San Francisco Travel Tips: 11 Things to Know Before You Go
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- Опубликовано: 16 май 2019
- Things YOU need to know before YOU go to San Francisco in California. San Francisco is the 4th most populated city in California and has a population of 800,000 people. San Francisco is known for year round fog, the golden gate bridge, cable cars, Victorian Houses, sweeping bay views, and of course Alcatraz. One of America's most unique & distinctive cities.
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2 - Weather
I refer to San Francisco as the foggy city.
Mark Twain’s famous quote: “The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco.”
The weather varies by hour, and by neighborhood. It could be 70 degrees and Sunny in one spot, and 50 degrees with pea-soup fog in the other.
September and October are the warmest and sunniest months.
Wear layers you can easily remove.
3 - Food:
Clam Chowder & Sourdough Bread
Seafood at Fisherman’s Wharf
Little Italy
Chinatown
Koi Palace by San Francisco Airport
Ferry Building for lot’s of local food.
Cowgirl creamery has good cheese.
Ghirardelli for chocolate and ice cream
4 - Hotels:
SF can be quite expensive
Weekends are often cheaper
I like Union Square. Most central, you can take the BART here. Cable car, street cars.
2nd choice: Embarcadero
I dont like fishermans wharf.. too touristy.
Definitely stay within the city.. dont be crossing the bay.
5 - Getting In:
3 Major Airports: SFO, OAK, SJC
SFO is 15 miles South of the city.
A strip of TARMAC surrounded by water.
The main airport, the major airlines all fly here.
Prone to weather delays (FOG)
Taxi or uber will cost about $60 and take between 25-60mins.
BART: $10 to Union Square and 35 mins. BART makes 4 stops in Downtown SF.
Oakland is 25 miles from SF, across the bay. Less foggy, so less delays. Good if you are visiting Napa. Lots of Southwest flights.
San Jose
60 miles south of SF. Good if you are visiting Santa Cruz, Monterey, or Carmel. You can do a one way rental car and return to SFO.
6 - Getting Around:
Cable Car: San Francisco classic from 1873. It’s amazing they still run these.
Best place to ride… on the outside! Want to stop… just yell out you want to stop!
7 - POPOS:
What’s a Popo? Privately owned public open spaces.
They come in the form of urban gardens, plazas, but the best ones are on rooftops.
Neither obvious nor clearly marked, POPOS are all over downtown San Francisco-and everyone is welcome
8 - Chinatown:
SF has the largest Chinatown outside of Asia. It's also the oldest in North America. It is around one mile long by one and a half miles wide. Covers 24 square blocks. More than 100,000 people live in Chinatown. It's the most densely populated neighborhood in the city and in fact the most densely population neighborhood in the US west of Manhattan.
It really is a city within the city. Chinatown has it's own customs, languages, places of worship, social clubs, and identity.
Lots of great Dim sum joints, bakeries, tea shops, and this is where the American fortune cookie was invented.
More visitors come to Chinatown than the Golden Gate Bridge.
Portsmouth Square bustles with activity such as T'ai Chi and old men playing Chinese chess.
9 - Fisherman’s Wharf:
Probably the most touristy part of San Francisco, particularly because it’s next to the Golden Gate Bridge.
Alcatraz Tours leave from here. Book in advance. More about that in a bit.
Visit Boudin, Ghirardelli Chocolate Factory, and In-N-Out Burger.
They invested the Irish Coffee in the 1950’s at Buena Vista Cafe here.
And of course the Sea Lions
My favorite place is the arcade
10 - Alcatraz:
Probably the most famous prison in the US.
home to some of America’s most notorious criminals, Operated here from 1934 to 1963.
11 - Day Trips
Napa
Santa Cruz
Monterey / Carmel
3 nights in SF, 2 nights in Napa, 2 nights in Monterey/Santa Cruz, and maybe add a night or 2 in Silicon Valley if you are a tech nerd.
You might enjoy watching more of my travel videos from the San Francisco Bay Area in this playlist: • San Francisco Bay Area...
Santa Cruz Travel Guide: • Santa Cruz Travel Guide
Napa Travel Guide: • Napa Travel Tips: 10 T...
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so glad to see you doing California cities now too! double subbed!
Your videos are such an old cliche it's ridiculous !
Awesome
I’m a long time resident of downtown SF and this is a good video!
