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Five-minute guide to San Francisco

Our guide to eating, drinking, shopping and everything in between – but whatever you do, don’t call it San Fran or Frisco… By Megan Arkinstall

Welcome to ‘SF’

Getting from the airport to Downtown San Francisco is a piece of cake on rail service BART, which runs from the airport every 15 minutes.
The journey takes roughly 35 minutes and costs around $9 to Embarcadero (the sea port).
The SFO BART Station is located on the Departures/Ticketing level of the airport.

Transport

For a very compact city, there’s a huge number of transport options known as the ‘Muni’.
Buy a multiple ride ticket for $16 (one day) to $31 (seven days) to access all transport. Or you must carry the exact change for a single ticket.
• By bus 48 different bus routes run at least every 10 minutes from 5am to 1am. Stops are usually located every few blocks.
• By metro The above-and-below-ground light rail runs on six different lines, every seven to 10 minutes, from 5am to 1am.
• By streetcar or cable car A ride on one of these National Historic Landmarks is a must.
They run every six to 15 minutes, 6am to 12am (streetcars) and 6:30am to 12am (cable cars). In peak times, 10am to 6pm, you may have to wait up to an hour for a ride!
If you jump off mid-route on a cable car, you will need to pay a second fare to continue your journey.
F-line streetcars offer hop-on/hop-off tickets valid for 90 minutes.
• On yer bike! The city has plenty of bike lanes and panoramic vistas.
Cruise around San Francisco Bay, Embarcadero and Fisherman’s Wharf (4.8 kms), explore Golden Gate Park (14.5 kms) or cycle from Union Square to Golden Gate Bridge and take a ferry back to the city (25 kms; best to do this one early in the morning to avoid ferry queues).
Visit sfmta.com for great walking and biking maps.
Or join a tour (from $70 with Streets of San Francisco Bike Tours; sosfbiketours.com).

Sightseeing

We all know Alcatraz, but have you heard of:
• Walk the Lands End trail
The wild and rocky north-western corner of the city has a spectacular walking track that passes sprawling hillsides of wildflowers, pocket beaches and lookouts.
We recommend taking the direction from China Beach to historic Cliffs House, where you can refuel with a bite to eat.
(2.4 kms, one hour each way.) nps.gov/goga/planyourvisit/landsend.htm
• Watch a Giants game at AT&T Park
Not really a secret, but the atmosphere at a baseball game is electric and the food is surprisingly good too.
If you don’t feel like waiting in line for your Portobello mushroom sandwich, order a hotdog and beer from a vendor and watch as it’s passed down the line of fans to you!
Seats on the home base line get great views of the bay. sanfrancisco.giants.mlb.com
• Watch a game of Mahjong
A wander through Chinatown is a must!
But as well as popular Grant Avenue, head to alleyways like the gritty Spofford Alley at sundown, when the locals come out to play Mahjong.

Top nosheries

• Tartine Bakery & Café is a local favourite for sourdough.
tartinebakery.com
• 15 Romolo is a great Downtown bar for cocktails.
15romolo.com
• Park Tavern in North Beach is a chic tavern with a menu driven by market produce – and the best burgers!
parktavernsf.com
• Zero Zero serves up rustic wood-fired pizza, pastas and antipasti and is kid-friendly.
zerozerosf.com
• Hopwater Distribution has 31 Californian beers on tap and simple pub grub in North Beach.
hopwaterdistribution.com
• Hidden Vine Wine Bar is a hip and moody watering hole in a back alcove near Union Square with its own bocce court available for hourly hire.
thehiddenvine.com
• AQ in Downtown has a menu that’s updated each season along with its interiors. Yep, the colour scheme, décor, even fixtures are changed to match the season! Now that’s a dining experience.
aq-sf.com
• Bluxome Street Winery is the (very divine) time-poor answer to Napa Valley. Go wine tasting right in SoMa.
bluxomewinery.com

You will pay… around $3 for a coffee, $2 for a bottle of water, $5 for a beer, $10-15 for a wine, $10 for a cocktail, $15-20 for a meal

