San Francisco is one of the most famous and visited cities in the United States. Over 25 million people visit San Francisco annually. Tourists come to the city not only for leisure, but also for business purposes. (San Francisco has a lot of a conference venues.) Cruises to Alaska and Mexico also depart regularly from the port. Among the foreign tourists are many citizens of China and the UK.
San Francisco is located in the west of the country, on the west coast in the state of California. It is the thirteenth city in the United States by number of residents. (The population was approximately 884 thousand inhabitants in 2017.)
Distance from San Francisco to some cities:
- New York: 2570 miles (4130 kilometers).
- Chicago, IL, USA: 1850 miles (2980 kilometers).
- Los Angeles, CA, USA: 350 miles (560 kilometers).
- Sydney, AUS: 7425 miles (12,000 kilometers).
San Francisco is located on the west coast of the United States, on the northern tip of the San Francisco peninsula. The city is surrounded by water from three sides: the Pacific Ocean is located west of the city, the Bay of San Francisco to the east and north. The length of the city from west to east is about 7 miles (11.4 km), from north to south - 6.8 miles (11 kilometers). The famous Silicon Valley is located near the city.
The city has a long coastline. There is a big port and several beaches in the city.
Despite the fact that there are really good beaches, they are not very good for swimming. The water is usually pretty cool in the ocean.
- Baker Beach is the most popular beach in San Francisco. It is located not far (southwest) from the Golden Gate Bridge.
- Ocean Beach. It is the best beach for surfing. Ocean Beach is also a place to make a fire. The beach is located south of Biker Beach.
The historic center of San Francisco is located in the northeastern part of the city. Union Square and the surrounding areas can be considered as center of the city. Union Square is bordered by the streets of Geary, Powell, Post and Stockton. Many restaurants, shops, hotels and several museums are located close next to the square. This is the most convenient area for tourists to stay in San Francisco.
Places to see
Make a plan for your trip. Decide which places you want to visit.
Golden Gate Bridge is the most famous landmark of the city of San Francisco. The bridge is located in the northern part of the city and crosses the Golden Gate strait.
Lombard Street is probably the most photographed street in San Francisco. Tourists are most interested in a beautiful site located between Hyde and Leavenworth streets on Russian Hill. (Located in the northern part of the city.)
Pier 39 is located on the waterfront in the Fisherman's Wharf area. Here are restaurants and shops located.
Alcatraz Island is located in the San Francisco Bay, at a distance of 2.41 kilometers from the coast. Here was the most famous prison in the United States.
Chinatown is available in most major American cities, but in San Francisco is the oldest and largest.
Transamerica Pyramid. It is the tallest building in San Francisco. Skyscraper is located in the financial district on the Montgomery street.
Book your hotel
The best places to stay in San Francisco are located in the northeastern part of the city, around Union Square and north. Here are the best hotels in the city. Many cheap hotels are located on the Lombard Street and Kalambus Avenue.
If you plan to spend a lot of time on the beach, look for a hotel near this place. For example: SeaScape Inn - A FairBridge Hotel is located near Ocean Beach. It will be convenient for surfing lovers.
You will find the right hotel for you on your own, on the Internet. (We recommend booking in advance.)
Flights and tickets
Most tourists travel to San Francisco by plane. From whatever city (country) you flew. How would you prefer to travel (business class or economy class). You are most likely to search for flights and buy tickets online, on the Internet.
Find flights to San Francisco and other cities.
San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is located 13 miles (21 km) south of the city center. The airport has four terminals. You can get to the city center by BART train. The SFO BART station is located at the international terminal. Communication between San Francisco and San Jose is provided by the Caltrain train.
Oakland International Airport (IATA: OAK) is located on the other side of the bay, about 15 miles from the center of San Francisco. To get from the airport to San Francisco: find the Oakland International Airport station, go to Coliseum station and then take the BART subway to the city center.
Book a taxi to the airport or book a rental car in advance.