Hilly and roughly square, San Francisco occupies the northern tip of a peninsula. To its south are the bedroom suburbs of San Mateo county, to the east and northeast is the bay, and to the west and northwest lies the Pacific Ocean.

Throughout the world, the city of San Francisco is well-known for its interesting qualities, including its history and natural beauty, colourful Victorian homes, the marvellously engineered Golden Gate Bridge, its diverse communities and Mediterranean climate have turned it into a beacon for tourists from all over the world. All it takes is a short walk around the city and a keen eye to appreciate the beauty of San Francisco.

San Francisco is famous for its hills. There are more than 50 hills within city limits. Near the geographic centre of the city, southwest of the downtown area, are a series of less densely populated hills. Twin Peaks, a pair of hills resting at one of the city's highest points, forms a popular overlook spot. San Francisco's tallest hill, Mount Davidson, is 925 feet. Dominating this area is Sutro Tower, a large red and white radio and television transmission tower.

San Francisco's shoreline has grown beyond its natural limits. Entire neighborhoods such as the Marina and Hunters Point, as well as large sections of the Embarcadero, sit on areas of landfill.

Since it is surrounded on three sides by water, San Francisco's weather is strongly influenced by the cool currents of the Pacific Ocean, which moderates temperature swings and produces a remarkably mild year-round climate with little seasonal temperature variation.

The largest and best-known city park in San Francisco is Golden Gate Park, which stretches from the center of the city west to the Pacific Ocean. It is covered in native grasses and sand dunes and was created by the extensive planting of thousands of non-native trees and plants. The large park is rich with cultural and natural attractions such as the Conservatory of Flowers, Japanese Tea Garden and San Francisco Botanical Garden. Lake Merced is a fresh-water lake surrounded by parkland and near the San Francisco Zoo, a city-owned park that houses more than 250 animal species, many of which are designated as endangered. The only park managed by the California State Park system located principally in San Francisco, Candlestick Point was the state's first urban recreation area.