A Travel Guide To San Francisco, California
San Francisco is one of those places you always hear about being cool, quirky and cosmopolitan. But it’s not until you’re there that you actually realise quite how amazing the city really is.
With so many different areas all offering something different, your days will be filled with well-known sights, trendy bars and coffee shops, the fresh smell of sea air, and loads of culture.
How to get there
You can get a direct flight from London, taking just over 11 hours. Alternatively, you could visit San Fran as part of a Californian road trip!
How to get around
There’s so many ways to move around the city, and it all really depends on where you’re headed.
The classic cable car runs between Union Square and Fisherman’s Wharf, and costs around $7 each way (or an all-day pass is around $17). The most popular routes run every 10 minutes, and you can get your ticket from the driver once you’re on. It’s a fun way to see some of the city sights on your journey, and you can (literally) hop off and on when you like.
Uber is available in the city, and is super easy and convenient if you need to get somewhere fast and cheaply.
There’s lots of places to hire bikes, especially in the Fisherman’s Wharf area. You can get different deals for limited hours or whole day hire. Just keep in mind that certain parts of the city are very hilly!
Walk – there’s something different on every street here that you might miss out on if you’re in a car. Stroll through the streets and admire the buildings and culture surrounding you.
Where to stay
The two most popular areas to stay are Union Square and Fisherman’s Wharf. Both very different, Union Square has a bustling city-feel, with fantastic shops and bars and modern buildings. Fisherman’s Wharf is more laid back, being closer to the ocean. There’s still lots of great places to eat (especially seafood) and drink here.
As with most cities, there’s loads of different hotel, apartment and Air BnB options.
Food and drink recommendations
With a huge amount of options at your feet, it can be hard to decide where’s going to be best to go. Here’s some of my personal recommendations:
Mama’s on Washington Square – a classic family-run restaurant dating back over 50 years, Mama’s is well known for its amazing breakfasts and brunches. With recipes originating from Mama herself, some of the favourites include French toast, omelettes and pancakes. Be prepared to queue, but the wait is worth it!
Boudin’s – there’s a few of these dotted throughout the city. Serving lots of classic favourites, the clam chowder is a must try, and it comes served in a bread bowl!
What to do
With so much to do, it can be hard to choose. Here are 5 different must-dos to tick off your list:
1. Golden Gate Bridge. You can see the bridge from numerous viewpoints at sea-level, and I’d definitely recommend hiring a bike and cycling over the bridge to the other side. There’s higher viewpoints over there, and if you have time you can even continue to explore Sausalito and other small towns.
2. Sea lions at Pier 39. Not a very well-known thing to see, it’s definitely worth seeing these fascinating animals go about their business. Head there early in the morning to see them quietly bask in the rising sun before the crowds start to gather.
3. Alcatraz. For a history-filled morning or afternoon, book onto a trip to Alcatraz Prison. Accessible only by boat, you’ll tour the prison and hear stories about where people like Al Capone and George ‘Machine Gun’ Kelley spent some of their lives. Find out more about tickets and the different tour types here.
4. Lombard Street. A picturesque spot in the city, Lombard Street is a winding, jagged road in which cars travel down. Lined with pretty flowers and plants, you can stand at the bottom and watch the vehicles come down. A perfectly quick pit-stop sight to see!
5. Painted Ladies. You’ll find the famed Painted Ladies in Alamo Square. The Victorian and Edwardian houses and buildings are beautifully contrast to the city behind. Taking you back in time, admire the beautiful architecture of the row of homes.