Shopping list

• San Francisco Antique and Design Mall is a treasure trove for antique lovers.
(Open daily from 10am – 5:30pm)
• Treasure Island Flea Market supports local entrepreneurs selling fashion, upcycled goods, vintage and antiques and handmade wares.
(Last weekend of every month, 10am – 4pm)
• Union Square is the place for big-name stores Barneys NY, Macy’s, Bloomingdales, Saks Fifth Avenue; designer threads from Chanel, Burberry, Prada, Vera Wang; and more affordable brands like bebe, GAP, Mango, Zara and Sephora.
• Ferry Plaza Farmers’ Markets is worth a visit for fresh, local produce like a punnet of organic cherries, a jar of homemade chutney, a wheel of goat’s cheese.
Or grab a freshly roasted coffee and simply enjoy the activity.
(Open Saturday 8am – 2pm, Tuesday and Thursday 10am – 2pm)

Sleep easy

All the city’s neighbourhoods are distinctive both in culture and charm.

We suggest staying in the Downtown/Union Square area, a bustling shopping and cultural hotspot with designer and boutique stores, art galleries, cafés, bars and restaurants.

It’s central to SoMa, Nob Hill, Chinatown and nearby North Beach, plus it’s a good base to get to Fisherman’s Wharf (19-minute cable car), AT&T Park (15-minute bus ride) and the ferry port to Alcatraz (20-minute bus ride).
• Galleria Park
The Galleria Park is only blocks from Union Square, offering modern earthy-toned rooms brightened with pops of colour.
There’s complimentary daily coffee/tea, newspaper and wine hour, plus a fitness centre and park terrace with a jogging track.
From $190 per night; jdvhotels.com
• Clift Hotel
This century-old hotel was re-imagined by interior king Philippe Starck and draws a hip, posh crowd with its black, ivory and steely grey scheme; hardwood, velvet and leather textures; eclectic furniture and hints of heritage Art Deco.
The rooms are light and airy with lavender and neutral hues and smallish but sleek bathrooms. Enjoy a tipple at the iconic and glamorous Redwood Room, resplendent in its original redwood panelling.
From $350 per night; morganshotelgroup.com
• Hotel Zetta
This vibrant and fun hotel is located in the SoMa district just steps from Union Square.
It has spacious rooms with pillowtop beds, all things tech, walk-in showers, and modern décor, plus a one-of-a-kind antique Oriental rug.
The Playroom bar is perfect for big kids – think pool, UNO, Connect Four, Nintendo, and the elegant Cavalier restaurant serves up British classics like fish ‘n’ chips.
From $475 per night; viceroyhotelgroup.com
• Omni San Francisco
If it’s white glove service you’re after, this Renaissance-style hotel, originally built as a bank in 1926, will tug at your heartstrings.
The service is first-class (impeccably dressed doormen, shoe shine, twice-daily housekeeping) and the interiors are ornate and timeless (crystal chandeliers, winding staircases, rich mahogany, marble flooring).
Located right on the cable car line in the heart of Downtown, just a short walk from Union Square.
From $650 per night; omnihotels.com

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12 grand journeys throughout North America

    Continue
    Discover North America’s epic adventures — from Route 66 and Alaska cruises to Hawai‘i road trips, NYC culture, Mexico trails and more.

    1. Route 66, the Main Street of America

    Travelling with: Ricky French

    Sunset on Route 66 in the California Mojave Desert.
    Hit the open road and trace America’s legendary highway. (Image: Getty/Der_Thomasa)

    Dubbed the Main Street of America, Route 66 radiates serious main character energy, cemented into popular culture through everything from John Steinbeck’s novel The Grapes of Wrath to the Disney Pixar film Cars. Spanning nearly 4000 kilometres from Chicago to Los Angeles, the historic highway celebrates its centenary next year, a timely invitation to take the mother of all road trips along the Mother Road. Allow two to three weeks to tackle the full length, or bite off a smaller chunk at either end, cruising the dramatic deserts of California or the more pastoral landscapes of Illinois, lined with neon-lit diners, retro gas stations and quirky roadside attractions.

