San Francisco holidays

A huge part of San Francisco’s appeal is its neighbourhoods of street murals and mosaic staircases, quality food trucks and quirky coffee shops. Wander through historic Chinatown, where the fortune cookie is said to have been invented, stroll through grassy Dolores Park and read the plaques that honour LGBTQ activists along the Rainbow Honor Walk in The Castro, one of the world’s most famous gay neighbourhoods.

For food, the city is a dream. San Francisco has one of the highest numbers of restaurants per capita in the USA. Its culinary scene is the stuff of legend, with the sparkling bay and fertile hills around the city providing an abundance of locally sourced ingredients. As you might expect from the original hippie city, there's a focus on organic, healthy and environmentally friendly produce, alongside all kinds of international cuisine, from Mexican to Peruvian, Japanese to Italian.

Extend your trip by getting out of the city to discover the great Californian outdoors, whether that's surfing off Ocean Beach or exploring Lands End coastal park. Some all-inclusive San Francisco holidays have excursions out to national parks and beauty spots including Point Reyes, Pinnacles and Yosemite, too. But if you prefer to stay in the city, San Francisco has its fair share of stunning natural views.

Maybe surprisingly, San Fran’s summer tends to be quite cool and foggy. It’s still a popular time to visit, though, so expect to find hiked-up prices in town.

For a good chance of beating the crowds, avoiding extreme weather and seeing the city at its best, plan your holiday for the shoulder seasons. September and October are great months to visit, with warm weather (the average high is 21C), clear skies and fewer tourists than over the summer months. This is the time to pick up good deals, too.

Winter, however, is the best time to find cheap holidays to San Francisco, and it rarely gets too cold – average highs are between 14C and 17C from November to April. It can rain, and fog is common, but dress for the weather and you’ll have a great time exploring all the tourist attractions without the summer crowds.

You could while away days just wandering around San Francisco's eclectic neighbourhoods, eating, drinking and people watching – but there are a few highlights you won’t want to miss, from the iconic bridge to some family-friendly activities.

The Golden Gate Bridge

The Golden Gate suspension bridge, completed in 1937, is an Art Deco symbol of the city. When the bay’s fog clears, this iconic attraction is impressive to see.

Amble, cycle, drive or catch the 28 bus across the 3km (1.5 miles) long bridge, and you'll be rewarded for your efforts with knockout vistas of the city skyline. To take in the bridge itself, many believe the best views are from Baker Beach and below the bridge at Fort Point.

Alcatraz Island

Once North America's most notorious prison, 'the Rock' is an easy boat journey from San Francisco. Initially a military prison in the 1850s, the island penitentiary is most famous for its 1920’s detention of high-profile American gangsters Al Capone, aka ‘Scarface’, and ‘Bumpy’ Johnson, the Harlem mob boss.

In 1963, Alcatraz closed its doors. Now a prime tourist destination, it has an excellent audio tour included in its entrance price. Book your tickets a good month in advance, if possible.

Cable cars

San Francisco’s vintage streetcars trundle around the city centre between neighbourhoods and near must-see destinations such as Fisherman's Wharf, Chinatown and crooked Lombard Street.

Hop on any of the three lines: the Powell/Mason line goes around North Beach, the California line crosses Nob Hill and is a little more spacious and the Powell/Hyde line takes in Lombard Street and has views of Alcatraz. Buy tickets with cash on board or from a Muni kiosk.

Chinatown

Established in the mid-1800s, this is the oldest Chinatown in North America. Wander around its 22-block neighbourhood of street art, historic buildings, bakeries, bars and restaurants – it’s packed full of history.

Learn about the opium trade, the battle against anti-Chinese sentiment in the USA, the Gold Rush, the 1906 earthquake and more. Visit dive bars and excellent restaurants with mouth-watering menus of sesame chicken, steamed dumplings and wonton soup.

The Exploratorium

This hands-on science and art museum is the perfect answer to what to do in San Francisco on a wet day, for both adults and kids. Described by the New York Times as the most important science museum to have opened since the mid-20th century, it encourages visitors to touch and explore the fascinating exhibits.

Some 650 exhibits explain such phenomena as whether lighting affects the mood and if water drains in the opposite direction in the Southern Hemisphere. It’s a brilliant museum that brings science to life.

For families

Fisherman’s Wharf is great for families with younger kids as it’s close to major tourist attractions, as well as good seafood restaurants, fun street performers and the sunbathing sea lions. From here, you can easily catch the ferry to Alcatraz, and you’re close to Pier 39, Musée Mécanique with its vintage arcade games, Aquarium of the Bay and the San Francisco Dungeon.

Union Square is another popular spot for families, as it’s surrounded by restaurants and shops and is well connected to the rest of the city. For something a little more laid-back, try the residential North Beach neighbourhood.

For travellers on a budget

Look to South of the Market – SoMa – for a cheap San Francisco holiday. It has a lot of relatively cheap hotels, hostels and apartments, and is close to Union Square. Bars and clubs, the 111 Minna art gallery, and several museums such as the Museum of African Diaspora and the Contemporary Jewish Museum are all here, too. SoMa is also home to the Leather and LGBTQ Cultural District.

The Sunset district has good value accommodation just outside the city centre and feels a little more residential and relaxed. It borders Golden Gate Park and is close to the San Francisco Zoo.

For food and drink

The good news about staying in San Francisco is that no matter where you are you can eat really well. The Mission has restaurants of all kinds: Mexican, Asian, Peruvian and Jewish cuisine, pizzerias, bakeries and ice-cream parlours.

Richmond is another brilliant foodie district, a little more of a locals’ secret than the Mission. It’s particularly excellent for Asian food, from Michelin-starred sushi to dim sum and Burmese. North Beach and SoMa also have plenty of great options for food and drink, and of course, Chinatown is brimming with Chinese restaurants.

For nightlife

The Mission is a top spot for nightlife in San Francisco, with dive bars and live-music venues to breweries and cocktail bars. SoMa is another area with a major nightlife scene – it’s especially good for clubs. You can find places playing punk, ’80s, pop, rap and there are even hot yoga workouts to music on weeknights.

Richmond is a great area for craft beers, Union Square is best for cocktail bars and the Financial District has lots of brilliant wine bars for a more sophisticated nightlife. The Castro district is the city’s famous LGBTQ nightlife centre.

For culture

Stay in SoMa (South of the Market) to be close to San Fran’s diverse museums, such as the Museum of Modern Art, the Museum of African Diaspora and the Contemporary Jewish Museum. Art gallery 111 Minna is nearby, and you can pop into Thomas A. Goldwasser Rare Books.

Going to a ball game? Stay around South Beach to be within walking distance of the Oracle Park baseball stadium. And for gay culture, it has to be The Castro district – one of the world’s most famous gay neighbourhoods and the heart of LGBTQ rights activism.