San Francisco is a must-see on any trip to California, or more generally to the American West. Situated on both the Pacific Ocean and the bay of the same name, it has a lot to offer. But given its size, configuration, things to do, different types of neighborhoods and, above all, budget accommodation, choosing where to stay in San Francisco can be a real headache.
With so many different neighborhoods to choose from in San Francisco, in this guide we’ll show you which areas to focus on when choosing where to stay. For each of them, we present the general atmosphere, their advantages in terms of location, as well as the points of interest to discover there or in the nearby surroundings. All this, while sharing with you our recommendations of where to stay, sorted by budget.
Main information
Before going into the description of the neighborhoods to target when selecting accommodations in San Francisco, here are the essentials you need to know to get a better idea of the city from a tourist point of view.
Our favorite places to stay
If you’re in a hurry, here are our favorite places to stay in San Francisco:
- $ this accommodation is ideally located in the center of town, just a 5-minute walk from Union Square
- $$ this hotel, great value and ideally located on the south side of Fisherman’s Wharf
- $$$ this luxury establishment, in the heart of Union Square, is one of the best places to stay in San Francisco
Map of different neighborhoods to stay in San Francisco
We’ve included a map showing our recommended hotels and apartments where to stay in San Francisco. This map will also enable you to locate the different geographical areas of San Francisco that we will cover in this guide.
We’ve used the following color code: green for budget hotels, blue for mid-range hotels and red for luxury hotels.
San Francisco accommodation essentials
Neighborhoods where to stay in San Francisco
Let’s get to the heart of the matter with a review of the main areas where we recommend staying in San Francisco.
Downtown & Union Square: accommodation in the heart of San Francisco
The Downtown & Union Square district is the heart of San Francisco. This is where you'll find the greatest concentration of shops, hotels and theaters. Accommodation here is particularly expensive, but also sometimes very luxurious, even if the offer remains relatively heterogeneous.
Staying here means quick access to the district's landmarks and surrounding areas, such as San Francisco City Hall, the Transamerica Pyramid, Coït Tower, Market Street and Dragon Gate, at the gateway to China Town. Perfectly located, this area offers maximum mobility and is very lively after dark.
Its many bars and clubs don't empty until the early hours of the morning. It's the ideal area for easy partying. But it's also great for shopping, and above all for getting around thanks to an excellent public transport network. And if you're a fan of the area, you'll love the free walking tours on a variety of themes!
Staying in Downtown & Union Square is reserved for those on a budget. It's the place we recommend first and foremost to travelers who want to stay centrally, even if such an ideal location comes at a high price.
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With no particular charm and old-fashioned decoration, it is nonetheless clean and ideally located in the center. We come here for the price, which is very attractive.
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Close to Union Square, this stylishly decorated establishment offers rooms of various sizes. Good value for money in the area.
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Ideally located just 2 steps from Union Square, this 5-star hotel is furnished with class and elegance. Featuring an indoor pool, spa, gym, chic restaurant and bar, it's a great luxury hotel where to stay in San Francisco.
Fisherman's Wharf: the lively quayside on the edge of the bay
Located in the very north of San Francisco, on the oceanfront opposite Alcatraz, Fisherman's Wharf is without doubt the city's most popular tourist spot. It's well served by buses and streetcars, and boasts a charming harbor atmosphere.
In a way, Fisherman's Wharf is THE place to stay in San Francisco for family fun and relaxation, far from the skyscrapers and hustle and bustle of Downtown. Here you'll find a number of must-see sites, including the lively Pier 39, Alcatraz Prison, just across the street, and the Maritime Museum. From the waterfront, you can also admire the majestic Golden Gate Bridge in the distance, which seems to stand eternal watch over the city. You can even walk to it for a good hour.
As for restaurants, there are numerous establishments specializing in seafood, particularly lobster.
Finally, when it comes to staying overnight, the accommodation on offer is relatively dense and varied, but very expensive. Along with Downtown & Union Square, Fisherman's Wharf is one of San Francisco's most expensive neighborhoods.
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This motel, located in the south of the area, clearly favors price over room decor. It is, however, comfortable. In short, it's a good address for those looking for cheap accommodation in a convenient location.
