Where to Stay in San Francisco (& Where NOT to) a Local’s Neighborhood Guide

I (Jeremy) first moved to San Francisco in 2009 for college, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed and right in the middle of that perfect time period between Tech Boom 1.0 and Tech Boom 2.0. The city I moved to was quirky and affordable: I was able to work as a barista and attend art school while still being able to pay for rent and my college social life.

That seems like a long time ago now – an affordable San Francisco feels like a distant memory. Since then, I’ve changed as much as the city has. But a few things have remained the same: I’ll always get that butterfly-in-my-stomach feeling of excitement when I cross over the Bay Bridge from our current home in Oakland and catch glittering sunlight reflecting off skyscrapers in the Financial District and shining on Coit Tower, or when I’m able to catch a glimpse of the Golden Gate Bridge unobscured by fog.

One more thing has stayed the same: San Francisco will always be a city that changes. Since San Francisco first began to attract hopeful visionaries in the early days of the Gold Rush, it’s been a lightning rod for whatever’s next, new, and exciting. San Francisco feels like the future – but pieces of the city will always reflect its past. The Summer of Love in 1967 may have felt like the next big thing for young Americans at the time, but today, Haight-Ashbury feels like it’s charmingly frozen in time, a living museum to an era long gone.

This is also why it can feel incredibly confusing to figure out where to stay in San Francisco. For one thing, there are a TON of different neighborhoods, each with a completely distinct vibe, history, scenery, and even weather. And despite San Francisco’s relatively tiny size, it can take hours to get from one side of the city to another on public transportation thanks to ridiculous hills and traffic.

Basing yourself in the right spot can mean the difference between walking out your front door to explore, and spending an hour and a half in a bus or train or car just to see the sights.

We know where you stay can make or break your travel experience, and we want you to fall in love with San Francisco – and to get that butterfly feeling when you listen to San Francisco songs like San Francisco by the Mowgli’s, San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair) by Scott Mckenzie, San Francisco by Foxygen, or Sittin’ On the Dock of the Bay by Otis Redding.

Now that you’ve got your playlist all queued up (and a cup of coffee or tea, perhaps – this is a long post!) let’s get started.

Psst: Planning to visit the Bay Area? We’ve got a ton of blog posts about our home! Here are a few of our favorites to help you prepare for your trip, or browse them all.

• The Ultimate Self-Guided Walking Tour of San Francisco
• 30 Things Nobody Tells You About San Francisco
• 26 Awesome Things to Do in Oakland, California (Oakland is just 5 minutes from San Francisco across the bridge!)

We also have a Podcast episode about San Francisco! Find out what to eat, where to drink, & the best things to do, plus answers to questions you never knew you had… like whether there is weed everywhere (yes) and if you’ll accidentally see nudity (double yes). We’re also spilling the fair-trade, organic, ethically sourced tea on our lesser-known life of crime.

Where to Stay in San Francisco – Summary

This is a long, detailed post, so we wanted to give you a quick at-a-glance version:

• The Best Areas to Stay in San Francisco: We recommend staying in Haight-Ashbury, Hayes Valley, The Castro, or North Beach.
• The Best Hotels in San Francisco: Our top hotel picks are The Stanyan Park Hotel,  The Hayes Valley Inn, and Parker Guest House. Pick any one of those 3 options and you’re golden.
• The Best Dog-Friendly Hotels in San Francisco: Hotel Argonaut in Fisherman’s Wharf and Hotel Nikko in Union Square are the best dog-friendly hotels in San Francisco.
• Why aren’t recommending any AirBnBs? Unfortunately, AirBnBs in San Francisco have historically contributed to the housing crisis, which in turn affects homelessness. Over the years, strict laws have been established, limiting the number and type of AirBnBs found in the city. So while you can still find private rooms in SF, in order to be a more responsible traveler, we recommend that you choose to stay in hotels instead.

Wow, I can’t believe we just managed to condense 5k words into one paragraph. Well done, us!

