The doorways to San Francisco are always open. Visitors can arrive by car, public transit, ferry or bike. Its position at the waterfront, characteristic hills, compact streets and unique districts lead to the city being very congested, yet very walkable. The established trail network leading to and along key destinations such as the Golden Gate Bridge, Golden Gate Park and the Presidio sits outside its urban core, connected to the city by an expansive public transit network. Bicycle lanes weave through the city.
A great place to launch your day to explore the city, for either the first time or frequent visitor, is the Ferry Building on the Embarcadero—San Francisco’s waterfront promenade features an assortment of ports, retail, offices and restaurants. The historical Ferry Building with its impressive clock tower is a proud city landmark, visible for several city blocks. The history of the building and the attractions within are described in another part of this series of highlights about San Francisco. Beginning at the Ferry Building, visitors can select from a variety of destination options: catch public transit, bike or walk, to explore the urban core and the city’s many hills; or stroll along the Embarcadero and pass by an assortment of coastal amenities, museums, public art, restaurants and historic destinations.
Public transit in the form of busses and historic cable cars leads riders through the city center, up and down hills, through historic neighborhoods and unique districts, and leads directly into a network of hiking trails located on the city’s outer edge where visitors and residents alike can enjoy a network of short, easy and longer trails in and through Golden Gate Park, the Presidio, along the coast and crossing the Golden Gate Bridge. Longer trails lead into neighboring communities to the north and south.
The Bay Ridge Trails, spearheaded by a San Francisco-based nonprofit organization working to connect trails throughout the Bay Area, lead you through and out of the city, connecting hundreds of miles of trails in the Bay Area. And many local bike rental shops provide tours—both guided and self-guided—to help visitors learn about the city, its history, landmarks and natural areas.
The San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge
San Francisco's hills
Lombard Street
Pier 7 at dusk
Streets of San Francisco
San Francisco prime time is all year round. The city remains vibrant and busy all year. Coastal temperatures are mild, ranging from an average high of 70 degrees to an average low of 40 degrees. A few inches of rain falls on city streets during the winter. Dress in layers (lightweight jacket or sweatshirt) all year long to prepare for morning fog and strong afternoon winds.
The San Francisco Municipal Railway, known as MUNI, operates busses, streetcars, light rail, trolley busses and cable cars. To simplify transfers and paying fares on different transit lines, the Clipper Card is an all-purpose electronic transit card for use on MUNI, BART, CalTrain, Golden Gate Transit and Ferry. It can be purchased at many retail outlets or at clippercard.com.
Wear comfortable walking shoes. San Francisco is known for its steep city streets and dozens of hills. Visitors can find guided and self-guided walking tours throughout the urban core. A pair of adjacent neighborhoods, Nob Hill and Russian Hill, offer outstanding views. Another option for high-up vistas is Telegraph Hill; climb 400 steps to reach Coit Tower at the top.
A regional bike-share program called Ford GoBike offers public bicycles in San Francisco, East Bay and San Jose. Riders can sign up to become a member to have access to station-to-station bike trips around town. For details, visit: www.fordgobike.com.
Most visitors will fly into San Francisco International Airport (SFO), about 13 miles from downtown. A little farther out is Oakland International Airport (OAK), approximately 20 miles from the city center. Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) trains offer an easy and convenient way to get to and from either airport.
Check out these helpful websites for planning your travel in San Francisco.
A San Francisco tradition for 30 years, Blazing Saddles features kids, tandem, electric, mountain and road bikes for rent and sale. The company provides bike tours, self-guided information, maps and...
A San Francisco tradition for 30 years, Blazing Saddles features kids, tandem, electric, mountain and road bikes for rent and sale. The company provides bike tours, self-guided information, maps and...
A San Francisco tradition for 30 years, Blazing Saddles features kids, tandem, electric, mountain and road bikes for rent and sale. The company provides bike tours, self-guided information, maps and...
A San Francisco tradition for 30 years, Blazing Saddles features kids, tandem, electric, mountain and road bikes for rent and sale. The company provides bike tours, self-guided information, maps and...
A San Francisco tradition for 30 years, Blazing Saddles features kids, tandem, electric, mountain and road bikes for rent and sale. The company provides bike tours, self-guided information, maps and...
A San Francisco tradition for 30 years, Blazing Saddles features kids, tandem, electric, mountain and road bikes for rent and sale. The company provides bike tours, self-guided information, maps and...
Provides bike rentals, safety equipment and guided bike tours for children, teens and adults to help you explore San Francisco up close and personal.
Rent skates and safety equipment, kids¿ bikes, mountain bikes or tandem bikes either by the hour or day. Rentals include helmet, lock and map. Repair services are also available.
Provides bike rentals, safety equipment and guided bike tours for children, teens and adults to help you explore San Francisco up close and personal.
Enjoy services of the dedicated concierge team to arrange for tours and dining. Contemporary hotel with classic styling and full service amenities, located at Fisherman's Wharf.
Visitors are greeted by costumed Beefeaters at the door, taking you back in time to the glamourous debut of this historic hotel in 1928. Impressive decorations with gold details, rich fabrics, plush...
Visitors are greeted by costumed Beefeaters at the door, taking you back in time to the glamourous debut of this historic hotel in 1928. Impressive decorations with gold details, rich fabrics, plush furnishings and ornately crafted staircases.
