Your Next Trip to San Francisco

When to Travel to San Francisco 

On one of the U.S. News & World Report lists, San Francisco is the number one place to visit in California. And while most of the city’s main attractions, including restaurants, bars and museums, are available year-round, there are definitely preferred times of year to visit.

Everyone knows about the wind and low temperatures on the northern tip of the peninsula. Even Mark Twain commented, "The coldest winter I ever saw was the summer I spent in San Francisco."

The best time of year for a trip to San Francisco is fall, sources say. Going to San Francisco in Autumn gives you the best possibilities, in terms of weather.

Peak season for San Francisco tourism includes the three summer months because it’s mostly warm. The average temperature in July is 66.5 degrees Fahrenheit, while January’s high is 56.9 degrees.

But, believe it or not, summer isn’t the hottest season in the land of the Golden Gate. In September, the average high temperature is 70.2 degrees.

Traveling in fall also tends to save you from the crowds of summer.

Going to San Francisco by Air

If you live too far from the city to get there by car, look at a number of flight carriers to compare prices. It’s a popular time of year for airlines to hold price wars, because it’s after the summer travel season and before the holidays.

You can save money by consulting such sites as Priceline, Kayak and Expedia to book flights. You can use those sources for packages if you need to book a hotel or rental car as well.

Kayak has an article with suggestions when planning your next trip to San Francisco. Book two weeks or further in advance of traveling for the cheapest flights. And travel in January if you want a cheap San Francisco trip – it’s the best month for deals. 

There are some special features and tips for travel involving the San Francisco International Airport, which is unique.

• Visit the Berman Reflection Room for rest or meditation. It’s located in the pre-security area of the International Terminal and open 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.
• Freshen Up! is the name of San Francisco Airport’s service area where you can shower, take a nap or iron your clothes.
• If you have a pet, there are animal relief areas in the pre-security and post-security sections. They’re open 24 hours a day and provide water bowls, bags and paper towels.
• Terminal 3 has the Wag Brigade, which is a troop of service dogs and their handlers who are poised to help you decompress and relax if you need emotional support. They are available Monday through Friday near check-in counters and boarding areas.

When you land, take BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) to go from the airport into the city. It’s just a short AirTrain ride from the other terminals. It takes about half an hour to get into San Francisco from the airport.

In fact, for a cheap San Francisco trip, use BART to get around the Bay Area and take the cable car or use the bus system within the city.

Sleeping in San Francisco

If you’re planning a trip to San Francisco, chances are you’re overnighting or staying for at least a weekend.

There are countless hotels in the city – some with storied pasts. The Fairmont San Francisco is a four-star hotel on Mason Street which was named for 19th century senator James G. Fair.

The Mark Hopkins Hotel, which opened in 1926, is located at Number One Nob Hill on the site of the former 40-room mansion of Mark Hopkins. He was one of San Francisco's "Big Four" who founded what became the Southern Pacific Railroad.

Though these aren’t money-saving options, search for deals on sites such as TripAdvisor.com. Hotels Tonight offers discounted hotel rooms when you book on the night of your stay. These hotels are typically in the middle of the city and offered at half price. 

There are many companies that offer hotel promotions, including Kayak and Expedia.

Cheaper options when planning your next trip to San Francisco include hostels and Airbnb rentals.

You can stay in hostels with high ratings for just two-digit prices. USA Hostels San Francisco has a rating of 9 out of 10 by Hostelworld.com. Users of the website called the San Francisco facility “very clean, super friendly and very welcoming.” They elaborated by saying its location and the price-quality compromise is “perfect.”

It’s a great option for a cheap San Francisco trip, but you need to know what you’re getting. This hostel has:

- A limit of four beds per dorm and real mattresses (not foam) covered with duvets
- In-room lockers at no charge and power points for charging electronics securely.
- Private rooms available which have duvets, cable TV and refrigerators
- A free breakfast every day including baked goods, fresh fruit, pancakes, oatmeal, juices, coffee and tea
- Free luggage storage all day after you check out
- Laundry soap to use in onsite machines available for free
- Free use of hairdryers
- Discounts for sites such as Yosemite, Muir Woods and Wine Country tours

In an Airbnb home, the prices vary but you get a lot more features. You can gain comfort, supplies and access to appliances that include refrigerators and stovetops in some cases.

It’s not the cheap San Francisco trip a hostel would be, but there are money-saving features. For instance, the presence of a kitchen or kitchenette means you can eat some of your meals there instead of restaurants.