Now, for the full scoop on each neighborhood and why we do (or don’t) recommend staying there, read on.

The Best Areas to Stay in San Francisco

Union Square

We’ll start out with one of the most popular choices, before giving you a bunch of other options that we highly encourage you to choose instead. Union Square and the surrounding areas are one of the most popular tourist destinations in San Francisco. The square itself isn’t much to get excited about (except during Christmas, when it turns into a beautiful ice skating rink with a giant Christmas Tree), but the surrounding streets are packed with some of the best shopping in the city. Every clothing brand you can think of has a storefront here.

Union Square is centrally located, close to transit, and the hotels in this area serve up fantastic high-rise views. If you’re visiting for work, Union Square is just close enough to the Financial District and the Moscone Convention Center for a brisk morning walk, and suffers less from the FiDi’s “everything closes after 6pm” curse.

That said, if you’re not visiting for work, there are a lot more interesting places to stay – Union Square does not exactly serve up San Francisco charm. That doesn’t mean it’s not worth a visit, though: you might find yourself passing through Union Square for a ride on our famous Cable Car, an afternoon of shopping, or an outdoor lunch and an iconic photo in stunning Maiden Lane.

• Where to Stay in Union Square: Most of the hotels in this neighborhood are on the higher end, like the Westin St. Francis, which borders one end of Union Square – pop in for a stunning lobby display during the Christmas Season and if you can, ride the glass elevators to the top of the towers for one of the best views in the city. If you’d prefer a more budget-friendly room, try Villa Florence instead.

South of Market, aka SoMa

Locals refer to the sweeping area south of market street in the eastern half of the city as SoMa. It’s VERY large. So large, in fact, that there are sub-districts within SoMa like East Cut, South Park, and Rincon Hill. Historically, this neighborhood was a warehouse district, but now it’s home to tech companies and lofts which occupy the roomy old warehouse buildings.

SoMa is a fantastic place to stay with quite a bit going on, but different parts of SoMa have different vibes. For example, on the eastern-most tip of SoMa, you’ll find beautiful homes surrounding South Park, a quiet green London-Style little park square.

But head west to Folsom Street between 7th and 9th and you’ll find the BDSM and leather culture block (because …San Francisco) that houses our notorious Folsom Street Fair every September. If you’re visiting San Francisco in September, and you’re NOT into leather, kink, or nudity, do not stay in this area. Consider yourself duly prepared.

In other parts of SoMa, you’ll find some of the best restaurants in the city, like Saison, Bar Agricole, and South Park Cafe. There’s also excellent nightlife at bars and clubs like 21st Amendment, Raven, Bloodhound, Wish, Butter, DNA Lounge, House of Shields, Local Edition, and Tempest. And there’s plenty of culture as well: the San Francisco MoMA, Yerba Buena Center, and the Contemporary Jewish Museum will scratch your art itch.

And of course, you can’t visit San Francisco during baseball season without stopping at Oracle Park (formerly AT&T Park) to watch the SF Giants! Sure, we haven’t been in top form since 2014, but it’s still the most beautiful ballpark in the country. Local’s tip: the fog settles in around 9pm, so bring a rain jacket if you’ll be at a late-night game. Also, order the Garlic Fries.

There are a few drawbacks to staying in SoMa: being so absolutely enormous, the neighborhood lacks any real identity, making each block feel sort of like its own thing. In San Francisco, home of incredibly unique micro-neighborhoods, that’s quite rare.

SoMa is also not … very pretty. It’s mostly a lot of lofts, warehouses, and wide streets with massive sidewalks – charm is definitely lacking. Also, all downtown highway exits pass through here, making traffic an absolute nightmare.

That said, SoMa is home to several bus lines, making it fairly transit friendly even if you’ll have to head up to Market to catch a BART train. And because the neighborhood is so HUGE, there are a variety of different vibes to suit your travel style.

