San Francisco Tourism Information

San Francisco

If you're headed to the City by the Bay for the first time, you could benefit from some San Francisco tourism information. The more you know before you get there, the less stress you'll have to deal with when you arrive. This will definitely make for a better visit.

When to Visit

Unlike some cities in the United States, and even in the state of California, San Francisco's weather is relatively stable. Don't expect it to be sunny and warm though. It is more likely to be foggy and a little bit chilly. Even when it's in the 90s in Oakland, which is less than 15 minutes away, San Francisco stubbornly stays in the 50s, 60s and 70s year round. If you don't like fog, stop by in the winter, when the ocean and land temperatures are closer to each other. Don't forget to bring a windbreaker, even in the summer.

Getting Around

San Francisco has an excellent public transportation system. It is a mixture of cable car, streetcars, buses and the subway, which is known as BART. If you don't want to take a cab from the airport, San Francisco International has its own BART station; so does the Oakland airport, if you can't get a flight into San Francisco directly. You can also call the airport ground transportation hotline at 800-736-2008 if you need additional advice.

San Francisco

Learning the City

One of the best ways to get acquainted with the city is to take a guided tour. One good one is the Alcatraz and San Francisco Grand City Tour. This one takes you to a lot of the city's hot spots, including:

  • Fisherman's Wharf, including Pier 39
  • The Palace of Fine Arts, which was built for the Pan-Pacific International Exhibition in 1915
  • Various Victorian homes, including the popular "painted ladies"
  • Presidio National Park, which is home to the Golden Gate Bridge and the Walt Disney Family Museum
  • Chinatown, one of the most bustling and cultural areas of the city
  • Alcatraz, the famous island prison, which is now a public park

There are lots of additional tours. You'll find several tourism booths along the Embarcadero. You should also be able to find some brochures at the hotel where you're staying.

Best Activities for Children

Sometimes it's tough to find San Francisco tourism information related to family travel. There are a lot of activities in the city that are suitable for children. You can take the family to the Aquarium of the Bay to see various sea dwelling creatures, check out the Musee Mechanique for old time coin operated machines, see how chocolate is made in Ghirardelli Square and learn more about science, hands-on style, at the Exploratorium.

More San Francisco Tourism Information

To find more information, pick up one of the dozens of travel guides published regarding the city. You can find them in bookstores, at the library or online at a site like Amazon.com. After perusing the information there, head to Lonely Planet's travel forum. There you can learn extra tips from both frequent visitors and city locals. Once you've spent a couple days in the city, you can even add some pointers of your own.