Hostelworld Guide for 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. : +1 415 536 1970 : +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 : +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, 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. Staff are friendly and the Bay Bridge and the Golden Gate Bridge. starting point of the famously outlandish parade. to pastrami sandwiches. You really will find a really the dark lights create the perfect ambience for a great selection of reasonably priced meals to weekend night. Open daily from 4pm-2am. choose from here in this busy spot. Open daily Fisherman's Wharf After a trip on either of the September - San Francisco Fringe Festival 8am-9pm. Powell cable car lines, explore the wharf. It's where Artists from all over the US stage over 250 Foley's, 243 O'Farrell Street Downtown San you'll find the painfully touristy , but it's also performances during this festival's 12 days. The Francisco is stuffed with Irish bars, but this one on where you'll find a good atmosphere, a host of food vast majority of the festival's performances take O'Farrell Street is one which gets mentioned stalls and lots of street entertainment. place in the city's Exit Theatre. repeatedly when asking people where to go at night. Packed at weekends, if you pop in for a pint during the week you'll almost definitely be treated to October - Castro Street Fair Always held on the some live music. Open daily from 12 noon-2am. first Sunday of October, this absolutely fabulous festival takes over San Francisco's gay neighbourhood for the day. Wish, 1539 Folsom St, SoMa If you step into Folsom Street's Holy Cow and realise it's a bit too much for you, step next door into Wish. Not so November - Dias de de los Muertos 'Day of the in-your-face, there is a relaxed atmosphere which Dead' may not sound like a festival you'd want to mixes nicely with the décor and selection of drinks. attend, but the Mexican version of Halloween is a Open daily from 4pm-2am. favourite in San Francisco thanks to a parade with some very special costumes.

Hostelworld Guide for San Francisco www.hostelworld.com Neighbourhood Watch Retail Therapy Budget Tips A Day in San Francisco...

Chinatown Until recently, San Francisco's Union Square area The heart of downtown San Visit some free museums San Francisco is Beat the crowds by visiting Alcatraz bright and Chinatown was the biggest one in North America. Francisco, Union Square and the surrounding heaving with free museums which are perfect for early. Once you arrive take the audio tour and Although it lost that moniker to Vancouver, the city's streets are a shopaholic's dream come true. The visiting on rainy days. These include the Cable Car imagine what it would've been like to be an inmate Chinatown district is not to be missed. Its main square itself is bordered by Stockton St, Post St, Museum (1201 Mason St) where you can see the there. thoroughfare is Grant Street, but the surrounding Geary St and Powell St and was the site of the cables in motion, North Beach Museum (1435 streets and alleys are also full of Chinese herbal world's first underground car park. Some well Stockton St) which gives an interesting insight into Upon returning back to the city, walk down to Pier stores, grocery stores, post offices, banks, known department stores and brands in the area the history of the neighbourhood, and the Chinese 39. See what San Francisco's tourist quarter is like jewelleries and, of course, Chinese restaurants. include Footlocker, Saks Fifth Avenue and Macy's. Culture Centre of San Francisco (750 Kearney St) before moving on to Fisherman's Wharf. which is in Chinatown. Westfield Shopping Centre, 865 Market St. With Take the Powell-Mason cable car line from Bay St 'Big' Italy over 400 stores to choose from, you could spend an Buy an all-day cable car ticket As a one-way to Union and Mason. Make your way past entire day (along with a fortune) in Westfield's San ticket on a cable car costs $6, you are definitely Washington Square to Telegraph Hill for awesome Francisco centre. As you can imagine, you'll find better off buying an all-day ticket for $14. Then you views of the city. everthing here from clothes stores to jewellery can hop on and hop off to your heart's content! North Beach While other cities have 'Little Italy' stores to music stores to sports stores. It also has a neighbourhoods, San Francisco's North Beach food court to pig out in. Open Mon-Sat district could easily be called 'Big Italy'. This 9.30am-9pm, Sun 10am-7pm. huge Italian quarter is full of cafés, restaurants 3.4 miles of bliss Return to Washington Square and pick up some and bars. Many of them can be found on its lunch at one of the nearby delis. Chill out and have main thoroughfare, Columbus Ave. If you're Chestnut Street As you look out the window of bus lunch in the park. wondering whether or not you're in North #30 on the way to the Golden Gate Bridge you'll notice a lot of high street brands on the one street. Walk the Golden Gate Bridge Taking Beach, just look for the Italian flags on the approximately 25 minutes to walk each way, no Take bus #30 from Washington Square to the last lampposts. This street is the classy Chestnut Street in the stop. Walk through the Presidio to the Golden Gate Marina part of the city. Obviously not as crowded as trip to San Francisco is complete without embarking on this bridge walk. The walk up to Bridge. Embark on one of the best bridge walks in the city centre, it can be a better place to shop if the world. you're looking for gifts and not crowds. the 1.7 mile long bridge through the Presidio is The Castro Not only does this city have the USA's breathtaking. Just don't cross the bridge without biggest Chinatown and most famous hippy district, visiting the lookout at the other side. The views After the walk take the bus back to the city centre. it's also where you'll find America's most famous of the bridge with the city in the background are Take a stroll around Union Square, Geary Street, gay neighbourhood. This camp part of the city is on Looking for something different? even more mind-blowing. Powell Street and the rest of Downtown San Castro Street from Market Street to 19th St. Take Francisco. the F-street Car down Market St. to the Castro. Haight Street Along with hippies, cool bars and Chill out in San Francisco's parks Whether it's at After freshening up for the night ahead, go for Haight-Ashbury Also known as 'The Haight', funky restaurants, Haight Street is also home to the weekend or during the week, Washington dinner in San Francisco's famous Chinatown. Avoid Haight-Ashbury is known as San Francisco's some of the city's more alternative stores. Square, the Presidio and are the restaurants with the hawkers outside! alternative hangout as it was the centre of 1960s These include 'Anubis Warpus' which some of the city's best places to relax. The first is in hippy movement. Today, you'll definitely discover specialises in punk and hemp products and San Francisco's North Beach district while the quite an eclectic bunch of people, but you'll also find 'FTC' which draws the city's skateboarders. If second is a great place to catch a sunset. The third Check out the bars in The Mission. Most can be some great bars, restaurants and places to shop. you are in the mood to decorate yourself you'll is the city's best-known park and deserves a found around Valencia Street and 16th Street and Take buses #7 or #71 from Market St at the be in the right place as there are tattoo/piercing half-day of exploring. there are types to suit all tastes. Westfield Shopping Centre. shops galore. Visit Grace Cathedral Built in 1849 and then While the Mission District is where to find cool bars, The Mission After dark, the Mission District is destroyed in 1906, Nob Hill's Grace Cathedral is finish the night off dancing away in Holy Cow in the where the cool kids go. Bars, nightclubs and funky Fisherman's Wharf Not clothes you're looking for one of San Francisco's most fascinating buildings. nearby SoMa area of the city. Bop till you drop! restaurants line the streets here. Most of the action but souvenirs? Then this tourist haven is where you Here you'll encounter labyrinths and varied stained can be found around 16th Street and Valencia need to go. Miniature Golden Gate Bridges, glass windows. It is most famous for its Ghiberti Street, while its real heart is 21st Street. Take the Alcatraz t-shirts and San Francisco baseball caps - doors ("The Gates of Paradise"). Bart to 16th St Mission. you'll find it all in the stores here.

Hostelworld Guide for San Francisco www.hostelworld.com