@@EKSKE Thanks Erin!
As a local, I wanted to add:
- EVERYONE wants to ride the cable cars, but think of it as just another bus line. There will be huge (HUGE) lines at both stops at the end of the line where the cable cars turn around, but like any bus you can also hop on from stops along the route and there's no line, though you'll have less seating options.
-This video has very touristy suggestions. Honestly I would avoid Pier 39 at all costs, I try to never take family there when they visit. It is all chain restaurants and overpriced gift shops. Go to Golden Gate Park, Ocean Beach, Baker Beach, or rent bikes and ride through the Presidio.
- A high percentage of workers commute to and from the city due to high costs of housing, very few actually live in SF. This means that you should avoid being on the roads between 6-8AM coming westbound or into SF and 4-6PM headed eastbound or out of SF, especially on Friday afternoons and especially if you aren't familiar with Bay Area traffic
- If you are here in the Spring or Summer try to see a Giants game - even if you aren't a baseball fan they have cheap bleacher seats and the food and views are amazing.
- Please realize just how big the Bay Area is - it is not just a day trip to the Napa Valley or Monterey, expect to spend over 4 hours in the car round trip either place
- There are a lot of discount hotels available throughout the city - beware that if it is a small hotel you run the risk of living in basically a tenement walkup with paper thin walls and the tiniest room you've ever seen. These are all over discount hotel sites.
- Don't underestimate how long the Golden Gate Bridge will take to walk across - it's almost two miles long and then you have to walk back 😄
Edit: No matter how sunny the weather SF has micro climates and between the fog, the wind, and the proximity to the water BABY does it get COLD. 75 and sunny? Bring a jacket. Trust me.
Thanks
Thank you I’m planning my trip for may and I’m trying to get so much info!!
Thanks 😊
I live near SF (I visit basically every month) and I’ve only been on the cable cars once. It’s more of a touristy fun thing in my opinion.
@Patricia Cullen Thanks!
As a local I'd say the number one thing to know is never leave the house without a hoodie or a jacket because the fog will roll in in the afternoon and it'll be the coldest winter you ever spent!
Great tip.. thanks Leslie!
The fact about the hoodie is very important. I also like to let people know about the microclimates.
Summers are cold. Always have a coat
@@znrctrnn The coldest winter i spent was summer in San Francisco.
@@YellowProductions The wind chill factor is a killer! That cold wind will go trough your bones!
Local here, I think you really did a great job! one thing you forgot, ferry trip to Sausalito!
Thanks SF DC! And thanks for the additional tip of the ferry trip to Sausilito!
if you can riding a bike to Sausalito is better, you then ride the ferry back to the city. If you ride you can go across the bridge and stop at Ft Baker and if you are really strong you can ride up hill to Battery Spencer.
what's that's I'm gong next year i need tips from a local!
@@Judy_R Is there a train that can be taken from Amtrak San Jose to Palo Alto or San Francisco?
Yes I am a native as well, and I think you did a wonderful job!
When he said u might want to avoid the tenderlion area 😂😂😂😂
Did he say TenderLION or is that your personal typo?
@@dang2443 Typo. The guy called it right Tenderloin.
The tenderloin has some really great food places though! Just go during the day and watch which side of the street you walk on and you'll be ok lol
@@magicprincesslive I do contract work in the TL and there are good spots, but go before the sun sets and look where you step.
Tenderloin has good Restaurants like Brenda's
Some good tips in San Francisco:
- Try to avoid BART, especially during rush hour. It is crowded, dark, smelly, and uncomfortable. Generally only use BART when coming from the airport and going to Oakland, Berkley, or other East Bay hotspots. If you aren't staying in the north Peninsula, you'll have to use CalTrain to get through the rest of the peninsula and to San Jose. CalTrain can be reached from BART at the 4th/King Station (via MUNI), or at Millbrae. CalTrain runs as frequently as every 15 minutes during peak hours, to hourly midday on weekdays, to every 90 minutes on weekends, so it's not as "show up and go" as BART and MUNI are.