    2. Mexico’s Día de los Muertos

    Travelling with: Carla Grossetti

    emblematic catrina of mexico with flowers and necklace with sempasuchil flowers
    Celebrate life and honour loved ones in vibrant style. (Image: Getty/Fabian Pacheco)

    You might know Oaxaca as the birthplace of mole and mezcal. But the state in southern Mexico is also where the Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) began. Time your visit to coincide with the colourful holiday, on 1–2 November, which honours and celebrates loved ones who have passed away. Oaxaca is also Mexico’s Michelin-starred culinary capital, with 18 restaurants and a humble taco stand listed in the 2025 guide.

    3. Museum-hop in New York City

    Travelling with: Carla Grossetti

    The Guggenheim Museum’s iconic spiralling exterior, a highlight of North America Epic Adventures.
    Step inside and marvel at bold, world-class art. (Image: Damiano Fiore)

    Your map app will look like it’s been scattered with confetti after you’ve dropped pins on all the museums you want to visit in New York City. Must-sees are the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, the Metropolitan Museum of Art aka the Met, and the Museum of Modern Art. The American Museum of Natural History is also a draw. It’s also worth venturing into the boroughs to browse institutions such as the Brooklyn Museum, which has a huge permanent collection categorised by culture.

    4. The USA’s music scene

    Travelling with: Elizabeth Whitehead

    The Seattle skyline at night, aglow with city lights on North America Epic Adventures.
    Soak up skyline views and dive into the city’s coffee culture. (Image: Abigail Boone)

    If you’re a muso, chances are you’ve wanted to make a pilgrimage to the United States, the epicentre of so many beloved genres. Whether you’re head-banging your way around the Grunge Circuit in Seattle, chasing the twang of the pedal steel through Tennessee or bouncing between blues bars in the Mississippi Delta, the USA’s rich music culture has something that’ll strike a chord.

    5. Road-tripping Hawai‘i

    Travelling with: Carla Grossetti

    A woman surfing in Hawaii, gliding across turquoise waves on North America Epic Adventures.
    Catch the waves and ride Hawaii’s iconic swells. (Image: Ben Ono)

    Hawai‘i is one of the most diverse US states to road trip around. Of the six major islands to visit, the Island of Hawai‘i packs in everything from the snowy summits of Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa to black-sand beaches and lava fields frozen in the act of flowing forward. Change down a few gears on the island of O‘ahu, too, where you can find your own patch of sand on Waimanalo Beach. Visit poi and pineapple plantations. And hang ten on beginner-friendly waves on the North Shore.

    6. Cruising Alaska

    Travelling with: Carla Grossetti

    Explora Journeys ship cruising in Alaska.
    Sail past glaciers and spot whales in pristine waters.

    Seeing Alaska from the sea allows you to cover a lot of distance quickly. This immersive frontier now beckons more than ever before with Explora Journeys adding the American state to its global destination portfolio. Best of all are the pre-and post-journey immersions that connect the luxury of a cruise onboard Explora III with the rugged grandeur of the Alaskan interior. UnCruise Adventures also weaves in access to remote national parks, legendary wildlife corridors and authentic cultural experiences on its Alaskan itineraries.

    7. The Wixárika Route in Mexico

    Travelling with: Elizabeth Whitehead

    People journeying through the Wixarika Route.
    Journey deep into sacred Huichol traditions and art.

    For generations, the Indigenous Wixárika People of Mexico have walked a sacred path known as Tatehuarí Huajuyé, or ‘The Path of Our Grandfather Fire’. The annual pilgrimage route spans 500 kilometres, taking in significant sites in Wixárika spirituality and cosmology. The route passes through the deserts, mountains and forests of northern Mexico before reaching Wirikuta, believed to be the place the sun first emerged. The route is a living cultural landscape of Indigenous culture pre-Columbian influence and, in July this year, was formally inscribed into UNESCO’s World Heritage List.