Strategically located at Fisherman's Wharf the Hyatt provides visitors an exceptional opportunity to be within walking distance to many of the city's most popular attractions. Luxurious, contemporary...
Mark Hopkins namesake is one of four railroad barons who helped finance construction of the watern end of the Transconinental Railroad. The hotel is a local historical landmark sitting at the top of...
Visiting this luxurious hotel at the top of Nob Hill is a truly memorable experience for business or pleasure. Enjoy afternoon tea, stunning views of the city and special events for all throughout the...
The Westin St. Francis in Union Square is one of the city¿s iconic historic hotels with an impressive lobby of rich dark woods, marble beams and the Great Magneta Clock. Enjoy a ride on a cable cars...
Located in Presidio Heights, Spruce's character and charm welcomes guests. Esquire magazine named it one of America's best new restaurants. The coveted Michelin Guideawarded it with one star. As...
Specializing in serving locally grown fresh fruits and vegetables. Meats and seafood are raised sustainably. Diners enjoy small plates designed for sharing. Sessions serves dinner, lunch, brunch,...
Enjoy Boudin's flagship restaurant and bakery at the Wharf for lunch or dinner. Take a self-guided tour of its museum overlooking the commercial bakery. Visitors can also watch bakers knead and shape...
This historic and recently restored San Francisco landmark opened in 1898 and became the focal point for anyone arriving in the city by train. The building is strategically located at the foot of...
This former military base is open for public use and recreation. The area is divided into four distinct sections Golden Gate, Crissy Field, Main Post and Southern Fields. More than 25 miles of...
This world famous bridge, opened in 1937, crosses the San Francisco Bay to connect the city of San Francisco to Sausalito and the Marin headlands. Hundreds of pedestrians and cyclists walk 1.7 miles...
Golden Gate Park stretches more than 1,000 acres in a long, narrow strip bordering on the northern edge of the city. The park features more than 100 points of interest, including world-class museums...
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This 4.5-mile paved trail encircles Lake Merced in southwestern San Francisco. The western leg of the loop is also referred to as the Lake Merced...
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This 2.5-mile trail segment through San Francisco's Presidio is part of 340-mile network of multi-use trails collectively known as the Bay Area Ridge...
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A milestone of car-free transportation, JFK Drive, which runs through the heart of San Francisco's Golden Gate Park has recently become car-free. The...
Overview The San Francisco Bay Trail is a colossal effort to create a 500-mile multiuse trail encircling its namesake bay. Along its course, the...
At first glance, the bright lights of Broadway with traffic signals at every block may not seem like an ideal place for biking and walking, but New York City is full of surprises. Trails have been carved out for cyclists and pedestrians across all five boroughs, in parks, lining the riverfront, in nature preserves, on former elevated rail lines and alongside the beaches (yes, New York City has...
For its small size, the nation’s capital is jam-packed with attractions: world-class museums, a plethora of historical sites, top-notch theaters and art galleries and a first-hand look at America’s three branches of government. And, for those who want to take it all in, an expanding network of bicycling and walking facilities connects it all.
Despite the hills, despite the rain, Seattle is a great city for walking and biking. And, thanks to the city’s infrastructure investments, it’s slowly getting better all the time. In 2016, Bicycling Magazine ranked Seattle the 5th best bike city in the U.S. WalkScore says Seattle is the 8th most walkable city in the country.
Despite the hills, despite the rain, Seattle is a great city for walking and biking. And, thanks to the city’s infrastructure investments, it’s slowly getting better all the time. In 2016, Bicycling Magazine ranked Seattle the 5th best bike city in the U.S. WalkScore says Seattle is the 8th most walkable city in the country.
The Magic City is a multicultural destination with water, water, everywhere. The greater Miami metropolitan area stretches from the Everglades, the famed River of Grass, in the west to the Atlantic Ocean in the east, so the city’s trails cover a variety of landscapes and settings. From protected natural areas and sandy beaches to historical neighborhoods and urban hot spots, there’s something for...
Whether you prefer pedaling among high-rise buildings of downtown, clocking fast miles on a paved veloway, exploring a gravel trail along the lake or cruising separated bike paths alongside creeks and streams, Austin’s trail system beckons. The city may be best known for its network of single-track mountain biking and off-road running trails along Barton Creek, but it’s quickly making strides with...
To really understand why Bicycling Magazine recently placed Chicago first on their list of the 50 best U.S. cities for cyclists, it takes a look beyond the 100 miles of new protected bike lanes Chicago has added since 2015, the nearly 600 bright blue Divvy Bike Share stations and, of course, the city’s iconic Lakefront Trail.
Water, most notably the Mississippi River, but also Minnehaha Creek and the Chain of Lakes, shaped the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul, literally. The river, creeks and lakes provide the defining beauty and character of the landscape. They also attracted people, supported the industries the led to the growth of the cities and encourage the active lifestyle of today’s citizens.
Towering saguaros, 115-degree summer temperatures, Major League Baseball spring-training parks: They are all signature features of Phoenix, Arizona. A bit more under the radar, perhaps, is the well-established network of trails that crisscrosses the massive urban area.
Picture year-round mild weather, miles of multi-purpose trails, one-of-a-kind sights and a mountains-to-coast terrain with small hills, short hills, large hills and long hills—all interspersed with acres of level land. If you see a pattern here—best described “perfect”—you’ve captured San Diego County’s biking and hiking scene.
