San Francisco is a compact city of iconic landmarks — the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, cable cars, Fisherman's Wharf, and a world-famous food scene.
San Francisco is a compact city of iconic landmarks and unexpected beauty -- the Golden Gate Bridge emerging from fog, Alcatraz's forbidding silhouette, cable cars climbing steep hills, and a food scene that rivals any in America. The city's progressive spirit and natural setting between the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay make it unlike anywhere else. Neighborhoods from the Mission District's vibrant murals to North Beach's Italian cafes each have distinct personalities. The city packs more into 49 square miles than most cities do in ten times that area.
September through November is actually San Francisco's best weather -- warm, clear, and fog-free with temperatures around 18-22 degrees C. Spring (April-May) is also pleasant. Summer (June-August) brings the famous fog and cool temperatures around 15-20 degrees C -- pack layers. Winter (December-February) is rainy but the cheapest time for flights with mild temperatures around 10-15 degrees C. Outside Lands music festival in August draws big crowds. Fleet Week in October features the Blue Angels air show.
United uses SFO as a major hub with extensive domestic and international routes to Asia, Europe, and Australia. Alaska Airlines and Delta also have significant SFO operations. Southwest serves both SFO and Oakland. International carriers include British Airways, Lufthansa, ANA, Singapore Airlines, Emirates, Air France, and Cathay Pacific. Air China connects to Beijing and Shanghai. Virgin Atlantic serves SFO from London. JetBlue offers transcontinental routes.
San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is 21 km south with BART reaching downtown in 30 minutes for $10.40 USD. Oakland International (OAK) across the Bay Bridge often has cheaper domestic fares with BART connection via a free shuttle bus. San Jose Mineta (SJC) serves Silicon Valley with limited budget options. Compare SFO and OAK for the best deals. SFO has four terminals connected by AirTrain with an aviation museum and library. The airport's yoga room and spa offer relaxation before flights.
Oakland Airport often has 20-40% cheaper domestic flights than SFO. The San Francisco CityPASS includes cable car and major attractions. Walk or bike across the Golden Gate Bridge for free instead of paid tours. Chinatown dim sum restaurants offer lunch for under . The free guided walking tours from SF Public Library are excellent. The Cable Car Museum is free. Eat at the Ferry Building food hall for diverse options. Many neighborhoods have free walking tours on Saturdays.
San Francisco is a walkable city for such a major metropolitan area -- the distance from Fisherman's Wharf to Union Square is about 2 miles. Muni operates the bus system and historic streetcars including the F-line along Market Street and the Embarcadero. The Muni Mobile app offers a day pass for and a single ride for .50. BART connects downtown to the Mission District, Berkeley, Oakland, and both SFO and OAK airports. The iconic cable cars are a must-ride experience at per ride or included on a Muni passport. Biking is popular with 230 miles of bike lanes, and bike share through Bay Wheels has stations across the city and East Bay. Uber and Lyft are widely available. The hills are famous and challenging -- walking from the Ferry Building to Coit Tower is a steep climb.
Union Square and Nob Hill offer central location with hotels from 100-300 USD per night. Fisherman's Wharf is tourist-friendly with easy access to Alcatraz from 80-250 USD. SoMa (South of Market) has modern hotels from 100-250 USD near Moscone Center. The Marina and Cow Hollow provide quiet residential feel near the Presidio with upscale hotels from 150-400 USD. Budget travelers check hostels in the Castro and Downtown from 20-50 USD.