Reviewed on 13 May 2026

Hampton Inn San Francisco Downtown/Convention Center
The Pickwick Hotel

The Pickwick Hotel

3.5 out of 5
85 5th St San Francisco CA
The price is NZ$220 per night from 21 May to 22 May
NZ$220
21 May - 22 May
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! (1,255 reviews)
Great

Reviewed on 13 May 2026

The Pickwick Hotel
Hotel Garrett

Hotel Garrett

3 out of 5
112 7th St San Francisco CA
Fully refundableReserve now, pay when you stay
The price is NZ$189 per night from 26 May to 27 May
NZ$189
26 May - 27 May
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 ...
7.8/10 Good! (891 reviews)
From the outside of the hotel doesn't look like much, But it was a pretty good place and we would consider staying here again. The parking is very tight and limited, we could barely fit our relatively small car into the space. The elevator is a little dicey but it works. The room was tiny, reminded ...

Reviewed on 14 May 2026

Hotel Garrett
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.



South of Market Travel Guide

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