Essentials
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Age restrictions
You must be over 21 years of age to drink legally in San Francisco. Expect to show ID when buying alcohol in bars, clubs, and restaurants.
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Children
San Francisco is very kid-friendly, with an abundance of playgrounds, restaurants that offer children’s menus, bathrooms equipped with changing tables for babies, and lots of open space. Most hotels allow children to stay in parents’ rooms at no additional charge.
Good Internet resources for family travel include www.familytravelforum.com, www.familytravelnetwork.com, www.travelwithyourkids.com, www.deliciousbaby.com, www.thefamilytravelfiles.com, and www.redtri.com.
Climate
San Francisco weather can change significantly from hour to hour and between neighborhoods. Spring is warm and sunny (average high in April 63°F/17°C; low 50°F/10°C), while summers can be overcast and typified by fog (average high in July 66°F/19°C; low 54°F/12°C). Come September and October, the summer chill is replaced with beautifully mild, sunny days (average high in September 70°F/21°C; low 56°F/14°C). Rainstorms (no snow) appear in December and January (average high in January 56°F/14°C; low 46°F/8°C).
Clothing
Plan for variable weather and bring clothes that can be layered, as well as comfortable walking shoes. A raincoat and umbrella are vital for rainy winter months. The city’s casual vibe means jeans, T-shirts, and tennis shoes are ubiquitous on streets and in many restaurants and entertainment venues. However, fancier eateries and nightclubs warrant something hipper.
Crime and safety
Travelers should exercise common sense, avoiding seedy neighborhoods and being cautious about walking around alone and at night. Avoid parks after dark. Neighborhoods with less safe reputations include the Tenderloin, Civic Center, Western Addition, the Lower Haight, the Mission south of 24th Street, South of Market above 5th Street, and the Bayview district.
Customs
Adult visitors staying longer than 72 hours may bring the following into the country duty-free: 1 liter of wine or liquor; 100 cigars (non-Cuban), or 3lbs of tobacco, or 200 cigarettes; and gifts valued under $100.
No food (even in cans) or plants are permissible. Visitors may also arrive and depart with up to $10,000 currency without needing to declare it. For the most up-to-date information, refer to the US Customs and Border Protection website (www.cbp.gov).
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Disabled travelers
The city’s topography presents challenges to those who have mobility problems, but San Francisco is relatively “disabled-friendly.”
Societies that can provide useful information include MossRehab (tel: 800-2255-6677; www.mossresourcenet.org) and the Society for Accessible Travel & Hospitality (SATH; tel: 212-447-7284; www.sath.org).
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Electricity
Electricity in the US is 110 Volts, 60 Hertz AC. Flat-blade, two-pronged plugs are typical, though some points have three-pronged sockets. Most foreign appliances need a transformer and/or plug adapter.
Embassies and consulates
Australia: tel: 536-1970; www.dfat.gov.au.
Canada: tel: 834-3180; www.sanfrancisco.gc.ca.
Ireland: tel: 392-4214.
New Zealand: tel: 399-1255; www.nzembassy.com/usa.
South Africa: tel: 202-232-4400; www.saembassy.org.
UK: tel: 617-1300.
Details for other embassies and consulates can be found in the Yellow Pages.
Emergency numbers
For ambulance, fire, or police, dial 911; if you need to call from a public phone, no coins are needed.
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Festivals
Check www.sanfrancisco.travel/article/event-calendar#/94112-san-francisco/all/today for festival and events listings.
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Health
Drugstores (Pharmacies)
Some medicines that are available over the counter at home may require a prescription in the US. Branches of 24-hour Walgreens drug-store include:
498 Castro Street, tel: 861-3136; 3201 Divisadero Street, tel: 931-6417.
Additional Walgreens branches are open late.
Insurance and Hospitals
Healthcare is private and can be very expensive, especially if you need to be hospitalized. Foreign visitors should always ensure that they have full medical insurance covering their stay before traveling to the US. The following hospitals have 24-hour emergency rooms:
California Pacific Medical Center
Castro Street at Duboce Avenue; tel: 415-600-6000; www.cpmc.org.
Saint Francis Memorial Hospital
900 Hyde Street; tel: 353-6300; www.saintfrancismemorial.org.
San Francisco General Hospital
1001 Potrero Avenue; tel: 206-8000.
UCSF Medical Center
505 Parnassus Avenue; tel: 476-1000; www.ucsfhealth.org.
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Internet
Many cafes and some hotels have free or inexpensive Wi-Fi, and public library branches provide free web access (San Francisco Public Library; tel: 557-4400; http://sfpl.org).