Going to San Francisco for Food

Foodies love to eat their way through the City by the Bay. It’s famous for being home to some of the finest dining venues on the planet. Just an hour south of one of the most renowned cooking schools – the Culinary Institute of America, or CIA. San Francisco restaurants benefit from being so close to the renowned educational center.

Yelp is an app that can help you pare down your choice of top eateries in the area, especially if you want a cheap San Francisco trip. Check reviews, see photos and prices, and look at menus there. They even lead you to each restaurant’s website. 

If you want tips for traveling in San Francisco where food is concerned, The Infatuation has a first-timer’s dining guide to help you out. What’s great about the article is the fact it covers food in various areas of San Francisco, because no two parts of the city are alike (think Chinatown vs. Pier 39). 

Calling it their “starter pack,” for people going to San Francisco, the website says their guide is representative of the types of restaurants you’ll find in the city. They also point out that you may need reservations, plus some of the places have lines out front where you wait.

For breakfast, a high score went to Tartine Bakery in the Mission District. They also recommend Acme Bread Company in the Embarcadero and Devil’s Teeth Baking Company in the Sunset area.

For something a little more substantial, try Dim Sum in Chinatown at Good Mong Kok Bakery. It’s very inexpensive, according to the guide, which says, “You can get giant steamed pork buns and shrimp dumplings for less money than your Uber that morning.”

Hayes Valley has Zuni Café, which costs a little more, as does Tadich Grill if you want seafood in the financial district.

Nob Hill’s top raw bar is Swan Oyster Depot and the Embarcadero touts Hog Island as the best oyster bar.

What about dessert? There’s always a line at Bi-Rite Creamery in the Mission District, where you can get such flavors as crème brulee and salted caramel.

Going to San Francisco for Sightseeing

You couldn’t miss the Golden Gate Bridge if you tried. Not only that, it’s perfect for those wanting a cheap San Francisco trip, because it’s free eye candy.

Its storied history of the Golden Gate Bridge begins when construction did – back in 1933. The suspension bridge opened in 1937, but not until 11 construction workers had fallen to their death.

It was The Great Depression, so the construction offered a great opportunity for men to work. A San Francisco history website describes it this way: “The crew consisted of virtually anyone capable of withstanding the physical rigors of the job, as out-of-work cab drivers, farmers, clerks lined up for the chance to earn steady wages as ironworkers and cement mixers.”

It connects San Francisco to Marin County and even affects the fog, as the bridge pushes it up through its height of 746 feet. The Golden Gate Bridge is 1.7 miles long and 90 feet wide.

When planning your next trip to San Francisco, if you haven’t had a tour of the extremely popular Alcatraz Island, be sure you do. Run by the U.S. National Park Service, Alcatraz guides tell stories about the incarceration of such prisoners as Al Capone and give you a chance to walk through hidden passages and underground cells. 

Called “The Rock,” the island has been more than a prison. It’s been a fort, a maximum security federal penitentiary, and in 1969 the Indians of All Tribes occupied the area for 19 months. They were demanding freedom and Native American civil rights.

Chinatown San Francisco is the largest of its kind outside of Asia. A trip to San Francisco isn’t complete without a visit to this area. It has great food, but its shops and attractions could entertain you for several days.

You may like some of the area’s historical buildings. The Bank of Canton was formerly the Chinese Telephone Exchange, which closed in 1949. And the ornate Sing Chong Building is a sight to see. It was one of the first places rebuilt after San Francisco’s earthquake in 1906.

A big part of Asian history in the area occurred at Angel Island, which is in the San Francisco Bay. It was an immigration station from January 21, 1910 to November 5, 1940.

You can take a general tour of the city to decide which parts would be most interesting for you. After all, everyone’s taste is different. 

Donate Your Vehicle in San Francisco

You may not need tips for traveling in San Francisco because you’re there for other reasons.

If you’re in the City by the Bay and have a vehicle you’d like help with, you can donate your car to charity through Cars2Charities. It’s a simple way to solve a problem (moving your car along) and an opportunity to benefit a favorite cause.

Are you traveling to San Francisco to pick up a new car? Let us know and we can pick up your old one for free. We meet you where and when it’s convenient and do all the work – selling the vehicle and giving you the records for your tax write-off. We even handle the title transfer, so you aren’t standing in line at the DMV!

Cars2Charities handles hundreds of car donations in the San Francisco Bay area. We can offer you many suggestions of nonprofits to benefit or you can choose any 501(c)(3) to receive proceeds from the sale of your car.

Whatever brings you to San Francisco, it’s both beautiful and fascinating, drawing millions to the region. But business or pleasure, your trip to San Francisco will be different every time – and that’s not just because of the weather.