Pier 39 & Fisherman's Wharf | San Francisco

Pier 39 is a shopping center and popular tourist attraction built on a pier in San Francisco, California.

California sea lions have always been present in San Francisco Bay. They started to haul out on docks of Pier 39 in September 1989. Before that they mostly used Seal Rock for that purpose. Ever since September 1989 the number of sea lions on Seal Rock has been steadily decreasing, while their number on Pier 39 has generally increased. Some people speculate that sea lions moved to docks because of the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, but the earthquake occurred months after the first sea lions had arrived at Pier 39. It is likely that the sea lions feel safer inside the Bay.

The pier is located at the edge of the Fisherman's Wharf district and is close to North Beach, Chinatown, and the Embarcadero.

Fisherman's Wharf is one of the most famous of destinations for visitors of San Francisco, California and with good reason. There is so much to see and do at Fisherman's Wharf that you could quite easily plan an entire trip to San Francisco and only leave the Wharf as you are leaving the city. I've lived in California for over two years and visited San Francisco numerous number of times and I find it one of the most attractive cities in USA. 

Originally Fisherman's Wharf was the dock where the Italian fishermen brought their daily catch to be sold on the waterfront. This was the best place to get fresh seafood, right out of the bay. Clams, oysters, mussels and many different kinds of fish were brought in on the small fishing boats to supply the residents with food.

No trip to San Francisco’s Fisherman’s Wharf is complete without a trip to Alcatraz Island. From the many vantage points along the piers at the Wharf, you’ll be able to see some remarkable views of this 22-acre island. The Island is run by the National Park Service who contracts with Alcatraz Cruises, to ferry people to and from the island. They depart from Pier 33 and tickets usually sell-out 2-3 weeks in advance so don't forget to plan ahead!