Where to stay in San Francisco
Are you looking for accommodation in San Francisco and don't know where to start? Take a look at our post about where to stay in San Francisco, where you'll find the 5 best areas to stay in the city with advantages/disadvantages of each one, best hotels and a super detailed map. And just as important: the areas to avoid.
It's true that we haven't included El Castro among the areas to stay, not because the atmosphere isn't good (it's actually great), but is a bit far from downtown San Francisco. If this isn't a problem for you, take a look at Beck's Motor Lodge, one of the best options in Castro and with free parking.
Otherwise, you'll find all the accommodations in San Francisco here, but taking into account their good value for money here you have our favourite 5:
How to get to El Castro
To get to the Castro by San Francisco's public transportation, you have several options:
- Historic Streetcar: the F Market & Wharves line is the only streetcar operating in San Francisco and connects Castro to Fisherman's Wharf. It runs along Market St through the areas of El Castro, Civic Center, Union Square and the Financial District. It then turns north following the Embarcadero and finishing in Jones St/Beach St.
If you use this option, the stops in El Castro are at Market St/Castro St (Harvey Milk Plaza), Market St/Noe St and Market St/Sanchez St. - Muni Metro: the L Taraval, M Ocean View and K Ingleside lines stop at the Metro Castro Station (Harvey Milk Plaza).
- Muni Bus: bus lines 24, 35 and 37 stop in different parts of El Castro.
All these transportations belong to San Francisco's Muni Network, consider if it's worthwhile to buy a daily pass.
💡Recommended: How to get around San Francisco |Complete transportation guide|
What are the best must-see places in El Castro
1. Harvey Milk Plaza and Gilbert Baker's multicolored flag
Surely you're very aware of the LGBTIQ+ pride flag, a symbol among the community that reflects freedom and diversity. It was Gilbert Baker, an activist and artist from the United States, who designed it in 1978 at the request of Harvey Milk. Although the original design had 8 colors, currently only 6 are preserved since 2 of the original were difficult to produce.
In Harvey Milk Plaza, the epicenter of EL Castro and right in the middle of Market St., a huge 6-color flag known as the Gilbert Baker Memorial Flag Pole has been flying since 1997 - a neighborhood classic! Although you'll see many others flag around the area, this is undoubtedly the most important one. Did you know that they change it every quarter? If your stay coincides with this time, it must be something very original to see!
🍸 East of the square, on Castro St, is the Twin Peaks Tavern, a legendary vintage bar that only serves drinks.
💡To the north of the square, crossing to the other side of Market St, it's interesting to see the Pink Triangle Memorial. This is a memorial dedicated to the LGBTI victims during the Nazi era in Europe between 1933 and 1945. Homosexual men were marked with pink triangles (hence the name) and taken to concentration camps for forced labor. Women, on the other hand, were marked with black triangles and were often forced into prostitution.
2. The Gay Crossroads of America
When we talk about the El Castro neighborhood, we immediately think of its many colored crosswalks. We've already seen this in several cities around the world, but never so many! You can't miss the one known as The Gay Crossroads of America at the junction of Castro St and 18th: 4 multicolored crosswalks create a perfect square.
ℹ️In this same corner, every third Friday of the month, the Castro Night Market is held from 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm. Food and entertainment are guaranteed!
3. Rainbow Honor Walk, the Walk of Fame in El Castro
If you've been to Los Angeles, we're sure you've walked the Walk of Fame. El Castro also has its own memorial walk, in this case composed of bronze plaques honoring lesbian, gay, transgender, bisexual and queer people who have contributed to some change in society.
You'll find it following Castro St between Market St and 19th, once on 19th you can turn right towards Collingwood St. Some of the most popular plaques are those of Frida Kahlo, Freddie Mercury, Gilbert Baker and Federico Garcia Lorca.
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4. Harvey Milk's photo store and home
Harvey Milk was an activist who became the first homosexual person to hold a political post in the United States, since in 1977 was elected member of the Board of Supervisors of San Francisco. An inspiration for the entire LGTBI community and whose struggle marked a before and after in their rights.
Sadly, he was assassinated in 1978 along with the mayor at the time, George Moscone, a bizarre story that you can learn all about in the movie "Milk". Although he is no longer around, his figure is still present in El Castro in many ways, and one of them is remembering the place where he lived and had his business.
Harvey Milk, before entering the world of politics, opened with his partner a photography store called Castro Camera, specifically at 573 Castro St. Here he sold cameras, film and took photographs and developed them, but it also became a kind of social center for young homosexuals who fled from other parts of the United States. The same building was later his home and headquarters during his election campaign.
