How Many Days Should I Spend In San Francisco
Most visitors find three days in San Francisco is a excellent period of time to get a forged creation to the town. However, you probably have a week its highly recommended you are taking a few San Francisco day journeys. For example, to the Wine Country or vibrant cities like Oakland and Berkeley, which can be around the Bay.
Best Apartment In Haight
Couples, business travellers and digital nomads will love this apartment in Haight-Ashbury. The apartment enjoys plenty of natural light and is fully equipped with all the modern conveniences needed for a comfortable stay. There are loads of public transport connections close by. Buena Vista Park is right on your doorstep, offering stunning panoramic views of the city.
The Best Places To Stay
From our point of view, the best place to stay in San Francisco is the area around . It is a lively area, with plenty of and and is very safe.
Another popular place to stay is . This area is further removed from downtown and is a good choice in the summer. If you are travelling in the winter, there is not much nightlife then.
If you are staying in other areas the most important thing is to have good .
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The Best Area To Stay If You Are A Health Nut: Embarcadero
It’s not about having access to a gym, but access to great outdoor spaces that will elevate your heart rate. Hotels along the Embarcadero give you that and a gorgeous morning view of the Bay Bridge. Get up to see the sunrise and work out like a local by running along the Embarcadero by the Ferry Building to PIER 39 and back again.
Why Stay In North Beach And The Hills
North Beach is the ‘Little Italy’ of San Francisco, where a passion for pasta, gelato, and espresso comes to life. A place for fabulous food, views and local vibes. The steep residential streets are ideal for wandering and taking in the expanding views of the city. At the top of The Hills, the views are sublime. The rising towers and skyscrapers punctuate the horizon, creating a covetable view whatever the weather.
Stay near the Russian Hill, the quaint and upscale residential community known for the famous Lombard Street. This is also the area for the iconic cable cars in San Francisco.
North Beach is ideal for seafood lovers, known for its excellent restaurants in the area. Try Sotto Mare, Portofino or Sodini’s. Who knew the Bay Area is home to so many European style restaurants with incredible food?
The Telegraph Hill and Russian Hill areas feature the more opulent homes with views towards Nob Hill in the South. The area is commonly known as Snob Hill due to its numerous swanky hotels and grand mansions. Nob Hill is one of the original seven hills of San Francisco, and you can definitely sense the nostalgia here. For a taste of the high life, stay in one of the many luxury hotels around the Hills. Some top class hotels here offer rooms with views over the San Francisco Bay.
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Special Events And Federal Holidays
If you plan to visit San Francisco, make sure your date does not coincide with a major event in the city . There are so many people at these events that prices are rising rapidly, yet accommodation availability remains very limited. Please also keep in mind Federal Holidays while American citizens like to visit the city and prices also increase.
Where To Stay In San Francisco: A Complete Guide To The 7 Best Places To Stay
Here are our recommendations for the seven neighborhoods that offer the best places to stay in San Francisco, including an overview of the neighborhood, the pros and cons of staying in the area, notable highlights, including attractions and places to eat and drink, and suggested places to stay in San Francisco.
Dont have the time to read the entire guide in detail below? Heres a quick run-down of the top three areas to stay in San Francisco, depending on the type of traveler you are. You should definitely at least read the entire section for your chosen neighborhood though.
- Our top recommendation is the charming and centrally located Nob Hill. Choose from the French-inspired Petite Auberge, its English sister property the White Swan Inn, or the modern and high tech Stanford Court.
- If its your first time in San Francisco, we think Union Square will be your best bet. Though lacking in the charm of other areas, its centrally located, with great transport options, and home to numerous hotel options. Top choices include the modern and affordable CitizenM, the stylish and charming Palihotel, or the artsy and eclectic Hotel Emblem.
- If you want to stay among locals, youll enjoy residential NoPa/Haight. Stay in a converted Victorian next to Golden Gate Park at the Stanyan Park Hotel, at the quiet and affordable Metro Hotel, or in a beautiful landmark Victorian with amazing breakfasts at The Parsonage.
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Hayes Valley: Hippest Neighborhood To Stay In San Francisco
One of the most beautiful places in San Francisco is the Hayes Valley. The streets are lined with trees there are tons of sidewalk cafés and adorable boutiques for designer fashions where you can spend hours.
Being called the shopping district, Union Square may offer quite a few shopping options. However, the roadside stores in Hayes Valley have a ton of character and offer something for every kind of traveler.
Other activities: San Francisco Zen Center, the public art installations at Patricias Green, San Francisco Symphony
Where to Stay:Hayes Valley Inn is a fantastic option for those looking to stay here. It is a high-value hotel available at affordable rates. You can walk to most of the attractions in this area. The Grove Inn at Alamo Square is another notable option for those wanting to stay in this area.
