San Francisco is a major city in California, the centerpiece of the Bay Area, well-known for its liberal community, hilly terrain, Victorian architecture, scenic beauty, summer fog, and great ethnic and cultural diversity. These are only a few of the aspects of the city that make San Francisco one of the most visited cities in the world.

San Francisco is located on a small seven-by-seven mile (11×11km) square of land at the tip of a peninsula between the San Francisco Bay and the Pacific coast. It has a population of almost 800,000, but is the center of a metropolitan area of millions. San Francisco is just one of the cities which makes up the entire San Francisco Bay Area. San Francisco’s neighbors, cities and towns to the east of the Bay Bridge, north of the Golden Gate Bridge, and south of the city are all in separate counties, each with their own city government and local public transportation systems.

When To Go

You can visit San Francisco comfortably any time of year. Possibly the best time to visit San Francisco is September and October, when the city’s most summerlike weather packs the calendar with outdoor concerts and festivals. The climate here always feels Mediterranean and moderate—with a foggy, sometimes chilly bite. The temperature rarely drops below 40°F, and anything warmer than 80°F is considered a heat wave. Be prepared for rain in winter, especially December and January. Winds off the ocean can add to the chill factor, so pack warm clothing. That old joke about summer in SF feeling like winter is true at heart, but once you move inland, summers are warmer.

Top Attractions

Alcatraz
Considering how many movies have been set here, you might feel like you’ve already “been there, done that”—but you really shouldn’t miss a trip to America’s most infamous federal pen. Husky-throated onetime inmates and grizzled former guards bring the Rock to life on the wonderful audio tour; you’ll hear yarns about desperate escape attempts and notorious crooks like Al Capone while you walk the cold cement cellblock. But it’s not all doom and gloom: you’ll enjoy stunning views of the city skyline on the ferry ride to and from the island.

Golden Gate Bridge
San Francisco’s signature International Orange span is the city’s majestic background, and about 10 million people a year head to the bridge for an up-close look. Walking the 1.7 mi to Marin County—inches from roaring traffic, steel shaking beneath your feet, and a far-too-low railing between you and the water 200 feet below—is much more than a superlative photo op (though it’s that, too).

Fisherman’s Wharf
Once part of a thriving fishing industry, Fisherman’s Wharf has deteriorated into a giant harpoon aimed straight at your wallet. Throngs from all over the world come to watch the flopping, barking, or napping sea lions; buy cheap T-shirts; and chow down on overpriced, mediocre food. It’s all an utter mystery to locals, who don’t come here. Ever. See the magnificent historic ships at the Hyde Street Pier, then take your money and run.

Golden Gate Park
It may be world famous, but first and foremost the park is the city’s backyard. Come here any day of the week, and you’ll find a microcosm of San Francisco, from the Russian senior citizens feeding the pigeons at Stow Lake to the moms pushing strollers through the botanical gardens to the arts boosters checking out the latest at the de Young Museum. Be sure to visit the park’s iconic treasures, including the serene Japanese Tea Garden and the beautiful Victorian Conservatory of Flowers. If you have the time to venture further into this urban oasis, you’ll discover less-accessible gems like the Beach Chalet and the wild western shores of Ocean Beach.

Palace of Fine Arts
Perched on a swan-filled lagoon near the Marina’s yacht harbor, this stirringly beautiful terra-cotta-color dome has an otherworldly quality about it. Built for the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exhibition, the palace is a San Francisco architect’s version of a Roman ruin, and it’s been eliciting gasps for almost a century. Try to see it from the water.

Coit Tower
Most people assume that this stubby white tower atop Telegraph Hill is supposed to look like a fire hose. And considering that a fire truck-chasing, cross-dressing 19th-century socialite donated the funds to build it in honor of firefighters, maybe it is. The tower itself is of vague interest—it does house the history of San Francisco in murals—but the “park”(ing lot) at its base gives fantastic views of the city and the bay. The tower sits at the top of Telegraph Hill’s Filbert Steps, a steep stairway through glorious gardens with vistas of transcendent beauty, an only-in-San Francisco spot locals cherish.

Cable Cars
You’ve already seen them (on the big screen, in magazines, and, admit it, on the Rice-a-Roni ™ box). And considering a ticket costs $5 a pop, do you really need to ride a cable car? Yes, you do, at least once during your visit. Flag down a Powell-Hyde car along Powell Street, grab the pole, and clatter and jiggle up mansion-topped Nob Hill. Crest the hill, and hold on for the hair-raising descent to Fisherman’s Wharf, with sun glittering off the bay and Alcatraz bobbing in the distance. Don’t deny it—this would be a deal at twice the price.

