San Francisco city is located at the top end of the San Francisco peninsula. One of the most popular tourist cities in the USA, San Francisco comprises a number of very distinct neighborhoods within its boundaries.  The City and County of San Francisco is the fourth most populous city in California and the 14th most populous city in the United States, with a 2007 estimated population of 764,976. One of the most densely populated major American cities, San Francisco is part of the much larger San Francisco Bay Area, which is home to approximately 7.2 million people.

San Francisco is a popular international tourist destination famous for its landmarks, including the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz Island, the cable cars, Coit Tower, and Chinatown, its steep rolling hills, and its eclectic mix of Victorian and modern architecture. The city is also known for its diverse, cosmopolitan population, including large and long-established Asian American and LGBT communities.

San Francisco has a rich history shaped by natural disaster, the Gold Rush, immigration and later technological innovation.

In 1906, one of the most powerful earthquakes the world has ever seen, struck San Francisco and combined with the resulting fire destroyed more than 75% of the city. A major rebuilding effort created some of the most historic buildings in all of California. The city is also famous for being home to Silicon Valley and many of the dotcom businesses that drove great prosperity (and then failure) to the area.

Some of the more notable neighborhoods throughout the city include:

• The Financial District and Union Square form the heart of the city, particularly from a tourist perspective.
• Nob Hill, once home to many of the Gold Rush tycoons is still today an up market area with a beautiful park to enjoy, and expensive apartment living. Some of the cities most exclusive hotels (like the Ritz Carlton) are located here.
• Chinatown is home to one of the largest Asian populations in the USA
• North Beach is San Francisco’s version of Little Italy with great Italian dining and cafés. Sidwalk dining is very popular here.
• The Mission district is heavily populated with working class immigrants
• Haight-Ashbury was synonomous with the 1960’s, hippy lifestyle and free loving movement.
• The Castro is renowned as being the home of gay culture in San Francisco.
• The Tenderloin has a reputation for being the cities "seedy" side. Once the hotspot for crime.
• South of Market was once characterised by dilapidated warehouses and urban decay but is now thriving with upmarket hotels, restaurants and bars. Apartment living is booming the SOMA area. While growth has been fast this area still has considerable numbers of homeless people.
• Fishermans Wharf is a tourist area packed with seafood restaurants, street artists and ferry departures our to Alcatraz and the Golden Gate Bridge.