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This modern hotel is located in the southern part of Fisherman's Wharf, a 5-minute walk from the docks. It combines both quality and location. It's one of the best-value places to stay in the area.
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This luxury establishment is located just off the waterfront. Elegantly decorated, with its own seafood restaurant, some rooms offer a view of San Francisco Bay.
Financial District: a modern, convenient place to stay
It's San Francisco's business center, home to the head offices of major corporations. Most of its buildings are high-rise, the most famous being the Transamerica Pyramid, but there are also a few hotels where you can stay. Often in modern buildings.
Primarily intended for business travellers, establishments in this area can also serve as a base for tourists. The southern part of the area is served by the metro and tramway, with BART providing a direct link to the airport. There's also the F streetcar line linking Fisherman's Wharf to the north.
From a tourist point of view, the Financial District is close by:
- coït Tower, to the north
- pier 7 Vista, to the east: a pontoon with a lovely view of the city
- pier 33, a twenty-minute walk to the north, the departure point for Alcatraz Island
When it comes to eating out, you'll want to stick to the more upscale establishments, far removed from street food.
As you can see, accommodation in the Financial District is convenient in terms of location. But the range of accommodation remains relatively limited, compared with Downtown and Union Square.
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In Chinatown, at the gateway to the Financial District, this hotel is close to numerous restaurants, 15 minutes from the metro and a 20-minute walk from Fisherman's Wharf. Its location and price make it a good compromise... for San Francisco!
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Situated one block from the Great Pyramid Tower, this establishment offers rooms furnished with class and sobriety. It's also less than a minute's walk from the pier to Alcatraz, as well as the subway. It's good value for money for this range and in this area.
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This luxury hotel is located in a large tower. Some rooms boast incredible panoramic views (including the Golden Gate in the distance). Between the quality of its rooms, its gourmet restaurant and its location, this is a very good 5-star hotel where to stay in San Francisco.
Accommodation in SoMA: slightly away from the center
Located south of Downtown, South of Market, or SoMa, is slowly regaining its reputation. A victim of its bad reputation for many years, it's gaining in popularity. There are few, if any, tourists here, and this contributes greatly to its charm.
This is the area we recommend to travelers who want to stay off the beaten track but still be close to the city's main attractions. This is where you'll find the Museum of Modern Art, the superb Yerba Buena Park andOracle Park, home of the Giants. The Castro, Chinatown and Union Square are just 2 or 3 kilometers away, and easily accessible by public transport.
SoMa is home to a wide variety of restaurants and a growing number of food trucks. There are a few budget hotels where you can stay, but prices are likely to soar in the near future. So now's the perfect time to stay in this booming area!
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If you're satisfied with the minimum level of comfort, while hoping to find cheap accommodation in San Francisco, this establishment is just what you're looking for. It's also a 10-minute walk from the Powell Street metro station.
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This mid-range establishment combines sober accommodation with proximity to the subway and the Downtown and Union Square areas. Breakfast is included in the price.
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This luxury hotel features rooms that are both sober and modern. Just a stone's throw from the metro and Downtown, it's a great place to stay in SoMA.
Russian Hill & Nob Hill: quiet San Francisco neighborhoods
If you're dreaming of a place to stay in San Francisco, away from the hustle and bustle of the city but still close to the must-see sites, the Nob Hill and Russian Hill neighborhoods could be for you.
We particularly recommend these two neighborhoods to families or couples looking for a quiet place to stay. Here we're in the heart of San Francisco's residential areas, on the city's famous steep streets lined with colorful Victorian houses.
The area has the advantage of being served not only by bus, but also by the famous cable car. But when you have to walk, expect to climb! There aren't many restaurants and bars here, but there are a number of places of interest not to be missed, such as Cobb's Comedy Club, Grace Cathedral and, of course, Lombard Street, San Francisco's steepest street, notorious for its many twists and turns.
Because Russian Hill and Nob Hill are primarily residential areas, the range of accommodation is fairly limited. However, you'll find unpretentious hotel accommodation, at rates that are certainly high, but not excessive by San Francisco standards.
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This hotel is less than 10 minutes' walk from the most iconic part of Lombard Street, and close to public transport. It's a good compromise for staying in this area.