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LGBT travelers
San Francisco is internationally known as one of the world’s most welcoming places for gay and lesbian travelers. The most predominantly gay district is the Castro. The best sources for information are two free weeklies: the Bay Area Reporter (www.ebar.com) and the Bay Area Times (www.sfbaytimes.com). The Center (1800 Market Street; tel: 865-5555; www.sfcenter.org) is also nexus for the LGBT community, and has an information desk, library, web access, bulletin boards, and cafe.
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Media
The largest regional newspaper is the San Francisco Chronicle (www.sfgate.com); its Sunday ‘Pink Pages’ list art, music, and entertainment events. Free alternative weeklies are found in newspaper boxes, cafes, and bars. The main weeklies are SF Weekly (www.sfweekly.com), San Francisco Bay Times (www.sfbaytimes.com), and Bay Area Reporter (www.ebar.com). The last two are gay- and lesbian-oriented and easily found in the Castro. Online guides include www.sfstation.com, Laughing Squid (http://squidlist.com/events), Flavorpill (http://sf.flavorpill.net), MetroWize (www.metrowize.com), and Nitevibe (www.nitevibe.com). Two city magazines are San Francisco (www.sanfranmag.com) and 7x7 (www.7x7.com).
Money
Currency
The dollar ($) is divided into 100 cents (¢). Common coins are the penny (1¢), nickel (5¢), dime (10¢), and quarter (25¢). Common bills are $1, $5, $10, $20, $50, and $100.
Banks and currency exchange
Bank hours are generally Monday to Friday, from about 9am to 5pm. Some open on Saturdays. It’s best to change foreign currency at ATMs, airports, and major banks downtown
ATMs
ATMs are found at banks, some stores and bars, and charge varying usage fees: check also with your bank at home.
Traveler’s checks
Though not nearly as common as they once were, banks, stores, restaurants, and hotels generally accept traveler’s checks in US dollars.
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Police
The emergency police number is 911 (no coins needed). The non-emergency number for the police is 553-0123.
Postal services
Post offices open at 8–9am and close at 5–6pm, Monday through Friday; the post office in the Macy’s department store on Union Square (tel: 956-0131) is also open on Saturday and Sunday.
US Postal Service: tel: 800-275-8777; www.usps.com.
Public holidays in California
New Year’s Day (Jan 1); Martin Luther King Jr Day (3rd Mon in Jan); President’s Day (3rd Mon in Feb); Cesar Chavez Day (March 31); Memorial Day (Last Mon in May); Independence Day (July 4); Labor Day (1st Mon in Sept); Veterans Day (Nov 11); Thanksgiving Day (4th Thu in Nov); day after Thanksgiving (4th Friday in Nov); and Christmas Day (Dec 25).
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Smoking
Smoking laws are strict, and smoking is banned in many public places such as offices, shops, restaurants, and bars. Many hotels are completely non-smoking and impose heavy fines on violators. The legal smoking age is 18.
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Taxes
In San Francisco, a 8.75 percent sales tax is added to the price of all goods and services. Hotels charge a 15 percent tax that generally will not be included in quoted rates.
Telephones
Local calls are inexpensive; long-distance calls are not. Public phones accept coins and calling cards. The San Francisco area code is 415; the country code is 1. Toll-free numbers begin 1-800, 1-888, 1-877, or 1-866.
Directory enquiries: 411.
US calls outside your area code: 1 + area code + phone number.
International calls: 011+ country code + phone number.
Operator: 0 for assistance with local calls; 00 for international calls.
Time zones
San Francisco is on Pacific Standard Time. PST is three hours behind Eastern Standard Time (New York) and eight hours behind Greenwich Mean Time (London).
Tipping
Restaurants: 20 percent (even if you were unsatisfied with the service you should tip). Most restaurants add a service charge automatically for parties of six or more.
Taxis: 10–15 percent.
Bars: 10–15 percent, or at least $1–2 per drink.
Coat check: $1–2 per coat.
Door attendants: $1–2 for hailing a cab or bringing in bags.
Porters: $1–2 per bag.
Valet parking: $5–10.
Concierge: $5–10.