• Where to Stay in SoMa: The beautiful and affordable BEI Hotel is located on the westernmost tip of SoMa, close to several transit options and bordering some of San Francisco’s best neighborhoods. We’d happily stay here! Far to the east side side of SoMa, the more upscale Hotel Griffon offers Bay Bridge views, walkable Financial District access, easy transportation to CalTrain if you’re heading into Silicon Valley for work, and easy access to Oracle Park; this is a great option for business travelers.

Haight-Ashbury

Haight-Ashbury is one of our absolute favorite neighborhoods, and one of the most iconic and historic in San Francisco! The Summer of Love days may be long gone, but the Haight still preserves some of the same feelings. In fact, I think some of the same people from that summer are still hanging around the neighborhood…

There are a few reasons why you might not want to base yourself in Haight-Ashbury. Here are a few that come to mind:

1. You still hate hippies… and today’s equivalent counterculture folk, which is sort of a gutter-punk crust/grunge mashup
2. You’re allergic to weed smoke
3. Tie-Dye stuff makes you see red

If none of the above apply, allow us to convince you to base yourself in this area. For starters, it’s freakin’ gorgeous and the architecture can’t be beaten: there’s nothing more iconically San Francisco than the colorful, frilly Victorian homes that line the streets of the Haight.

In addition to the gorgeous historic homes, you’ll find tons of adorable, unique little boutique shops. When it comes to shopping in San Francisco, we actually prefer Haight-Ashbury to  Union Square: the shops here have that local flair and are expertly curated. If you’re not into beautiful upscale shops, though, you’ll also find some of the best thrift stores in the city, a bunch of groovy shops selling tie-dye and weed accessories, and a plethora of truly excellent costume shops.

Haight-Ashbury is also centrally located in the city and borders beautiful Golden Gate Park (no relation to the Golden Gate Bridge, and no, it’s not nearby). By the way, did you know that Golden Gate Park is bigger than Central Park?! And that it’s home to a herd of bison? And redwoods? And hikes? And a botanical garden? And a flower conservatory? And an art museum? And a science museum? And a Japanese Tea Garden?

Look, we’re just going to say it: Golden Gate Park is the best city park in the country and NYC can stuff it. Don’t @ us.

While there’s no easy access to BART in the Haight, there’s plenty of MUNI lines running in and out of the area, so you’ll have no trouble getting around within San Francisco. If you don’t stay here, at least pay the neighborhood a visit – and be sure to wear some flowers in your hair. You’d be surprised how small Haight-Ashbury actually is: you can see the whole neighborhood in a day.

• Where to Stay in Haight-Ashbury: The Stanyan Park Hotel borders Golden Gate Park, with luxurious old-world Victorian charm and budget-friendly rates. We think this is one of the best places to stay in San Francisco!

Hayes Valley

Hayes Valley is one of the most beautiful neighborhoods in San Francisco. We’d LOVE to live here, but let’s just say we … can’t … afford it. But hey, let’s not talk about SF rent – it’s one of the local’s favorite topics of discussion, but as a visitor, you don’t have to worry about it (you lucky duck).

Here is why you should live out our personal San Francisco fantasy and base yourself in Hayes Valley: it’s freaking adorable. Think tree-lined streets, restaurants spilling out onto shaded sidewalk cafes, and lots of small boutique shops (including some of our favorite ethical/sustainable clothing brands, Alternative Apparel, Outdoor Voices, and locally-based fave Marine Layer). We’d rather go shopping here than in Union Square any day!

That said, Hayes Valley is more walkable than transit-able, and like the rest of San Francisco, having a car will bring you nothing but trouble.

Also, fair warning: if you happen to be staying in Hayes Valley during Bay to Breakers in May, you’re in for a very weird, VERY San Francisco experience. (Honestly, we’d highly recommend it, but prepare yourself: there will be nudity, partying, elaborate costumes, general ridiculousness, and a LOT of fun. Also a historic marathon, but that’s really the least interesting bit.)

We definitely encourage anyone not staying in Hayes Valley to visit, particularly if you’re nearby at Alamo Square to snag a Painted Ladies photo for the ‘gram.

