Hostelworld Guide for San Francisco Colm Hanratty the Essentials Climate
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Hostelworld Guide for San Francisco Colm Hanratty The Essentials Climate It's seldom you hear a bad word about San Francisco. There's good reason for that. One of America's Getting There San Francisco enjoys the Mediterranean-type smaller cities, the list of things to do and see in the 47 square miles it covers is endless. This is the city climate that California is famous for, but it isn't all that has given us cable cars, frighteningly steep hills, the world's most famous prison, one of the most warm days and blue skies, even in the summer. Its By plane: San Francisco International is where location on the Pacific Ocean plays a key role in the beautiful bridges on the planet, and eclectic and trendy neighbourhoods. After a visit you'll be spreading most flights touch down. From the airport, the the good word in no time. weather. The combination of cold ocean water and easiest way to the city centre is on the BART, the the high heat of the state create the city's famous city's underground network. fog that can sometimes cover the whole city and make an August evening a cool one. Winters are By train: The majority of trains terminate at the quite mild, with temperatures seldom reaching Amtrak terminal across the bay on Landregan freezing point. Street in Emeryville. By bus: San Francisco's main bus hub is Transbay Terminal, 425 Mission Street in the SoMa district. Good to know... Getting Around Language: English, Chinese Currency: US Dollar Electricity: 110 Volts, AC/60Hz, 2-pin plug In this Guide... On foot: San Francisco is one of USA's smaller Area Code: +1 (USA), 415 (San Francisco) cities but due to its steep hills, getting around on Emergency Codes: Ambulance / Fire / Police foot can prove to be quite challenging. 911 Useful Information Time Zone: Pacific Standard Time (GMT -8) After Dark By BART: San Francisco's BART (Bay Area Rapid Central Post Office: Macy's Union Square Places to Eat Transport) network consists of five lines, with some Station, Macy's, 170 O'Farrell St Top Attractions useful stops in the city centre. Main Tourist Office: Hallidie Plaza, Cnr of Budget Tips Powell and Market Sts) Where to Shop By bus/trolley/streetcar: These three modes of transport are useful to get to some of San Francisco's best-known neighbourhoods. Embassies/Consulates By cable car: The city's cable cars are now more a UK: +1 415 617 1300 tourist attraction than anything else. There are three Canada: +1 415 834 3180 lines and a single journey costs $5. Australia: +1 415 536 1970 South Africa: +1 323 651 0902* Ireland: +1 415 392 4214 Germany: +1 415 775 1061 San Francisco facts Spain: +1 415 922 2995 Italy: +1 415 292 9200 Name: San Francisco is also known as the 'City New Zealand: +1 415 399 1255 by the Bay'. France: +1 415 397 4330 Location: You'll find San Francisco on the West *Consulate in Los Angeles Coast of the USA in the state of California. Population: Around 850,000 people live in the city of San Francisco. Founded: Initially established in 1776, San Francisco was officially incorporated in 1850. Hostelworld Guide for San Francisco www.hostelworld.com Cheap Eats After Dark Don't Miss Mark Your Calendar Polkers, 2226 Polk St From huge breakfasts that Hobson's Choice, 1601 Haight Street, Golden Gate Bridge Completed in 1937, San February/March - Chinese New Year Since it's will keep you going for most of the day to a variety Haight-Ashbury Due to a daily happy hour from Francisco's celebrated bridge is one of the most home to the USA's largest Chinatown, San of omelettes, burgers and sandwiches, Polkers is a 5pm-7pm where all drinks cost $2.50, Hobson's beautiful constructions in the world. Spanning a Francisco really turns it on when it comes to local favourite.Open daily from 8am-10pm. Choice on San Francisco's famous Haight Street is distance of 1.7 miles, it's also extremely photogenic. Chinese New Year. The parade is the highlight. busy seven days a week. You can use that $2.50 to There are great vantage points on both sides of the Pakwan, 3182 16th St, Mission District This buy a beer or a 'welcome drink' (short and mixer), bridge, unless it's covered in the city's famous fog. April - St Stupid's Day Parade Aptly held on April Pakistani/Indian eatery on the Mission District's but instead get the drink that this bar specialises in - To get to the bridge take bus #30 from Stockton St Fools Day, this is one of San Francisco's more restaurant-soaked 16th Street