Maids: $3–5 per day.
Hairdressers and salons: 15–20 percent.
Tourist information
Visitor Information Center of San Francisco: 900 Market Street; tel: 391-2000; http://www.sanfrancisco.travel/visitor-information-center; Nov–Apr Mon–Fri 9am–5pm, Sat 9am–3pm (May–Oct also Sun 9am–3pm), January 30-Feb 7 Sun 9am-3pm. The center is down the stairway near the cable-car turntable at Market and Powell streets, and supplies brochures and maps. Call for a listing of monthly events (in multiple languages).
Transportation
A major hub for flights from all over the world, San Francisco is easily reached by air, while visitors from other parts of the United States can opt to travel by rail or bus. Once here, the city and its outlying areas are comfortably navigable by public transportation.
Getting to San Francisco
By air
San Francisco International Airport (SFO; 1 McDonnell Road; tel: 650-821-8211; www.flysfo.com) is the major international airport for northern California. From Europe, all the major airlines offer non-stop flights or connections via New York, Chicago, or Los Angeles. It also receives non-stop, or one-stop, flights from all the principal Pacific airports.
Despite being 13 miles away, downtown San Francisco is easy to reach. Taxis and shuttles line the inner circle of the transportation zones of the Arrivals/Baggage Claim Level, while BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit), located at the Departures/Ticketing Level at the International Terminal and accessible from the Domestic Terminal by the Airtrain, takes passengers to downtown San Francisco and across the bay to various cities, for a minimal cost. The area is blanketed by Wi-Fi, which can be used for a fee.
The Oakland International Airport (OAK; 1 Airport Drive, Oakland; tel: 510-563-3300; www.flyoakland.com) is located 4 miles south of the city’s downtown, and is accessible by BART. A hub for low-cost carriers, OAK is often a more economical alternative to the bigger and busier SFO.
The smallest of the three airports, Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC; 1732 North 1st Street, San Jose; tel: 408-501-7600; www.sjc.org) is nearly 50 miles from downtown San Francisco.
By train
While Amtrak (Emeryville depot, 5885 Horton Street, Emeryville; information line: 800-872-7245; www.amtrak.com), the cross-continental passenger rail line, does not connect directly to San Francisco, it has a free shuttle to deliver passengers to and from the depot in nearby Emeryville.
By bus
The Transbay Terminal (425 Mission Street; information line: 800-231-2222; www.greyhound.com) is a major hub for the transcontinental Greyhound bus service.
The Temporary Transbay Terminal, (located on the block bounded by Folsom, Howard, Beale and Main Streets in San Francisco: 597-4620; www.transbaycenter.org/project/temporary-terminal), is also a hub for transcontinental Amtrak and Greyhound service.
The Green Tortoise (494 Broadway; information line: 800-8678-6473; www.greentortoise.com; tel: 956-7500) is an alternative to Greyhound or Amtrak.
By car
San Francisco is easy to reach by car. Interstates 101 and 80 pass through the city, while Interstates 5 and 99 are not too far away in the Central Valley. State Highway 1 runs along the coast of California and the western part of San Francisco.
Getting around San Francisco
For help navigating the entire Bay Area public transit system, including Muni buses and Metro streetcars, and BART, call 511 or look online at www.511.org; 511 offers assistance with planning trips using public transportation, traffic, and drive-time information.
BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit)
Fast and efficient, BART (www.bart.gov) allows passengers to get around the Bay Area in comfort. All BART lines travel through San Francisco, extending to San Francisco International Airport and under the bay to Oakland, Oakland International Airport, Berkeley, and beyond. Stations provide maps that explain routes, fares, and automatic ticketing machines.
Four BART lines run through downtown and provide the quickest way to travel between downtown and the Mission district, or to reach Oakland and Berkeley.
Buses and Metro
Muni, the San Francisco Municipal Transit Agency, runs the city’s orange- and-white diesel and electric buses, streetcars which run on lightrail lines underground through downtown, the historic F-line streetcars (comprising a collection of vintage trams from all over the world), and cable cars.
Purchasing a map is recommended and will make a stay in San Francisco infinitely simpler. They cost $2 and are available at the Muni kiosks at the Powell and Market, and Powell and Beach cable-car terminals, as well as in some stores where general maps are sold. They are also posted at many Muni Metro and bus stops. One can also download iBart, an app for smartphone users that includes an interactive map with live departure and arrival times, total trip time, and exact fare pricing.
