Things to do and where to stay in San Francisco
Where to stay · United States

Where to stay in San Francisco — pick the right hotel, book in 3 clicks

San Francisco is one of California's most beautiful bay cities, a place of steep hills and the iconic orange Golden Gate Bridge. The atmosphere is often wrapped in light morning fog, with historic cable cars climbing the hills, the oldest Chinatown in North America, and the former prison island of Alcatraz out in the bay. It's a city that blends technology, art and diverse cultures.

🌉Golden Gate🚋Cable Car🏝️Alcatraz🦀Fisherman's Wharf🌫️City in the fog
3ranked guides
11See & Eat
🤝 Curated by the TopOfHotel team · scores from real guest reviews · live price comparison across 3 sites · no hidden adsHow we review →

Why stay in San Francisco

🌉

Iconic bridge

Walk or cycle across the Golden Gate Bridge for beautiful views of the bay and the city.

🚋

Cable cars

Ride the historic cable cars up the steep hills, one of the city's classic experiences.

🏝️

Alcatraz prison island

Cruise out to the famous former prison in the bay that once held legendary criminals.

🍷

Gateway to wine country

Close to Napa Valley and Sonoma, the source of superb wines.

Ranked reviews — find your ideal stay in San Francisco

Start with where to stay (the heart of the trip), then explore food and sights

Find the right San Francisco hotel for you

3 ranked reviews

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Local dishes to try in San Francisco

  1. 1🍞

    Sourdough bread

    Distinctively tangy sourdough bread, served as a bowl for clam chowder.

    📍 Fisherman's Wharf
  2. 2🦀

    Dungeness crab

    Fresh Dungeness crab from the Pacific coast, a city specialty.

    📍 Fisherman's Wharf
  3. 3🥡

    Chinatown Chinese food

    Dim sum and authentic Chinese food in the historic Chinatown district.

    📍 Chinatown
  4. 4🌯

    Mission burrito

    A big Mission-style burrito, the original of the Latino district.

    📍 Mission
  5. 5🍫

    Ghirardelli chocolate

    Chocolate and sundaes at Ghirardelli Square, the city's historic brand.

    📍 Ghirardelli Square
  1. 1🌉

    Golden Gate Bridge

    The legendary orange suspension bridge, the symbol of San Francisco.

    📍 North side
  2. 2🏝️

    Alcatraz Island

    A former maximum-security prison in the bay, visited by boat with an audio guide.

    📍 San Francisco Bay
  3. 3🦀

    Fisherman's Wharf

    An old port district with sea lions at Pier 39 and fresh seafood restaurants.

    📍 North side
  4. 4🚋

    Cable Cars

    The oldest still-operating cable-drawn streetcar system in the world.

    📍 City center
  5. 5🛣️

    Lombard Street

    The famous crookedest street in the world, decorated with beautiful flower beds.

    📍 Russian Hill
  6. 6🏮

    Chinatown

    The oldest Chinatown in North America, with a dragon gate and Chinese restaurants.

    📍 City center

Things to do in San Francisco

Day tours, attraction tickets and travel essentials for San Francisco — book ahead on Klook with mobile e-tickets.

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★ TEAM'S TOP PICKS

3 San Francisco hotels our team picked for you

Selected from real reviews — one per budget tier, each with a score and instant 3-site price comparison

The Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco★ 9.2Luxury

The Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco

📍 San Francisco⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

#1 classic luxury · 1909 building on Nob Hill

From~$500/night
read the full review →
The St. Regis San Francisco★ 9.1Luxury

The St. Regis San Francisco

📍 San Francisco⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

#4 Luxury · modern luxury next to SFMOMA

From~$371/night
read the full review →
Element Santa Clara★ 9.1Value

Element Santa Clara

📍 San Francisco⭐⭐⭐

#5 full kitchen in every room · newly opened extended-stay near the stadium

From~$180/night
read the full review →
🏨 ALL PICKS

โรงแรมแนะนำทั้งหมดในSan Francisco

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#4

Argonaut Hotel, a Noble House Hotel

★ 9.0⭐⭐⭐⭐Upper-mid📍 San Francisco

#1 family hotel · closest to the water in Fisherman's Wharf

~$243/night
#5

Four Seasons Hotel San Francisco

★ 9.0⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Luxury📍 San Francisco

#2 Luxury · high-rise luxury on Market Street

~$357/night
#6

Four Seasons Hotel San Francisco at Embarcadero

★ 9.0⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Luxury📍 San Francisco

#5 Luxury · 360-degree skyline views from floors 38-48

~$386/night
#7

Santa Clara Marriott

★ 9.0⭐⭐⭐⭐Upper-mid📍 San Francisco

#3 best-reviewed near the stadium · 15-20 minute walk to Levi's Stadium

~$180/night
#8

Fairmont San Francisco

★ 8.9⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Luxury📍 San Francisco

#3 classic luxury · 1907 landmark on Nob Hill

~$314/night
#9

The Battery

★ 8.9⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Luxury📍 San Francisco

#10 exclusive · 14 suites inside a Jackson Square members' club

~$429/night
#10

Kimpton Alton Fisherman's Wharf

★ 8.8⭐⭐⭐⭐Upper-mid📍 San Francisco

#4 family · boutique with character in the heart of Fisherman's Wharf

~$171/night

🚆 Getting around San Francisco

🚋

Cable cars and streetcars

Cable cars and Muni streetcars climb the hills across the city, great for both sightseeing and travel.

🚇

BART trains

BART connects downtown with SFO airport and the cities around the bay.

🚶

Walk, but prepare for hills

The city center is walkable, but there are many steep hills, so wear comfortable shoes.

🚙

Ride-hailing apps

Uber and Lyft were born here and are easy to find across the city.

Where to go next near San Francisco

Frequently asked — where to stay in San Francisco

When is the best time to visit San Francisco?+

September to November is warm with the least fog. Summer often has thick fog and cool wind, so always pack a warm layer.

Do I need to book Alcatraz tickets in advance?+

Yes, book several weeks ahead, as boat tickets to Alcatraz sell out very fast, especially in the high season.

How many days do I need in San Francisco?+

About 3 days for the main city, plus an extra day for a wine trip to Napa Valley or the redwoods at Muir Woods.

Ready to book your San Francisco stay?

Start with the 3 hotels our team picked, or search all 3 sites — always compare before booking