Travel Guide: San Francisco

Hi Guys!

I’ve been to San Francisco a couple of times and wanted to share this Travel Guide for San Francisco with you guys. I love SF and wanted to share some of my favourite things to do there.

Before anything, what you need to know is, San Francisco can be a little on the expensive side, especially when it comes to accommodation. San Francisco is the most expensive city to live in in the US after all. When it comes to accommodation, prices can vary, but, for something decent like an Airbnb you’re looking at $100 -$150 a night for 2 people. The first time I visited SF we stayed in an Airbnb and it was around $450 for 3 nights. Last time I was lucky enough to be staying at the Four Seasons on Market Street. This was a perfect location for the conference I was attending! Prices here can range from $700 to over $1000 a night (my room was 1K+ per night). But this is a 5-star Hotel after all! I have to say my Delux-view room was absolutely amazing and the view was amazing for sunrise while I was there!

There are some good hostels around and dorms you can rent as well, however they tend to book up quickly in summer. I’d suggest booking your accommodation as far in advance as you can, especially during busy seasons.

Budget option:

Orange Village Hostel

Airbnb – private room

Elite – Four Seasons

What to bring to San Francisco?

I’ll start with some Packing Tips. 

• Warmer / Windproof clothes. Unfortunately, you might think California, heat & sunshine. This can be the case some summer days but most of the time in SF it is windy and can sometimes be overcast. I wore jeans and a light jacket the whole time the first time we were there. I’d suggest clothes that you can layer, you might take off / put on your jacket like… 15 times in a day.
• Walking / Comfy shoes. Yes, it is true SF is full of hills and you will do A LOT of walking.
• A good Bag / Backpack. As I said in the last point, you will be doing a lot of walking so you will want a little backpack to bring around water /snacks and your extra layers.
• Sunglasses & Sunscreen. You may think, oh well if it’s overcast I won’t be getting any sun. WRONG, the sun comes in and out so you will be whipping those sunglasses on and off just as much as your jacket haha.

Before You Go

Now that you’re packed, a few things you should do before you get there is plan your trip a bit.

1. If you don’t have Uber or Lyft, get it now!
2. Book tickets for whatever attractions early, as in before the trip – Things like Alcatraz book out in advance.
3. Tentatively plan your days. Some places might not be as close together as you think, so it’s best to plan the bigger things before going.
4. Book accommodation as far in advance as you can.
5. Look on a map to get familiar with the area between your accommodation and the places you want to go to.

Once you’re all packed and make your way to San Francisco airport, it takes 30 minutes to get to the city by train. If you have a lot of bags it would probably be easier to just take an Uber / Lyft.

Must See

Now that you’re in SF, here is my Must See list: 

Depending on how much time you have will make a difference but we fit so much into 3 days our first time! My second time in SF a lot of my time was consumed with the conference but still managed to squeeze a good bit in on my off days!

1. Alcatraz

This was my absolute favourite thing in San Francisco. I love mysteries and the stories of some prisoners escaping and this history of it is so interesting! It costs about $30 pp-that includes your boat out to the island and a headset tour. There are talks about the history, as well as a multitude of information pamphlets. If you’re interested in this sort of thing you will Love it. Added bonus: Great view of all of SF from the island.

2. Golden Gate bridge

An obvious must-see, but I’d definitely suggest going right to it and walking over it. It’s very scary, but again, you can get a great view of the city. It’s also quite a trek to get to, like 4.2m / 6.7km from Pier 39 (listed below), but it is a beautiful walk – we did it and loved it. You can always, of course, get a taxi or cycle there!

3. Golden Gate Park

Get a bike and cycle around. It’s amazingly beautiful and there is a Japanese Garden inside which is definitely worth a visit. (Bike costs around $32 for a few hours – it’s a bit expensive but sooo worth it. It also has a decent size bag /basket in front to put your important stuff in).

4. Moraga Steps / 16th Avenue Tiles Steps

This is a great thing to do – you have to walk up a few steep hills, but the view is amazing! The steps are a perfect Insta moment.

5. Pier 39 / Fisherman’s Wharf

Pier 39 is a great place to go for the evening. If you like Sea Lions, there is a huge number of them down here – and they even have their own docs to lay on! There are so many cute shops, places to eat and beautiful views! You can also see Alcatraz from the pier!

6. Union Square

This is right in the centre of SF and there are plenty of shops, eating places and even some roof-top bars /restaurants. Union Square is the perfect place to have a coffee and people-watch! You could also get lunch/dinner at the cheesecake factory and look out at the square from the rooftop

7. Chinatown / Little Italy

It’s always fun to explore Chinatown, in whatever city you’re in! I really like the one in SF – there are many street markets and it has such a great vibe. Did you know that San Francisco was the first Chinatown in the US? It’s also one of the largest in the US too! If you are walking through Chinatown from the city centre towards the piers you will then find yourself in Little Italy. The SF Little Italy is lovely,  it’s almost like being in a little village in Italy itself and you will, of course, find some amazing food and even better pastries 🤤.

8. Lombard Street

It took two times to San Francisco for me to finally see Lombard Street! We didn’t have loads of time our first time in the city and I missed seeing this iconic street! But, I finally got there on my second trip there, it was a beautiful morning and I was very happy to visit this picturesque street. Make sure you go early if you want to avoid large groups of tourists!

And that’s it! Hope this helps if you are headed to San Francisco! Feel free to ask me any questions, you can always reach me on Instagram & Twitter or drop me an email

xoxo
Elizabeth

Twitter // Facebook // Instagram // Pinterest

Thank you for following along! If you are on Amazon(UK/IRL) please consider buying through this link. It doesn’t cost you anything extra, but it helps me continue to bring you this content for free! (Amazon US Link) xoxo