For all Muni Metro and bus lines, adult fare is $2.25. Exact change is necessary, but transfers are given, allowing you to transfer different Muni Metro or bus lines within 90 minutes. Ride without limit on Muni-operated transport, including the cable cars, by using 1-, 3-, or 7-day visitor ‘Passports.’ They are sold at the baggage claim at San Francisco International Airport, on the mezzanine level of the Montgomery Muni Metro station, major cable-car terminals, and the kiosk at Bay and Taylor streets. For a list of other places where passes can be purchased and for route planning and general information, see www.sfmta.com. For up-to-the-minute information on when the vehicle you are waiting for will arrive, refer to www.nextmuni.com.
Cable cars
Cable cars are also operated by Muni, but are the exception to most of the Muni rules. Fares can be purchased at the kiosk at each terminal or when you board. Drivers give exact change but not transfers.
Taxis
Taxis are a convenient but expensive way to get about when the majority of San Francisco’s public transit shuts down around 12.30am. They hover around popular tourist or nightlife spots, but in out-of-the-way locations it is advisable to call a radio-dispatched taxi.
DeSoto Cab Company, tel: 970-1300
Green Cab, tel: 626-4733
Luxor Cab Company, tel: 828-4141
Yellow Cab, tel: 333-3333
Alternatively, mobile ride request companies are often a less expensive and more reliable option to taxis. An account with these companies must be set up and their app must be downloaded on your smartphone in order to request ride service.
Uber: www.uber.com
Lyft: www.lyft.com
Cycling
Around San Francisco, there are plenty of places to ride that are reasonably flat. Cycling through Golden Gate Park is a favorite, especially on Sundays, when many of the roads are vehicle-free. Bikes can be rented hourly or for the day, with rates varying by type of bike, but usually $20–60 per day and $7–10 per hour.
Driving
San Francisco is a difficult city in which to drive and park, often taxing the most experienced drivers. It is crisscrossed by one-way streets, and the fast-paced driving culture can easily unnerve any visitor. If it is necessary to rent a car, all the major car-rental companies have outlets at San Francisco International Airport and around the city.
Getting around the Bay Area
Caltrain
Caltrain (main San Francisco depot, 700 4th Street; information line: 800-660-4287; www.caltrain.org) runs alongside Highway 101 to San Jose, with limited extensions. It is largely a commuter train, but for visitors headed to the Peninsula or the South Bay, it is an enjoyable ride and accommodates passengers with bikes. Caltrain’s terminus is near the AT&T Ballpark and many San Francisco Muni bus and Metro lines. Every Caltrain stop has an electronic ticket machine.
Ferries
Many locals use ferries for commuting, but for visitors they can provide a great scenic and environmental alternative to driving. Departing from Fisherman’s Wharf or the Ferry Building, they travel to Angel Island and throughout the North and East Bay areas. Tickets can be purchased at the ticket windows next to the ferry terminals.
Blue and Gold Fleet, Pier 41; tel: 773-1188; www.blueandgoldfleet.com.
Golden Gate Ferry, Ferry Building, The Embarcadero at Market Street; tel: 455-2000; www.goldengateferry.org.
Intercity buses
Neighboring transit systems also connect San Francisco with other Bay Area cities. These buses can be caught downtown or at the Transbay Terminal.
Golden Gate Transit, Information line: 455-2000; www.goldengate.org.
Alameda Contra-Costa County Transit District, Information line: 510-891-4700; www.actransit.org.
San Mateo County Transit District, Information line: 510-817-1717; www.samtrans.org.
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Visa information
Visit the US Department of State web site (www.travel.state.gov) or tel: 202-663-1225 for information about visas.
Canadians traveling by air must present a valid passport for entry. Visitors from the UK, Australia, New Zealand, and Ireland qualify for the visa waiver program, and therefore do not need a visa for stays of less than 90 days, as long as they have a valid 10-year machine-readable passport and a return ticket. However, they must apply online for authorization at least 72 hours before traveling at https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov. Citizens of South Africa need a visa. All foreign visitors have their two index fingers scanned and a digital photograph taken at the port of entry. The process takes only 10–15 seconds.
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Websites
Some helpful sites include:
www.sfgate.com (San Francisco Chronicle)
www.sanfrancisco.travel (San Francisco Travel)