- MUNI is best if you are staying within the city, however note what station/stop you are going to and what line goes there. Outbound usually means westbound, and Inbound usually means eastbound. SF Natives won't refer to it as the "Dark blue line" or the "purple line," we use the Letter/Name combo. The Lines are J Church, KT Ingleside/Third (K Ingleside runs through Market towards Balboa Park/West Portal Outbound, T Third Street runs through Market Inbound towards Bayshore/Embarcadero) L Taraval, M Ocean View, and N Judah. Only 2 lines, N and KT, run to Oracle Park and beyond, the other terminate at Embarcadero Station.
- Tony's Pizza Napoletana in North Beach is the best pizza IMO if you have time, and Marcello's (Cash Only) just outside of Castro Station is the best Pizza for a quick bite.
- Hayes Valley kind of feels like SoHo in New York, with lots of little shops here and there, just not so much designer luxury goods and more local boutiques and some really unique and interesting shops and eateries.
- Union Square and Fisherman's wharf are very touristy, there is so much more around the city than just that, such as the Presidio neighborhood, Balboa Park, Chinatown, Japan Town, the Mission, etc.
Thanks for the tips. I was told BART trains have a lot of homeless wandering and peeing, while Caltrain being more cleaner is quite inefficient. Me and my family will arrive SFO at about 8:30pm and I am considering renting a car, since we will be staying near at SFO (will take a domestic flight to SLC later on) and pbulic transportation to downtown is a bit of concern.
Sure, BART has its downfalls - but it's mega useful when coming from any other part of the bay. I'd much rather go from Concord to SF by BART than have to drive and pay the toll, deal with incompetent drivers, and the laughable lack of parking(unless throwing $20 for a spot in a poorly secured lot is cool with you.)
Was in SF in mid- October. Took BART (Saturday afternoon) from airport to Powell Street and it was just fine. Only cost $10, was not dirty and nobody hassled us. Our hotel (Parc 55) was about a 5-minute walk at most from station.
Very kind of you to share these tips. Thank you
I gotta add the best Mexican food spot in SF, Taqueria Los Coyotes on 16th St in The Mission. My pops literally lives right next to it.
J.R. Wavy chinos is up there on my list for a really good burrito 🌯
It’s called THE CITY. Signed, Native San Franciscan who especially enjoyed the 1960s thru 1980. Magical.
Forgot to mention Golden Gate Park! That’s where you find the Academy of Science museum and the De Young Museum and paddling boat rides and Japanese Tea Garden! Also, Japan Town is a neat area to explore.
GGP is a homeless encampment. Dont go and you won’t get killed. hoodline.com/2017/04/trio-sentenced-in-murders-of-golden-gate-park-tourist-marin-therapist
@Michael Asay when you last there? Where is a good place?
Michael Asay, nobody asked for your opinion but thank you for your insight on one bad part about the city when you can clearly find a way to get rid of them by getting away from where they are :)
Funky Chicken I live here lol 😂 there’s maybe 5 homeless people in the park and they r hippies. Security is in the park near the museums
And spun out hippies that jump out of the trees!
Nobody in SF calls it San Fran.
Maybe not geeks like YOU..
True. We just don’t say it and it sounds funny.
Ya, say “the city” instead.
Eddie Izzard had a funny quip about that
I have spent Hundreds of nights in SF, and I want to say this is a pretty solid Vlog. Good Job!!!
Thanks Jim!!!
I want to travel with my family to San Francisco. 👍👍👍 It is the historical and admirable city. We want to know American history and to develop a beautiful relationship with Americans.🙂
I appreciate your videos. So detailed and I love all of the effort you put in!
Lol at the accordion guy playing imperial march and titanic badly 😂
I had a great time staying in SF travelling all the way from Brazil. I spent 12 days in the city in January 2018. I heard the city is not quite the same after the pandemic, though. I'm glad I had the chance to go before that.
Thanks for the great video! It’s helped me out a lot in planning my trip! Looking forward to checking out your other videos
Thanks. Very helpful man!
#1 thing you should know about San Francisco is that you never call in San Fran. Call it S.F instead.
Don’t call it Frisco either, you’d be disrespecting Emperor Norton
Yep or “the city”
No one bothered me in tenderloin, been there a few xs
WHY THO?
San Fran. San Fran. San Fran.
My wife and absolutely love San Francisco. It's well and truly up there with our favourite citys. Coming from overseas one thing we were very impressed with was how user friendly and reasonably priced the public transport is.
