San Francisco

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Quick Facts

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Coordinates

• Latitude: 37.775196
• Longitude: -122.419204

On Travellerspoint

• 1 San Francisco Guesthouses
• 16 San Francisco Hostels
• 15 San Francisco Hotels

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Introduction

The Golden Gate Bridge

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San Francisco's cosmopolitan feel and somewhat European feel make it one of the most popular stops in the USA.

Neighbourhoods

• Bernal Heights- Located at the southern edge of Mission Valley, Bernal Heights is a small, trendy community filled with small restaurants, cafes, and boutiques. Travel along Cortland Avenue, the neighborhoods main drag to get a feel for this rather unique neighborhood.
• The Castro - The historic heart of San Francisco's Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender community.
• Chinatown

Full of history, culture, and touristy gimmicks, Chinatown is a must-see neighborhood.

• Cole Valley
• Deco Ghetto
• Fisherman's Wharf- At Fisherman's Wharf you'll find Pier 39 and 41, which offer touristy shopping, restaurants, seafood, and views of Angel Island and Alcatraz Island. Fisherman's Wharf is also the location where travelers can catch ferries to Alcatraz.
• Golden Gate Park- Truly a park for the people, Golden Gate Park reaches into San Francisco from Ocean Beach to Stanyan Street. Larger in area than Central Park in New York, Golden Gate Park is home to bison, the Murphy Windmill, a Japanese tea garden, and a rich variety of museums, including the de Young Museum, California Academy of Sciences, Conservatory of Flowers, and the San Francisco Botanical Garden..
• The Haight
• Hayes Valley
• Inner Richmond
• Inner Sunset
• The Marina
• The Mission: Mission to Potrero
• The Mission: 16th and Valencia Streets
• The Mission: Dolores and Valencia Corridor
• Nob Hill
• Noe Valley
• North Beach - North Beach is San Francisco's Italian neighborhood, replete with the obligatory trattorias, as well as lovely parks, visas, and walks and serves as a launching-off point for bicycle and walking tours.
• Outer Richmond
• Outer Sunset
• Pacific Heights
• Potrero Hill
• Presidio - The Presidio is a lovely place to walk, picnic, and take pictures.
• Russian Hill - When you've had your fill of zigging and zagging on Lombard Street, take a stroll around ritzy Russian Hill to get a glimpse of some of the city's finest homes.
• SoMa
• Telegraph Hill - When it comes to neighborhood vibe, classic San Francisco architecture, and great views, Telegraph Hill can't be beat.
• Tenderloin
• Union Square
• Western Addition

Sights and Activities

San Francisco is awash in fun activities for practically everybody. Events and happenings in Everybody's Favorite City are always changing. The local visitors' bureau has a really good events calendar, with information about what's currently going on in town. Alternatively, try the Fisherman's Wharf website for a list of everything happening at the city's most popular tourist attraction.

Don't forget to check on which days museums offer discounted entrance, or are hosting special events such as film festivals or parties!

Alcatraz Island

A trip to Alcatraz Island should be at the very top of every visitor's agenda. Fascinating history and amazing views make this a most memorable day.

DeYoung Museum

The newly renovated/built DeYoung Museum in Golden Gate Park is simply spectacular. Gazing at the building and going into its tower for a most unexpected perspective on San Francisco is enough of a reason to visit. But, the art collection strikes the visitor as much like the city itself, eclectic, vibrant, beautiful and unlike any other in the world.

Golden Gate Bridge

If you haven't walked across Golden Gate Bridge in the evening, toward sunset, you really haven't lived. The setting sun's rays reach into the glowing city and make for a spectacular scene. Below you, the peace of the bay clashes and mixes with the drama and power of the endless Pacific ocean. At times, some locals say it can be better than the Grand Canyon. Bring someone you love to make the moment complete.

After walking or biking north across the Golden Gate Bridge, coast down to the absolutely charming village of Sausalito. When you've had your fill of galleries and coffee shops, take the ferry back across the bay. The ride is nearly as romantic as the bridge, and affords a lovely view of Alcatraz and Angel Island.

Pier 39

Positioned as the center of Fisherman's Wharf, Pier 39 is a multilevel facility offering many options for dining and shopping. Pier 39 is also home to the famous sea lions.

Pier 41

Located in Fisherman's Wharf, Pier 41 offers spectacular views of both Alcatraz Island and Angel Island. This is the location where travelers catch the ferry to go to Alcatraz Island. However, as the ticket booth usually sells out in advanced, it would be wise to purchase tickets ahead of time.

The Cannery

The Cannery is located at Del Monte Square on Columbus St, and once was an old Peach Canning Plant. Today, The Cannery offers some of the most unique shopping and dinning experiences in the entire city. This is a must see location in Downtown San Francisco, as it is sure to not disappoint.

Ghirardelli Square

Events and Festivals

• San Francisco LGBTQ Pride.
• Bay to Breakers.
• Fillmore Street Jazz Festival.
• San Francisco Jewish Film Festival.
• North Beach Jazz Festival.
• San Francisco Shakespeare Festival.
• San Francisco Fringe Festival.
• Ghirardelli Square Chocolate Festival.
• San Francisco Blues Festival.
• Folsom Street Fair.
• Castro Street Fair.
• Oktoberfest By The Bay.
• Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony at Ghirardelli Square.
• Holiday Festival of Lights.
• San Francisco Silent Film Festival.
• San Francisco International Film Festival.
• Power to the Peaceful.

