The resplendent Golden Gate Bridge is the quintessential image of San Francisco. But a barrage of complementary styles make up this city, from the gleaming futuristic steel and glass to the Victorian mansions to the red and gold pagodas. Cable cars, streetcars and ferries transport locals and visitors, and you’ll hear a dozen languages throughout the character-rich neighborhoods, from North Beach to Mission to Chinatown.

World-class cultural institutions such as the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art and legendary locations like Alcatraz and Coit Tower are there to be explored, as is the city’s incredibly diverse culinary scene. The surrounding wine country and tech of Silicon Valley also influence the city’s attractions.

Here are our top suggestions for making the most out of your trip to The Golden City.

From the Golden Gate Bridge views to the beaches to the gilded decorations of Chinatown, San Francisco really is a golden city. You’ll find it welcoming no matter what your aesthetic, social or scenic tastes, and with wine country and incredibly fresh produce just beyond the city limits, the culinary pleasures are beyond compare. Come with an open mind and a plan to make the most of the great outdoors and you’ll leave with the most magical memories you could wish for.

Paul Oswell is a British award-winning journalist and published travel author based in New Orleans, Louisiana in the United States. His books include Bucket List North America and The Great American Road Trip, as well as New Orleans' Historic Hotels. He has also been an editor of and contributor to several guide books/editions published by Dorling Kindersley (owned by Penguin), including New Orleans, Florida, Orlando, Los Angeles, California and The United States. His work has appeared in Conde Nast Traveler, Travel & Leisure (both of which he has written multiple online travel guides for) and The Guardian, as well as dozens of international newspaper and magazine titles, and inflight magazines for major airlines.