I must say, my bank balance get's very nervous when I am watching your videos! :D
it's a garbage pit and ghost town now
Hi Chris, thank you for a great video about San Francisco! I am glad that it was not foggy when we spent there 2 days in February 2018. And yes, it was a great experience to cross under the Golden Gate twice with our cruise ship. The words of Gene Fowler came to my mind. "Every man should be allowed to love two cities - his own and San Francisco."
Thanks Reinhold!
@@YellowProductions You deserve it Chris! Other people here proposed a bay cruise too, so please let me add some of my impressions from those days, because this view even twice, when passed under Golden Gate 2018 with Costa Luminosa was so beautiful. ruclips.net/video/DBRT7gGPyCQ/видео.html
@@ReinholdSonntag hi
@@eddiew2325 Hi Eddie, I hope you are doing well.
Gorgeous vlog! Thanks for all the useful infos about SF
Thanks HepiMoni!
I'm from San Francisco and I have to say, your info is spot on! Great video!
Thanks CM99!
I just There for vacation this summer it it was breathtaking and it is one of my happy places
Fantastic vid, you really covered so many important topics. Thank you! 🤙🏽
Love it, thank you for sharing
First time in was in San Francisco was Sept 2001...it was my favorite city. Went back 15 years later and it got so expensive...had to stay at a hostel, but had a good time at the hostel.
Alcatraz was my favorite part of my trip and it sparked a huge interest of the history of it. I definitely recommend it.
Awesome Michael!
Do you think a tour of Alcatraz is doable with a person with limited mobility?
@@tgr.4550 I'll have to be completely honest with you, I really don't remember, as it's been about 10 years. I know the majority of it is wheelchair accessible, but I can't remember if there were steps to go in or not. I, myself have a disability and do remember it was quite a bit of walking, even for the basic tour we did, probably at least a mile on the island itself. The main struggle for me was navigating SF just to get to the boat. We elected to do a split ticket that took us to Alcatraz, then to Angel Island, which used to be a military base. Unless you're very interested in military history, I highly recommend not going and spending more time at Alcatraz. You might check with the tour company regarding accessibility. I don't know if the boats would be completely accessible, but I'd think they'd almost have to be at this point.
@@Studio23Media
That is a good idea.
I'll reach out to the tour company immediately.
Valuable information. Thanks!
This is really helpful, thank you!!!
You're so welcome!
Do a part 2 video: Golden Gate Park, Muir Woods, The Presidio, Twin Peaks. SF native here. Great video great content 👍👍
Thanks Erick! For next time I visit! :)
Baker Beach down by the Presidio
I never got to Muir Woods really wanted to go took the On and Off bus who said they go there only to find out, they don't be careful not to book somethings ahead of time!
Erick Zamora Fonseca I couldn’t agree more and if you take Bart to Dublin/Pleasanton or drive great winery’s in Livermore and do a drive of Highway 1 between them. Missed that for sure tide pools and great sights.
Looking forward to this video as San Francisco is one of the places at the top of our list to visit in the future. We really enjoyed your Singapore vids too! Have a lovely weekend! Best Regards from Copenhagen, Denmark - Maci and Maro 😁
Thanks Maci and Maro! Cheers to ya'll in Copenhagen!
I needed this, thanks.
Miss you SF , I will never forget you San Francisco ❤️
Did you leave your heart their?
@@porcine83 LoL yes I do !!
Living my whole life (26 yrs) in San Francisco, I can say your video is spot on! That was pretty fun viewing this from a tourist standpoint! If anyone has any questions like best muni routes, good & inexpensive places to eat, and hidden gems to check out, shoot a reply👍
Thanks Julian!
I'm going in September :)
Yes please let me know the inexpensive places to eat and things not to miss. Also is it dangerous?
@@cleardesigners No, it is for the most part very safe. I've been taking public transportation since I was a kid and no problems! Just stay away from the Tenderloin and Fillmore district at night. Inexpensive places to eat are at China Town and across 19th Avenue in the Sunset District. Apart from all stated in the video, you don't want to miss Lands End by Ocean Beach and Marina Green by the GG Bridge. Beautiful spots with great views and walks. Always wear a jacket because it's windy all year around!
@@juliantomescu2947 I'm heading to San Fran next week and staying on the edge of the Tenderloin district, I've been hearing about how bad it is. Should I be super worried?
Amazing video. Thanks for the tips
Thanks!
