I love visiting San Francisco. It offers fantastic food (especially in Chinatown, Japantown and the Mission), many beautiful hiking trails and many first-class attractions that make it easy to spend time here (be sure to visit Alcatraz during your visit!).
Although it is not very big, choosing the right area can have a big impact on your visit. Each neighborhood of the city is very different and it may take a while to get around the city, so you want to stay close to activities and attractions that interest you.
In addition, some areas are safer than others. San Francisco has a large community of people who are not accommodated (especially on the net and in parts of the mission) that some visitors may not experience.
To help you have fun and stay safe, I want to break down the best neighborhoods of San Francisco and the best places to stay in each so that you can choose the perfect accommodation.
Places to stay for sightseeing and families: Fisherman’s Wharf
This iconic waterfront district is famous for its seafood restaurants (although I do not recommend eating here, as everything is overpriced), souvenir shops and attractions such as Pier 39 and Ghirardelli Square. Here you can enjoy panoramic views of the bay, see sea lions, take boat trips to Alcatraz or around the Golden Gate Bridge, and explore nearby attractions such as the Maritime National Historical Park.
However, it is the most touristic area of the city, which has some drawbacks: it is expensive and crowded. I would not stay here for a long time, but it is perfect for a few days if you want to easily visit all the most famous sights of San Francisco.
BUDGET: HI San Francisco-Fisherman’s Wharf – this is a great inn with many common areas, a great fully equipped kitchen, a free breakfast and even a small cinema room. The beds are nothing special (the mattresses are thin and there are no single curtains or sockets), but there are female-only dormitories, as well as an on-site café (at reasonable prices). The inn is always clean and tidy and the staff also organizes many free events (such as bike rides, museum visits and pub crawls). It’s easy to meet other travelers here.
MID-RANGE: Argonaut Hotel- everything in this award-winning four-star boutique hotel has a nautical theme. The spacious rooms have historic brick walls and wooden beams, and I love all the marine decor (like large compasses or mirrors in the form of ship windows). Each room has a mini-fridge and a mini-bar with local goodies, a 50-inch HDTV and a coffee maker with free locally roasted coffee. The bathrooms are a bit small and outdated, but the water pressure in the showers is good. There is also a 24-hour fitness center, in-room spa services and a seafood restaurant, where you can get a daily credit of 15 for your room.
LUXURY: the Fairmont Heritage Place Ghirardelli Square-This five-star hotel is located in the former Ghirardelli Chocolate Factory, just a few steps from Fisherman’s Wharf. All loft-style apartments preserve industrial elements from the building’s past with exposed brick walls and great warehouse windows that let in a lot of natural light. The luxurious one- to three-bedroom apartments have a fully equipped gourmet kitchen (there is no breakfast or restaurant on site), spacious bathrooms, two flat-screen TVs, a fireplace, soundproofing, as well as a washing machine and dryer. If you arrive by car, there are also two free valet parking spaces in your room (this is practically not known in SF and a nice advantage).
Where to stay for shopping and convenience: Union Square
A cable car passes Union Square in San Francisco, USA
Known as the heart of downtown San Francisco, Union Square (the area around the bustling square of the same name) is a shopper’s paradise. Here you will find everything from upscale department stores to small boutiques. Even if you don’t want to do a lot of shopping, Union Square is a great choice for travelers looking for a budget stay: there is the largest selection of hotels in this area and it is well connected by public transport, which makes commuting around the city easier. Just be conscious that this is not the most picturesque area (there are a lot of skyscrapers and concrete). But what he lacks in charm, he definitely makes up for in convenience.
