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Draft data. Times, fares and step counts are desk estimates awaiting field checks. Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify

Major city · United States

San Francisco

Go for 3 nights. Stay near Union Square or Ferry Building. Use BART from SFO; skip rental cars in the city.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
USD
Best months
Sep–Oct
avoid Jun–Aug (foggy/windy), Jan–Feb (rainy)
Airport
SFO
Nights
3
Not field-verifiedbasic guide
Print / PDF guide
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
Rules in force · 7Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
  • North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
  • North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
  • North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
  • United States ↗Check whether you need an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) or a visa on the official CBP and State Department sites; apply only through esta.cbp.dhs.gov, not third-party sites, and allow time before you book.
  • United States ↗Several popular national parks use timed-entry or vehicle reservations in peak season; check each park's page on nps.gov and book on recreation.gov before fixing your dates.
  • United States ↗Medical care is very expensive for visitors; buy travel insurance with high medical cover before you fly.
  • United States ↗Tipping is expected: about 15–20% at sit-down restaurants and bars, and a tip for taxis, hotel staff and guides.

San Francisco is a dense, walkable city defined by steep hills, distinct microclimates and historic transit. It serves as the cultural hub of Northern California, offering major museums, cable cars, and diverse neighborhoods like Chinatown and the Mission. While expensive, it rewards visitors who plan around fog patterns and use public transit instead of driving.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about San Francisco, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • CoffeeCoffee (specialty shop)$4–6
  • BeerBeer: pint in bar / can at store$8–12 / $3–5
  • Taxi, about 5 km5 km taxi/Uber$20–30
  • SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a week$15–30
  • Museum or sight ticketMuseum entry (SFMOMA, Exploratorium)$25–40
  • Budget bedHostel dorm bed, a night, per personUS$60
  • Mid-range bedHotel double room, a night, per roomUS$350
  • High-end bedHotel double room, a night, per roomUS$700

A day, not counting the bed: Budget US$120 · Mid US$220 · High US$400

Prices in local money; change the currency in the header to see yours next to them. Every price and the budget calculator →

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Golden Gate BridgeAlcatraz Island ferry toursCable cars climbing Nob Hill and running down to Fisherman's WharfMission District mural alleys like Balmy AlleySourdough bread bowls served throughout Fisherman's Wharf stands
Airports
SFO San Francisco International Airport (BART connects to downtown in about 35–40 min; Muni Metro also available.)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

San Francisco: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

14°C

7°C

11 rd

Feb

16°C

8°C

10 rd

Mar

17°C

9°C

8 rd

Apr

18°C

10°C

4 rd

May

20°C

12°C

2 rd

Jun

21°C

14°C

1 rd

Jul

22°C

15°C

0 rd

Aug

22°C

15°C

0 rd

Sep

24°C

15°C

1 rd

Oct

22°C

13°C

3 rd

Nov

18°C

10°C

7 rd

Dec

14°C

7°C

11 rd

High / low °C · rd = rain days

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

Use BART for airport transfers and cross-bay trips. The Muni system (subway, buses, streetcars) covers the city. Cable cars are scenic but slow and crowded; good for short hops up hills. Walking is feasible in flat areas but hills are steep. Avoid driving: parking is scarce and expensive.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Muir Woods National Monument

go

Door to door: About 1 h each way

Shuttle from Fisherman's Wharf or drive (parking requires reservation).

Old-growth redwoods. Book entry online weeks ahead; no cell service inside.

Berkeley/Oakland

caution

Door to door: About 30–45 min

BART from Embarcadero or Powell St.

Check specific area safety; Berkeley campus is open, Oakland downtown varies.

Sonoma/Napa Wine Country

overnight

Door to door: 1.5–2 h each way

Train + shuttle or rental car.

Too far for a relaxed day trip without a driver; consider staying one night.

Half Moon Bay

go

Door to door: About 45 min

Drive south on Highway 1.

Coastal cliffs and seafood. Foggy mornings clear by afternoon.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Union Square / Downtown

Central for transit, shopping, and sightseeing; noisy but convenient.

Nob Hill

Upscale hotels with views; steep walks to Union Square or cable car stops.

Fisherman's Wharf

Tourist-heavy, close to piers and Alcatraz ferry; many shops close early evening.

Mission District

Active food scene and nightlife; further from major tourist sites but well-connected by bus/Muni.

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
$120–180 excl. bed
Mid
$180–300 excl. bed
High
$300+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Hotel double room1 × 3 nights × US$350US$1,050
Food, local transport, entries2 × 3 days × US$220US$1,320
BART SFO to Downtown, one way2 × US$10 · checkUS$20
Clipper Card initial load + daily Muni pass2 × US$15 · checkUS$30
eSIM, about a week of data2 × US$20US$40
Buffer 15%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeUS$369
Trip total≈ US$472 per person per day, bed includedUS$2,829

2026 estimate in USD; flights excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Coffee (specialty shop)$4–6
Burrito (Mission style)$10–14
Beer: pint in bar / can at store$8–12 / $3–5
5 km taxi/Uber$20–30
Muni single ride$3 (cash) / $2.50 (Clipper)
eSIM or data SIM, about a week$15–30
Museum entry (SFMOMA, Exploratorium)$25–40

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Violent crime remains rare relative to population size, though property theft targeting rental cars parked along tourist corridors happens often enough to matter. Stick to main streets in the Tenderloin after dark.
  • Car break-ins are common, especially near tourist spots and parks. Never leave items visible in vehicles.
  • Fog often obscures views until afternoon, particularly on the west side.
  • Tenderloin neighborhood has high rates of homelessness and drug activity; stick to main streets if passing through.
  • Alcatraz tickets sell out weeks in advance; book early via official site.

Emergency numbers

Police, Fire, Ambulance
911

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

San FranciscoSan Francisco

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

Please take me to this address.To this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, Fire, Ambulance911

Embassy

US citizens: no embassy needed. Other nationalities: check consulates in San Francisco or Los Angeles.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • SFO → Downtown, BART: about $10, 30 min (check)
  • Taxi SFO → Union Square: $45–60
  • Cable Car ride: $8 cash / $7 Clipper

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for San Francisco. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: Sep–Oct · avoid Jun–Aug (foggy/windy), Jan–Feb (rainy) · month by month →
  2. 1 airport and 4 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 4 day-trips, door to door
  6. 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. BART-to-bed contract for SFO: last train times field-checked, rideshare fallback, overnight rung.
  2. Four walking clusters with rescue anchors: Union Square/Ferry Building, Nob Hill/Chinatown, Fisherman's Wharf/Pier 39, Mission/Castro.
  3. Place pages with verified cutoffs (Alcatraz, Golden Gate Bridge viewpoints, SFMOMA) and eat pages with last orders.
  4. Golden and hostile arrival fixtures so gates A–D can go green.

Meanwhile

Back to United States

Sources