Shopping North Beach, San Francisco
City Lights Booksellers
A place to shop in North Beach, San Francisco, worth about 30 minutes. Best time to go: Evening.
Why go
Beat-era bookstore and publisher with a poetry room upstairs.
It is one of 10 curated places we feature in San Francisco, alongside 3 places to eat, 2 bars & cafés and 2 sights. 3 more of our picks sit within about half a mile in a straight line, so it pairs easily with Vesuvio Cafe and Top of the Mark. At about 30 minutes, it slots neatly between bigger plans.
- Type
- Shopping · Culture
- Neighborhood
- North Beach
- Time needed
- 30 min
- Best time
- Evening
Nearby
Our closest curated picks, including 5 beyond San Francisco. Distances are straight-line, not walking or driving.
- 1Vesuvio Cafe
Two-floor bohemian bar next to City Lights, a Kerouac-era hangout since 1948.
Drinks · 0.0 mi straight-line - 2Top of the Mark
Glass-walled lounge on the 19th floor of the InterContinental Mark Hopkins, open since 1939, with 360-degree views.
Drinks · The Embarcadero & Ferry Building · 0.5 mi straight-line - 3Tadich Grill
California's oldest restaurant, founded in 1849, with a long wooden counter, white-jacketed waiters and cioppino.
Food · The Embarcadero & Ferry Building · 0.5 mi straight-line - 4Hyatt Regency San Francisco
John Portman's 1973 hotel with a 17-storey atrium, across the street from the Ferry Building.
Stay · The Embarcadero & Ferry Building · 0.6 mi straight-line - 5Ferry Building
The 1898 ferry terminal under a clock tower, now a marketplace of bakeries, cheese shops and oyster bars.
Shopping · The Embarcadero & Ferry Building · 0.7 mi straight-line - 6Hog Island Oyster Co.
Oyster bar in the Ferry Building run by a Tomales Bay oyster farm, with a window wall facing the Bay Bridge.
Food · The Embarcadero & Ferry Building · 0.7 mi straight-line
On these curated routes
City Lights Booksellers is a stop on our Pacific Coast Highway route. Open it to see the full day-by-day plan.
More to do in San Francisco
City Lights Booksellers is our only shopping pick in San Francisco; here is what else we recommend there. See the full San Francisco guide.
-
Golden Gate Bridge Welcome Center
Walk partway onto the bridge from the south end for the classic span-and-bay view.
-
Lands End Trail
Cliffside trail with Golden Gate views, shipwreck remains and the Sutro Baths ruins.
-
Ferry Building Marketplace
Bayfront hall of local producers: oysters, cheese, bread and coffee under one roof.
-
Alcatraz Island
Ferry to the former federal prison and take the cellhouse audio tour.
-
Pier 39 Sea Lions
Watch hundreds of California sea lions haul out on the K-Dock floats at Fisherman's Wharf.
-
Swan Oyster Depot
Counter-only seafood bar since 1912 serving crab, oysters and Sicilian sashimi.
When to go
Average daily highs in San Francisco run from 56°F in January to 74°F in September; December is usually the wettest month. For City Lights Booksellers itself, we suggest: Evening.
Modelled monthly averages for San Francisco from NASA POWER, not a forecast. Full San Francisco weather by month.
Getting there
Map links open a live search for City Lights Booksellers, so hours and directions come straight from the map app.
- Address
- 261 Columbus Ave, San Francisco, CA 94133, USA
- Coordinates
- 37.79763, -122.40662
- Destination
- San Francisco, California
- Website
- citylights.com
City Lights Booksellers: quick answers
How much time do you need at City Lights Booksellers?
Plan on about 30 minutes at City Lights Booksellers. That is our curated estimate for a typical visit; groups that linger will want more.
When is the best time to visit City Lights Booksellers?
Our pick: Evening.
Where is City Lights Booksellers?
City Lights Booksellers is at 261 Columbus Ave, San Francisco, CA 94133, USA, in North Beach. The Google Maps and Apple Maps links on this page open it for directions.
Which TripsCircle routes include City Lights Booksellers?
City Lights Booksellers appears on Pacific Coast Highway, a curated route you can open on TripsCircle and plan with your group.
Add City Lights Booksellers to your crew's plan
Save it to a shared TripsCircle itinerary, settle the timing with a quick poll, and split the costs with everyone going to San Francisco.
Plan San Francisco
- San Francisco travel guide 10 places
- Best time to visit San Francisco weather by month
- San Francisco to Monterey & Carmel 86 mi straight-line
Lists & regions
Also in San Francisco
- Ferry Building Marketplace Food
- Golden Gate Bridge Welcome Center Sight
- Alcatraz Island Activity
- Buena Vista Cafe Drinks
- Lands End Trail Outdoors
Curated recommendation, not live listing data. Confirm hours, prices, bookings and access before you go.