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Union Square, San Francisco, CA

Photo: Lordsamp, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.

ShoppingIconicFree

Union Square

Bounded by Geary, Powell, Post and Stockton Sts · San Francisco, CA

Why you should go…

Union Square is a 2.6-acre plaza bounded by Geary, Powell, Post and Stockton streets, at the center of San Francisco's downtown shopping, hotel and theater district. In the middle stands the Dewey Monument, an 85-foot column dedicated in 1903 and topped with a 9-foot statue of Nike. Department stores, boutiques and galleries fill the surrounding blocks, and the Geary and Curran theaters are nearby. The Powell-Hyde and Powell-Mason cable car lines run along the square.

  • #shopping district
  • #public plaza
  • #cable cars
  • #downtown san francisco
  • #dewey monument

Good to know

General shopping guidance

Habits that pay off across this whole category, not rules for this one venue. Always check the official site for the specifics.

  • Vendor hours are their own thing

    Market stalls and independent sellers keep shorter hours than the building around them, and quiet days end early.

  • Bring a tote and a little cash

    Smaller sellers do not all take cards, and bags are rarely free.

  • Weekdays browse, weekends buzz

    Pick the weekday for a proper look at the shelves and the weekend for the atmosphere.

  • Ask about shipping

    If something will not survive the suitcase, plenty of sellers will send it home for you.

What's around here?

The closest stops to Union Square, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

  • Tours
    Family Favorite

    Gray Line San Francisco

    $50+

    Narrated sightseeing and hop-on hop-off bus tours of San Francisco and day trips to wine country.

    Right next doorSwitch it up: Tours

  • Tours
    Foodie Favorite

    Local Tastes of the City Tours

    $50+

    Small-group San Francisco walking tours pairing neighborhood history with local food stops.

    Right next doorSwitch it up: Tours

  • Tours
    Local Gem

    San Francisco City Guides

    Free

    Free, volunteer-led walking tours of San Francisco's neighborhoods, history, and architecture since 1978.

    Right next doorSwitch it up: Tours

  • Shopping
    Iconic

    Ferry Building

    Free

    Browse nearly 50 food merchants and restaurants inside an 1898 ferry terminal on the waterfront, with bay views.

    0.9 mi awayMore like this

  • Shopping
    Quirky Fun

    International Spy Shop

    Free

    Fisherman's Wharf shop selling spy gadgets and surveillance gear, with an on-site airsoft range.

    1.4 mi awayMore like this

  • Shopping
    Iconic

    Ghirardelli Square

    Free

    Browse shops and restaurants in the brick buildings of a former chocolate factory near the San Francisco waterfront.

    1.5 mi awayMore like this