Cheap Flights To San Francisco

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Cheap Flights To San Francisco

Overview
When to Go
Airport Information
Weather
Things to Do
Local Attractions
Must See Sights
Insider Tips
Getting Around

Overview
Each year, thousands of visitors come to San Francisco and fall in love with its unbelievable vistas, graceful architecture, impressive cuisine and bountiful activities. San Francisco’s draw is its charm, sophistication and decidedly European air. At the heart of “The City,” as locals call it, are its diverse neighborhoods, many of which offer scenic views of the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay.

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When to Go
High Season
Peak season is in the summer, when travelers from all over the world trek to city. Hotel and airfares are usually higher and reservations are harder to come by in summer months. June to August are best to avoid, as coastal areas are usually blanketed with fog and the city is crowded with tourists. September and October, when the weather is warm due to Indian Summer and the fog disappears, are the nicest months to visit San Francisco.

Low Season
Winter is low season and cheaper airfares and room rates are easier to find, but chilly ocean breezes and seasonal rains can damper sightseeing.

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Airport Information
San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
Distance: 13 miles south of downtown San Francisco
Drive time: 17-25 minutes, depending on traffic

Two major airports serve the San Francisco area, San Francisco International Airport (SFO) and Oakland International Airport (OAK), located across the Bay Bridge. Most international flights fly into SFO, which is closer to downtown. Oakland is smaller and less crowded, but fares for shuttles and cabs into the city run slightly higher. Oakland typically has much better weather than San Francisco, so passengers don’t have to worry about delayed flights due to seasonal fog.

Taxi rides from SFO will run between $40 to $50, plus tip, for the 30-minute trip. From Oakland the fare is about $60 to $70 and takes approximately 45 minutes. Shuttles are also available for anywhere from $20 to $40 from SFO (Super Shuttle, 800/258-3826) and $30 to $60 from Oakland (Bayporter Express, 415/467-1800). Public transportation is available via BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit System). Travelers can take a free ride on the Airtrain from SFO to the BART San Francisco Airport Station, where they can transfer to a train heading downtown. From Oakland, passengers can take a shuttle to the Oakland Coliseum station, where they transfer to a train to get into San Francisco.

Alternative Airports
Oakland International Airport (OAK) – 11 miles from San Francisco
San Jose International Airport (SJC) – 30 miles from San Francisco
Sacramento International Airport (SMF) – 86 miles from San Francisco

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Weather
Shrouded in fog one moment, glittering in sunlight the next, weather in San Francisco is unpredictable. Surrounded by ocean and the bay, weather is hard to forecast and changes dramatically neighborhood by neighborhood. Usually, spring months are cloudless and mild but nights remain chilly. Summer months are overcast and cool with a lingering morning marine layer. Fall offers the best weather, with warm sunny days and mild clear nights. Rain is abundant during winter; coupled with chilly ocean breezes, temperatures are usually in the 40s and 50s.

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Things to Do
Golden Gate Bridge
Breathtaking views are offered from this world famous landmark, connecting the city with Marin County. From this exhilarating vantage point, visitors can survey both the city’s skyline and the Pacific Ocean 260 feet below. The best way to view the awe-inspiring vistas is by foot via the walking path, which takes between one to two hours and is best in the morning or midday before winds pick up.

Golden Gate Park
San Francisco houses one of the largest public parks in the world, Golden Gate Park. The park’s 1,017 acres feature museums, lakes and flower-lined pathways. Choose from the tropical wonderland at the Conservatory of Flowers  (John F. Kennedy Drive near Conservatory Drive), the famed Japanese Tea Garden, surrounded by cherry blossoms, azaleas, koi ponds and a Zen garden, or the de Young and Asian Art Museums, between Stanyon Street, Fulton Street and Lincoln Way.

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Local Attractions
Alcatraz
Take a boat to Alcatraz (a.k.a., “The Rock”) in the middle of the bay, an eerie jail that once housed gangsters “Scarface” Al Capone and “Machine Gun Kelley.” First used as a fort in the 19th century, Alcatraz became a federal prison in 1934 and is now a part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Alcatraz Cruises leave from Pier 33 and the admission fee is $22.

Grace Cathedral
Completed in 1964, Grace Cathedral embodies stunning French-Gothic design, along with an Italian Renaissance influence, featuring Italian masterpieces and stained glass windows.

Coit Tower
Perched on Telegraph Hill, this 210 foot Art Deco landmark offers sweeping views of the city. The frescoes featured at the base of the tower were painted by local artists in 1934.

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Must See Sights
Fisherman’s Wharf, Pier 39 and Ghirardelli Square
San Francisco’s most visited destination covers about half a dozen blocks along the waterfront, filled with street performers, souvenir shops and restaurants. Pier 39 is home to an antique Venetian carousal, the infamous sea lions and Ghirardelli Square, a former chocolate factory turned into a shopping and dining center with a Ghirardelli Ice Cream Fountain on the premises.

Chinatown
Teeming with souvenir shops, colorful facades, temples, restaurants, grocery stores and vendors, Chinatown is the city’s most populated sector. This city within a city is home to one of the largest Chinese communities outside of Asia. Choose among one of over 300 restaurants to enjoy a traditional Dim Sum brunch. Enter at the gateway on Bush and Grant streets.

Lombard Street
The “crookedest” street in San Francisco is lined with stately homes along winding hairpin curves.  It is easier and faster to walk rather than drive down this one way, 40 degree sloped section of Russian Hill, and well-worth a visit for the sweeping views. It is located between Hyde and Leavenworth Street.

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Insider Tips

• To ensure comfort during your stay, pack good walking shoes and a sweatshirt or windbreaker. No matter how sunny it looks, a sudden wind shift can turn things foggy and chilly in a hurry, so dressing in layers is a must.
• Scoring a top table at one of the city’s many haute eateries can be difficult, so opt for lunch instead of dinner at celebrated restaurants including The Slanted Door, Michael Mina, Gary Danko or Boulevard.
• A ride on a cable car is a must, but avoid the long lines at Ghirardelli Square and Powell Street. Walk a few blocks and wait for one of the cable car stops further up the route.
• If you’re on a budget but still want to sample spectacular night views, opt for cocktails instead of a pricey dinner at the Top of the Mark at the Mark Hopkins Hotel.
• If the weather is nice, plan a picnic and travel to the Ferry Building to pick up the menu items. Inside is an emporium of Northern California’s finest purveyors of gourmet food, with everything from organic produce to gourmet cheese and fresh crusty bread available. The city’s largest Farmer’s Market is held here on Saturdays from 8:00 am - 2:00 pm, and on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10:00 am - 2:00 pm, year-round, on the Embarcadero at the foot of Market Street. The Ferry Building is open daily.
• For more information, visit the San Francisco Convention and Visitors Bureau at 2013rd Street, or visit www.onlyinsanfrancisco.com.

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Getting Around
San Francisco is one of the greatest walking cities in the country. It is compact and its architecture is built on a scale that invites close-up scrutiny. Given the one-way streets, aggressive local drivers, lack of parking and decent public transportation, renting a car is not preferable. If you tire from walking, taxis are a good option as main attractions are within 15 minutes of each other. Public transportation options include buses, cable cars and trolleys which are inexpensive and efficient. A Muni Citypass offers unlimited travel for one ($11), three ($18) or seven ($24) and is available at sales stations throughout the city and at baggage claim areas at SFO.

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