• Where to Stay in Hayes Valley: The Hayes Valley Inn is one of the most surprisingly high-value hotels in San Francisco. It’s crazy affordable for the most expensive city in the country, especially considering it’s located right in the heart of one of its most beautiful neighborhoods. In exchange for those savings, though, you’ll have to share a bathroom with the other guests. Look, there’s always a catch. If you prefer to shower in the privacy of your room, stay at The Grove Inn just off of Alamo Square instead.

The Castro

The Castro is one of the most iconic neighborhoods in San Francisco, and chances are you’ve already seen photos of its rainbow-flag lined streets. Since the 70’s, the Castro has been one of the most famously LGBTQ+ neighborhoods in the USA. If you’re a respectful participant in queer culture or a card-carrying ally, we highly recommend a visit to the Castro to explore its historic streets and sights, and we’d encourage you to consider staying here, too. Obviously, if you’re homophobic, trans-phobic, or just not comfortable with queer culture, you should avoid the Castro… and possibly consider not visiting San Francisco at all.

There are a ton of reasons why we love the Castro, starting with the weather. I know it sounds weird, but every neighborhood in San Francisco has different weather (they’re called Micro-Climates). It has something to do with different building layouts and how they affect sun and wind exposure, but I’m no Brick Tamland. What I do know is the Castro almost always seems like one of the warmest places in the city.

We also love that the Castro is near the iconic Seward Slides. And you’ll have easy access to Dolores Park, a must visit while in the city. DoLo is where everyone comes on warm days to lay out with friends and party in whatever way they see fit. Some folks drink and dance, some folks drink and nap, some drink and play elaborate games while others watch. Drinking is the official activity though. There is also some premium dog watching (my favorite), plus some hilariously San Franciscan vendors that walk around. My personal favorites are Michael the Coconut guy (he walks around machete-ing coconuts and filling them with rum) and the cereal bars from the woman with the basket and vaguely Swiss maid outfit. Yes, there’s weed in them.

The Castro is also home to some of the best nightlife in the city – which is great if you’re spry and with it, and maybe not so desirable if you’re old at heart and prefer to go to bed early.

Before you visit, read up on LGBTQ+ history and culture in San Francisco so you have some context for where you’re staying. Also, remember that while you’re here, you’re a visitor in the queer community, so please be respectful.

• Where to Stay in the Castro: Parker Guest House is beautiful, perfectly located, highly rated, and fairly affordable – so pretty much a home run when it comes to places to stay in San Francisco!

North Beach (& Chinatown)

Although these two neighborhoods are vastly different – in fact, the border of the two neighborhoods on Kerouac Alley is one of the best examples of the distinct dichotomy between neighborhoods in San Francisco – we’re including them together because they’re so close that you’ll find yourself weaving in and out of them frequently during your stay. Also, because there really aren’t any hotels to speak of in Chinatown, so the closest you can really get is North Beach.

We love this area for a few reasons. First of all, the food. There is no shortage of good food here! Between the largest Chinatown in America, and San Francisco’s Little Italy, you’ll never go hungry.

For Italian food, we recommend The Italian Homemade Company, Tony’s Pizza Napoletana, Baonecci Restaurant, or Il Casaro.

For Chinese, check out Hunan’s Home, Z & Y Restaurant, Mister Jiu’s, R&G Lounge, City View, or Sam Wo. Don’t forget to pop into one of Chinatown’s little bakeries to pick up a delicious treat for dessert, too!

These two neighborhoods are also home to some gorgeous San Francisco views. North Beach is tree-lined and green, dotted with historic sights like the Sentinel Building while the Transamerica Pyramid pops up around every corner.

But Chinatown transports you to another country: during the day, its crowded streets fill with grocers and vendors hawking a variety of bewildering wares, but around twilight everyone mysteriously vanishes, leaving you to explore quiet streets splashed with colorful street art and enjoy the bright red lanterns twinkling overhead almost completely alone.

