San Francisco Hotels

San Francisco Hotels

San Francisco is a laid-back, sun-kissed port city set in northern California. Famed for its liberal bohemian atmosphere, this alternative city sings with trendy art galleries, bijou boutiques, and fine fusion-cuisine restaurants. History-buffs will go wild for San Francisco’s old-world trundling cable car network and heritage museums, while outdoorsy-types will love the city’s flowery palm-studded public gardens and surrounding nature trails.

Things to see

Begin your balmy San Francisco morning by taking a trip to the northern end of the city, where the buzzing streets fade out into the glistening blue waters of San Francisco Bay. Here, you’ll discover the Golden Gate Bridge, a vast 1.7 mile-long suspension bridge painted fire-orange and punctuated with classic Art Deco lanterns. After, stroll around the nearby Golden Gate Park, a sweeping green space speckled with firs and glistening lakes. At the park’s eastern end, nature-lovers will find the Conservatory of Flowers, a Victorian greenhouse containing an abundance of exotic plants and trees. After, architecture-enthusiasts should visit the Palace of Fine Arts, a gigantic Roman and Greek-revival structure of white-washed colonnades and a monumental smooth-domed rotunda, gathered around glistening ponds and tranquil meadows. Those interested in the darker side of San Francisco history should take a tour of Alcatraz Island, where you can walk around the enormous former Alcatraz Prison complex.

Hotels in San Francisco

There are many cheap no-frills 2 star hotels in San Francisco, ideal for easy-going city explorers looking for an affordable place to bed down - here, you’ll enjoy cosy air-conditioned rooms with free WiFi. The 3 star hotels in San Francisco, on the other hand, offer spacious ensuite rooms, casual Cal-cuisine restaurants, and even in-house fitness centres. For a taste of city luxury, stay in one of the 4 star San Francisco hotels, where you’ll enjoy health clubs, fine dining restaurants, and refreshing indoor pools - not to mention impeccable concierge and valet services.

Where to stay

Travellers searching for a buzzing central city vibe with easy access to many of San Francisco’s top sights should stay in the waterfront Fisherman’s Wharf neighbourhood near Downtown, where piers and boardwalks overflow with thrumming fresh seafood restaurants. Just south of here, you’ll find the upscale Nob Hill neighbourhood - home to some of San Francisco’s most ritzy hotels, steep hills, and iconic cable cars routes. Hip city adventurers looking for full immersion in San Francisco’s counter-cultural scene should stay in the inner-city Haight area, where record stores, book shops, and fashion boutiques line-up beside quirky hole-in-the-wall restaurants and rooftop bars.

How to get to San Francisco

San Francisco International Airport is based 13 miles south of Downtown - a huge hub of global aviation serving direct flights from many top European cities, including London, Amsterdam, and Paris. From the airport, either hop in a taxicab outside any of the main terminals - a ride to the central area will take around 20 minutes, outside of traffic - or take the BART rapid rail train. This inexpensive train runs every 15 to 20 minutes from the airport, and goes straight to stations in Downtown San Francisco. Once there, get around with the city’s mix of streetcars, cable cars, metro subway lines, and buses.