San Francisco travel guide
San Francisco Tourism | San Francisco Guide
You're Going to Love San Francisco
With a population of 805,235, San Francisco is a must-see destination in California, United States. It is one of the most popular cities to visit in the country. San Francisco deserves at least 2 full days for you to see its main sights.
Where to Eat in San Francisco
SoMa is the neighbourhood with the most restaurants in San Francisco. These include popular favourites such as Pazzia (337 3rd St), SF Oasis (298 11th St) and Montesacro SOMA (510 Stevenson Street). If you’re looking for affordable options, The Stinking Rose (430 Columbus Ave) and Scala's Bistro (432 Powell St.) are great picks. For delicious green meals, E&O Kitchen and Bar (314 Sutter Street) and Local Kitchen & Wine Merchant (330 First Street) are recommended spots to get vegetarian or vegan food in San Francisco.
When to visit San Francisco
Looking for warm weather? Then head to San Francisco in September, when the average temperature is 17 °C, and the highest can go up to 21 °C. The coldest month, on the other hand, is January, when it can get as cold as 8 °C, with an average temperature of 11 °C. You’re likely to see more rain in January, when precipitation is around 112 mm. In contrast, July is usually the driest month of the year in San Francisco, with an average rainfall of 0 mm.
How to Get to San Francisco
Plane
When flying to San Francisco, you’ll arrive at San Francisco Airport (SFO), which is located 19 km from the city centre. The shortest flight to San Francisco from New Zealand departs from Auckland and takes around 12h 05m.
Train
Amtrak is the only carrier operating train routes to San Francisco. The train journey from San Francisco to Los Angeles takes 0h 38m and costs around $27 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Santa Clara, expect to pay about $30 for a 1h 02m trip. Located 2.2 km from the city centre, San Francisco Caltrain is the busiest station in San Francisco. Another popular train station is San Francisco Ferry Building, located 1.7 km from the centre.
Bus
Several bus lines operate bus routes to San Francisco, including FlixBus, Greyhound and Busbud. From Sacramento, the bus ride to San Francisco takes 217 km and will cost you around $30. From Sacramento, the ticket costs about $30 for a journey of 249 km. The most popular bus station is San Francisco 425 Mission St, located 1.4 km from the city centre of San Francisco. San Francisco Soma is also a commonly used station, and is 1.9 km from the city centre.
Airlines serving San Francisco
Where to stay in San Francisco
From 5-star hotels such as the Mansion on Sutter to great affordable options like the Parker Guest House, San Francisco offers a range of accommodations for every taste. Average rates range from around $256 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $730 and up for a 5-star experience. If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include Travelodge by Wyndham San Francisco Bay and Green Tortoise Hostel. There are also lots of holiday rental options in San Francisco, with prices from $92 to $814 per night. SoMa is the neighbourhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, holiday rentals in San Francisco are about 63% more expensive than a hotel room in the city.
The Castro - In San Francisco’s most popular neighbourhood to stay, recommended hotels include Beck's Motor Lodge, Perramont Hotel and Twin Peaks Hotel.
Marina District - Here you’ll find travellers’ favourites such as Redwood Inn, Cow Hollow Inn and Suites and Signature Inn San Francisco Marina District. The average nightly price for a double room in Marina District is $219.
Russian Hill - Suites At Fishermans Wharf, Columbus Motor Inn and Castle Inn have some of the best reviews among hotels in this area. A 3-star room in Russian Hill will cost you about $404 per night.
Where to stay in popular areas of San Francisco
Most booked hotels in San Francisco
Hiring a car in San Francisco
Hiring a car in San Francisco costs $113 per day, on average, or $225 if you want to hire it for 2 days. Alamo, National and Enterprise Rent-A-Car are the agencies with the best reviews in the city. The most popular location to hire a car in San Francisco is the Fox branch at 435 South Airport Boulevard, which is 17 km from the city centre.
You’re likely to save money by hiring your car at the airport: locations in the city are, on average, 3% more expensive than at San Francisco.
Expect to pay $2.36 per litre in San Francisco (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your car hire, filling up the tank will cost between $28.23 and $37.64. The most frequently booked car type in San Francisco is Full-size (Ford Mustang Convertible or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Standard car hire (Mitsubishi Outlander or similar) is, on average, 56% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.
Best car hire deals in San Francisco
Intermediate
5 Adults, 3 Bags
$53/day
Compact
4 Adults, 2 Bags
$53/day