Hotels in San Francisco

San Francisco: Fog, Hills, and the Bay

San Francisco occupies a 47-square-mile peninsula at the tip of the California coast, where the Golden Gate Strait separates the Pacific from San Francisco Bay. The 1906 earthquake and subsequent fire destroyed roughly 25,000 buildings; the rebuilt city became one of the most architecturally layered in North America. Neighborhoods function almost as separate towns: the Mission District centers on 24th Street's taquerias and murals, Chinatown along Grant Avenue is the oldest in the country (founded 1848), and North Beach retains its Beat Generation bookshops around City Lights.

Where to Stay

Hotels cluster in Union Square, which sits within walking distance of the Powell Street cable car terminus and the Moscone Convention Center to the south. Fisherman's Wharf properties draw families visiting Pier 39 and Alcatraz Island, reached by a 15-minute ferry from Pier 33. SoMa (South of Market) anchors the tech-conference circuit and sits one block from the Caltrain terminus for Peninsula commuters.

Practical Tips

• Getting around: BART connects SFO Airport to downtown in roughly 30 minutes for $9–$11.
• Weather: Summer fog keeps daytime highs near 60°F (15°C); pack an extra layer even in July.
• Cable cars: The three lines are transit, not tourist rides — a single fare costs $8 (2025 rate).
• Ferry Building: The Saturday farmers market runs 8 a.m.–2 p.m. year-round along the Embarcadero.