Wow! Great video and spot on!!
Thanks George!
Hi Chris, thanks for covering SF! Great job as always.
Thanks Zeene!
The last time I was at SF was before the collapse of the Nimitz. I use to stay in Alameda when my bro was in the navy. The Wharf is very significant for me. My mom, bro and me walked the whole length, indulged in the food and the Capuchino. could grow hair on your chest in nano seconds. We felt so safe. Of course it was the late 80’s back then.
i’m coming from London at the end of this month and i’m sooo excited
Enjoy!
Lmk if u need tree m8
SRTS I’m thinking about visiting London is it worth it. From sf
@@maryhernandez750 London is amazing, defo worth it!
Golden Gate Park, Swan's Oyster Depot on Polk, Tommy's Joynt on Van Ness, the Pilsner Inn on Church, the Legion of Honor Museum, the Palace of Fine Arts, Mission Dolores... you left out a bunch of cool stuff.
Amazing video!! Thank you for sharing it ✈️
Like you said stay away from the tenderloin.... it can be a bit dicey...Thanks for reviewing my city homie..Also for some kick-ass burritos/tacos , la taqueria on 25th mission district is my go to place and it's cash only , the carnitas tacos are crazy good and have them crisp the tortilla for you.
I agree the tacos in the mission district are quite good! And I'm from San Diego so that's saying something! :)
@@YellowProductions Goodjob on the video. Have you done one about San Diego Ca.?
This seems to be a very charming place, I hope I can visit sometime in the future when all this is over. Seeing and sharing places like this is why I love traveling and make videos so much!
Its not. It has gone very bad very fast.
Do get some advice before you go. It is very beautiful, but also expensive, windy…and some parts are so overcome by drugs and crime that they are not worth your time.
Thank you so much! Very helpful video! U R Amazing!
Thanks for your informative video on San Francisco, looks nice.
Been thinking of a trip to San francisco but was considering other cities too. And then this video comes out. Might have just tipped the scales. Thank you so much Yellow Productions!
My pleasure C Kevni!
C. Kevni yeah I lived here for 48 years now it’s a shit hole here ! Homeless people shit on the streets and zombie druggies shoot up all day . The crime here now is really bad it’s like Oakland in the old days . Only thing good here is food but way overpriced...
Don"t listen to Richard! Ive lived here for 48 years too..SF has its issues for sure but its still a great and beautiful city. do your homework before you make reservations and you'll have fun. Be prepared for the cool weather though.
C. Kevni yes listen to Richard this lady probably one of the druggies their. 20 years ago SF was a nice place now go their get robbed or shot . Yes their is human shit from the homeless .
DONT GOOOO!!!
Thanks Chris, a great rundown on the city, where to eat and how to get around. I’m visiting for the first time in September and this information will help heaps.
Enjoy SF!
Absolutely love your videos! Lots of information and very enjoyable to watch! Thank you :)
I love your videos, they are so helpful! Always look forward to them.
Thanks bababababababaloons! :)
I would also recommend a bay cruise! They take you in open air seating right under the Golden Gate! A VERY unique view of the bridge!
Omg I went on one when I visited in 2018 it was Awesome!!!
Thank you for mentioning
Great video.. Will try the food suggestion next time. 👍
Yep, Anchor Steam! Thumbs up!
My absolute favourite city!! Need to live there one day
I lived in SF in the early 70s, at that time the cable car was not just a tourist ride, I actually used it on a daily fact - for 25 cents... Oh, yes, in those days we did complain about 'tourists' and the inconveniences they caused, but it was only a minor gripe...
And now it's just all tourists!
I bought my weekly bag of groceries and carried the one bag looped on my arm…on the running board. I learned my technique from Asian women…the real pros. Since women were not allowed on the running boards for years just before I arrived..I made sure to grab the front view spot.
Those are some great tips! They brought back great memories from my two visits to San Francisco! There is so much great food in the city including In-N-Out Burger. One of my recommendations is to visit the Mission district along Valencia St for a mission-styled burrito. They are so good! I agree with you about the Union Square area for hotels. I stayed at the Marriott there last year, and the location was great - close to Chinatown, not far from a BART station, and not too far from the Ferry Building which also has great food options along with options to take the ferries to Oakland or even up to Sausalito. One tip I would recommend about Fisherman's Wharf is that if you would like to see the sea lions at Pier 39, I would go early in the morning to beat the crowds. I did that, and I was able to get a great, close view of them!
