from $1,050
Everyone loves San Francisco. For one thing, it's super easy to get around. City center districts like North Beach or the Tenderloin are walkable and full of character. If the slopes get too much, historic streetcars and cable cars serve central areas too, while the wider Bay Area is served by a fantastic public transit system. Take boat trips to Alcatraz Island, soak up the atmosphere in bohemian Haight, sample oysters at Scoma's in Fisherman's Wharf, or take a cable car ride through historic districts like Ghirardelli Square and Lombard Street. After that, top off your tour with a gourmet meal at highly rated restaurants like SPQR in Japantown or Commonwealth in the Mission District. There’s plenty for culture lovers to adore as well. Pick up a book of poetry in the City Lights bookstore, catch a gig at the Fillmore, or climb the streets that Steve McQueen sped along in Bullitt. There is always be something to set your imagination racing.
Few American cities boast as many fascinating historic attractions as San Francisco. You can head to Mission Dolores, built by the Spanish in 1776, visit Fort Point in the Presidio complex, see museums dedicated to the 1848 Gold Rush, take restored cable car rides, and visit cultural landmarks like City Lights Bookstore.
San Francisco is a melting pot of cultures and all of them love to cook. You'll find exceptional Vietnamese Pho at Tin Vietnamese (937 Howard St), affordable Chinese masterpieces from Yank Sing (49 Stevenson St), and superb traditional American food at State Bird Provisions (1529 Fillmore St). There's also a galaxy of food trucks like Taco Guys (Mexican) and KoJa Kitchen (Korean and Japanese), who serve up stunning food for those on the move.
San Francisco is famous worldwide for its appearance as much as anything. There are few sights as impressive as the span of the Golden Gate Bridge (some of the best views are from the Nob Hill district) but the views are just as stunning from Coit Tower on Telegraph Hill and the hills in Twin Peaks.
Modern San Francisco may be a tech capital, but it’s still as relaxed and tolerant as ever. Districts like Haight are buzzing with street performances and drum circles. Don’t miss the Flower Power Walking Tour when you visit.
San Francisco is also famous around the world for its music. From the Grateful Dead to Janis Joplin, the city hosted some revolutionary artists. It also has legendary venues like the venerable Fillmore, the Great American Music Hall, and Sweetwater.
BART (regional subways), Muni (the metro, buses and streetcars) and Caltrain (commuter trains) constitute one of America’s best public transit networks. A 7 day Muni pass is good value at $40, and includes scenic cable car rides as well. For longer stays, there’s also the Clipper Card, a contactless payment system. Single journeys with a Clipper Card cost $2.25 (for 90 minutes of travel).
San Francisco isn’t a great city as far as taxis go. Passengers are charged $3.50 upfront, then $0.55 every fifth of a mile. However, you can save money by using services like Uber of Lyft, which tend to cost about half as much with a base fare of $2. Expect a normal taxi from the airport to cost $45 and an Uber alternative around $30.
San Francisco is jammed into a 7 by 7 mile peninsula, making it hard to get lost. However, the city doesn’t have a uniform grid like other American cities, with many overlapping forms of street layout in different districts, so be prepared to check your map or GPS. Another thing to remember is that left turns are scarce in downtown San Francisco, so don’t count on being able to turn left on every major avenue. Parking isn’t cheap either, with a general daily rate of $20 in downtown garages.
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