United States

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San Francisco

Hills, fog and the Golden Gate

Visa & entry checker Plan a trip to San Francisco Plan a trip around United States

Best time to visit: Sep, Oct, Apr, May
Currency: USD
Time zone: UTC-7
Country: United States

Photo: Frank Schulenburg, CC BY-SA 4.0

A compact, hilly city on a bay, known for the Golden Gate Bridge, cable cars, Alcatraz and diverse neighbourhoods, with wine country an hour away.

Largest cities

New York
Los Angeles
Chicago
Houston
San Francisco
Miami

Quick facts

Figures are rounded recent official estimates.

Country: United States
Capital: Washington, D.C.
City population: 830,000
Population of United States: 340M
Country area: 9,833,520 km²
Official language: English
Currency: US Dollar (USD) · 1 USD ≈ 1 USD
Time zone: UTC-7
Calling code: +1
Drives on the: Right
Elevation: 16 m
Plugs: A / B · 120V
Emergency numbers: 911
Best time to visit: Sep, Oct, Apr, May

Temperatures through the year

Average daily high and low for each month in °C. Months marked with a drop are often rainy.

Temperatures through the year

Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High	14°	16°	17°	18°	19°	21°	21°	22°	23°	22°	18°	14°
Low	7°	8°	9°	9°	11°	12°	13°	13°	13°	12°	10°	7°

Best time to visitOther months

Approximate daily cost

Per adult per day: food, local transport and half a double room, without activities or flights.

ConservativeSimple stays, free and low-cost sights first.$140
HighComfortable hotels, a balanced mix of sights and trips.$275
LuxuryLuxury hotels, more paid experiences and day trips.$650

Plan a trip to San Francisco

Top things to do

≈ $10
Walk or cycle the Golden Gate Bridge
Rent a bike and ride across the bridge to Sausalito, returning by ferry; bring a windproof jacket.
- Half day
- Golden Gate and the Presidio
- Good for kids
≈ $50
Alcatraz Island
The former federal prison on the island, with an excellent audio tour; tickets sell out weeks ahead.
- Half day
- Fisherman's Wharf and the bay
- Good for kids
≈ $8
Cable cars and Lombard Street
Ride the historic cable cars over the hills to the zigzag Lombard Street and North Beach.
- Half day
- Union Square and Chinatown
- Good for kids
≈ $15
Chinatown and the Ferry Building
One of the oldest Chinatowns in North America, then the food hall in the Ferry Building on the bay.
- Half day
- Union Square and Chinatown
- Good for kids
- Good in the evening
≈ $40
Exploratorium
A hands-on science museum on the waterfront, excellent for children and adults; closed on Mondays.
- Half day
- Fisherman's Wharf and the bay
- Good for kids
- Indoors
- Closed: Monday
≈ $20
Day trip: Muir Woods or Napa Valley
Giant redwoods 45 minutes north (parking reservation required), or the vineyards and valley towns of Napa.
- Full day
- Bay Area

Before you go

Entry and visas

Citizens of Visa Waiver Program countries, including the UK, most of the EU and Qatar, need an approved ESTA, which costs $40 since 30 September 2025; apply at least 72 hours before travel on the official CBP site. Others, including Indian, Saudi and Emirati citizens, need a visitor visa, and appointment waits can be long.

Official website