Thanks Scottman! I agree the Mission style burritos on Valencia St are quite Good!
I’m a local here and as far as burritos go, there’s a place that will destroy all the burrito places in the mission. It’s located in San Bruno and isn’t very far from the mission about 15 minute drive, it’s called San Bruno Taqueria. Hidden gem.
I can get In-N-Out burger a plenty in So Cal.🥱
I’d look for a local pizza place when I plan on a visit to SF
You are terrific! No phony theatrics! No exageration! Just San Francisco facts.
Living here in San Francisco for 86 years, what you said was fresh and new for me.
I guess I am boring, but you are exciting and very, very educational!
Thanks Leo!
Very useful and helpful information ℹ️ Thanks for sharing.
Thanks World Travel!
Another great prep video! My stepfather is a pilot for Air Canada & he always refuses flights to San Francisco due to the difficult landing & notoriously agressive air traffic controllers
Chris - you have done a brilliant job on this. Thanks! I am looking to visit SF next year (2020) and this just makes me want to visit even more...
Awesome. Thanks Mr Bluesky!
rip your travel plans
Great videos Chris. Coming from UK for first time to West Coast USA (San Fran, LV & LA) later this year, so loving your vids. Thankyou.
this video was so helpful and informative, thank you!
Thanks Casey!
Hi Chris, definitely one of your best videos yet. One tip on Alcatraz - take the first boat, when you arrive, walk past the crowd at the ranger talk and go up the hill to get your audio guide. Once you get the guide, ignore the 1st/2nd audio stops and while everyone is listening for 10-15 mins you will have the prison to yourself! We got pics of the main alley (broadway) and confinement areas with no people in, very hard as after that it is so crowded! Then you can go back with the audio guide and join the crowds. See you in the next video!
Thanks for the tip on Alcatraz Mike!
I’m going to have to do this next time I’m in SF. I got to meet Jolene Bayback, I think that’s how you spell it, one of the few prison guard kids that lived on the island while it was open. She wrote a book about her time there. Pretty neat.
I’ve lived in San Francisco for almost 40 years and I have to say this was pretty spot on. Great advice and recommendations 👍🏼
Thanks jetaged!
Which one is good hotel
@@adnorma13 how much money do you have?🤣🤣
all the chain hotels are very good, but IMHO stay in Sausalito at the Casa Madrona, a room high up on the hill.
If you go to Monterey you must go to:
-Revival Ice Cream and order the Bee’s Knees flavor, it’s why there’s always a line out the door
-Parker-Lusseau Pastries: my go-to for croissants, breakfast quiches, and a mocha.
Amazing good work, cable cars ride seems to be the most enjoying.
The Imperial March and Titanic on the accordion! I would give him a tip.
Good video. Learned new things about SF, even though I lived there, 1969-81. I've lived in the East Bay ever since; may have to BART back for a visit. Have you considered a video on the East Bay; there's a lot of interesting stuff in this, I think, often overlooked area.
Super informative and helpful video! So excited for my holiday here in a few weeks :)
thanks for this video! very helpful for our upcoming trip! :) sending you and your channel good vibes and wishing lots of more travels and overall happiness!
Thanks for the vibes!
If you visit Alcatraz I highly recommend the night time tour. Very atmospheric and you get to see parts of the prison that are not always open in the day. Great sunset opportunities. We also enjoyed the open top bus tours to help orientate ourselves for the first couple of days and then used public transport. Not cheap, but we enjoyed the views, commentary and the chance to hop on or off if something of interest court our eye. Great views when we went over the bridge and at night they take you over to Yerba bueno island or treasure island for some great sunset and nighttime shots of San Francisco. Great city
Thanks for the tip on the Night time tour of Alcatraz
Thanks I posted my daytime videos of Alcatraz & you will notice alot was closed BUT I thought it was closed all the time like underconstruction....I will definitely do a night time tour of Alcatraz next time I do the tour.Thanks
Just know it´s gonna be waaay more expensive. Was worth it though!
