SAN FRANCISCO
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San Francisco belongs to the most charming cities in the US. You can easily spend a week in the city and its vicinity without seeing any sight twice. But given that most visitors only have 2-3 days to explore San Francisco I will share the most beautiful areas and sights with you, bundled in efficient walking, biking and driving routes.
By following my San Francisco travel guide you cover all popular sights and will discover San Francisco off-the-beaten path. The best way to explore the diverse and charming city is on foot. If you come to San Francisco by car, either drop it off at your car rental or leave it in the hotel’s parking garage. Parking in San Francisco is a nightmare and incredibly expensive. Just in case San Francisco is your first stop on a longer tour on the West Coast make sure you rent your car not before the day you continue your travels. This will safe you a small fortune for parking. San Francisco is not as big as you might think and most quarters and sights are in walking distance or easy to reach by public transportation. Most hotels in San Francisco and many restaurants and shops are located around Union Square, the heart of the city. The Financial District adjoins Union Square to the East and contains many banking intuitions. Moreover it ends at the Bay Shore and embeds the Yerba Buena Gardens and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (MOMA). During day the district is a busy area that turns into a quiet and almost abandoned quarter during night. South of Market, short SOMA, is next to the Financial District and Union Square in the South. Most parts are re-vitalized former industrial areas. Today the old industrial and warehouse buildings are transformed into residential and office buildings and you can find many ad agencies and start-ups in this area. Moreover, the Oakland Bay Bridge runs into SOMA and the San Francisco Giants’ AT&T Park is located here. North of San Francisco’s Union Square is Chinatown, the oldest Chinatown in North America and one of the largest outside China. Its boundaries stretch far into North Beach, San Francisco’s Little Italy with a large Italian American population. This area adjoins Fisherman’s Wharf with the touristy Pier 39 and its famous sea lions and the quarter of Russian Hill that embeds the curvy part of Lombard Street. To the West along the Bay follows the Marina District and Cow Hollow, both residential neighborhoods with many shops, restaurants, and bars. Besides, the area is known for the Palace of Fine Arts that was built for the Panama-Pacific International Exposition in 1906. Another place that should be on your to do list is Crissy Field. The former airfield is part of the city’s Presidio that was transformed into a recreational area and leads directly to the world famous Golden Gate Bridge. From the shore in the Marina District you have scenic views towards Alcatraz, Marin County, the Bay, and the Golden Gate Bridge. |
West of Union Square follows the Tenderloin; one of the shabby neighborhoods that also has a reputation as homeless, crime, robbery and drug trade hub. Besides, many theatres, clubs, bars, and hotels are located here. I only can recommend getting in and out by taxi and choosing another accommodation than one in the Tenderloin. The quarter runs in between Union Square, Geary Street, Mason Street, Market Street and Van Ness Avenue.
On the other side of Van Ness Avenue starts Hayes Valley, a very charming residential area with many houses in Edwardian, Victorian and Queen Anne styles. The area offers many smaller restaurants and shops and adjoins famous Alamo Square and Haight Ashbury. The latter is known for the Hippie movement in the 60’s and still preserved this atmosphere.
Further West follows Golden Gate Park that is located between Sunset and Richmond District and ends at beautiful Ocean Beach.
San Francisco’s middle is formed by two hills named ‘Twin Peaks’ from where you have stunning views over the city, the Bay, and the Pacific Ocean.
In total San Francisco has over 36 neighborhoods that split into over 100 quarters with a colorful diversity of people that give the city its charm and contribute to its metropolitan atmosphere.
SAN FRANCISCO DON'Ts:
Tenderloin
As mentioned before the Tenderloin has a very bad reputation. Since it adjoins Union Square in the West many visitors are running into this area without noticing what’s going on. During night the shabby quarter turns into a high crime area. Robberies and drug trades are a daily occurrence. A couple of years ago a German tourist was killed in the Tenderloin because she was running into gunfire by coincidence.
