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San Francisco travel guide

San Francisco covers the hilly tip of a peninsula between the Pacific and the bay, and most of its hotels cluster in the north-east corner around Union Square, the Financial District, SoMa and Fisherman's Wharf. The city is compact enough for Muni, BART, cable cars and walking, while steep streets and costly parking make a car more burden than help.

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Getting there and choosing your base

  • San Francisco International (SFO): About 10 miles south of the city, with BART trains from the International Terminal to the downtown Market Street stations. Fog delays are common, and airport hotels in Millbrae, Burlingame and South San Francisco suit early departures.
  • Oakland San Francisco Bay Airport (OAK): Across the bay yet closer to downtown San Francisco than SFO, and largely free of fog delays. Mostly low-cost and domestic flights; a people mover connects to BART.
  • Emeryville and the Salesforce Transit Center: Long-distance trains such as the California Zephyr terminate in Emeryville, outside the city. Amtrak coaches then cross the Bay Bridge to stops beside the Salesforce Transit Center in SoMa.

Areas to consider

Union Square and the Financial District

Suits first visits, shopping, theatre and the most central transport links. The Tenderloin starts only a few blocks west, so look at the hotel's exact block on a map before booking.

Fisherman's Wharf

Suits families focused on the waterfront, Pier 39 and the Alcatraz ferry. It is a long way from BART; find the F streetcar or cable car stop nearest the hotel if you will head downtown daily.

Nob Hill and Russian Hill

Suits travellers wanting quieter upmarket hotels, views and cable cars outside the door. The gradients are serious; anyone with heavy luggage or limited mobility should ask how steep the walk is from the nearest stop.

SoMa

Suits Moscone Center events, games at Oracle Park or Chase Center, and Caltrain connections. Room rates here can triple during the largest Moscone conventions, so compare a few alternative dates before committing.

When to go

Late September and October are usually the warmest weeks. Summer days tend to start in fog and turn windy by late afternoon, so layers are needed in any month, and winter is the rainy season. Hotel prices follow the convention calendar more than the weather, and avoiding the busiest event dates can save a great deal.

Before choosing a room

  • Downtown garages are expensive and subject to a city parking tax. If the hotel offers only valet parking, get the nightly charge in writing.
  • Many smaller hotels occupy older buildings; at the lowest rates, confirm there is a lift and that the bathroom is private.
  • Air-conditioning is not standard in every older hotel because summers are cool. If you travel during the autumn warm spell, check the room has it.

Sources and planning resources

Facts checked on . Transport services, taxes and hotel offers can change. Confirm the details for your trip before booking.

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