Bucket list destination:
San Francisco, California, United States of America (USA)
San Francisco often gets second billing to its celeb-filled sister down south, but the stunningly-pretty bayside city full of Victorian manses and fog-shrouded, steeply-sloping streets packs plenty of charm. What started as a boomtown during Gold Rush days has emerged as one of the US’s most vibrant and interesting metropolises.
From brand-name attractions (the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz) and artsy offerings (museums and galleries galore), to diverse neighbourhoods conveying their own hyper-local style – not to mention the innovative chefs fuelling (arguably) the State’s best culinary scene – it’s easy, as Tony Bennett croons, to leave your heart in San Francisco.
Located on the tip of a peninsula, SF is compact (it’s proudly 49 square miles) and hilly (thanks to the peninsula’s mountainous nature).
It’s divided into more than 35 different – and sometimes distinct – neighbourhoods, of which Union Square is the best known, unofficial tourist heart of the city; most neighbourhood directions will be given in relation to the square.
The Embarcadero promenade traces the bay from just south of the Bay Bridge to Fisherman’s Wharf.
SF has been the centre of counterculture in the US since hippies and homosexuals deemed it Mecca in the 1960s.
Nowadays, you’ll find the State’s most progressive movements here, from the green-leaning, to the politically-blue and free-thinkers. And it’s this liberal attitude that fuels the boho sensibility that’s among the Bay City’s best calling cards.
SF is also home to a large community of highly educated residents, and their patronage of the city’s cultural offerings is high.
Our selection of the best Viator tours of this destination, plus helpful tickets and transfers
San Francisco
Price $160
Min age 0
Rating 4.20 / 5 [2218 ratings]
Tour supplied by:
San Francisco
Price $85
Min age 1
Rating 4.86 / 5 [2143 ratings]
Tour supplied by:
San Francisco
Price $79
Min age 1
Rating 4.89 / 5 [1487 ratings]
Tour supplied by:
San Francisco
Price $97
Min age 0
Rating 4.52 / 5 [814 ratings]
Tour supplied by:
San Francisco
Price $109
Min age 0
Rating 4.91 / 5 [664 ratings]
Tour supplied by:
Proximity to the ocean means temperatures hover in the 60s and 70s (16-26°C) year-round and fog and damp winds roll in off the Pacific constantly.
The consistently mild weather is both good and bad news: 65 degrees during winter feels balmy; during summer, it’s downright cold.
The warmest, fog-free days are in September and October, and you’ll find countless outdoor activities, from concerts in the park to street festivals.
Winter and spring bring rain, but winter is also when hotels are priced lowest, and when the city’s cultural calendar (opera, ballet) is in full swing.
San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is 14 miles south of the city. The best way to go is via BART, the Bay Area’s rail and subway system (it takes around 30 minutes, and costs less than USD10). BART’s hours are 5am to midnight daily.
A pricier option is shared rides like Uber and Lyft, and costs tend to surge when the airport is at its busiest. Supershuttle offers a reasonably-priced in-between with their shared van service. But be forewarned: heavy traffic often slows down all above-ground rides.
Heavy traffic and steep streets make SF a city best explored on foot (translation: no rental car).
Regional rail service BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) has several stops in the city, but your best bet, walking aside, is the MUNI (the Municipal Transportation Agency), which runs SF’s efficient network of buses, under-and-above-ground streetcars, and vintage cable cars (not all that practical, but one hell of a ride). There are also a plethora of taxis prowling the streets.
San Francisco’s compact size and good public transportation system make many of its neighbourhoods viable places to stay, as the city’s best sights are never too far away.
Most first-timers choose to bed down in and around Union Square, SF’s commercial and tourist heart which does have some great hotels.
Also consider staying slightly off the more-travelled path, notably SOMA (which stands for south of Market Street), a formerly industrial district full of warehouses which is now home to chic hotels, restaurants, and cultural attractions, such as the Museum of Modern Art.
There’s good reason to break out the plastic in most of SF’s neighbourhoods, where shops often adopt their home district’s tone.
You’ll find the standard luxury brands in Union Square, while things go a little more indie in Hayes Valley, where some of the city’s best designers and gallerists have set-up shop.
Record and vintage stores harken back to the Haight’s hippie-filled past, and chic boutiques line Fillmore Street in privileged Pacific Heights.
