.png)
Discover San Francisco
Photo by Tom Gainor | Unsplash
Learn more about the Golden City
Frequently Asked Questions about San Francisco
Is San Francisco worth visiting?
The answer is a big yes! San Francisco is definitely one of the best places to see in the United States. Of course, it has its pros and cons like any other cities, but its wide variety of landscapes and activities allow anyone to find something that they will like.
Where to eat in San Francisco?
Everyday Food:
Trader Joe’s – Generally have a good reputation, but the selection can be limited, and prices are okay for California.
Andronico’s Community Markets – Has a good reputation and good products, but is known to be pricey.
Safeway – A pretty regular supermarket which tends to have a small selection of items and be pricey as well.
Sprouts Farmers Market & Whole Food – Quality products with moderate to high prices.
Walmart – San Francisco does not directly have Walmarts. There are a few across the bay in Oakland.
Target – There are only a couple of Targets around the bay. These tend to be okay and offer a fair selection of produce. Target is usually more expensive than Walmart, but cheaper than other stores like Trader Joe's etc…
Costco – That one is a bit tricky since it is bulk quantities. Costco has a wide selection of products, but you will buy in bulk. Moreover, a membership is needed to access the store. However, there are a couple around the bay.
Other – You will be able to find some smaller markets in town. Quality varies.
Restaurants and Chains
The Classics – Of course, you will find the classic fast food and restaurants chains like McDonald, In-n-out, Applebee’s, etc… in San Francisco.
Boudin Bakery – Boudin Bakery offers a nice variety of food going from breakfast to lunch. We have found their food being nice, but everyone has different tastes.
Cafe de Casa – A small chain of cafes with three locations in San Francisco. They offer quality products with specialities from Brazil.
Where to stay in San Francisco?
There are plenty of good hotels around San Francisco. When it comes to the best neighborhood, it all depends on what you are looking for. For safety reasons, people generally avoid areas such as Tenderloin and Civic Center. Other areas like South of Market (SoMa) or Inner Mission have some good things, but still have high rates of crime and homelessness. That being said, areas like Union Square and Fisherman’s Wharf are fairly safe and good locations to stay when visiting San Francisco.
Do you need a car in San Francisco?
Well, that depends on what you plan to do in San Francisco. One of the great things about San Francisco is the transit system that can take you to a lot of places around the bay easily. Some parks around the bay also have a shuttle that can take you from the city to the park. Additionally, not having a car can avoid the stress of having it broken there. Therefore, if you stay around the city, NO you do not need a car.
What are the best things to do in San Francisco?
We made two articles talking about the best things to do in and around San Francisco, check it up!
When is the best time to come to San Francisco?
August through October is generally a good period to visit San Francisco. This period of time avoids the summer fog, cold, and other annoying weather. Nonetheless, San Francisco is a year round destination with the different seasons offering different experiences.
How is the weather in San Francisco?
San Francisco has a Mediterranean-type climate. Winters are wet and cool, summers dry and warm. There can be fog and wind throughout the year.
Is San Francisco a safe place to visit?
Overall, yes San Francisco is a safe place to visit. But as all big cities, there are precautions that you will need to take. Always be aware of your surroundings and avoid going out at night. Also get knowledge of the neighborhoods to avoid.
How many days do you need in San Francisco?
That will sound like we repeat it again, but it all depends on you. There are enough things to do in San Francisco and the bay to stay one week or more. However, you could stay only one day as well. From our experience, three full days is a fair amount of time if you only plan on staying in the city.