Category / General Visitor Information

by Discover San Francisco

Getting Around San Francisco: Guide to SF Transportation

San Francisco is the 2nd most walkable city in the United States and is only 7 x 7 miles. You’ll definitely be doing a lot of walking during your stay in San Francisco, but here are some transportation options for when you don’t feel like walking up its famous hills.

Public Transportation – MUNI

The San Francisco Municipal Railway (MUNI) consists of buses, streetcars, and cable cars all throughout the city. You can pay by cash, MUNI paper ticket, mobile app, or clipper card (reloadable contactless smart card for fare collection that can be used all over the Bay Area). You pay a lower fare when paying by mobile app or clipper card. Children under 4 can ride for free. You can also purchase a 1-day, 3-day, or 7-day Visitor Passport, which allows unlimited rides on all MUNI buses, streetcars, and cable cars.

Cable Cars

As of September 2021, cable cars in San Francisco are fully operational after service was halted during the height of the pandemic. Riding on the cable cars is part of the quintessential SF tourist experience. Note that cable cars lines can get quite long (> 1 hour wait times), they cost more than the buses and streetcars ($8 vs. $2.50 on clipper card), and the ticket counts only one way.

Bikes and Scooters

Walk down any touristy area in San Francisco and you’ll find a plethora of different bike and scooter options. Download the app beforehand, create an account, locate the bike/scooter you want, activate it using the app by scanning the QR code on the bike/scooter, and make your way around the city. There are also a lot of in-person bike rentals near Fisherman’s Wharf and other touristy areas, but you will have to return them to specific areas in the city in-person while some app rental options allow you to drop the bike wherever you want.

For Spin, it costs $1 to unlock the scooter plus an additional $0.15 – $0.39 per minute (depending on where you are riding, the minute rate varies between these amounts). Small applicable taxes and fees may also be added on the trip — again, based on where you are riding. 

Bike Option

Currently BayWheels (owned by Lyft) is the only available option for bikeshare in San Francisco. Lyft offers two different types of bikes: classic and hybrid ebike. Both bikes require a $3 unlocking fee. You can return the bike at any docking station scattered throughout the city. While you can also dock your bike to any bike rack, note that Lyft will charge you $2 for not docking it at one of their stations and also charge you $25 for not leaving the bike in a service area. Note that you can’t ride these bikes across the Golden Gate Bridge to the Marin (it’s not part of the BayWheels service area) unless you want to pay the $25 penalty.

Scooter Options

There are several scooter options and they are not much different. Most of them have the same $1 unlocking fee with the additional $0.15 – $0.40 per minute fee. The rate can change based on the availability of scooters and time of day (similar to Uber, it can charge you more during busier times). If you’re sensitive about money/budget, then I recommend downloading the multiple options and checking which scooter option is the most affordable (similar to checking between Uber and Lyft for more affordable rides).

Rideshare (Uber + Lyft)

Uber and Lyft have gotten exponentially more expensive lately so be prepared for higher than normal prices. However, it’s highly recommended that you take Lyft or Uber if you’re planning on going to a restaurant or bar in a neighborhood you wouldn’t want to park in or walk to (e.g. Tenderloin or Civic Center). Some of the best restaurants and bars in the city are in sketchier neighborhoods and the safest way to get to them is to use a rideshare app.

Taxis

Taxis in San Francisco are not as common as they are in New York, but you’ll still sometimes see them around the Financial District and in some touristy areas. I would not recommend hailing down a taxi to get around the city because pricing usually won’t be much different from Uber/Lyft – the only difference will be the lower quality app experience and possible longer wait times. Unless you’re in an absolute rush and a taxi is already waiting near you, rideshare is the better experience.

Rental Car

Unless you’re planning on driving up to Sequoia or to other parts of the Bay Area outside of the city while visiting, it’s highly advised that you avoid renting a car. Driving a car in San Francisco can be quite stressful – driving up and down hills can be nerve-wracking, there are numerous one-way streets, you will have to navigate around cable cars, and streets can be quite narrow. Parking can also be a big pain because it can be difficult to find, spaces are quite small, and parking on a hill is no easy feat (remember to turn your wheels in towards the curb!). Finally, San Francisco has a big problem with petty smash-and-grab theft. Do not leave any belongings in your rental car. At times, some thieves will smash windows even when no belongings can be seen inside the car.

Save yourself a headache and avoid renting a car if you plan on staying within the city during your stay in the Bay Area. Only rent a car when you’re looking to explore the East Bay or the Marin.

Tour Buses

Tour Buses (e.g. BigBus San Francisco) can be convenient if you want to hit all the major attractions around San Francisco. If you’re looking to ride across the Golden Gate Bridge or visit Muir Woods, it can be a good transportation option. However, if you’re okay with taking more initiative in planning and are good with directions, taking public transport (MUNI) will save you a lot more money.

by Discover San Francisco

The Best Time to Visit San Francisco

When is the best time to visit San Francisco? We’ve broken the best times to visit San Francisco depending on your preferences in weather, cost, & seasonal events.

Each Season Summarized

SPRING | March – May

Spring (March – May) is a good time to visit if you want affordable hotel rates and are willing to deal with cold weather (not as bad as winter) and chances of light rain. You will be able to avoid large crowds of other tourists since tourism season will not be in full force until the weather gets warmer in the summer and fall.

