Visit Historic Chinatown
Located just northeast of Union Square is San Francisco’s Chinatown, the oldest Chinatown in North America, dating back to 1848, and the single largest Chinese community outside of Asia. A hugely popular tourist attraction, the San Fran Chinatown draws in more visitors per year than the Golden Gate Bridge. The town contains a great many traditionally styled Chinese stores and restaurants, as well as numerous beautiful parks and fascinating places of worship to visit. Make the most of your time by booking a Chinatown Walking Tour.
San Francisco also has a very large Japanese contingent, as well as ties to several other parts of Asia. This rich cultural diversity is celebrated in the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco. Housed within a grand library building, the museum welcomes numerous travelling exhibitions every year and typically contains upward of 17,000 pieces of Asian art, dating back through 6,000 years of history, at any one time. Be sure to try the Japantown Food Tour for a true adventure of the senses.
Shopping in Union Square
For those interested in a shopping holiday, San Francisco’s Union Square fits the bill perfectly. This 2.6-acre plaza is a real shoppers’ paradise, containing no less than six full department stores including the famous Macy’s, Bloomingdale’s and Barney’s of New York. Union Square is also home to many luxury retailers, such as Gucci, Tiffany’s Jewellers and Louis Vuitton. While some of the world’s biggest brands have chosen to locate their flagship stores here, including Nike, Apple and Victoria’s Secret.
In addition to its lavish shopping opportunities, the Union Square area has numerous other attractions. The nearby blocks are known as designated dining and theatre districts, with many upmarket restaurants and world class shows to choose from. Heavily discounted theatre tickets can be purchased on performance days. The nearby French Quarter is well worth visiting too, with its vast menagerie of chic open-air restaurants and stylish cafes.
