San Francisco, CA

San Francisco travel guide

Fog, hills and the Golden Gate

Find flights to San Francisco See fares from $63

Airports: SFO San Francisco International Airport · OAK Oakland San Francisco Bay Airport · SJC San Jose Mineta International Airport
Region: US West
Best time to visit: September and October are the warmest, clearest months.
Shortest flight: 1h 25m from Los Angeles
Round trips from: $63 (live)
Time zone: America/Los Angeles

About San Francisco

The city is compact enough to walk if you don't mind hills. The Ferry Building, Chinatown, North Beach and Fisherman's Wharf line up along the waterfront; the Mission's murals and taquerias, the Haight's Victorians and Golden Gate Park are a short bus or Muni ride west. Muir Woods, Sausalito and wine country are within an hour.

Getting in: BART trains run from SFO to downtown in about 30 minutes ($10–$11). From Oakland, the BART airport connector links to the system in 8 minutes. San Jose (SJC) is best for Silicon Valley trips; VTA light rail and Caltrain connect it to the city in about an hour. Rideshares from SFO to downtown cost $35–$55.

Stay near Union Square or the Embarcadero for transit, in Hayes Valley or the Mission for restaurants, or in the Marina for the Golden Gate. Sourdough and Dungeness crab at the Wharf are tourist essentials; the Mission's burritos ($12–$15) and dim sum in the Richmond are the local ones. Bring layers: summer afternoons at Ocean Beach can be 55°F.

Best time to visit

September and October are the warmest, clearest months. Spring (April–May) is green and mild. Summer fog ('Karl') keeps the coast cool; winter is rainy but inexpensive.

Where to stay

Neighborhoods our travelers like: Union Square, The Mission, North Beach, Hayes Valley, The Marina.

Flights to San Francisco: typical round-trip fares

What economy round trips to SFO usually cost from major US cities, alongside the lowest live fare we can see in the next 90 days. Prices are per traveler and include taxes.

From	Flight time	Typical fare	Lowest live fare	Actions
New York (JFK)	6h 25m	$232	$239 · Wed, Oct 14	Search dates →
Chicago (ORD)	4h 35m	$178	$159 · Tue, Oct 13	Search dates →
Dallas (DFW)	3h 50m	$158	$115 · Tue, Nov 3	Search dates →
Los Angeles (LAX)	1h 25m	$78	$63 · Tue, Nov 3	Search dates →
Seattle (SEA)	2h 10m	$108	$80 · Wed, Oct 14	Search dates →
Boston (BOS)	6h 40m	$248	$239 · Tue, Dec 1	Search dates →

Typical fares are editorial estimates for economy round trips booked 3–8 weeks out. Live fares refresh several times a day and are shown for the cheapest departure date we found.

Airports in San Francisco

What to do in San Francisco

The places our editors send first-time visitors.

1
Golden Gate Bridge
Walk or bike across (1.7 miles) to the Marin Headlands viewpoints, then ride back on the ferry from Sausalito.
2
Alcatraz
The audio tour narrated by former guards and inmates is one of the best in the country; book two or more weeks ahead.
3
The Ferry Building
Artisan food hall on the Embarcadero with a farmers' market Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday mornings.
4
Golden Gate Park
Larger than Central Park: the de Young museum, Japanese Tea Garden, the bison paddock and the Pacific at the far end.
5
The Mission District
Murals in Balmy and Clarion alleys, Dolores Park on a sunny afternoon, and the city's best burritos.

San Francisco weather by season

Average highs and lows in °F, with what each season means for fares and crowds.

Winter

58° / 47°

Rainy season; mild temperatures.

Spring

64° / 50°

Green hills, breezy afternoons.

Summer

68° / 55°

Foggy and cool at the coast, warm inland.

Fall

70° / 55°

The real summer — warm and clear.

Travel tips for San Francisco

Compare Oakland and San Jose fares: OAK is often $40–$80 cheaper than SFO from the West and Southwest, and BART connects both to the city.
Book Alcatraz tickets as soon as your dates are set — summer weekends sell out weeks ahead.
A Clipper card (or tapped credit card) works on Muni, BART, Caltrain and ferries.
Pack a warm layer even in August; the fog rolls in every afternoon at the coast.
Cable car lines at Powell Street are long; board the California Street line instead for the same experience with no wait.

San Francisco flights: frequently asked questions

Which Bay Area airport should I fly into?

SFO is closest to the city and has BART service to downtown in 30 minutes. Oakland (OAK) often has lower fares and is also on BART. San Jose (SJC) is best if you're headed to Silicon Valley.

How do I get from SFO to downtown San Francisco?

Take BART from the international terminal station — about 30 minutes to Powell Street or Embarcadero for around $10–$11. Rideshares cost $35–$55 and take 25–45 minutes.

Is San Francisco cold in summer?

Cooler than most people expect: afternoon fog keeps highs in the 60s near the coast, though it can be 20 degrees warmer in the Mission or across the bay. Bring a jacket.