  • WEATHER: While not in peak rain season, there are still possibilities of light rain (especially in March) so an umbrella or a waterproof jacket is recommended. Average daytime temperature are in the 60s while nighttime temperatures will be between high 40s to mid 50s.
  • TRAFFIC: Tourist traffic will increase as the weather starts to get warmer. There will be fewer tourists than summer & fall but more than the wintertime.
  • COST: Prices of hotels will start creeping up at this time but will still be cheaper than summer and fall.

MARCH

APRIL

MAY

SUMMER | June – August

Summers are not as warm as you think in San Francisco and it will still be slightly chilly (but thankfully no rain!) with LOTS of fog. Tourism is at its peak during this time and you will run into big crowds at major SF tourist destinations. A lot of families will be visiting this time of year since summer break is in session. Hotel rates will be more expensive than in spring or winter but still cheaper than the fall. If possible, try to avoid the summer season if you can since you will face high hotel rates and large crowds and the weather is not as nice as it is in the fall.

  • WEATHER: Ironically, summers are quite cold in San Francisco. It will not be sunny and warm enough to give you a tan – you might be better off in Los Angeles or San Diego.
  • TRAFFIC: Tourism season is at its peak during this time. It will be busy, busy, busy. Be ready for large crowds at Pier 39 and the Golden Gate Bridge.
  • COST: Hotel + flights will be more expensive than the winter and spring but cheaper than the fall (when prices will reach a peak).

JUNE

JULY

AUGUST

FALL | September – November

Fall is a great time to visit San Francisco if you’re looking for the best weather. SF is the warmest during this time (in the 70s and warmer than during the summer) and you will have sunny skies. Not surprisingly, be prepared for the highest hotel rates of the year during this time. While not as busy as the summer, tourist traffic will still be substantial and there are a couple major tech conferences happening during this time – which are the reason behind the sky-high hotel rates. If you can afford the higher hotel rates, it is highly recommended that you visit San Francisco during the fall for the best weather of the year.

  • WEATHER: The weather will be the most pleasant during this time – temperatures will be in the 70s with sunny skies (you might get a little sweaty as you climb up some hills). San Francisco is actually warmer in the fall than it is during the summer.
  • TRAFFIC: While not as busy as summer, autumn in San Francisco will still have a number of visitors. There are also a handful of major tech conferences happening in certain weeks where traffic will hit a peak (and as such costs will skyrocket).
  • COST: The cost of hotel and flights will reach a peak during September and October (thanks to key tech conferences happening during this time) but will fall in November.

SEPTEMBER

OCTOBER

NOVEMBER

WINTER | December – February

If you care about affordability and cheaper hotel rates, then visiting San Francisco in the wintertime is your best bet. Hotel rates will be the lowest during this time but be aware that this is SF’s rainy season and an umbrella or waterproof jacket will be a must. Temperatures will be in the 40s and 50s. The city will empty out and become more quiet as it reaches the holiday season as many people leave to visit their families.

  • WEATHER: Not surprisingly, it will be quite cold and wet (rainy season). You will need an umbrella/waterproof jacket. On a positive note, we don’t have snow! Temperatures will not surprisingly be the lowest during this time. Expect mid 50s in the daytime and mid 40s at night.
  • TRAFFIC: Tourism is at a low during this time since the cold/wet weather is not the most appealing. Also, many people leave the city during Thanksgiving and Christmas time to visit family living outside of the city so it will be very quiet.
  • COST: Hotels and flights will be the most affordable during this time due to the low tourist demand – which is influenced by the cold and wet weather.

DECEMBER

JANUARY

FEBRUARY

Best Weather

If you’re looking for the best weather, visiting SF in the fall will be your best bet.

Graph of Average Temperature
Source: U.S. News & World Travel Report / National Climatic Data Center

Many San Francisco visitors mistakenly believe that summer is the best time for the nicest weather but in reality, summertime can be quite chilly in San Francisco (still in the low 50s to mid 60s) with the most fog. Fall is the best time for optimal weather – sunny skies with the warmest temperatures. However, note that even during the fall, temperatures can drop to the mid 50s and you will definitely need a nice jacket or keep a few thin layers unless you want to be left shivering at night.

Source: U.S. News & World Travel Report / National Climatic Data Center

While San Francisco doesn’t have any snow, it does have plenty of rain with peak precipitation in the wintertime and bringing an umbrella/waterproof jacket will be necessary. There are chances of light rain in the spring and late fall. While there is no rain during the summer and most of fall – be prepared for lots of fog (which hits a peak in summertime, surprisingly!).

Most Affordable

If you’re looking for the most affordable hotel rates, winter is the best time for you.

Average One Night Hotel Stay in San Francisco By Month (2013 – 2019) | Source: Statista

Hotel rates are the most affordable during winter and spring – when tourist traffic is relatively low and the city becomes surprisingly more empty as many people (who are originally from outside SF) leave the city during the holiday season. Hotel rates begin to spike in the summer and reach a high in the fall. Tourism hits a peak in the summer months when families with children visit the city in droves as summer break comes into session. There are several major tech conferences happening in the fall – which are to blame for the skyrocketing prices in those months.

Key Seasonal Events

JANUARY
FEBRUARY
MARCH
APRIL
MAY
JUNE
JULY
AUGUST
SEPTEMBER
OCTOBER
NOVEMBER
DECEMBER