The neighborhoods are both perfectly positioned for visitors, with close proximity to many of San Francisco’s best sights. You’re right next to Coit Tower, Ghiradelli Square, Pier 39, Fisherman’s Wharf, Telegraph Hill and the Filbert Steps (home of a famous flock of parrots), Kerouac Alley, and Washington Square Park. Whew. That’s a LOT of tourist destinations in one very small area! Which, of course, is why our self-guided San Francisco walking tour goes straight through this area *ahem.*

We also love the history of these two neighborhoods. From escaped slave refugees to immigrants to the great beat writers of the 1950’s, this small pocket of the city has rich stories to tell. We highly recommend you read up on the history of Chinatown and North Beach, and consider booking a guided tour in the daytime or evening to really get to know these two incredible neighborhoods.

We do want to give you a heads-up, though: while these two neighborhoods are some of the best in San Francisco to visit and to stay in, North Beach can get a little weird at night. There are like, a bunch of strip clubs. With really bright neon lights that turn on after dark. And between the strip clubs, dance clubs, and promoters handing out ads to them, Broadway can start to feel a bit like Las Vegas at night.

But it’s an easy fix: just avoid that stretch of Broadway and make sure you’re staying far enough away to not get neon lights lighting up your hotel room at night.

• Where to Stay in North Beach & Chinatown: The Washington Square Inn is a lovely, cozy little Victorian-style inn located on the absolutely beautiful Washington Square park in North Beach. If you’re on a tight budget, the Hotel North Beach sacrifices a few comforts (think: shared bathrooms) but offers an insanely good price, and is located directly along the border between these two neighborhoods.

Dog-Friendly Hotels in San Francisco

If you’re like us, traveling with your pup may be a mandatory requirement. And San Francisco is a uniquely dog-friendly city – in fact, there are more dogs here than children! From the dog-friendly beaches to the dog-friendly bars, restaurants, and parks, you can pretty much bring your dog with you everywhere you go. (And we totally do.)

So if you’ll be bringing your pup with you on your trip, we’ve found some amazing places to stay:

• Hotel Argonaut: Located on Fisherman’s Wharf, this deliciously handsome eco-friendly hotel offers beautiful views across the San Francisco Bay. Watch the boats go by from your nautical themed room, with its exposed bricks and ship-themed touches. Take your pup for a walk by the water; it’s right there!
• Hotel Nikko: Located in Union Square, Hotel Nikko goes a step further for your dog – they offer pet-friendly rooms on the VIP (Very Important Pet) Floor with dog beds, food and water bowls, and mats! You can even walk out on their Pet Terrace, which features an off-leash dog run for play time and city views. Besides pet offerings, they hotel is decoarted in modern blues and whites and has a glass-enclosed pool.

Where Not to Stay in San Francisco

Now that we’ve given you our favorite areas to stay in San Francisco, here are the neighborhoods we would recommend you NOT staying in. These are all fantastic places to visit, but not the best spots to base yourself during your visit to San Francisco. Don’t worry, we’ll explain why!

Fisherman’s Wharf

Arguably the most obvious choice for where to stay in San Francisco also happens to be the first one that I would tell you to take a hard pass on. Sure, it’s an iconic location, and clam chowder in a bread bowl is always nearby, as well as other San Francisco staples like Buena Vista Cafe, Ghirardelli Square, Musee Mecanique, Boudin Bakery, and the seals at Pier 39.

But it’s also insanely crowded, full of tourists, and lacks any real essence of San Francisco other than what you might see on a mug or a magnet. Plus, the hotels here are pricey.

We definitely encourage you to visit – in fact, our San Francisco Walking Tour takes you up and down the whole Embarcadero to show you how much we love this area – but we don’t recommend that you stay here.

The one exception is if you’ll be traveling with a dog – the Hotel Argonaut is located right off Fisherman’s Wharf and is a fantastic dog-friendly hotel!

