San Francisco can prove to be a compelling lure when it comes to attracting visitors from around the world. First-class hotels, a compact and walkable downtown, superb restaurants, famous landmarks, world-class arts and cultural attractions, scenic topography, a mild climate and cosmopolitan flair all contribute to making this a regular tourist destination. Here is a brief guide to travel to and around this vibrant city:
Flying in:
The major gateway to San Francisco is San Francisco International Airport (SFO), 15 mi south of the city. The least expensive airfares to San Francisco are priced for round-trip travel and should be purchased in advance. Airlines generally allow you to change your return date for a fee; most low-fare tickets, however, are nonrefundable. (But if you cancel, you can usually apply the fare to a future trip, within one year, to any destination the airline flies.)
Nonstop flights from New York to San Francisco take about 5½ hours, and with the 3-hour time change, it's possible to leave JFK by 8 AM and be in San Francisco by 10:30 AM. Some flights may require a midway stop, making the total excursion between 8 and 9½ hours. Nonstop times are approximately 1½ hours from Los Angeles, 3 hours from Dallas, 4½ hours from Chicago, 4½ hours from Atlanta, 11 hours from London, 12 hours from Auckland, and 13½ hours from Sydney.
Driving: Driving in san Fran can be difficult due to complicated one-way systems and heavy traffic. Although rush "hours" are 6-10 AM and 3-7 PM, you can hit gridlock on any day at any time, especially over the Bay Bridge and leaving and/or entering the city from the south. Sunday-afternoon traffic can be heavy as well, especially over the bridges.
The most comprehensive and immediate traffic updates are available through the city's 511 service, either online at www.511.org (where webcams show you the traffic on your selected route) or by calling 511.
Cycling: San Francisco being famed for its undulating topography, would not instantly spring to mind as a cycle-friendly city. Yet bicycle culture is booming. From fixed gear hipsters to commuters in suits, rent-a-bike tourists to serious roadies, the city heartily embraces the bicycle. And at a fairly compact 47 square miles, a bike is an awesome way to see the city and enjoy the massive diversity of the various neighbourhoods that fill the bay.
B.A.R.T Rail: Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) trains, which run until midnight, travel under the bay via tunnel to connect San Francisco with Oakland, Berkeley, Pittsburgh/Bay Point, Richmond, Fremont, Dublin/Pleasanton, and other small cities and towns in between. Within San Francisco, stations are limited to downtown, the Mission, and a couple of outlying neighborhoods
Bus: Outside the city, AC Transit serves the East Bay, and Golden Gate Transit serves Marin and Sonoma counties.