@@anjadu7427 I haven’t visited in the day, but I don’t remember it costing more, it was just one off those tickets you needed to get way in advance. Having said that if we ever returned we would do exactly the same again, it felt a little bit more special. Day or night I would not miss Alcatraz
Never let the nice men who offer to carry your bags, to touch your stuff. Lots of scammers. Especially around Union Square. Don't forget Coit Tower. Most amazing views in SF and pay the extra to go all the way up. AMAZING!
We were there two weeks ago, had such a good time there. Not much fog, just in the morning. The California Academy of Science with its rainforest and aquarium was our favourite, it's amazing.
I'll have to check out that rainforest next time!
The best video about San Francisco. Thank you 😊
Thanks Daniele!
I live in SF, and you did great job with this video! It really makes me miss being a tourist in my own city (the pandemic has really shut down the city and it's basically a sad ghost town atm!) I miss catching the historic street cars right outside my front door, hopping off at the ferry building and walking up to pier 39 to watch the cute sea lions!
Thanks Natasha!
Should I take a weekend trip to drive around the city in 2 weeks or no?
@@Spvceman333 there are still a lot of amazing sites to see in and around the city, but just be prepared that all restaurants are take-out only right now so grab a to-go bag and find a nice spot for a scenic picnic!
I came up for a visit from Sac early this year and my uncle drove me around our neighborhood (Lakeview) and down Ocean Ave. and around North Beach etc. There were so many boarded up and empty stores and shops it made me cry. So much had changed. I'm hitting the City for 3 days in May for a play at the Palace and I'm hoping things will be closer to normal by then. I like to "play tourist" and hit the Wharf and Pier 39 for a day.
So , you can catch the cable car on the go? And pay inside? Do they have designated stops?
I am so glad you mentioned the Musée Mécanique! We went there when we visited a few years ago, and enjoyed it. One thing I will add about the cable cars, is get the MUNI app. We learned the hard way that cable car tickets can fall out of a pocket, and you have to purchase them all over again. Fortunately, I used the app when I re-purchased, so I didn't have to worry on later cable car trips. I wish we had gone to the fortune cookie place, but I did not know about it. Too bad we didn't have your video to watch before that!
Bummer on the cable car tickets!
You did a great job man great information
LOVE THESE VIDEOS.... KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK
Thanks Stephen!
A very comprehensive heads up, thanks from down under.
Cheers John!
Do not go aussie you have been warned!!!!!
Im just saying it again dont go!! From John to John.
@@masterc1172 I'll need a reason Master bate er.
Oh, my friend. You didn't warn me about your visit to my area. Otherwise I would have been your host for a day.
You have given us one of the best SF reviews I have ever seen. Great job. I hope RUclips pays for what you deserve.
Thanks Google User!
Thanks for this Chris!
Thanks Gumer! Enjoy SF!
Thank you for the tour
I think it’s good to note BART also connects to Oakland airport- Bay Area born, raised, and living: I way prefer Oakland, it’s less crowded, and there are no fog delays. And as far getting around the city now that muni has their app with visitor passes it’s an excellent option. Google maps makes it easy to navigate the trolleys/metro/buses. Really the only way to get to the Marina/ cow hollow besides a longgggg walk. Cow hollow is my favorite neighborhood to take tourist friends too- small town feeling with some gems in food and shopping!
Thanks for the tip on BART to Oakland airport
About hotels: Yes, they're expensive. If you don't mind cool pre-winter weather, visit just before Christmas. I like the Christmas atmosphere at that time. The hotels are reasonably price, in comparison. Really nice hotels near Union Square and the Financial District could usually be found between $100 - $150 a night. That sure beats all the $400+ a night rates you might find during other parts of the year. The last time I was in S.F. was last December. The starting pay at that In-N-Out was posted as $16.00 an hour, instead of $16.50 per hour in this video.
Thanks for the information. 👍
So glad you made this great video on San Francisco. My favorite American city!
Thanks Jeannifed! What's your favorite part about it?
For sure walk across the Golden Gate Bridge. Dress warm!
Nice feed ❣️
San Francisco is also famous for its burritos. Visit the mission,and eat at a Taqueria.
The mission district does have some tasty Mexican food indeed!
I saw like 5 mexicans in the whole city!!!
@@masterc1172 visit the excelsior district.
Thank you. This is a brilliant video. 👏 👍
Thanks Brit!
Born and raised in The City.... great job!
I’m going to San Francisco next Friday. This comes in handy!😁
Nice!