    8. Drive the Iceberg Coast in Canada

    Travelling with: Carla Grossetti

    Iceberg off the east coast of Canada
    Chase icebergs along Expedition 51 on Canada’s east coast. (Image: Canadian Tourism Commission/ Chris Hendrickson)

    Download the icebergfinder.com map to better plan your road trip along Canada’s Iceberg Coast. The new highway, which has been nearly 25 years and CAD$1.1 billion in the making, threads through the country’s pleated coastlines around Quebec, Newfoundland, Labrador, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick before looping in the French islands of St Pierre and Miquelon. As well as chasing icebergs along Expedition 51, travellers will have the opportunity to engage with cultures that have thrived in the pristine provinces for thousands of years.

    9. A foodie tour of Nova Scotia

    Travelling with: Katie Carlin

    Lunenberg Nova Scotia
    Try lobster rolls in Lunenburg on the east coast of Canada in Nova Scotia. (Image: Natalia Kvitovska/ Unsplash)

    World-famous for its lobster, Nova Scotia is a Canadian province best savoured through its culinary clout shaped by sea and terroir. Bite into lobster rolls at historic Lunenburg’s Salt Shaker Deli & Inn and sip maple rum at Ironworks Distillery. Winery-hop around Wolfville’s rising vineyards (don’t miss Lightfoot & Wolfville). Take a maple syrup tour at Sugar Moon Farm near Earltown. And pull up a seat at waterfront Bar Sofia in Halifax, where Nova Scotia oysters aguachile arrive bright with cucumber, lime and pickled onion.

    10. Soak up the sun in the Caribbean

    Travelling with: Carla Grossetti

    Overwater bungalows off a beach in the Caribbean
    Experience the white-sand beaches and cerulean seas of the Caribbean on board a cruise.

    The Caribbean is on the radar for seasoned cruisers. And it’s easy to see why, with white-sand beaches, cerulean seas and swaying palms so picture-perfect they look AI-generated. Cruise with Windstar, Royal Caribbean, and Celebrity on its inaugural Xcel season to the Caribbean to enjoy action-packed excursions such as snorkelling coral reefs and shopping for local trinkets. And those sea days? Spectacular.

    11. Red Chair Hikes of Canada

    Travelling with: Kassia Byrnes

    Red Adirondack chairs overlooking Lake Minnewanka in Canada
    Take a seat at Lake Minnewanka, one of more than 400 red Adirondack chairs scattered across Canada’s hiking routes. (Image: Getty Images/ Autumn Sky Photography)

    No one appreciates the great outdoors more than Canadians, emerging from snow-covered winters to tread glacial rivers and snowshoe through forests, or to hike mighty mountains and wildflower-strewn valleys come spring. Along popular hikes around the country, more than 400 red Adirondack chairs have been placed in peaceful, breathtaking locations. What started as a social media contest now sees hikers soaking in classic Canadian lake and mountain vistas, overlooking historic sites or gazing down on the mountainous path they just travelled.

    12. Ride the Rocky Mountaineer from Denver to Moab, USA

    Travelling with: Carla Grossetti

    Sweeping views from the Rocky Mountaineer.
    The Rocky Mountaineer will continue as the Canyon Spirit in 2026, seen here carving through Ruby Canyon.

    Sighting wild animals is one of many incredible thrills along the two-day luxury Rockies to the Red Rocks route onboard the Rocky Mountaineer across America’s Southwest between mid-April and mid-October. In addition to the lone bear, we spot bighorn sheep, elk, beavers, pronghorn antelope, bald eagles and ospreys. Riding the rails onboard the luxury train, which was founded in Canada in 1990 and has been awarded the prestigious World’s Leading Travel Experience by Train several times, has never been about just getting from A to B. Ride the train from Denver to Moab and you will see the scenery change from snow-capped peaks to meadows, red-rock canyons and soaring cliffs that resemble ornate Gaudí-esque cathedrals. But it’s not until you get off the train that you can produce the ultimate Venn diagram, with nature and adventure in the intersecting spheres.