AT&T Park
One of the finest examples of modern “retro” ballparks, the Giants coastal digs are the perfect place to spend a sunny afternoon enjoying the national pastime. Grab a dog and some garlic fries, and revel in the bay views. If you’re lucky, you’ll get to see someone drill a splash hit into McCovey Cove.

Ferry Building
Foodies rejoice! The historic Ferry Building is stuffed to the brim with all things tasty, including cafés, restaurants, a farmers’ market, and merchants peddling everything from wine and olive oil to oysters and mushrooms. The building backs up to the bay, so the views are great—but they’re even better from the decks of the departing ferries.

Wine Country
You don’t need to be a connoisseur to enjoy a trip to Napa or Sonoma..or both (hey, you’re on vacation). But there’s more to a wine country visit than vineyard tours and tastings: landmark restaurants, breathtaking scenery, fantastic artwork, hot air balloon rides, and secluded boutique hotels. And when you’re ready for a break, a great glass of wine is never that far out of reach.

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Getting Around the San Francisco Bay Area

When in the downtown area, traveling by foot will afford you much better views than you will get from inside a car. Experience the sights, sounds, aromas and energy of the city by strolling the streets. When you are worn down, hop onto one of San Francisco’s many public transit options. The cable cars, light rail and buses are all great ways to get around San Francisco.

Driving on city streets is challenging in the downtown areas of San Francisco, San Jose and Berkeley. We strongly discourage driving in the city. The confusing array of one way and two way streets, steep hills and narrow lanes all conspire to make driving an unpleasant experience at best. Parking in downtown is challenging and/or expensive. There is little or no free parking.

Outside of downtown, an automobile becomes a virtual necessity and driving is easier. Freeway travel in the Bay Area is less challenging than in the downtown areas but it can be congested during commute times and at most hours around downtown San Francisco.

Public Transit in the San Francisco in operated by the Muni. It operates a system of light rail, buses and the cable cars. Public transit in the Bay Area is available through a variety of systems. Unfortunately, they are not well interconnected and so traveling throughout the Bay Area can require you to transfer from one form of transit to another. If your visit will be limited to a small area, especially a downtown area, then the local transit may be adequate. If you plan to visit a wider area, such as day trips to Bay Area attractions, beaches or the Napa Valley, then a rental car will likely be a necessity.

Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) is a light rail system that runs 7 days a week, with service from four a.m. to midnight. It connects SFO and OAK airports to San Francisco. BART runs from SFO north to San Francisco then crosses the bay and runs east to Berkeley/Oakland, east to Dublin/Pleasanton, north to Richmond/Walnut Creek/Concord and south to Fremont. It is clean, reasonably priced, fairly on-time and occasionally crowded (especially during commute hours and during special events). However, it has a limited number of stops which means you will probably have to transfer to bus unless you are lucky enough to have a destination near a BART stop.

Caltrain is a rail line that runs the length of the Bay Area’s peninsula from San Francisco south to San Jose, and during commute hours, beyond to Gilroy. Caltrain provides a connection at the Millbrae station to BART for transportation to SFO airport (requires a separate ticket). In San Jose, Caltrain connects with a free airport shuttle to SJC airport at the Santa Clara stop. Caltrain also connects with Amtrak and Santa Clara VTA light rail system. It is clean, reasonably priced, fairly on-time and occasionally crowded (especially during commute hours and during special events).

Santa Clara VTA Light Rail system runs through Santa Clara county including Silicon Valley and San Jose.

Bus routes cover most of the Bay Area. However, there are five major bus systems running in the counties ringing the Bay Area. Buses may be suitable when traveling within one county. When traveling through two or more counties, transfers between systems can add a lot of travel time. Depending upon the day and time, bus service may by very limited in some areas.

Taxis can be hailed on the street in the downtown areas but you may be better off calling for one in advance. Outside of the downtown areas and airports, calling to arrange for a cab will be necessary.

Door to Door Shuttles & Limousine Service are available on a prearranged basis. Shuttles may be a cheaper alternative to taxis because the ride is shared with other passengers. However, travel time can be longer while each passenger is each dropped off at their destination. Limousines are also an alternative to taxis and their rates are very competitive for anything but very short trips.