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San Francisco

Overview
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Overview

Hilly San Francisco’s historic cable cars clatter up and down rollercoaster streets. Hop on one to travel from bustling Union Square to a mosaic of vibrant ethnic districts like Italian North Beach and America’s largest Chinatown. Eat, relax and be entertained in this iconic city where the living is easy.

Background

You’ll be dazzled by San Francisco’s beautiful setting between the mighty Pacific Ocean and the blue expanse of San Francisco Bay. The city was born during the Gold Rush, and still enjoys a legacy of quirky eccentricity and letting the good times roll. You’ll soon find your feet in compact San Francisco – though wear comfortable shoes for the hills. Explore the city’s fascinating neighbourhoods, surrounding central Union Square and Market Street.

First-time visit

Step onto the Powell-Hyde cable car at Union Square and hold tight as it rattles to Fisherman’s Wharf at the other end of the line. Here you can stroll the Aquatic Park waterfront, sample fresh seafood and sourdough bread, or catch a ferry to Alcatraz island. Stroll in hippies’ birthplace Haight-Ashbury, and walk a few paces on Golden Gate Bridge, but wrap up warm as it’s windy! Eat your way through America’s largest Chinatown, and sample Californian cuisine, a heady fusion of American, Mediterranean and Asian flavours.

Return visit

Wander peaceful trails though three-mile-long Golden Gate Park, with woods, lakes, waterfalls and meadows reaching the Ocean Esplanade beside the Pacific. Inside the park, visit the De Young Museum’s American art collection, and the spectacular Asian Art Museum which takes you on a virtual journey to another continent. Learn about life on earth in the California Academy of Sciences. Venture across the Golden Gate to the small communities of picturesque Marin County, or you might prefer some wine-tasting at the famous Napa Valley vineyards, one hour’s drive from central San Francisco.

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San Francisco International Airport

Essentials

San Francisco International Airport is glossy, modern and effective, transporting some 37 million passengers a year. The airport is 13 miles (21 km) from downtown San Francisco, about a 20-minute drive.

Airport Facts

Airport code: SFO
Airport website: San Francisco International Airport website
Airport tel: +1 650 821 8211
No. of terminals: Four (Terminal 2 is closed for renovation).
Distance from city centre: 13 miles (21km) south of the city centre.
Transport between terminals: To walk the loop of all the terminals takes 25 minutes. The AirTrain runs 24 hours a day between all the terminals. Find the AirTrain stations in Terminals 1, 2 (currently closed) and 3 on Level 5 of the Domestic Parking Garage. The two AirTrain stations in the International Terminal are at either end of the Departures Hall on the level above check-in. A complete journey around the airport takes about 20 minutes.
Airport parking: Short-stay parking is available in the Central Parking Garage, a five-minute walk away from all the terminals. For daily parking, head to International Garages A and G, connected to the airport by a ten-minute ride on the AirTrain. Long-term parking (the cheapest option) is a ten-minute shuttle bus ride away from the terminals. Valet parking can be found on the upper level of the Domestic Departures Roadway.
Time Zone: GMT -8 (-7 in summertime).
Useful tips: Security levels are still high in all US airports so expect queues at immigration and allow three hours to check in for international flights.