South of Market Travel Guide

Tourist Guide

South of Market which includes skyline, a city and a garden
South of Market featuring central business district, a city and a fountain
South of Market which includes skyline, a city and a skyscraper
South of Market featuring city views, skyline and a city
South of Market featuring city views and a city as well as a small group of people

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 neighborhoods. 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 center around three points: South Park, Yerba Buena and Folsom Street.

The neighborhood 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, modeled 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 Center 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

Soma House

Soma House

3.5 out of 5
121 7th Street, San Francisco, CA
The price is NZ$183 per night from 20 Aug to 21 Aug
NZ$183
20 Aug - 21 Aug
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 3.5-star hotel in San Francisco. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and a fitness center. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms ...
7.4/10 Good! (639 reviews)
"The staff is super friendly and helpful. Some of the rooms are going through a remodel (ie construction) at the moment of this review and I may have stayed in an older section. The room was spacious and clean. The bathroom was very small—the door hits the toilet and was a little challenging to get ..."

Reviewed on 29 Jul. 2025

Soma House
Hotel Garrett

Hotel Garrett

3 out of 5
112 7th St, San Francisco, CA
The price is NZ$195 per night from 20 Aug to 21 Aug
NZ$195
20 Aug - 21 Aug
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 3-star hotel in San Francisco. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and a fitness center. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms in ...
7.6/10 Good! (546 reviews)
"Good for the price."

Reviewed on 28 Jul. 2025

Hotel Garrett
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$269 per night from 10 Aug to 11 Aug
NZ$269
10 Aug - 11 Aug
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 3-star hotel in San Francisco. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and a fitness center. Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful staff in our ...
7.6/10 Good! (1,084 reviews)
"Ok"

Reviewed on 27 Jul. 2025

Hampton Inn San Francisco Downtown/Convention Center
InterContinental San Francisco by IHG

InterContinental San Francisco by IHG

4 out of 5
888 Howard Street, San Francisco, CA
The price is NZ$391 per night from 29 Aug to 30 Aug
NZ$391
29 Aug - 30 Aug
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4-star business-friendly hotel in San Francisco. Enjoy 2 restaurants, breakfast (surcharge), and 24-hour room service. Our guests praise the helpful ...
9/10 Wonderful! (1,005 reviews)
"I love this hotel and staff. Rooms are very clean and comfortable. The restaurant is very good and the valet staff are very courteous and quick."

Reviewed on 30 Jul. 2025

InterContinental San Francisco by IHG
Hyatt Place San Francisco Downtown

Hyatt Place San Francisco Downtown

3 out of 5
701 3rd St, San Francisco, CA
The price is NZ$301 per night from 22 Aug to 23 Aug
NZ$301
22 Aug - 23 Aug
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 3-star hotel in San Francisco. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast (surcharge), and parking (surcharge). Our guests praise the breakfast and the bar in our ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (1,724 reviews)
Great location to Oracle Park!
"Stayed here with girlfriends for a concert at Oracle Park. The location was perfect and the roof top bar is an added plus. I wish they had an option for valet parking but there is a lot close by. Will stay here again for a game or another concert."

Reviewed on 28 Jul. 2025

Hyatt Place San Francisco Downtown
San Francisco Marriott Marquis

San Francisco Marriott Marquis

4 out of 5
780 Mission Street, San Francisco, CA
Fully refundableReserve now, pay when you stay
The price is NZ$399 per night from 14 Aug to 15 Aug
NZ$399
14 Aug - 15 Aug
includes taxes & fees
Book a stay at this business-friendly hotel in San Francisco. Enjoy 2 restaurants, breakfast (surcharge), and a 24-hour fitness center. Our guests praise the ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (1,267 reviews)
"Love Marriott properties, this one was nice. Room was mostly clean, (all the typical surfaces and areas were clean) the top of the shower had was coated in dust, there was some sort of vent/exhaust in the shower, if you looked inside it was caked full of dust and definitely hasn’t been maintained ..."

Reviewed on 29 Jul. 2025

San Francisco Marriott Marquis
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.

Other neighbourhoods around South of Market

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Downtown San Francisco

3/5(34 area reviews)

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.

Downtown San Francisco
Union Square which includes a skyscraper and a city

Union Square

4/5(249 area reviews)

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.

Union Square
Chinatown which includes street scenes

Chinatown

4/5(20 area reviews)

Enjoy the popular shops in Chinatown. Dragon's Gate is a worthwhile stop, and you can jump on the metro at Chinatown-Rose Pak Stop or Powell St & Clay St Stop to see more of San Francisco.

Chinatown
Financial District - Ferry Building

Financial District

4/5(16 area reviews)

Gourmet restaurants Chinatown and top sights from Embarcadero Center to TransAmerica Pyramid – discover Financial District, a destination also famous for its shopping.

Financial District
Nob Hill which includes a city and street scenes

Nob Hill

4/5(59 area reviews)

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

Nob Hill
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Mission District

4/5(6 area reviews)

You might enjoy the bars while in Mission District. San Francisco Public Library is a notable sight, and you can get around town at 16th Street Mission Station or 24th Street Mission Station to see more of the city.

Mission District

South of Market Travel Guide

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