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

BART, Uber

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

BART, Uber

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.