It's now a listed building and a Harvey Milk memorial plaque can be seen directly in front of it.
ℹ️ Harvey Milk's photographic legacy is so important that El Castro is home to the largest and oldest developing darkroom in the United States. It's in the Harvey Milk Photo Center, which also hosts photography classes and a film processing lab.
5. Castro Theatre, a must see in El Castro
There's no more iconic building in El Castro than the Castro Theatre! This historic cinema and theater was built in 1910, although it actually moved to its current location in 1922. It's undoubtedly one of the symbols of the neighborhood with its baroque-style window and big red sign. Its interior doesn't fall short: luxurious, ornate and with an incredible pipe organ that is always played before any show.
After a 2-year process of renovation and restoration of historic elements, the Castro Theatre will reopen in 2026 with a facelift that has made it look beautiful.
6. Emblematic stores in El Castro
If there's one thing that El Castro is not lacking, it's its large number of original stores, including some very legendary. Here are several that you cann't miss during your visit:
- Cliff's Variety Store and Hardware (479 Castro St): there is no store more emblematic than this one in El Castro, as this family business dates back to 1936 and has gone through several locations, including where the old Castro Theater used to be. Here you'll find all kinds of products: kitchen, gardening, toys, crafts, tools...
- Welcome Castro (525 Castro St): in this store you'll find a wide range of LGTBIQ+ themed products, many of them made by queer artists and designers from the neighborhood itself. This place also plays the role of a visitor center, as it has maps and guides to the area.
- Local Take (4122 18th): gift and clothing store with unique products also created by local designers.
- Does Your Mother Know (450 Castro St): adult store with sexual items of all kinds.
- Crossroads Trading (2123 Market St): well-known second-hand clothing store.
- Fabulosa Books (489 Castro St): cute and cozy bookstore with a wide variety of LGTBIQ+ themed books.
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7. GLBT Historial Society Museum
If you want to learn more about America's LGTBIQ+ history and culture, this museum is dedicated to preserving and telling it through exhibits and archives. You'll find things like a large fragment of the original LGTBI flag designed by Gilbert Baker (the 8-color one), costumes, objects used in political campaigns, photographs, etc.
💸The cost of admission is $10 for adults and free on the first Wednesday of each month. Remember that it's closed on Mondays.
8. Celebrations at El Castro
One of the things to do in El Castro is to attend one of its celebrations, if you're lucky enough to coincide in terms of dates.
- Castro Street Fair: a festival that takes place on the first Sunday of October and celebrates diversity in the form of music, art and food. It was originated by Harvey Milk in 1974 with the aim of promoting the neighborhood and help local businesses of LGTBI people. On their website you can check the program of each year.
- San Francisco Pride: every year, on the occasion of the International LGTBI Pride Day, an incredible parade takes place in San Francisco that runs along Market St. from the Embarcadero area to Civic Center. Although the parade doesn't pass through El Castro as such, it's true that on that day the neighborhood dresses up and there're small celebrations (for example, a huge pink triangle is erected in Twin Peaks with ceremony included).
- Castro Art Walk: the first Friday of every month, up to 20 art galleries hold small events and exhibitions of their products. You can check their website to find out which businesses participate in each edition, as they're distributed throughout several streets of the neighborhood.
- Castro Night Market: the third Friday of every month from 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm take place this gastronomic market where music is always present. You'll find it on Castro St with 18th.
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9. Mission Dolores Park
Located between El Castro and Mission neighborhoods, Mission Dolores Park is a peaceful green space with palm trees and beautiful views of San Francisco's skyline. In the summer months it's a hotspot for locals, who come here to picnic and sunbathe on clear days. It has a playground and even tennis courts.
10. Twin Peaks, the most famous viewpoint in San Francisco
San Francisco's 2 most famous hills are located at one end of El Castro, offering breathtaking views of the city and all that surrounds it from their 280-meter height.
The upper part of both hills is protected and is part of the Twin Peaks Natural Area, where several species of animals such as birds, coyotes, raccoons, deer, bobcats and the endangered Mission Blue butterfly can be found. In the lower part, however, a residential neighborhood of colorful houses has been built.
There is no public transportation that will take you to the Twin Peaks overlook, but they all stop at the bottom of the hills. For this reason, unless you feel like walking uphill, the best alternative is to use Uber or any other mobility app operating in San Francisco.
El Castro map, San Francisco
In this map you can see marked everything to see in El Castro that we have recommended throughout this post:
We hope you enjoy this neighborhod with these must-do things in El Castro!
Source of some photos: Wikimedia Commons