Weather

It is cold! Because it's right on the bay the temperature stays about the same all year round. Even in the summer, a thick jacket is needed in the evenings if you're going to walk around.

The months of May through September is dry with temperatures during the summer to peak at 21 °C on the average and with an average low of about 10 °C. From November through March, rain is a common occurrence with mild winter temperatures at an average low of 7 °C and peaking at about 15 °C. Snowfall is extremely rare in this city.

Getting There

By Plane

San Francisco International Airport (SFO), located 21 km (13 miles) south of San Francisco, is a major gateway to Asia, Europe and Oceania.

United Airlines and American Airlines are the biggest carriers with almost half of the flights to SFO, mostly domestic, were operated by them.

Foreign carriers include Air France, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Qantas and Singapore Airlines.

By Train

Although officially there are no Amtrak trains operating to and from the city of San Francisco itself, there are several trains travelling from Emeryville and the San Francisco Bay Area (Sacramento, Oakland) which can be of use for travellers definately wanting to travel to or from San Francisco by train. These are:

• The California Zephyr between Emeryville and Chicago.
• The Capitol Corridor between Auburn and San Jose, stopping in Emeryville, Sacramento and Oakland near San Francisco.
• The Coast Starlight between Seattle and Los Angeles, stopping in Emeryville and Oakland.
• The Sao Joaquins between San Francisco Bay Area (Sacramento) and Southern California.
• Caltrain runs all the way from Gilroy, CA to San Francisco, CA. Also hooks up with the BART station, and Amtrak throughout the Bay Area.

Amtrak's Coast Starlight route runs between Vancouver, Canada and San Diego, California, with Bay Area stops in Martinez, Emeryville, Oakland and San Jose. If you can swing it, the Coast Starlight is a priceless experience: the observation cars afford you hours and hours of gorgeous views of Northern California if you're coming from the north, or the coast if you're coming from the south. It's fast, affordable, and comfortable. Plus, you can schedule in layovers along the way and discover the jewels along the way!

By Car

• Highway 101
• Interstate 280
• Interstate 80

By Bus

By Boat

Getting Around

By Car

Skip the rental car, because having a car in San Francisco is a hassle and a huge expense. Parking is pricey if you can find it, traffic is horrendous, and out-of-towners are bound to get lost in the twists and one-way streets of this city for walkers.

By Public Transport

BART Metro-style commuter rail system running below Market St. in downtown San Francisco to points all over the bay area including Fremont, Millbrae, Pittsburg Bay Point, and Richmond, California. Has connections with the Caltrain station and the San Francisco Airport.

The Muni system consists of buses and streetcars that can take you just about anywhere you'd want to go within the city. Single- or multi-day passes can be purchased from kiosks at the Powell & Market and the Beach & Hyde cable car terminals; check the website for other locations. Muni also runs the city's famous Cable Car system. A single ride on the cable car is $5; it is also covered by the Muni pass. Clanging through some of the city's loveliest neighborhoods, the cable cars promise a great time and a scenic piece of San Francisco history. If a ride isn't enough, swing by the Cable Car Museum where you can even see the cables that keep the cars going to this day sliding past!

Blue and Gold Fleet offers ferries to a number of places in the Bay Area.

By Foot

San Francisco is the perfect city to just roam around, so long as you don't mind walking your feet to the bone! Grab a map and a water bottle, and set out to experience the best sites – and everything in between – by foot.

By Bike

Despite San Francisco's ubiquitous hills, bikes are actually a great way to see the city. If you're not in racing shape, you can still keep to the water along Marina Boulevard and The Embarcadero, where the land is relatively flat. Taking a bike across the Golden Gate Bridge is certainly a treat, and you can coast down to Sausalito to catch a ferry back across the Bay. Go to North Beach for bike rentals and bike tour companies like Bay City Bike, Bike & Roll, Blazing Saddles and Citizen Chain‎.

Eat

San Francisco is a food lover's paradise. For an extensive overview pick up a Zagat guide.

Every neighborhood has it's specialities. The Mission has a lot of trendy but reasonably priced restaurants. Tartine's and Pizza Delfina are popular spots close to each other. Pacific Heights is known to be a yuppie neighborhood but they have many good bars such as Harry's Bar, which serves fresh mango mojitos.

Drink

Sleep

The new trend in both budget and luxury accommodation (and everything in between) is apartment sharing to short-term renting. Check Craigslist to scan for ads or post your own. Or go the more professional way, and have a vacation rental broker like VacationRentals.com, Home Away, Mississippi Street Vacation Rental, or Only In San Francisco (among many others) hook you up.

LGBT Travelers might want to check out Purple Roofs (highly recommended), GayCities, World's Foremost, or Personality Hotels.

Budget

Mid-Range

• Holiday Inn Express San Francisco Airport North – 373 South Airport Boulevard, South San Francisco, CA 94080.
• Sir Francis Drake – 450 Powell Street at Sutter San Francisco, CA 94102 – Located just off Union Square in Downtown San Francisco.

Upscale

• Westin St. Francis – 335 Powell Street, San Francisco, California 94102 – Walk out the front door and you are in the heart of Union Square. Has a great location for shopping and many fine restaurants.
• Four Seasons San Francisco – 757 Market Street, San Francisco, CA 94103.
• San Francisco Marriott Fisherman's Wharf – 1250 Columbus Avenue, San Francisco, California 94133.

Work

Learn

Keep Connected

Internet

Phone

See also International Telephone Calls

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