• Where to Stay Instead: We’d recommend staying in North Beach or Chinatown, both of which offer easy, walkable access to Fisherman’s Wharf. Take a look at the Washington Square Inn, a lovely, cozy little Victorian-style inn located on the absolutely beautiful Washington Square park.

Near Golden Gate Bridge/The Presidio

Quite a lot of visitors to San Francisco assume that the Golden Gate Bridge is close to the rest of the city. It’s not. It’s way out of the way.

The area around the Golden Gate Bridge is called the Presidio, and it’s actually a giant nature park that used to be a military base. It’s absolutely gorgeous and a wonderful place to go hiking (we recommend the Batteries to Bluffs trail) or to watch the sun setting at Land’s End.

But don’t stay there if your goal is to explore San Francisco. It’s quite out of the way and takes a long time to access on transit! We’d only recommend basing yourself here if you want peace, quiet, nature, isolation, and easy access to the Marin Headlands.

That said, there is one big plus to the Presidio: this is one of the few neighborhoods in San Francisco where it’s not a major disadvantage to have a car.

• Where to Stay Instead: Honestly, anywhere else on our neighborhood list would be a better choice. If you’re after Golden Gate Bridge views, you can find them all over the city if you stay in a high-rise building- but expect to pay more for the privilege.

Nob Hill

You should only stay in Nob Hill if you love incredibly steep, near-vertical hills and have a lot of money.

Look, we do like Nob Hill – we actually got engaged on the roof of the gorgeous Fairmont Hotel and spent our wedding night there – but there’s a reason locals call it Snob Hill. Which is that it’s insanely expensive. And on an incredibly steep hill.

Spend a night partying at the Tonga Room and enjoying the sweeping views of the plebs city, but don’t stay here.

• Where to Stay Instead: Chinatown and North Beach are in the same area, but at the base of the hills rather than on top of them.

The Mission & the Tenderloin

These are two of San Francisco’s most popular and well-known neighborhoods, even outside of California locals. And while we highly encourage you to visit, we want to strongly discourage you from basing yourself here. Allow us to explain why.

I lived in the Tenderloin for a couple of years and loved it. It may be the grittiest neighborhood in the city, but it has a certain charm. As you walk from Union Square into the Tenderloin, huge high-end stores filter into tiny mom-and-pop shops, chain hotels become seedy motels, gilded bars turn into local dives, sit down restaurants turn into taquerias and pizza shops.

Anyone familiar with authentic inner-city neighborhoods (think Harlem, not Midtown, as a New York equivalent) shouldn’t be too shocked by the Tenderloin. It’s conveniently placed and home to several places I would recommend visiting.

But it’s uh…got a rep.  Here’s the thing: The TL, as the locals call it, is the neighborhood where drug rehabilitation, homeless services, and needle swap clinics are located. As a result, there are quite a few homeless residents, drug users, and other down-on-their-luck folks who spend most of their time in this area.

Put it this way: San Francisco has a lot of problems, and you’re going to see all of them in the Tenderloin. I’ve never felt unsafe there, but I’m a straight white man. I can’t guarantee you’d feel the same.

Most people you see on the streets of San Francisco are there because the city lacks the infrastructure to help everyone. However, opportunity crime is REAL in the Tenderloin. Muggings, phone snatches, and car break-ins are quite common at night. If you’re used to big cities, you’ll know what to expect. (For what it’s worth, I wouldn’t worry much about violent crime in the area – smashed car windows are irritating, but not life-threatening.)

Now to be fair, there has been an attempt in recent years to revamp the neighborhood … but it was pretty problematic. Not to get too political, but the late Mayor essentially wanted to sweep out the displaced and mentally ill folks who call the neighborhood home to make way for shiny new tech offices paying high rents.

Look, let’s just say it: we’re talking about gentrification, and it’s the real reason we’d discourage you from staying in the Tenderloin. The more people stay here, the more change happens. And sure, that’s good for the CITY, but it’s not necessarily good for the people living in the neighborhood who can’t afford the ballooning rent, small business owners who are being (quite literally) muscled out of their leases to make way for bigger companies or fancy hotels, and the displaced and unmedicated on the street.

