The Embarcadero

Why go

The Embarcadero is defined by the form, materials, and setting of The Embarcadero. Another layer comes from the sightlines that connect The Embarcadero with its surroundings. Plan The Embarcadero by remembering to confirm public access to The Embarcadero and local conditions. After The Embarcadero, choose a geographic companion near The Embarcadero; this keeps The Embarcadero geographically coherent and avoids forcing The Embarcadero into an unrelated crossing.

What to look for

• Look closely at the form, materials, and setting of The Embarcadero.
• Notice the sightlines that connect The Embarcadero with its surroundings.

The full story

The Embarcadero is the eastern waterfront and roadway of the Port of San Francisco, San Francisco, California, along San Francisco Bay. It was constructed on reclaimed land along a three mile long engineered seawall, from which piers extend into the bay. It derives its name from the Spanish verb embarcar, meaning "to embark"; embarcadero itself means "the place to embark". The Central Embarcadero Piers Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places on November 20, 2002. The Embarcadero right-of-way begins at the intersection of Second and King Streets near AT&T Park, and travels north, passing under the San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge. The Embarcadero continues north past the Ferry Building at Market Street, Fisherman's Wharf, and Pier 39, before ending at Pier 45. A section of The Embarcadero which ran between Folsom Street and Drumm Street was formerly known as East Street. For three decades, until it was torn down in 1991, the Embarcadero Freeway dominated the area. The subsequent redevelopment and restoration efforts have, according to the National Trust for Historic Preservation, "contributed to a remarkable urban waterfront renaissance", with the Embarcadero Historic District serving as a "major economic engine for the Bay Area".

Useful to know

• For The Embarcadero, confirm public access to The Embarcadero and local conditions.
• Pair The Embarcadero with a geographic companion near The Embarcadero when the route and opening conditions align.

Your next visit

Estimated · Declared scenario and planning estimates; no live opening, weather, queue or booking service.