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Voykit pocket guide · United States
Pacifica
Spend a half‑day at the beach and a short hike; add an evening meal. One day is enough unless you plan a surf or festival stay.
Pacifica is a small coastal town on the San Francisco Peninsula. Its main attractions are the beaches (Linda Mar, Sharp Park, Gray Whale Cove) and short coastal hikes like Mori Point. Transit is limited, so a day‑trip from San Francisco or a night‑stay at a local hotel covers the highlights.
- Country
- United States
- Best months
- Sep–Nov, Apr–Jun (mild temps, low rain)
- Avoid
- Dec–Feb (cool, fog) – check for holiday traffic
- Stay
- 1 (optional) nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- USD
- Money
- Currency is the US dollar (USD, $). Cards and phone payments work almost everywhere; carry a little cash for tips and small vendors.
- Daily spend
- Budget $70–$100 excl. bed · Mid $100–$150 excl. bed · High $150+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile cover the country; prepaid SIMs at their stores and Walmart/Target (passport required), or an eSIM before you fly.
- Emergency
- Police/Fire/Ambulance 911
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 120 V · 60 Hz · Chargers are dual-voltage; hair dryers and straighteners from 230 V countries need a converter.
- Tipping
- Sit-down restaurant: 18–22% of the pre-tax bill.; Bar: US$1–2 per drink or 20% of the tab.; Taxi / ride-hailing: 15–20%, in the app.; Hotel housekeeping: US$3–5 a night.; Porter / valet: US$2–5 per bag or car.; Tour guide: US$10–20 per person for a day tour.; Counter service / tablet prompts: Optional; 0–15%.
- Water
- Tap water is drinkable nearly everywhere; boil or treat water from streams in parks.
- Toilets
- Free public toilets are scarce in big cities; use cafés, department stores, libraries, stations. Rest areas on highways are free.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee | $3–$5 |
| Taco Bell (beach location) | $8–$12 |
| Surfboard rental (2 h) | $30–$45 |
| Parking (hourly) | $2–$3 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- SFO · San Francisco International Airport
- SamTrans 110 from Daly City BART to Pacifica (~30 min); rideshare also available
Typical fares
- SamTrans 110 (Daly City → Pacifica)
- ≈ $3 one‑way (check)
- Ride‑share 5 mi
- ≈ $12 (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
SamTrans routes 110 (Daly City), 112/118 (Colma) to Linda Mar Park‑and‑Ride; then walk or rideshare. Parking available for self‑drive.
See and do
Known for
- Linda Mar State Beach
- Mori Point hike
- Fog Fest (late September)
- Surfing at Sharp Park
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Half Moon Bay | Drive south on Highway 1, about 15 km (9.3 mi)Drive south on Highway 1, about 9.3 mi (15 km) | ≈30 min round trip |
| San Francisco | Drive north on Highway 1 or take SamTrans 110 to Daly City then BART | ≈45 min |
Sleep
- Lighthouse Hotel
- Beach‑side, walk to Linda Mar; good for a night‑stay
- Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott San Francisco Pacifica
- Near Old County Rd, easy car access
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | Disculpedis‑kul‑pe |
| Thank you | Graciasgra‑see‑as |
| How much is it? | ¿Cuánto cuesta?kwan‑to kwes‑ta |
| Where is the bathroom? | ¿Dónde está el baño?don‑de es‑ta el ba‑nyo |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake and 'hi, how are you?' — reply 'good, thanks'; avoid: Treating the question as a real health enquiry
- Restaurants: Tip 18–22% and wait for the check; avoid: Leaving without tipping
- Personal space: Keep an arm's length in queues; avoid: Standing close to strangers
- Politics and religion: Listen more than you speak; avoid: Opening with hot-button topics
- Smoking: Smoke only in marked areas; avoid: Smoking near doors or in parks where banned
Scams and watch-outs
- Strong undertow at some beaches; swim near lifeguard stations
- Steep cliffs near Devil's Slide; drive cautiously
- Fireworks are legal town‑wide; expect occasional night‑time noise
Generally safe; watch surf conditions and drive carefully on coastal roads.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Pacifica yet. Suggested stay: 1 (optional) nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Linda Mar State Beach
- Mori Point hike
- Fog Fest (late September)
- Surfing at Sharp Park
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- California State Parks – Linda Mar State Beach: www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=524
- Gray Whale Cove State Beach: www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=528
- Wikivoyage: Pacifica, revision 5241391 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5241391
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Pacifica
A esta dirección, por favor
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police/Fire/Ambulance911
US consulate in San Francisco (check address).
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/pacifica). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.