So please, don’t stay here, and if you visit, do so mindfully and respectfully – the homeless are our neighbors, and we urge you to be empathetic to their struggles.

I love The Mission for the same reason I love the TL, but it has very similar problems. The neighborhood got hit hard in the tech boom, and generations of families living under one roof have been pushed out of the place they’ve known as home their whole lives. And why? Another third wave coffee shop? More space for AirBNBs? Gentrification a complex issue and we aren’t going to tackle it here, but we want to make you aware that it is a pervasive and ever-present reality for San Franciscans.

Yes, the Mission and the Tenderloin are dirty. Yes, there is opportunity crime. Yes, it’s a great market from a business perspective. But thinking that way ignores the human element. It ignores the lifeblood of the city and what makes San Francisco so freakin’ weird and cool. And that’s why I say don’t stay there.

Now, all that said…you should totally VISIT the Tenderloin and the Mission. Both The Mission and Tenderloin are located on Bart and bus lines, so you can easily stop by.

In the Tenderloin, go to Brenda’s for the best brunch in the city (but expect a crazy long wait). There’s usually a drag and/or comedy show going on at PianoFight. Bourbon and Branch is the local speakeasy you need a password and possibly a 1920’s costume to enter – across the street, Tradition has just as good drinks but with less of the strict historic speakeasy vibe. If you want a banh mi that will change your life, go to Saigon Sandwich.

We definitely recommend spending a warm, sunny afternoon (because micro-climates) exploring the street-art splashed streets of the Mission. The best burrito in San Francisco is often contested, but the big contenders all live in the Mission: Taqueria Cancun (the 19th and Mission location is our fave), La Taqueria, and El Farolito. It’s important for us to note that thse were all finalists in the NATIONAL BURRITO CONTEST. (Sidenote, how do I get on that judging board? I have the qualifications.)

After you’ve experienced the Mission burrito, enjoy some powerful margaritas and dance salsa at Latin America Club. Play some pool, pet some doggos, and drink some cheap drinks at Kilowatt. And wander along Valencia Street for a mixture of thrift shopping, bookstores, and high-end boutiques – don’t miss the Pirate Shop, a pirate supply store slash literary community (just trust us).

• Where to Stay Instead: The Castro, Hayes Valley, and SoMa are all excellent places to stay nearby – we’ve got our picks listed up above in the sections for each of those neighborhoods.

Inner or Outer Sunset

The Sunset – along with the Richmond district – are San Francisco’s suburban areas, and quite a lot of San Francisco residents live here.  And plenty of unsuspecting tourists are tempted to stay in this area.

Yes, it’s a pretty name for a neighborhood. Yes, it’s right next to San Francisco’s coast and Ocean Beach. Yes, there’s excellent food (especially Asian cuisine – the dumplings are next level) and a cute local flair and cultural vibe. And yes, you’ll be bordering beautiful Golden Gate Park, one of San Francisco’s best attractions.

But we don’t recommend you stay in the Sunset! Why? Because it’s SO. FAR. AWAY.

Look, I know San Francisco is a teeny tiny city and only 7×7 square miles. But for whatever reason, getting in and out of the Sunset via any form of public transit takes HOURS. It makes no sense, but trust us on this one.

Also, during all but about 2 hours of the day, this whole area is completely covered in a thick, heavy, wet, freezing cold layer of fog. The locals are used to it; you’re not. If you don’t want to be soaked to your skin walking to your accommodation after 6pm, stay somewhere warmer instead!

• Where to Stay Instead: Haight-Ashbury also borders Golden Gate Park, but on the inland side, which means you’ll escape the freezing cold fog.

