Without a car, downtown is best because so many attractions are within walking distance: Union Square shopping, North Beach (Little Italy), Chinatown, and scenic Nob Hill.
Contents
Where to stay in San Francisco if you don’t have a car?
- 9.1 Nob Hill (the iconic San Francisco experience)
- 9.2 SoMa (South of Market, wide choice of central accommodations)
- 9.3 Fisherman’s Wharf (one of the city’s busiest tourist areas)
- 9.4 Haight-Ashbury (the boutique area)
- 9.5 The Mission (best nightlife in SF)
- 9.6 Union Square (the shopping hub)
Can you vacation in San Francisco without a car?
The best ways to get around San Francisco are on foot and by using public transportation. Most of the popular attractions are within walking distance of the city center, and the large municipal transportation system (called the Muni) operates bus and streetcar lines, leaving little need for your own set of wheels.
Where should I stay in San Francisco for the first time?
Where to Stay: For your first time in San Francisco, you’ll want to stay in a centrally located area, preferably in Union Square, the Financial District, or around the Convention Center. Try to stay near Market Street, as public transportation is plentiful here.
What can you do in San Francisco without a car?
Here’s a look at all the ways to get around San Francisco:
- Underground BART System.
- MUNI System.
- Cable Cars.
- Streetcars.
- Bike Share.
- Taxis and Rideshares.
- Train.
- Ferry.
What parts of San Francisco should I avoid?
Here are a few of the dangerous areas in San Francisco:
- Mission District. Also called “The Mission”, this neighborhood occupies 55,009 of San Francisco’s population.
- The Tenderloin.
- Western Addition.
- Bayview.
- Potrero Hill.
- Pacific Heights.
- Nob Hill.
- Richmond District.
What is the safest area to stay in San Francisco?
The 10 Best Neighborhoods in San Francisco for Tourists
- Union Square/Central Market.
- SoMa.
- Union Square.
- Fisherman’s Wharf.
- Haight-Ashbury.
- Hayes Valley.
- Castro LGBTQ Cultural District.
- North Beach.
How do you get around without a car?
Alternative options to owning a car.
- Ridesharing. Apps like Lyft and Uber have made getting around simpler than ever.
- Public transit. Public transportation systems vary greatly from city to city.
- Car sharing.
- Bicycling.
- Bike sharing.
- Walking.
- Car rental.
- Taxi.
Where can I travel without a car?
Where to Have a Car-Free Vacation in the U.S.
- Aspen, Colorado.
- Avalon, Santa Catalina Island.
- Fire Island, New York.
- Little St.
- Lopez Island, Washington State.
- Mackinac Island, Michigan.
- Monhegan Island, Maine.
- Nags Head, North Carolina.
How can I commute to work without a car?
- Bike Commute. Of all the alternative methods, bike commuting is one of the most popular, and it is easy to see why.
- Walk to Work.
- Run/Jog to Work.
- e-Scooters.
- Roller Skates / Inline Skates / Boarding.
- The Segway.
- Take Public Transport to Work.
- Car Sharing.
What are the best areas to stay in San Francisco?
Best Neighborhood to Stay in San Francisco
- Nob Hill. Nob Hill is one of the most upscale neighborhoods in San Francisco.
- North Beach. If you’re looking for a more casual neighborhood, North Beach is a strong option.
- SoMa.
- The Mission.
- Richmond.
- Sunset.
- Presidio.
- Embarcadero.
Is Fisherman’s Wharf safe?
Overall, most San Francisco neighborhoods are not dangerous. But if you want to be sure you’re sticking to the safest areas for tourists, Fisherman’s Wharf and Chinatown have low crime rates and are fun to visit too.
How many days should I spend in San Francisco?
Most visitors find three days in San Francisco is a good amount of time to get a solid introduction to the city. However, if you have a week it’s highly recommended you take a few San Francisco day trips. For example, to the Wine Country or vibrant cities like Oakland and Berkeley, which are across the Bay.
What is there to do in the Bay Area for free?
Top 3 Free Things to Do in the Bay Area
- See the Sea Lions at Pier 39.
- Walk across the Golden Gate bridge.
- Visit a free museum.
- Watch a fire spinning performance.
- See the city lights from the San Francisco Art Institute rooftop.
- See a live show at Amnesia.
- Go to a book reading at the famous City Lights bookstore.
How do you get to the Golden Gate Bridge without a car?
By Bus. If you don’t have the option to go by car or you don’t want to waste time looking for a parking spot, you can take public transit. Numerous buses will take you to the Golden Gate Bridge. If you are using Google Maps for directions, we recommend using the Golden Gate Bridge Welcome Center as the location.
How far is Yosemite from San Francisco?
about 200 miles
Many tourists plan to see Yosemite while visiting San Francisco, about 200 miles away. Because Yosemite is one of the most popular tourist destinations in California, several companies offer services to help you get from San Francisco to Yosemite and back.
Is Golden Gate Park safe at night?
Although Golden Gate Park may be a very fascinating place to visit during the day, it is unsafe to go there at night. If you read our article dedicated to Golden Gate Park you will know that there are many spectacular things to see at this park during the daytime.
Why is the Tenderloin so bad?
Nestled near the downtown area, the Tenderloin has historically resisted gentrification, maintaining a seedy character and reputation for crime. Squalid conditions, homelessness, crime, illegal drug trade, prostitution, liquor stores, and strip clubs give the neighborhood a seedy reputation.
Is it safe to walk around San Francisco at night?
Walking in San Francisco at night can be safe, but we really wouldn’t recommend it. If you’re on a night out, stick with a big group of people and don’t wander off alone. Avoid the sketchy neighborhoods completely at night.
Is Dolores Park Safe?
Mapped today, the park is much safer than both the 16th (32 assaults) and 24th (26 assaults) Street BART stops.“There have not been that many violent assaults,” he said. “This is the first violent crime that we’ve seen at the park in a long time.” Few police officers remember the Dolores Park of 15 years ago.
Is Haight Ashbury safe?
Haight-Ashbury enjoys a relatively safe reputation where locals and tourists walk around throughout the day and into the evening hours. The “Upper Haight” is the safest area of the neighborhood.The Upper Haight stretches towards Golden Gate Park.