Castro & Mission: south of the city center
To discover the liveliest, most animated and colorful side of San Francisco, head for the Castro and Mission, both located slightly south of Downtown. The Castro immerses travelers in the heart of the LGBT community. This was once the stronghold of activist Harvey Milk.
If you choose to stay here, it's to discover a vibrant, family-friendly atmosphere, enlivened by dozens of restaurants and bars from all walks of life. In the historic Mission district, it's no longer gay flags that color the streets, but murals! It's a pleasure to stroll among these life-size works of art.
This historically rich district is gradually leaving its bad reputation behind, to become one of the city's most fashionable areas. There's a wide choice of restaurants and street-food stalls.
Both well served by public transport, Castro and de Mission are home to numerous sites of interest, including Mission Dolores Park, the GLBT Historic Society Museum, Corona Heights Park. Or nearby Haight Ashbury, known as the city's hippie zone in the 1960s. For fans of French chanson, at 3841 18th Street, you may recognize the famous "maison bleue" sung by Maxime Le Forestier!
To stay overnight, Le Castro and Mission offer a wide choice of accommodation at relatively reasonable prices. A good option for a festive stay with friends in San Francisco.
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Located in Castro, this comfortable motel is right next to a streetcar line. Its main advantage is free parking. That's enough to save you tens of dollars a day if you have a car!
Stay in Marina or Pacific Heights: quiet and conveniently located
On the edge of the Golden Gate Bridge, the Marina & Pacific Heights areas are located to the north of the city. It's the perfect place to stay away from the hustle and bustle of the city, while still taking advantage of its many points of interest.
Facing the ocean, Marina & Pacific Heights offer the perfect place to recharge your batteries in a friendly, lively atmosphere. They adjoin the famous Presido of San Francisco, the park from which the Golden Gate Bridge crosses to the other side.
This verdant area offers a wide choice of accommodation. There are numerous mid-priced hotels and inns, with direct access to local attractions such as the Golden Gate Bridge, Crissy Field beach and the Palace of Fine Arts.
With a dozen or so subway stations, Marina & Pacific Heights is the perfect place to stay in the heart of San Francisco, minus the hustle and bustle. There's also a wide choice of restaurants of various nationalities, as well as lively bars at all hours.
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This motel offers decent rooms at good value for money. We're not here for location or standing, but for a place to stay at an affordable price for San Francisco. Another plus: free parking.
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This modern, mid-range hotel offers spacious, stylishly furnished rooms. Restaurants and bus routes are nearby.
Lodging in Sausalito, on the other side of San Francisco Bay
Simply cross the Golden Gate Bridge, just north of San Francisco, to reach the bohemian area of Sausalito. This picturesque coastal town is world-renowned for its floating dwellings. But it also boasts a wide choice of seafood restaurants, numerous art galleries and breathtaking views of the bay and the bridge.
For families and couples looking for a quiet place to stay in San Francisco, this is the place to be. If the subway doesn't go all the way to Sausalito, there are plenty of buses to make the journey. You can also reach Downtown by boat in less than 30 minutes.
There are many interesting places to visit on site: Fort Baker, the Sausalito boardwalk, the Bay Area Discovery Museum, not to mention the floating residential area. Accommodation in Sausalito is quite expensive, but you can easily find an economical option to stay on the outskirts.
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Located in the center of Sausalito, a stone's throw from the San Francisco ferry terminal, this hotel features rooms decorated in a rather "old-fashioned" style. It's a good alternative where to stay outside San Francisco, thanks in particular to its "inexpensive" parking compared with downtown.
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South of Sausalito, this luxury hotel offers rooms and suites. Overlooking the Golden Gate, it features a heated outdoor pool, restaurant, spa services and free parking.
Summary
San Francisco represents a stopover on a trip to the American West. Depending on your interest in museums and the way you visit a city, whether or not you get a good feel for it, you’ll generally spend between 3 and 5 days here. Given the city’s layout, it’s a good idea to select a single base and stay there for the duration of your stay in San Francisco.
In any case, the choice of where to stay in San Francisco depends above all on your budget. It’s one of the most expensive cities in the USA. It clearly rivals New York in this respect. However, the city’s assets and “mythical” appeal attract many visitors every year. For this reason, it’s a good idea to make your reservation as early as possible, so that you can take advantage of the best-value accommodation in the best-positioned neighborhoods