San Francisco The Expedia Way

Where to stay (hint: get great deals as part of the Expedia Winter Sale):

The top four neighborhoods where Expedia customers stay include:
Union Square
Fisherman’s Wharf
Financial District
Airport

Best time to travel to San Francisco:

San Francisco has what is known as a Mediterranean climate that is characteristic of mild temperatures all year with wetter winters and dry summers. Also being surrounded on three sides by water, the weather is strongly influenced by the ocean and bay breezes. The steep landscape of San Francisco also creates microclimates so the weather can be quite different depending on what part of the city you're in.
Most of the rain in San Francisco occurs in winter with one out of three days being wet or rainy. Winter temperatures average around highs of 60ºF (15°C) with lows of around 46°F (8°C). Summers are generally dry and sunny but often start out foggy in the mornings. Temperatures are still mild with average highs of 68ºF (20°C) and lows of 54°F (12°C).
Probably the best time of year to visit San Francisco is during the Fall, around September and October. This is before the rainy weather sets in and after the summer fogs have disappeared. The days are clear and crisp averaging in the low-70s°F (21°C) and the nights are brisk averaging around the mid-50s°F (13°C).
In Winter, wear a sweater or warm coat and bring an umbrella. In summer you can leave the umbrella at home, but it’s still smart to pack a sweater.

Some of the most popular hotels:

Top five hotels in San Francisco recommended by Expedia:
Westin Market Street
The Palace Hotel
Sheraton Fisherman's Wharf
Argonaut Hotel
Clift Hotel

What to do:Top Museums and Galleries

de Young Museum
Exploratorium
Asian Art Museum
California Academy of Sciences
San Francisco Museum of Modern Art

Top Live Music Venues

Bottom of the hill
Great American Music Hall
The Fillmore
Cafe du Nord
The Independent

Top Photo Locations

Golden Gate Bridge
The Bay Bridge
Embarcadero
Alcatraz
Twin Peaks

Top Things To Do For Free

Walk across the Golden Gate Bridge
Explore Chinatown
Fort Point National Historic Site
View the Sea Lions at Fisherman’s Wharf
Free Concerts in Golden Gate Park (summer)

Top Parks In San Francisco

Golden Gate Park
Muir Woods National Monument
The Presidio
Yerba Buena Gardens
Alamo Square Park

Top Events To See

Asian American Film Festival
Bay to Breakers
San Francisco Gay Pride Festival
Sonoma County Showcase Festival
Mavericks Big Wave Surf Competition

Top Shopping Areas

Union Square
Westfield San Francisco Centre
Haight Street
Chinatown
Chestnut Street Shopping

Top Things To Bring

Walking Shoes
Layers of Clothes
City Pass
Umbrella and Raincoat
Camera Memory and Batteries

To purchase some great activities in San Francisco, visit the Expedia San Francisco page.

Expedia’s Tips:

Driving is difficult and parking is exorbitantly expensive, so public transport is a much better option.
There is a comprehensive public transport system in San Francisco and it is the easiest way to get around the city. The San Francisco Municipal Railway (Muni) is the main public transport within the city and operates above-ground light-rail and subways, a bus and trolleybus network as well as the streetcar and cable car networks. You can purchase a Muni Passport which allows you to travel on Muni transport for 1, 3 or 7 days. A convenient place to buy a Muni Passport is from the information booths located in the baggage claim areas of San Francisco International Airport. They can also be bought at San Francisco Municipal Agencies within the city as well as from many neighborhood stores. A complete list of these locations can be found on the SFMTA website.
Much of San Francisco is a no-smoking zone, don't light up where you are not allowed and this includes bars, public squares and other city owned public spaces.
Prices for lunch are usually much cheaper than for dinner in most restaurants around the city. Twice a year, in January and again in June, more than 100 restaurants participate in 'Dine About Town' where they offer fixed price lunch or dinner menus at cheap prices. If you can plan your trip to coincide it's a great way to save some money. Make sure to book well in advance if you want to go to one of the many well-known restaurants.
San Francisco is actually quite compact and most attractions are close together so getting around is easy. Walking is the best way to see the city but unless you're really energetic you might want to think about alternatives when hitting the hills!

What Expedia Fans on Facebook Have to Say:

To say Expedia fans know a thing or two about travel is an understatement so we asked our Expedia Facebook fans for their San Francisco tips:

Sherri T. says…

“Go to the ferry building, especially on a Saturday morning, such great food and produce and wine to buy and sample.”

Jillian D. says…

“Go to Alcatraz and do the audio tour! And if pressed for time, a great bus tour to Napa that ends with a cruise across the bay was a great way to spend my last day!”

Jeannie C. says…

“If you have kids in tow, go to the Exploratorium.”

Paola T. says… “

“Must see: Golden Gate Bridge; Lombard Street and Alamo Square. Take a walk through the historical Mission District. Take a trolley up and down the streets: the view of the sea in the distance is wonderful. I particularly appreciated dinner at Lori's Diner: I loved it because it was like having a dive into the American Fifties!”

Shelly N. says…