is always buzzing. punch. They sure pack one. Open daily from in downtown San Francisco. unique parades. Beginning at Embarcadero Plaza, There's no table service here, so pick what you 2pm-2am. it marches through the Financial District before want from the menu, take a seat, wait for your ending up in Washington Square. number to be called and enjoy. Open daily from 12 Holy Cow, 1535 Folsom St, SoMa If dancing to The Rock noon to 11pm. cheesy music is your thing, then this club in SoMa May - O'Reilly's Oyster and Beer Festival Over is perfect for you. Open seven nights a week and 10,000 people converge on Washington Square never imposing a cover charge, the first thing to Capital Restaurant, 839 Clay St, Chinatown Alcatraz 1937 was a bad year for criminals in Park each year to sample stout and oysters. Once There are literally hundreds of restaurants in the greet you after the burly doorman will be a down there they also enjoy loads of live music from dancefloor full of people getting down to a mix of the US. This was the year that Alcatraz ceased largest Chinatown in America. Try to steer clear of being a military base and began life as a prison. a host of bands. those with hawkers luring you in. This particular one dance and top 40 tracks. Get ready to shake your money maker. Open Thurs-Sun 9pm-2am. Over the 40 years it operated as a federal on Clay St didn't which is only a good sign. Both institution it housed some of America's most May- Bay to Breakers If ever the term 'it's the appetisers and second courses are very reasonably infamous criminals. Walking around the cell taking part that counts' applied to a run then the priced. Open daily from 8am-10pm. house with the audio tour, imagining what it colourful Bay to Breakers is it. Think of it as Gay / Lesbian San Francisco would've been like to live there as an inmate is Halloween meets a 12km run as thousands, most in effortless. Visit alcatrazcruises.com for tour info. fancy dress, make their way across the city. The best deal in San Francisco San Francisco is famously one of America's most gay-friendly cities, and this is largely due June - Haight/Ashbury Street Fair San to one neighbourhood - the Castro. The area's Cable car ride A single journey may be hideously best known landmark is The Castro Theatre Francisco's famous hippy hangout attracts over overpriced at $6, but no trip to San Francisco is 100,000 people each year for its street fair. Stages Giordano Bros., 303 Columbus Ave, North (429 Castro Street at Market St) which hosts complete without a ride on one of its cable cars. Beach Giardino Bros is a bar in North Beach talks and shows movies regularly. For bars, with everyone from local bands to some more Built in 1837 when it was realised the hills were too better-known acts entertain the masses. that specialises in the 'all-in-one' sandwich. Badlands (4121 18th St. at Castro) is one of steep for the horses, there are three lines in This, my friends, is a sandwich served on two the best-known. The Cafe (2367 Market St at operation today. Be prepared to battle for a place pieces of fresh Italian bread with meat, coleslaw Castro) and 440 (440 Castro St at 18th St.) are hanging out on the side! Cable cars operate daily June - North Beach Festival Since 1944 North and fries packed in between. And considering two other favourites. between 5.30am-12am; single journey $6, all-day Beach has staged this annual festival. Held over one of these jam-packed sandwiches costs as Muni Passport ticket $14. two days, the emphasis here is largely on food as little as $6.75, it's hard to think of a better deal it's in the city's Italian quarter. in San Fran. Open daily from 10am-11pm/1am. Dalva, 3121 16th St, Mission District While it Telegraph Hill There are a number of places that certainly isn't the biggest bar in San Francisco's boast great views, but those from Telegraph Hill are June - San Francisco 'Pride' America's most Mission District, Dalva on 16th Street between gay-friendly city puts on one of the most outlandish Miller's East Coast Deli, 1725 Polk Street, Nob hard to beat. You don't even have to climb Coit Valencia and Mission is arguably the coolest. Listen Tower to see the entire city. From the car park at gay celebrations in the US. Around Market Street is Hill This New York-style deli serves up a to DJs spin discs on turntables at the front window where the celebrations take place and it is also the jam-packed menu filled with everything from bagels the base you can enjoy glorious views of Alcatraz, while enjoying a drink or two.