San Francisco

Travel Guide
San Francisco showing a house
The city with a beautiful bay, famous red bridge and infamous fog welcomes you to enjoy art, history, shopping and outdoor activities.

San Francisco is simultaneously romantic, exciting, relaxing and intriguing. Rent a bike, walk, ride the trolley or drive to fascinating destinations. Tour San Francisco Bay by boat for unique views from beneath Golden Gate Bridge. Stop at Alcatraz Island its former inescapable prison became famous in the film Birdman of Alcatraz.

At the bridge’s southern end is the Presidio, a former military base, now a large park with hiking trails, great bridge and shoreline views, Andy Goldsworthy sculptures, Baker Beach, the Walt Disney Family Museum and a life-size Yoda statue.

Entering the Marina District, attend a performance at the Palace of Fine Arts Theatre. Travel east to the Fisherman’s Wharf neighborhood for shopping and dining. Enjoy a chocolate sundae at Ghirardelli, a local favorite for over 150 years. Visit the San Francisco Maritime National Historic Park to see ships that sailed more than a century ago. Watch sea lions lounging on rafts near Pier 39. Continue on to the Embarcadero District. The Exploratorium at Pier 15 features interactive exhibits intertwining science, art and human perception. See the Giants play football at AT&T Park in South Beach.

Inland, shop at Union Square, drive down the very crooked Lombard Street and photograph the Painted Ladies Victorian row houses. Stand at the Haight-Ashbury corner, in the neighborhood where hippie counterculture developed in the 1960s.

Enter the Golden Gate Park to visit de Young Museum, filled with art, costumes and textiles. Explore botanical gardens, play golf or tennis, photograph the Japanese Tea Garden and wade in the Pacific Ocean.

Travel north to tall redwoods in Muir Woods, wineries in Napa and Sonoma and quaint shops in Sausalito. On a foggy day, stand atop Vista Point in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area at the bridge’s northern end and gaze south across the clouds to see Sutro Tower rising from Twin Peaks, with the rest of the city hidden. When the fog clears, San Francisco’s skyline is a gleaming gem at the end of the golden bridge.

San Francisco Travel Guide Video

Where to stay in San Francisco

Hotel Riu Plaza Fisherman's Wharf
Hotel Riu Plaza Fisherman's Wharf
4 out of 5
2500 Mason St, San Francisco, CA
The price is €154 per night from 12 Jun to 13 Jun
€154
per night
12 Jun - 13 Jun
Stay at this 4-star eco-certified hotel in San Francisco. Enjoy free breakfast, a 24-hour fitness center, and onsite parking. Our guests praise the breakfast ...
8.4/10 Very Good! (4,873 reviews)
Riu. SFO
"Everything was great except that our room was not ready upon arrival. We arrived after checking time. That was really the only disappointing thing. Otherwise the service, facilities, staff, and location were very good. Clean and seemed recently renovated. We would stay again if sfo came up for us ..."

Reviewed on 6 Jun 2023

Hotel Riu Plaza Fisherman's Wharf
Hotel Caza Fisherman's Wharf
Hotel Caza Fisherman's Wharf
4 out of 5
1300 Columbus Avenue, San Francisco, CA
The price is €176 per night from 12 Jun to 13 Jun
€176
per night
12 Jun - 13 Jun
Stay at this 4-star family-friendly vacation home in San Francisco. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast, and a 24-hour fitness center. Our guests praise the breakfast ...
9/10 Wonderful! (2,495 reviews)
"Staff was very friendly and helpful."

Reviewed on 6 Jun 2023

Hotel Caza Fisherman's Wharf
The Westin St. Francis San Francisco on Union Square
The Westin St. Francis San Francisco on Union Square
4.5 out of 5
335 Powell Street, San Francisco, CA
The price is €166 per night from 30 Jun to 1 Jul
€166
per night
30 Jun - 1 Jul
Stay at this 4.5-star luxury hotel in San Francisco. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast, and room service. Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful staff in our ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (2,142 reviews)
"Nice historical building"

Reviewed on 7 Jun 2023

The Westin St. Francis San Francisco on Union Square
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Baden Apartments
Baden Apartments
2 out of 5
411 Baden Ave, South San Francisco, CA
Stay at this apartment in South San Francisco. Enjoy free WiFi and a microwave. Popular attractions The Shops at Tanforan and Serramonte Center are located nearby. ...
7.6/10 Good! (5 reviews)
"The unit was quaint and you could tell some serious love and care was put into the arrangement and basic necessities, but the main issue was that it lacked insulation between the floors. I unfortunately was stuck under a couple who never slept, would scream at each other at the top of their lungs ..."

Reviewed on 23 May 2023

Baden Apartments
Upscale stylish entire 4B2B house with amazing topviews
Upscale stylish entire 4B2B house with amazing topviews
Daly City
Stay at this vacation home in Daly City. Enjoy WiFi, 2 bathrooms, and 4 bedrooms. Popular attractions Golden Gate Park and Oracle Park are located nearby. Discover ...
Upscale stylish entire 4B2B house with amazing topviews
Modern Trendy Spacious Homes SSFDowntown
Modern Trendy Spacious Homes SSFDowntown
2 out of 5
429 Baden Ave, South San Francisco, CA
Stay at this apartment in South San Francisco. Enjoy free WiFi, a Smart TV, and satellite TV. Popular attractions The Shops at Tanforan and Serramonte Center ...
10/10 Exceptional! (1 review)
"Great place! Would stay here again. Our family of 10 only stayed one night but it fit us all comfortably and the kids had their own living space to play in."

Reviewed on 16 May 2023

Modern Trendy Spacious Homes SSFDowntown
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Popular places to visit

Things to do

Reviews of San Francisco

4.4
Top destination
5 - Excellent
311
" "5 - Excellent 52.801358234295414%
4 - Good
219
" "4 - Good 37.18166383701188%
3 - Okay
48
" "3 - Okay 8.149405772495756%
2 - Disappointing
7
" "2 - Disappointing 1.1884550084889642%
1 - Terrible
4
" "1 - Terrible 0.6791171477079796%

5/5 - Excellent

JudyFrumin
30 Mar 2020

It was great although the Corona virus had started,we were there from March 6th to 10th.It’s a fabulous place and we managed to do many things before it went into lockdown.Recommended Must do things once it opens up again.Alcatraz,SFMOMA and more

1/5 - Terrible

Verified traveller
20 Mar 2020

Expedia sucks, worst company ever.

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller
26 Feb 2020

Very nice City worth for visiting

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller
26 Feb 2020

LIKE 4 TIMES BIGGER BRIGHTON IN UK! LOVED MARINA AREA! AND NORTH SANFRANCISCO

2/5 - Disappointing

Verified traveller
23 Feb 2020

The main tourist areas are good to see. We won’t return though. We saw a lot of drug taking on the streets (injecting heroine and crack pipes). Many groups of men hanging around on corners asking for money. Very frightening and intimidating.

4/5 - Good

Verified traveller
23 Feb 2020

Nice - but lots of homeless people