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Voykit pocket guide · United States
San Anselmo
Half a day is enough: browse the main street, eat lunch, then move on to Fairfax or San Rafael. Not a base.
San Anselmo is a small town in Marin County, just north of San Francisco. Its main draw is a walkable stretch of San Anselmo Avenue with independent shops, cafés and a few good restaurants. Most visitors pass through on a day trip from San Rafael or as a stop between Fairfax and the coast. One night is plenty if you want a quiet evening; otherwise, treat it as a half-day stop.
- Country
- United States
- Best months
- Apr–Oct
- Avoid
- Dec–Feb (rainy, some shops close early)
- Stay
- 0–1 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 $60–90 excl. bed · Mid $100–160 excl. bed · High $180+ 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 (drip) | $3–5 |
| Sandwich or salad | $12–18 |
| Dinner entrée | $18–35 |
| Beer (pint) | $7–10 |
| Marin Transit bus ride | $2 (check) |
| 5 km (3.1 mi) taxi3.1 mi (5 km) taxi | $15–20 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- SFO · San Francisco International
- About 1 h 15 min by car via US-101; no direct transit.
- OAK · Oakland International
- About 1 h 15 min by car via I-580 and US-101.
Typical fares
- SFO → San Anselmo (shuttle + bus)
- about $50–70, about 1.5 h (check)
- San Rafael → San Anselmo (bus 22/23)
- $2, about 15 min (check)
- Taxi San Anselmo → Fairfax
- $10–15
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
Marin Transit buses (route 22/23) connect San Anselmo to San Rafael and Fairfax. A car is easier for exploring Marin County. Bicycle is popular on the paved multi-use path along Sir Francis Drake Boulevard.
See and do
Known for
- San Anselmo Avenue shopping
- Hilda's Coffee Shop
- Sugarfoot Books
- Proximity to Fairfax and Mount Tamalpais
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Fairfax | Bus 22/23 or 5 min drive west on Sir Francis Drake Blvd | 10 min |
| San Rafael | Bus 22/23 or 10 min drive east on Sir Francis Drake Blvd | 15 min |
| Mount Tamalpais State Park | Drive via Panoramic Hwy, about 20 min | 25 min |
| Sausalito | Drive via US-101 south, about 20 min | 25 min |
| Point Reyes National Seashore | Drive via Sir Francis Drake Blvd west, about 45 min | 50 min |
Sleep
- San Anselmo Avenue
- Walkable to shops and restaurants; limited options, mostly inns and B&Bs.
- San Rafael
- 10 min drive east; more motels and chain hotels.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Hello |
| Thank you | Thank you |
| How much is this? | How much is this? |
| Where is the bathroom? | Where is the bathroom? |
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
- Street parking on San Anselmo Avenue is limited; use the public lot behind the post office.
- Many restaurants close by 21:00; check hours ahead.
- No direct transit from SFO or OAK; rent a car or take a shuttle to San Rafael then bus.
Very safe. Typical small-town risks: car break-ins if valuables are left visible, and uneven pavements on the avenue.
One and two days
No timed day plan for San Anselmo yet. Suggested stay: 0–1 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- San Anselmo Avenue shopping
- Hilda's Coffee Shop
- Sugarfoot Books
- Proximity to Fairfax and Mount Tamalpais
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Marin Transit: marintransit.org/
- Wikivoyage: San Anselmo, revision 4759164 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=4759164
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
San Anselmo
Take me to this address
Take me to this address
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police, fire, ambulance911
The nearest consulates are in San Francisco. Check the US State Department website for your country's representation.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/san-anselmo). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.