Located in Northern California San Francisco is a large city in the United States, located along the California coastline. Famous for the Golden Gate Bridge, it’s rolling hills, landmarks, and is one of the technological and start-up hubs around the world.
San Francisco has a bit of everything with the Golden Gate Bridge, cable cars, Alcatraz, Coit Tower, and Fisherman’s Wharf just to name a few, along with museums and more to explore.
With so many different neighbourhoods and hotels to choose from, finding the right place to stay in San Francisco can be an overwhelming task. Having visited San Francisco many times, I am very familiar with San Francisco’s best and safest areas to stay in and rounded up my favourites for every budget below!
Top 10 Things To Do In San Francisco
San Francisco is a large city with lots of things to see and do. These are my top 10 things to see and do during your stay in San Francisco.
- Walk across the Golden Gate Bridge
- Take a day trip to Napa Valley for wine-tasting
- Take a ride on the historic cable cars
- Walkthrough Little Italy for Pizza
- Spend the day at Fisherman’s Wharf
- Watch the sunset over Twin Peaks
- Relax or have a picnic in Golden Gate Park
- Go thrift-store shopping for vintage clothes
- Visit Mission District for dinner
- Explore the Japanese Tea Gardens
Overview Of San Francisco Neighbourhoods
San Francisco has many different neighbourhoods depending on your plans and desires in the city.
Each neighbourhood offers something different from city views, ocean views, attractions, countryside feels, historic centre, and modern trendy neighbourhoods, each neighbourhood in our list offers a different experience of the city.
Depending on your preferred location and budget, you can find something in San Francisco to suit your requirements, from boutique hotels to luxury chain brands.
A little bit of research (or this guide!) will help you in finding quality accommodation for your perfect trip!
The Central Area Of San Francisco: Union Square
Union Square is well known around San Francisco for its shopping and fashion. Every large fashion brand and retailer has a shop in this area. Union Square is also San Francisco’s hotel district, this is where big branded hotels have set up and made their hotels.
Along with shopping, Union Square has a large variety of restaurants and dining options.
It’s a great place to stay in San Francisco for business travellers, families, and couples, with good transportation links and many attractions within walking distance.
Pros & Cons Of Staying In Union Square
PROS
- Centrally located
- Close to public transport systems
- Great shopping, restaurants, and bars
- Branded hotels
- Great location to walk to attractions
CONS
- One of the more expensive locations
- Touristy
Luxury Hotels In Union Square
Mid-Range Hotels In Union Square
Budget Hotels In Union Square
Iconic Historic Area Of San Francisco: Haight-Ashbury
Haight-Ashbury is a vast contrast from other areas of San Francisco with many houses and streets lined with Victorian-style brightly coloured houses.
This area of the city is ideal for those looking for a more relaxing stay within the city, with only a small number of hotel and accommodation options in the form of small hotels and apartments.
Haight-Ashbury is a popular location with locals, with Buena Vista Park, views of the city, and quieter areas outside of the city.
Pros & Cons Of Staying In Haight-Ashbury
PROS
- Beautiful architecture
- Great shopping
- Home to Golden Gate Park
- Get for the outdoors
CONS
- Few accommodation options
Luxury Hotels In Haight-Ashbury
Mid-Range Hotels In Haight-Ashbury
A Piece Of The Countryside In San Francisco: Hayes Valley
Hayes Valley is filled with iconic tree-lines chic corridors, and haute couture.
This neighbourhood is considered one of the most trendy in the city with fashion boutiques, SoHo-style art galleries, high-end shops, world-class restaurants, and iconic nightlife spots.
Hayes Valley has a large number of attractions including Octavia Boulevard and Hayes Green Park, and boutique non-high street shops.
Pros & Cons Of Staying In Hayes Valley
PROS
- Tree-lined roads
- Cafes and small boutique shops
- Walkable
- Good public transport links
CONS
- An expensive area to stay
Luxury Hotels In Hayes Valley
Mid-Range Hotels In Hayes Valley
Deemed The Foodie Area Of San Francisco: North Beach
North Beach is San Francisco’s Italian heritage neighbourhood, with galleries, small inns, jazz clubs, small unique cafes, live music, and much more.
This neighbourhood of San Francisco is well known for its food, with a huge variety of dining options available, there is something for everyone’s taste. `
North Beach is located close to other neighbourhoods, with close connections and great public transport options for local attractions. North Beach is filled with character from eccentric and electric street dancing and painted murals.
Pros & Cons Of Staying In North Beach
PROS
- Home to some of the best restaurants in the city
- Every kind of food you can imagine
- Often joined with Chinatown
- Historic sites
- Close to some of the cities best sites
CONS
- Can be loud at night
- Avoid staying close to Broadway
Luxury Hotels In North Beach
Mid-Range Hotels In North Beach
An Iconic Area In San Francisco: The Castro
The Castro is filled with views of the city, grand Victorian houses, and is known for being the “gay capital of the world”.
Castro is well known for having trendy stores, outdoor restaurants, and some of the best nightclubs in the city.
This neighbourhood can be easily reached and linked with. the rest of the city via the historic F-Line streetcars, which provides easy links to the cities main attractions.
Pros & Cons Of Staying In Castro
PROS
- LGBTQ + Friendly
- Iconic streets and signs
- Home to some of the cities best nightlife
- Pedestrian Friendly
CONS
- Very hilly
Hotels In Castro
The Warehouse District In San Francisco: South Of Market (SoMa)
SoMa or South of Market is a neighbourhood that stretches two square miles, filled with nightclubs, restaurants, art hubs, shops, and more.
This large neighbourhood is filled with things to see and do, with a large number of museums and galleries, including the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) and the Moscane Center.
This warehouse district is home to the Dr Martin Luther King Jr memorial, The University of California- San Francisco, the San Francisco Giants (Oracle Park), and the riverfront.
Pros & Cons Of Staying In SoMa
PROS
- Large neighbourhood
- Lots of things happening
- Great restaurants and nightlife
- Plenty of things to see and do
- Great for public transport links
CONS
- Very large neighborhood
- Not the prettiest neighbourhood with warehouses
Luxury Hotels In SoMa
Budget Hotels In SoMa
Best Hotels In San Francisco Wrap-Up
We hope this guide will help you plan your stay at some of the best hotels in San Francisco next time you visit! It is a beautiful city with lots of character, green spaces, history, and experiences.
If an AirBnB is more your style, be sure to read our complete guides to the best group AirBnBs in San Francisco and the most unique AirBnBs in San Francisco.
We hope that this article has inspired you to visit San Francisco and stay at some of these great hotels. If you have any questions about the destination or have your own travel tips to share please leave these in the comments below.
Want to share your own travel tips by guest writing for We Are Travel Girls? Go to our Contribute page for guidelines and to submit your article.
We Are Travel Girls Founder Becky van Dijk of BeckyvanDijk.com
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