Union Square
Union Square is the top shopping and hotel destination in San Francisco. Its close location to all forms of public transportation, such as cable cars and the F-line, along with its towers of department stores, makes Union Square one of the most popular attractions not just in San Francisco, but in the USA and the world. A stop at Union Square is required during your San Francisco holiday. End of story.
Nicknamed the heart of San Francisco because of its central location in the city (and next to the main thoroughfare of Market Street), Union Square offers too many shopping venues to enumerate.
Your credit card will be screaming for mercy after visiting not only the large department stores, such as Macy’s and Barneys New York, but also the upscale boutiques as well: Hugo Boss, Burberry, Tiffany & Co., Polo Ralph Lauren, Marc Jacobs, and Cartier, just to whet your appetite.
Obviously, the 2.6-acre Union Square is heaven for any self-respecting shopper.
On top of shopping, Union Square carries an interesting history. Originally named in 1860 after the pro-Union rallies leading up to the Civil War, the square is home to the first underground parking garage (1941), an original cable-car line (the Powell-Hyde turntable), and the yearly San Francisco Christmas tree and ice rink, for all your skating needs (or to ice yourself after a bruising shopping experience).
It’s amazing to think this thriving area, before city development, used to be a giant sand dune.
Union Square is a California Historical landmark and a major tourist destination of downtown San Francisco. Whether you’re a die-hard shopper or want to enjoy the free WiFi network in the square, or both, Union Square, a public park since 1850, is a place you want to visit on your San Francisco holiday. We’ll see you there.
How Do I Find Union Square?
- Union Square is located in the middle of San Francisco, near the corner of 4th and Market Street. Most of the hotels are located near the park, so you’ll probably walk through Union Square at some point during your trip.
- You can use public transportation routes 2, 3, 4, 9, 9x, 14, 26, 27, 30, 38, 45, 71, 76, Powell-Hyde / Powell-Mason Cable Cars, the F-Line, the underground K, L, M, T, J and N and BART to reach Union Square. 4th and Market is the unofficial transportation hub of San Francisco; most transit routes arrive here.
- Other attractions near Union Square include Chinatown, the Westfield Shopping Center, Maiden Lane, the Financial District, cable cars, The Tenderloin, Nob Hill and more department stores than you can name.
Orange Sky Co. says:
Union Square is in the heart of San Francisco; most of the hotels are located somewhere around the square. Unfortunately, that means the tourist factor is large. Be ready for slow walkers, gazing pedestrians and long cable car lines. The shopping can we worth it.
Location of Union Square