North Beach Where To Stay In San Francisco With Family
If youre looking for boutique shops, family-run delis, and Italian culture, this is the neighborhood for you. This is my favorite neighborhood in San Francisco for its delicious food, great bars and cafes, and its local feel.
North Beach, located just north of the Financial District and south of Fishermans Wharf, has a little bit of everything that makes San Francisco so special good food, great views, and ideal people watching.
During the day there are countless cute cafes to spend the afternoon in, the perfect picnic spot at Washington Square Park, and independent bookstores to peruse.
At night, the sultry bars and clubs pick up for a wide range of patrons, some call it seedy or bro central at times, but it just adds to the diverse and intriguing nature of the district.
North Beach isnt too far from the famous Telegraph Hill and Coit Tower. Here youll find some of the most breathtaking views of the city and bay. Inside the tower are murals that were funded by the WPA and tell a visual history of the city.
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Best Places To Stay In Nob Hill
luxury
Fairmont San Francisco Set inside a wonderful historic building, this grand, historic hotel provides a high level of service for a supremely comfortable stay. The rooms come with heritage features like high ceilings, big windows, and balconies with incredible views across the city. On-site, youll find a restaurant that serves up Polynesian food, as well as a selection of other bars and restaurants to choose from. Catching the cable car from here to the Downtown district is easy, but its also close to the Grace Cathedral and other sights.
Huntington Hotel This iconic 5-star hotel takes as much inspiration from Singaporean Chinese heritage as it does from high-end fashion. The rooms are spacious and quiet for a comfortable and peaceful nights sleep. Theres a relaxed atmosphere here, plus a romantic bar onsite. There is also a spa for even more relaxation and a hot tub, too. The Cable Car Museum is close by, so are Union Square, Curran Theatre, and a whole lot more in terms of San Francisco sights.
midrange
Why Avoid The Northern Waterfront And Pacific Heights
Fisherman’s Wharf and Pacific Heights are overpriced and unapologetically designed for tourists, but provides easy access for the trip to Alcatraz and Angel Island. It’s a better fare for a day trip and to try some serious seafood. Accommodation here, like much of touristy San Francisco, is expensive, but this is a trend in the whole city. If you visit with your family, it’s lovely to be so close to the Presidio National Park. It’s easy to explore San Francisco from here, as you are just an hour walk from Union Square and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art in downtown.
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Best Places To Stay In San Francisco Our Hotel Selection
Below, we have selected some of our favorite accommodations in the city and grouped them for those who travel by car and those who do not. We have also tried to give you an answer to the question of where to stay in San Francisco on a budget, or which hotel to choose in San Francisco. Since we are fans of motorhomes and caravans, we have also created a small guide for people who travel with a motorhome.
Valet Parking At Lower
Don’t waste time looking for parking and walking to and from the parking lot on vacations.Instead, reserve a hotel or resort that offers valet parking to its guests.This convenient parking amenity is super because you can usually call and have your car brought to the front of the hotel before heading down to the lobby.Some of the 2- and 3-star hotels in San Francisco that offer valet parking are Sequoia Inn, Coastside Inn, and Hampton Inn San Francisco Airport.The hotel also provides other convenient amenities like Free parking, Swimming pool, and Free Coffee.Planning and reserving a hotel that provides the right amenities is a great way to save money.
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Ways To Be A Smart San Francisco Tourist
Browse through the 12-part San Francisco Vacation Planner: It will bring you more tips than we can give on this one page.
Know the Weather: Many San Francisco tourists dont realize how cold San Francisco feel in summer, and dozens of cheap sweatshirt shops are thriving because of their ignorance. Maybe you wanted that souvenir shirt anyway, but your trip will be more comfortable if you know that the average low in June and July is in the mid-50s or thats its sunnier in October than in May.
Stay in the Right Place: People sometimes ask about hotels along Van Ness and Lombard Streets, but theyre not ideal: inconvenient and sometimes noisy. The best areas in the city for tourists are Union Square and Fishermans Wharf.
Spend Smart: Discover 8 surprising ways to save money in San Francisco. It includes how to save on transportation, attractions, tours, and hotels.
Go Car-Free: Its not just an environmental statement, its a smart choice. San Francisco is small, and most tourist sights are close together, so you dont need one to get around. Even worse, some hotels charge more than the price of a nice lunch just for parking. If you think youll just park on the street, snagging a spot there requires more luck than a box of that sugary breakfast cereal with those little chalky marshmallows in it. Pick a hotel in a convenient area , use public transportation, Uber or taxis, and rent a car for just one day if you want to take a side trip.