Dos Santos cool lets hit a bar!
ky malone uhm no thank you lol
How was it?
K. Davis it was great!! One of my favourite cities during our west coast road trip
Tips: 1.Visit in September for guaranteed best weather.2. Once you pay 2.75 for the bus/train you can use it as many times as you need for up to 120 minutes. 3. Don't get on the Cable car at Market St. There are other stops and I recommend getting on at these. You will spend far less time in a line.
Thanks for this tip! Going for my bday in two weeks!
very informative especially it’s gonna be my first time there this year!
I’ll be visiting SF later this month and I just want to say thank you so much! I really appreciate any info for my trip!
Good job!
Thanks priss!
Hi Chris, you made me chuckle today!
I like all of your videos and hope to have time to watch today’s Livestream. I live in the SF Bay Area so was curious to see what you said.
At 8:57 in your video you mentioned Silicon Valley but pronounced it “silicone”(as in breast implants) but it’s actually “silicon” which is a crystalline chemical element used in computer chips. It’s pronounced “sill-a-con”(like con job). Ha ha you’re not the only one who pronounces it wrong, it’s a giveaway clue that you’re not a local.
Keep cranking out the videos w OC Girl and the Traveling Princess.😊
A very popular spot for takeout dim sum all day is Good Mong Kok Bakery in Chinatown, always a line but it moves quickly, and not pricey. No indoor eating there but you can take your food to nearby Pioneer Square to sit, eat, and people watch.
Hope you return soon - also get a “Dorado style” burrito at La Taqueria in the Mission district, and great baked goods at Arsicault just north of Golden Gate Park. The Alcatraz tour is fantastic, get your tickets early!
Thanks Bballer 😉
Great job on the video. As a resident for about 40 years (with hundreds of visitors in that time) I've learned to emphasize a few points you make: 1) SF is the coldest major American city in the summer, so bring sweaters or a light coat, 2) you'll do a lot of walking, including up steep hills, so bring shoes that like your feet, 3) transit is usually the best way to get around so buy a Clipper Card so you can transfer easily between systems.
Most of my guests liked best to start at the Ferry Building, coffee up and either walk along the waterfront to the Wharf or catch the cable car at California and Market Streets (least crowded line) and ride up Nob Hill. They'd spend the first two days in Union Square, Chinatown, North Beach, Russian Hill and Ghirardelli Square, and then the next two days calming down at Golden Gate Park (hitting the cafes in the nearby Haight-Ashbury and the Sunset) and Dolores Park (and walking the nearby Mission and Castro Districts).
Some other notes:
- Alcatraz is worth the trip, but you should make a reservation because the ferries sell out quickly, and bring a coat.
- The commuter ferries are a fun and inexpensive way to see the Bay, and go to charming little towns like Sausalito and Tiburon.
- You don't need to go to that one park they showed on the TV show "Full House" to see Victorians: there are Victorians all over the Mission, the Haight, Hayes Valley and the Castro.
- If you're going to rent a car to drive to Muir Woods or Napa Valley or Lake Tahoe or Monterey/Carmel, wait until the day of that trip so you can avoid the hassle and high cost of parking your car in the city.
My guests' very favorite excursions?
- Walking from the Ferry Building north to Greenwich Street, and walking through the pretty park where Levi Strauss has its HQ, and then up the old wooden stairs toward Coit Tower. They love the "secret" gardens and Gold Rush-era cottages lining the stairway, and spotting the parrots that have gone wild and flourish in all this greenery. And, of course, the views at top of the hill.
- Walking from the Ferry Building west to the loop around the huge rooftop garden above the Salesforce Transit Center, surrounded by the city's tallest skyscrapers, and then going to SFMOMA.
- Walking the old, narrow alleyways: of Chinatown, then Jackson Square, and then North Beach.
Thanks Peter for the additional tips! All really good ones! Especially about just getting a rental car for the day trip. That can definitely be a huge cost saver
Another great video. San Francisco 😍
Very nice video, well filmed and super interesting.
Thank you very much for sharing.
I would move there from NYC. Affordable rents are nearly non-existent. Should have looked around when I was there back in 2008. Love that Castro area!!!
As a local I'd say you can skip Fisherman's Wharf entirely, though I will admit that Musee Mecanique is pretty fun.
You give the best videos seriously