San Francisco is a compact city of steep hills, varied architecture and distinct neighbourhoods, with the bay and the Golden Gate shaping both its geography and its weather. Chinatown, the Mission and the waterfront landmarks are the names most visitors arrive knowing, and the city's mild climate makes walking between areas practical for much of the year.
For a visitor, the useful split is between the northeastern part of the city — Downtown, Chinatown and Fisherman's Wharf — where most accommodation is concentrated and the main sights cluster, and the mostly residential neighbourhoods to the west, where the sleeping options thin out to small inns and bed and breakfasts. This guide covers which of those areas to base yourself in, how they connect to the rest of the city, and what each suits.
Best areas to stay in San Francisco
1. Downtown
Downtown sits in the northeastern portion of the city, in and around the popular visitor areas, and holds the largest share of San Francisco's accommodation. You will find the biggest hotels here alongside smaller chains and local outfits, which makes it the most straightforward base if you want a wide choice of places to stay and easy access to the centre.
It suits first-time visitors and anyone who wants to be within reach of the main sights on foot. Note that hotel costs in the city are particularly variable, and the largest hotels here are generally more expensive than smaller chains and local outfits.
2. Chinatown
Chinatown is one of the districts the city is known for, and it sits in the northeastern portion of San Francisco among the areas where most accommodation is found. Staying here puts you in a dense, distinctive neighbourhood while keeping you close to Downtown and the rest of the visitor core.
It suits travellers who want to be in the middle of the city's street life and within walking distance of their destinations. As with the rest of the northeastern cluster, this is an area where being on foot is realistic, which matters given how much of an undertaking driving and parking can be in the busier parts of San Francisco.
3. Fisherman's Wharf
Fisherman's Wharf is the third of the northeastern areas where the majority of accommodations are concentrated, and it is one of the city's best-known visitor districts. The range of places to stay here runs from budget options through to the lavish and luxurious, in line with the city as a whole.
It suits first-time visitors who want the waterfront and the classic sights close at hand. The practical trade-off is the same as elsewhere in the northeast: this is a busy area, so plan on walking or using public transit rather than driving and parking.
4. SoMa
SoMa is the neighbourhood where hotel prices are most sensitive to what is happening in the city. Rates here can triple when the biggest events are underway at the Moscone Convention Center, and those busy dates amount to about half the year.
It suits travellers with flexible dates, who can save a lot of money by avoiding the busiest periods, and anyone whose trip revolves around an event at the convention centre. If your dates are fixed, expect to pay accordingly.
5. The residential neighbourhoods to the west
As you move west into the mostly residential neighbourhoods, the accommodation filters down to small inns and bed and breakfasts. This is a different kind of stay from the large hotels of the centre, and it suits travellers who prefer quieter surroundings and are willing to trade proximity to the main sights for them.
Because these areas are further from the northeastern cluster of attractions, you will rely more on public transit or a car. Weigh that against the fact that parking can be quite an undertaking in the busier parts of the city.
6. Around San Francisco International Airport
If you would rather stay closer to the airport, there are plenty of standard airport accommodations in the cities surrounding it: Brisbane, Burlingame, Millbrae, San Bruno and South San Francisco. From there you can drive or take BART or Caltrain into San Francisco.
This suits travellers with early flights, short stopovers, or a car, and anyone who does not mind commuting into the city rather than sleeping in it. It is a practical base rather than a sightseeing one.
Where to stay on a budget, mid-range or splurge
- Budget: San Francisco has a healthy supply of hostels and budget hotels, and small inns and bed and breakfasts once you move into the residential neighbourhoods to the west.
- Mid-range: Smaller chains and local outfits sit between the budget end and the largest hotels, and are generally less expensive than the biggest properties.
- Splurge: The lavish, luxurious hotels are in the city center, and the biggest hotels in the city are the most expensive.
Best area for a first visit
Downtown is the best single base for a first visit. It sits in the northeastern portion of the city where the majority of accommodations are concentrated, so you have the widest choice of places to stay, and it keeps you in and around the popular areas alongside Chinatown and Fisherman's Wharf. From there you can decide whether to walk to your destinations or use public transit, rather than committing to driving and parking in the busier parts of the city.
Frequently asked questions
Where are most of San Francisco's accommodations located?
The majority are in the northeastern portion of the city, in and around Downtown, Chinatown and Fisherman's Wharf.
When are hotel prices highest in San Francisco?
Prices are particularly variable, and in SoMa they depend significantly on what is happening at the Moscone Convention Center. Rates can triple during the biggest events, which account for about half the year, so flexible dates can save a lot of money.
Should I stay in the city or near the airport?
That depends on your plans. Staying in the city puts you close to the sights; staying near San Francisco International Airport means using the standard accommodations in Brisbane, Burlingame, Millbrae, San Bruno or South San Francisco and driving or taking BART or Caltrain into the city.
Do I need a car to get around from my base?
Decide first whether you want to be within walking distance of your destinations or are prepared to drive and park, which can be quite an undertaking in the busier areas. A light rail and bus network, together with BART and Caltrain, connects nearly every part of the city with the wider region.
Compare live prices for your dates with the booking tools on this page before you decide where to base yourself.