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World / North-America / USA / San-Francisco

San Francisco is the West Coast's most cosmopolitan city; its picturesque hills and bays are as pleasing to the eye as its global cuisine is to the taste buds. Swoop over the Golden Gate Bridge, lock yourself up in Alcatraz and ride cable cars past gabled Victorian houses.

Currency

US Dollar (USD)

Visa Requirements

Under the new Electronic Travel System (ESTA) visitors must submit an online application form at least 72 hours before departure.

Language

English

Timezone

English

Weather

Winters are mild but wet; temperatures hover around 10 °C. Summer temperatures average 20 °C

Dialling Code

00 1

Electricity

110V (Standard American two-pin plug)

Health and Safety

Healthcare in the USA is high quality but expensive making comprehensive travel and medical insurance cover essential.

Useful Links

Healthcare in the USA is high quality but expensive making comprehensive travel and medical insurance cover essential.

Flights to San Francisco arrive at the modern San Francisco International Airport. It is served by The Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) system and trains to downtown San Francisco ($10.70) run every 15 minutes with journey times of 30 minutes. Taxis ($60-$80) and shuttle minibuses ($30-$40) are available outside the arrivals hall.

Fisherman's Wharf

Fisherman's Wharf (Pier 39, Embarcadero): San Francisco's number one tourist attraction is always busy with visitors snapping groups of basking sea lions, queuing for a boat to Alcatraz, or a cable car ride up to Nob Hill. Among the myriad street performers, shops and restaurants dishing up fresh Dungeness crab, you'll also find the Aquarium of the Bay which packs in over 20,000 aquatic animals viewed through clear tunnels. Ripley's Believe it or Not! Museum (175 Jefferson St, 001 415 771 6188) home to weird and wonderful oddities of life, is also nearby.

Golden Gate Bridge

Completed in 1937, the iconic Golden Gate Bridge is one of the world's most photographed architectural wonders. You can walk its 1.7 mile length or follow the other, on average, 120,000 cars that cross every day.

California Academy of Sciences

California Academy of Sciences combines an aquarium and natural history museum (housing over 38,000 animals) with the world's largest digital planetarium. Experience a bird's eye view of Costa Rica's rainforest canopy, and get underneath the waves of the world's deepest living coral display.

Quick Lunch - XYZ

XYZ at the W Hotel serves fusion Californian and French Provencal dishes in a modern restaurant with gawp-worthy double height windows and comfortable curvy booths.

Top Table - Epic Roasthouse

Its innovative wood-fired steaks, fresh fish and panoramic setting enable the waterfront Epic Roasthouse to live up to its name without any hint of embarrassment.

Cheap Eat - Lori's Diner

Step back in time at Lori's Diner, a throwback to the 1950s where classic burgers and ice cream sundaes are served with a lively dollop of 1950s Americana and rock 'n' roll tunes.

On Business - Handlery Union Square Hotel

Conveniently located in the heart of San Francisco's business and cultural district, Handlery Union Square Hotel combines comfort and convenience with the ambiance of a European boutique hotel.
Book now

Lap Of Luxury - Ritz Carlton

Perched atop San Francisco's elegant Nob Hill, amid the city's finest private homes, the Ritz Carlton is San Francisco's most luxurious hotel.
Book now

Cheap Sleep - The San Remo Hotel

The San Remo Hotel is a family-run Italianate Victorian pensione offering comfortable rooms at reasonable prices.
Book now

Coffee And Chat - Samovar Tea Lounge

Enjoy an extensive range of seasonal and organic teas and snacks at Samovar Tea Lounge (730 Howard St, 00 1 415 227 9400). If the menu doesn't charm, the beautiful Yerba Buena Gardens in which you sit surely will.

Formal Presentation - Hilton San Francisco Financial District hotel

Handily situated in the business part of town, the Hilton San Francisco Financial District hotel (750 Kearny St, 00 1 415 765 7875) has 15,000 square feet of meeting space with a variety of fully equipped rooms.

Evening Drinks - 21st Amendment Brewery Café

After you've signed on the dotted line, celebrate your success at 21st Amendment Brewery Café (563 Second St, 00 1 415 369 0900) where you can wash down hearty, American fare with tasty microbrews.

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