Alive with the same pioneering spirit that sparked the Gold Rush, modern San Francisco is perpetually on the cusp of change. From technological revolutions to queer credentials, San Francisco is where the party starts. And everyone’s invited.

Nicknamed “The City by the Bay,” San Francisco’s maritime heritage remains etched on the city’s DNA. The striking Ferry Building has been transformed into a food-lover’s paradise, while Pier 39’s playful resident sea lions are the star attraction in the West Coast’s most captivating wildlife show. Out in the bay, the notorious Alcatraz prison still menaces from afar, while a bracing bike ride leads you out to the Golden Gate Bridge. The city’s most iconic landmark inspires awe whether swathed in fog or bronzed in afternoon sun.

The star attraction, though, is that irrepressible San Franciscan spirit that simmers in every pocket of the city. In North Beach, indulge your inner Beatnik with a visit to City Lights bookshop chased by a stiff drink at the legendary Vesuvio bar next door. Catch a trolley car to The Castro to experience one of America’s most celebrated and influential gay neighbourhoods, before heading down to Mission Dolores and its lively park overflowing with liberated locals.

Unashamedly comfortable in its own skin, San Francisco compels you to check your inhibitions at the door and surrender to its eccentricities. This is a city where everyone feels at home. San Francisco is a way of life, and once it grabs hold of you it never lets you go.