San Francisco city breaks
San Francisco caters to a variety of visitors, from those seeking fine wines and fresh seafood to tourists in town for a parade. There's fun for families, romance for couples, and the year-round mild temperatures help make it all possible. This multicultural and progressive city on the West Coast of America knows how to celebrate life.
21 ℃
Late spring and early autumn.
11 hours
San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is the largest and busiest of airports in the Bay Area and approximately 22 km south of the city centre. Oakland International Airport (OAK) is about 40 km from downtown.
Travel guide
Things to do
Currency
Travel guide
Travel guide
Weather & Climate
Temperatures: Averages 15 (°C) in summer, 10 (°C) in the winter.
Best time to visit: Late spring and early autumn.
San Francisco has mild temperatures year-round, though winter can be rainy and windy. September and October are often warmer than summer months, and autumn is less crowded.
San francisco IS BEST FOR…
Explorers: Tick the city’s famous landmarks off your list during San Francisco holidays; don’t miss the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz Island prison, and Muir Woods National Monument.
Wine buffs: This place is the gateway to California’s stunning wine country. Take a tour of the famous Napa Valley and experience the region’s best vineyards (and their fruits) for yourself.
Families: It’s a child-friendly city with all kinds of fun-filled attractions for kids of all ages, including The Walt Disney Family Museum, where you can discover the origins of Mickey Mouse.
Fast facts:
Language: The language spoken in San Francisco is English.
Currency: The currency used in San Francisco is the US Dollar (USD).
Local time: San Francisco is 8 hours behind GMT/UK time.
Fly to: San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is the largest and busiest of airports in the Bay Area and approximately 22 km south of the city centre. Oakland International Airport (OAK) is about 40 km from downtown.
Flight time from UK: 11 hours
Tourist Information: Further San Francisco tourist information can be found at www.sanfrancisco.travel.
Visa / Health:
Before your holiday to San Francisco, visit www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/usa for recommendations and advice on visas and health.
Getting around
By trolley: Tickets for the iconic trolleys can be purchased onboard (exact change) or at cable-car kiosks.
By light rail or bus: Transfer between bus and light rail for districts such as Mission, Castro and Fisherman’s Wharf.
By BART: The Bay Area Rapid Transit runs along Market Street. The commuter metro is useful for speedy travel between downtown and other parts of the Bay Area.
Events
Chienes tradition: With its sizable Chinese community, San Francisco hosts the nation’s largest Chinese New Year party. The first day in the Chinese lunar calendar is celebrated with parade floats and an 82-meter dragon winding through Chinatown.
Jazz Spectaculer: Summer kicks off each year with the 10-day San Francisco Jazz Festival. The greatest in jazz, Latin and world music perform in venues across the city.
Things to do
From one of the best nightclub scenes in California to the imposing Alcatraz Island, the ‘City by the Bay’ is full of fabulous places to visit and things to do. San Francisco shopping is pure boutique chic, while its thriving restaurant scene is one of the best in the US. Our guide of things to do in San Francisco gives you a quick rundown of the best hotspots in this chilled-out, friendly city.
Places to go
In San Francisco, you can spend the morning watching the world go by from one of the coffee shops on Fisherman’s Wharf or ride the cable cars through the various neighbourhoods, each with their own unique personality and character. From one of the world’s largest Chinatown’s (outside China itself) to the iconic Golden Gate Bridge, you’re spoilt for choice if you’re looking for places to visit in San Francisco. Top of the must-visits has to be Alcatraz Island. Book ahead as there are limited places available for tours each day, but it’s well worth it because you’ll never visit another attraction quite like it. See where ‘Scarface’ Al Capone was incarcerated, and take a walk around the prison blocks that held some of America’s most notorious criminals. You’ll also get breathtaking views of the city and the bridge from Alcatraz. Back on the mainland, you can find out more about the history of the region at the Legion of Honor art museum, or expand your mind at the California Academy of Sciences.Things to do in San francisco
Golden Gate Bridge San Francisco
It may no longer be the longest suspension bridge in the world, but the Golden Gate Bridge is definitely still the most memorable. It’s …Walt Disney Family Museum USA
Get to know the man behind the mouse with something for all Disney fanatics to enjoy, both young and old. Opened in 2009, The Walt Disney Family …San Francisco Nightlife: Bars & Clubs
San Francisco is known for being a vast and varied city, and the same goes for its vibrant nightlife scene. Whether you want a laid-back cocktail …Alcatraz San Francisco
Just off the coast of San Francisco Bay, you’ll find the island of Alcatraz. It’s all very peaceful now but during the years of 1934 to …California Academy Of Sciences USA
The California Academy of Sciences is one of the largest natural history museums in the world, housing over 26 million varieties of animals and …Legion of Honor San Francisco
Bringing a bit of Europe to San Francisco, the Legion of Honor is a fine art museum that displays an impressive collection of over 4,000 …Currency
San francisco travel money
The currency in San Francisco is the US Dollar. There are numerous ATM machines and foreign exchange facilities in the city, but we suggest that you buy your travel money before you leave the UK.Featured accommodation
