San Francisco is the second most densely populated major city in the US, second to New York. It is home to several world-famous landmarks including the Golden Gate Bridge. The city is also known for its eclectic mix of Victorian and modern architecture. Several nicknames are associated to the city including 'City by the Bay' and 'Frisco'. It was also at the heart of the Summer of Love in 1967 and is also known for supporting the gay rights movement.

From a cultural standpoint, the city is quite diverse, especially with its long established Asian American communities. The Chinatown found in the city is the largest and oldest one in North America. An iconic fixture in San Francisco is the cable car that transports passengers up hill inclines. The city and its sights have constantly attracted the attention of Hollywood and has been the setting of many American and international films and TV shows.

Millions of tourists come to San Francisco each year. Apart from the Golden Gate Bridge, the Cable Cars and Chinatown, American and foreign tourists frequent places such as Little Italy and go down famed crooked Lombard Street. Beaches such as the Ocean Beach and Baker Beach also attract tourists. The city also has a large number of parks and the San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department maintains over 200 parks. One of the parts maintained by the Department is the Golden Gate Park.