I am not yet sure why San Francisco became one of my well loved places. Maybe because of the liberal, gay, straight, Asian , American, European vibe? Or is it the structure itself: the location by the sea, the hills and the architecture? It seems to be the mix indeed. You really don’t get the feeling that you are in a huge urban city, but you will find everything an urban guy like me need.
Transportation:
Compared to other American cities, San Fran is one of a few with an excellent public transportation system. To and from the airport one could use the bart train service, which is cheap, fast and reliable. For every visitor is a ride on the cable car a must. One way tickets are 5USD but you can opt for a day pass (one day is 11USD) for unlimited rides on busses, cable cars and subways within the Muni system.
Places to stay:
There are plenty of options from cosy boutique hotels to large Chain Hotels downtown or posh options on Nobb Hill. If you are on a budget trip and don’t really care about a certain Hotel you should consider Priceline.
I stayed recently in Parc 55 -which is next to Union Square and right at Powell Station. Well its not cool but indeed a solid option if you wanna explore the city. Other places you should consider are the Intercontinental, the MO or Craigslist.
Next to the airport I would strictly recommend the Hyatt!
Enjoy:
Besides strolling around the city, walking across Golden Gate Bridge and taking a ride on the famous Cable Car there are many different districts to explore. Well worth a visit is The Castro- home to the famous gay area. It’s a lifely area with lost of bars and restaurants where you even can have a drink midday without being looked at. For the different neighborhoods you should have a look @SFO Gate.
After dinner go for some drinks in The Castro and later to one of the many clubs or event locations like the 111Minna, The Endup or Werd for dancing.