San Francisco Travel Tips

Before you hop on a plane and head to San Francisco, here are a few quick tips that you’ll need to know:

• Don’t rent a car. Don’t do it! You do NOT want the hassle or expense of parking a car during your trip to San Francisco. It is awful. I NEVER drive in San Francisco if I can help it, and I highly encourage you to do the same. Anything you want to access outside of the city can be arranged via tour or at most, a one-day car rental.
• Don’t call it “San Fran” or “Frisco.” There are 2 acceptable affectionate nicknames for San Francisco: “SF” and “The City.” That’s it. Those are the 2. Allowing “San Fran” or “Frisco” to pass your lips is a great way to out yourself as an out-of-towner, which has the added benefit of causing everyone near you to take a few steps back and internally seethe.
• Pack good walking shoes. San Francisco is a city best explored on foot. Yes, you can take transit to get around, but you’ll miss quite a bit of the quirks and charm that make up San Francisco! Spend at least a day wandering through the city and walk as much as you can. To help, we’ve got a self-guided San Francisco walking tour – and we’ve also got suggestions for the best walking shoes for travel. Here are our favorite travel shoes for men and for women.
• Bring layers. San Francisco is not a warm city. And it’s especially not warm in the summer, which is actually the coldest season of the year. Bring a jacket, a scarf, and maybe even a hat, and pack them all with you. It will be freezing cold until 10am, then you’ll have a few glorious hours of warm and possibly even sunny weather, before 6pm hits and it will be immediately freezing again. Throw your layers in a day bag and you’ll be good to go!
• San Francisco has a LOT of homeless residents. This can definitely be a bit of a culture shock. Please keep in mind that the folks experiencing homelessness are our neighbors, and not a blight or an eyesore. Many of the folks that you will see are also struggling with mental illnesses, and you may see people who appear to be talking to themselves or to thin air. Although this can be startling, remember that these people are in far more danger than you are, and are unlikely to harm you in any way. Homelessness is traumatic, particularly for the mentally ill, whose conditions can be exacerbated by the stress of homelessness. Also, because there are too few public restrooms in San Francisco, you will smell some unpleasant things during your stay. Hold your breath and remember: you get to go home and use a bathroom or take a shower whenever you want. They don’t. Have compassion. There’s a fantastic resource for how to respond to the homeless in San Francisco on SF Gate.
• You won’t find many short term rental listings. Despite Airbnb being headquartered in the city, short term rentals in San Francisco have historically contributed to the housing crisis, which in turn affects homelessness. Over the years, strict laws have been established, limiting the number and type of AirBnBs found in the city. While you can still find a few private rooms for rent in SF, in order to be a more responsible traveler, we recommend that you choose to stay in hotels instead.

We’ve got some more helpful – and only mildly helpful – tips for visiting San Francisco in our guide to things nobody tells you about San Francisco!

If your check-in and check-out times don’t sync up with your need to roam the streets and you need a place to store your bags check out LuggageHero, a service that helps you find a safe place to keep your luggage while you’re running around! Use the code PRACTICALW for 2 hours of free luggage storage on us.

Hey, looking for help planning your trip to San Francisco? Sign up below and we’ll send you a printable version of our self-guided walking tour, plus our favorite tips for visiting!

Psst: Planning to visit the Bay Area? We’ve got a ton of blog posts about our home! Here are a few of our favorites to help you prepare for your trip, or click here to browse them all.

• The Ultimate Self-Guided Walking Tour of San Francisco
• 30 Things Nobody Tells You About San Francisco
• 26 Awesome Things to Do in Oakland, California (Oakland is just 5 minutes from San Francisco across the bridge!)
• What to Pack for San Francisco

We also have a Podcast episode about San Francisco! Find out what to eat, where to drink, & the best things to do, plus answers to questions you never knew you had… like whether there is weed everywhere (yes) and if you’ll accidentally see nudity (double yes). We’re also spilling the fair-trade, organic, ethically sourced tea on our lesser-known life of crime.

What questions do you have about where to stay in San Francisco? Drop us a comment below!

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Disclaimer: This post was originally created in partnership with Travelocity and has since been updated. All opinions, shade thrown,  and recommendations are 100% our own and absolutely not their fault.