Hotel Or Airbnb In San Francisco
As you already know, hotels in San Francisco are quite expensive. Airbnb might be the cheaper option, but is not too supported by the city. It has put in place various restrictions on hosts that have resulted in a drop in the number of homes available. But still, its not a bad option. For starters, you can find some gems that offer amazing views or amenities that are not available in hotels. Also, there is a better selection of locations for Airbnb reservations. Very often, you need to book with Airbnb for a minimum stay of 2-3 days.
The average price for Airbnb is 100-150 USD+tax. But these cheaper apartments are in more remote locations. If you want to be in the center, you will have to pay 200-300 USD/night. Very often it is useful if you are in a bigger group and can share the apartment. Please make sure you pay attention to any additional fees such as cleaning or service fees, which are sometimes very high.
For hotels, the average price for a double room is 60-200 USD+tax, but can be 500 USD or more if you want to book closer to the city center. The price also depends on the quality, so of course the lowest prices are found in mediocre motels. If you add parking and fees, the city becomes very expensive.
TRAVEL TIP: If you are planning a few days in San Francisco, also check out our related articles to best spend your time: The Best Alcatraz Tours, Things To Do in Point Reyes National Seashore, Lake Tahoe Attractions & Bonsai Rock.
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Best Neighborhoods In San Francisco For
Best Neighborhood in San Francisco for Families: Fishermans WharfStaying at Fishermans Wharf means being within walking distance of the harbor, a vast range of family-friendly attractions, whale-watching and boat trips to Alcatraz, a wide array of eating options , and even access to those fun cable cars. Kids will love quirky attractions such as the Musée Mécanique and Madame Tussauds San Francisco, plus the historic boats on Hyde Street Pier, the Aquarium of the Bay and the barking sea lions lounging off Pier 39.
Best Neighborhood in San Francisco for First Timers and Sightseeing: Union SquareThough Fishermans Wharf is San Franciscos tourist hub, we recommend Union Square for anyone traveling without kids. Its the citys bustling commercial heart, its primary shopping district, and peppered with iconic bars and eateries. Theres also plenty of accommodation, and its one of the central hubs of San Franciscos public transportation system, meaning relatively easy access to the whole city. From here its relatively easy strolls to the attractions of Chinatown and North Beach, the museums of SoMa, and the mansions of Nob Hill.
Marina District Where To Stay In San Francisco With A Car
The Marina District is the best area to stay for people who like sightseeing, warm weather and who are also searching for some cheaper prices than in the city center. Marina District is not far away from the Golden Gate Bridge and the other important attractions around Union Square and the city center.
Theres another VERY rare advantage in this district for those of you who will rent a car during their stay in San Francisco youll actually have cheap parking spots here! If you dont have a car instead, any of the other 5 areas I am talking about in this post are good, being very central and having easy access to public transportation!
There are also many food places there, as well as cool shops, cafes and pubs. Expect to have plenty of fun here! Some of the unmissable spots around include the Palace of Fine Arts, the Walt Disney Family Museum and Crissy Field as well.
Convinced? Here are the best hotels in Marina District that I can recommend:
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The Mission And The Castro: The Beating Heart Of San Francisco
Together, the Mission and the Castro make up the beating heart of San Francisco. Here more than anywhere else in the city, a number of cultures exist far outside the boundaries of mainstream America.
These compelling neighbourhoods are filled with galleries, murals, one-of-a-kind local shops, vibrant restaurants and thriving nightlife. The Mission is the centre of San Franciscos largely working-class Latino community. The Castro, meanwhile, is the Bay Areas and some would say Americas epicentre of gay culture.
Many B& Bs here are housed in historic buildings. The sacrifice of a private bathroom for the charms of a home-cooked breakfast is worthwhile.
Nob Hill Best San Francisco For The First Timers
A centrally located neighborhood with up-scale accommodation. Nob Hill is one of the best places to stay in San Francisco for first timers. We loved Nob Hill. It is really in the center of it all and had a great choice of great restaurants, fun shopping, and amazing hotels. There are a ton of great restaurants as well as boutique shops to keep you busy.
You are a stones throw away from Chinatown, the Cable Car Museum, North Beac, Union Square and, the famous Lombard Street. Make sure to wear your walking shoes as it is a hilly area but beautiful.
Just a short walk from the heart of Nob Hill, Lombard Street is a fun one to drive down or walk around. Its called the most crooked street in the world for a reason.
If you are looking for some nightlife, make sure to check out Polk Street which is lined with different bars. Also, make sure to check out the view from The Tonga Room if you get a chance
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