Though you have many nightclubs, theaters and bars in the Tenderloin I highly recommend taking a cab to get in and out. In addition, many less expensive hotels are located in the Tenderloin. Although the rates may be lower than in other parts of San Francisco, invest in your security and rather stay elsewhere in the city.
Mission District
The Mission District is the new trend quarter in the city with hip eateries and bars. But this doesn’t mean that you are safe walking the streets at night. The area is still under development and I recommend taking a cab for getting to and from a restaurant, bar or club.
Tipping in the US
Many Europeans are not aware of the fact, that cab drivers, waiters, maids and other employees in the tourism industry earn a minimum salary and rely on tips. This is the reason why the tip in the US is much higher than in Europe. In general you add 15-20% from the net-price as tip for cabs and in restaurants.
In the hotel you usually leave $2 Dollar per person and night for the maid. If a bell person carries or stores your luggage or parked your car you give him up to $5 as tip. At a bar you usually leave $1-2 per drink on the counter.
Drinking in the US
It’s maybe needless to say, but carrying uncovered bottles of alcohol in public and outside hotels, restaurants or private properties makes you liable for prosecution in the US, except you are in Las Vegas!
Carrying alcohol in the US
While we are on that subject: Alcohol (in particular open bottles or packages) inside your car is not allowed and can cause misunderstandings with the police. My recommendation is to keep alcohol always in your trunk.
Tenderloin
As mentioned before the Tenderloin has a very bad reputation. Since it adjoins Union Square in the West many visitors are running into this area without noticing what’s going on. During night the shabby quarter turns into a high crime area. Robberies and drug trades are a daily occurrence. A couple of years ago a German tourist was killed in the Tenderloin because she was running into gunfire by coincidence.
Though you have many nightclubs, theaters and bars in the Tenderloin I highly recommend taking a cab to get in and out. In addition, many less expensive hotels are located in the Tenderloin. Although the rates may be lower than in other parts of San Francisco, invest in your security and rather stay elsewhere in the city.
Mission District
The Mission District is the new trend quarter in the city with hip eateries and bars. But this doesn’t mean that you are safe walking the streets at night. The area is still under development and I recommend taking a cab for getting to and from a restaurant, bar or club.
Tipping in the US
Many Europeans are not aware of the fact, that cab drivers, waiters, maids and other employees in the tourism industry earn a minimum salary and rely on tips. This is the reason why the tip in the US is much higher than in Europe. In general you add 15-20% from the net-price as tip for cabs and in restaurants.
In the hotel you usually leave $2 Dollar per person and night for the maid. If a bell person carries or stores your luggage or parked your car you give him up to $5 as tip. At a bar you usually leave $1-2 per drink on the counter.
Drinking in the US
It’s maybe needless to say, but carrying uncovered bottles of alcohol in public and outside hotels, restaurants or private properties makes you liable for prosecution in the US, except you are in Las Vegas!
Carrying alcohol in the US
While we are on that subject: Alcohol (in particular open bottles or packages) inside your car is not allowed and can cause misunderstandings with the police. My recommendation is to keep alcohol always in your trunk.
THIS IS HOW I WOULD SPEND THE DAYS IN SAN FRANCISCO (depending on the length of your stay):
San Francisco in 1 day
Idea 1: Do the walk through Chinatown, Telegraph Hill and Fisherman's Wharf and return to Union Square with the cable car or walk back through Financial District.
Idea 2: Do the car tour through the city.
San Francisco in 2 days
Day 1: Do the walk through Chinatown, Telegraph Hill and Fisherman's Wharf and return to Union Square with the cable car or walk back through Financial District.
Day 2: Do the car tour through the city.
San Francisco in 3 days
Day 1: Do the walk through Chinatown, Telegraph Hill and Fisherman's Wharf and return to Union Square with the cable car or walk back through Financial District.
Day 2: Do the bike tour including the Marina District, Palace of Fine Arts, Crissy Field, Golden Gate Bridge, and Sausalito/Tiburon. Return with the ferry to San Francisco.
Day 3: Do the car tour including Twin Peaks, Haight Ashbury, Alamo Square, Ocean