Where to Stay in San Francisco: A Neighborhood Guide

Short answer: for a first visit, stay on the north side of Union Square or on Nob Hill for convenience, or in North Beach for atmosphere. In this city a few blocks can change the whole feel of the street, so look at the exact address, not just the neighbourhood name.

Union Square

The main hotel district, with department stores, theatres, the Powell Street cable car turntable and a BART station. It's the most practical base. The catch is that its south-western edge runs straight into the Tenderloin. Hotels north of Geary Street or east of Powell Street, towards Nob Hill or the Financial District, keep you on the calmer side. Check the map before you book a bargain.

Nob Hill

Grand old hotels and apartment buildings at the top of the hill, with Grace Cathedral and the California Street cable car at the door. Quiet at night and very central, although every walk home ends with a climb.

North Beach

The old Italian quarter, full of cafés, bakeries, bars and restaurants, with Chinatown on one side and Telegraph Hill on the other. There are fewer big hotels and more small ones. The best choice for evenings on foot, and a short walk to the waterfront.

Fisherman's Wharf

Convenient for Alcatraz, the cable car terminals and families with children, and full of chain hotels. It's also the most touristy part of the city, and quiet and a bit dead at night once the souvenir shops close. Fine for two nights with kids, less so for a longer stay.

The Marina and Cow Hollow

Pastel houses, the Palace of Fine Arts, Crissy Field and a walk to the Golden Gate Bridge. Chestnut and Union Streets are lined with brunch spots and boutiques. Safe and pretty, but further from downtown and poorly served by fast transit.

Hayes Valley

A small, stylish area of independent shops and restaurants near the opera house and City Hall, well placed for Muni and the Mission. Nearby blocks towards Market Street can be rough after dark.

The Mission

The sunniest neighbourhood, and the best for food and nightlife, with BART to the airport and downtown. Hotels are few, so this is more of a guesthouse or rental area. Parts of Mission Street itself are gritty. Valencia Street and the blocks around Dolores Park are the nicer end.

SoMa has big convention hotels near the Moscone Center, but some streets nearby, especially around 6th Street, are unpleasant at night. Short-term rentals must be registered with the city, and legal listings show a registration number. Prices jump during big conferences, so compare dates with our best time to visit guide.

For a show at Chase Center

Chase Center is in Mission Bay, on Muni's T Third Street line, with the Caltrain station at 4th and King a walk away. Union Square and SoMa are the most convenient bases for a night there. Journey, a San Francisco band from 1973, end their Final Frontier farewell tour at Chase Center on 28 November 2026, and our tour cities guide covers the whole route.