Welcome to the Mission District

Top Experiences

• Vivid murals: Check out dozens of energetic, colorful public artworks in alleyways and on building exteriors.
• Dolores Park: Join Mission locals and their dogs on this hilly expanse of green that has a glorious view of downtown and, if you're lucky, the Bay Bridge. On sunny days, the whole neighborhood comes out to play.
• Phenomenal global food: Keen appetites and thin wallets will meet their match here. Just try to decide between deliciously fresh burritos, garlicky falafel, thin-crust pizza, savory samosas, and more.
• Barhopping: Embrace your inner (or not-so-inner) hipster. Grab a cocktail at Trick Dog, whose mixologists serve some of the Mission's finest drinks, then peruse the small and mighty menu at the retro-chic Beehive or stop by Elixir, where San Francisco history meets craft cocktails.
• One-of-a-kind shopping: From trendy clothing to pirate supplies (it's true), the Mission is one of the city's prime shopping neighborhoods, especially on perennially hip Valencia Street.

Planning Your Time

A walk that includes Mission Dolores and the neighborhood's murals takes about two hours. If you plan to go on a mural tour with the Precita Eyes organization, or if you're a window-shopper, add at least another hour. The Mission is a neighborhood that sleeps in. In the afternoon and evening, the main drags—Mission, Valencia, and 24th Streets—really come to life.

From Sunday through Tuesday, it's relatively quiet here, especially in the evening—a great time to get a café table with no wait. Dogpatch is liveliest during the week, midday to evening, when businesses are hopping. On weekends, this neighborhood relaxes at home.

Getting Here

The Mission is welcomingly flat, and BART's two Mission District stations drop you in the heart of the action. Get off at 16th Street for Mission Dolores and the shopping, nightlife, and restaurants of the Valencia Corridor or 24th Street to see the neighborhood murals and the increasingly trendy Calle 24 district. Parking is difficult, so take a taxi or rideshare. Dogpatch is well served by the T–Third Muni line, and the 22nd Street Caltrain station is nearby. Bernal Heights and Potrero Hill have slightly easier parking situations (though prepare for steep street-parking angles) and are connected to the Mission by Muni bus lines.