Quick Guide
Early spring (March and April) and fall (September to November) are seasonal and ideal times to visit San Francisco. Bring a light jacket for cool nights, especially by the bay. Prices will spike for football games in the fall and baseball in the spring.
Late spring and summertime (May through August) in San Francisco are cooler than in most beach towns in California, and travel prices rise with the tourist influx.
Visas
Travelers from outside the United States will need a valid passport, as well as ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) eligibility or a full visa.
Money
Currency is in U.S. dollars, and ATMs are easily found.
Travel Health
Before traveling, research and prepare for what to do if you get sick while away. Get updated guidance on health and safety from the California Department of Public Health website.
Getting Here
San Francisco International Airport (SFO), 13 miles south of San Francisco, is the main hub for flying to the city. BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) high-speed rail connects SFO to the city, and the station is in the International Terminal. (Take the free SFO AirTrain to connect to BART.)
Getting Around
Every BART rider needs a Clipper Card, now available on your phone for contactless payments. You can take a cable car ride with your Clipper Card, too.
Local Lingo
The city’s iconic cable cars aren’t called streetcars — doing so is a dead giveaway that you’re not a local. The 415 is the area code and also a slang term that describes something uniquely San Franciscan. Tech Bros are Silicon Valley’s web wizards who came up with everything from Uber to Airbnb. Locals don’t call it Frisco. Ever.
Must-Have Apps
Insider Tip
Hiking the hills is a favorite form of San Francisco calf-building, and Bernal Hill is a favorite for locals and travelers alike. The 360-degree views, from the Golden Gate Bridge to the soaring skyscrapers downtown, make it a highly Instagram-worthy panorama.
Early spring (March and April) and fall (September to November) are seasonal and ideal times to visit San Francisco. Bring a light jacket for cool nights, especially by the bay. Prices will spike for football games in the fall and baseball in the spring.
Late spring and summertime (May through August) in San Francisco are cooler than in most beach towns in California, and travel prices rise with the tourist influx.
Visas
Travelers from outside the United States will need a valid passport, as well as ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) eligibility or a full visa.
Money
Currency is in U.S. dollars, and ATMs are easily found.
Travel Health
Before traveling, research and prepare for what to do if you get sick while away. Get updated guidance on health and safety from the California Department of Public Health website.
Getting Here
San Francisco International Airport (SFO), 13 miles south of San Francisco, is the main hub for flying to the city. BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) high-speed rail connects SFO to the city, and the station is in the International Terminal. (Take the free SFO AirTrain to connect to BART.)
Getting Around
Every BART rider needs a Clipper Card, now available on your phone for contactless payments. You can take a cable car ride with your Clipper Card, too.
Local Lingo
The city’s iconic cable cars aren’t called streetcars — doing so is a dead giveaway that you’re not a local. The 415 is the area code and also a slang term that describes something uniquely San Franciscan. Tech Bros are Silicon Valley’s web wizards who came up with everything from Uber to Airbnb. Locals don’t call it Frisco. Ever.
Must-Have Apps
Insider Tip
Hiking the hills is a favorite form of San Francisco calf-building, and Bernal Hill is a favorite for locals and travelers alike. The 360-degree views, from the Golden Gate Bridge to the soaring skyscrapers downtown, make it a highly Instagram-worthy panorama.
Did you know?
San Francisco fog not only has a name (Karl), but it also has an Instagram account with more than 250,000 followers. You can tag Karl, who’s verified, while posting your own shots of him creeping over the Golden Gate Bridge.
