San Francisco Travel Tips: Planning, Packing, Getting Around, What To Do 

Zeene InRealLife I’ve downloaded bird app and in between muni and other means of transportation.. we will use Bird app.. I’m ready for my marathon... I love to push my own limits ...

Good one.. I subscribed.. pls support me also

Glad it was helpful!

Thank you so much watching! I have not done a Grand Canyon video yet. That would be a great travel one to do. Take care!

Yes! I caught a Golden Gate Transit bus coming back from walking accross the bridge. I was like "what is this?" I didn't know they existed. They brought me back to near my hotel at Post/Leavenworth.

👍 Good luck planning and let me know if you have any questions.

A bike (or electric scooter) is the way to go when in the city 👍

Have a great time!

LOL, I don't think anyone enjoys driving in SF!

Hello, Muni does provide a map of the cable car lines but it doesn’t highlight the tourist places along the routes. You may be able to find something that a kind soul has created on the internet :) there are only 3 lines; the California one goes east/west along California Street. There isn’t much along that route but if you take it to the end at Van Ness, you are within walking distance to Polk Gulch and Japantown. Polk Gulch has some good eateries including Anthony Bourdain’s favorite Swan Oyster Depot. From Japantown you can walk down via Divisadero (another corridor with trendy eateries) to Alamo Square Park and the Painted Ladies (see my video on Western Addition Walking Tour for more details) and continue west to Haight Ashbury. The remaining two routes Powell/Hyde & Powell Mason are north/south and overlap for the southern route and diverge at Jackson/Washington. The Hyde line goes several streets further west of Mason before continuing north. These end at different points in Fisherman’s Wharf. Both stop at Chinatown/North Beach and the Cable Car Museum (a fun 30 minute stop - see my video on it) where it diverges. The Hyde line continues to the top of crooked Lombard Street and ends at Ghirardelli Square/Hyde Street pier (don’t forget to drop into the Buena Vista for an Irish coffee). The Mason line drops you closer to Pier 39. If you have time, you can take one line one way to Fisherman’s Wharf and take the other line back to you original point of origin in Union Square. Have fun!

Hello, for first time visitors I recommend staying in the corridor between Union Square and Fisherman’s Wharf. This gives you good access to the top tourist spots. Repeat visitors might consider Marina District for access to the Presidio, Golden Gate Bridge, Golden Gate Park, and Land’s End or Mission District or Haight Ashbury (largest concentration of Airbnbs) which are good bases for those areas plus Castro District, Twin Peaks and Golden Gate Park. I’ve also got a video on Places To Stay which goes into this in more depth if you want to check it out.

Hi Yilan, October is still Indian summer here in the Bay Area -- but if you come towards the end of the month, we will be transitioning to winter weather. So pack mostly long pants and a mix of short sleeves, sweaters to layer on top, and bring a jacket/knit hat & gloves for the windier neighborhoods & activities. Also, we have been experiencing quite a bit of smoke from fires up north (recently new fires in Napa/Sonoma) so also pack N95 masks (or similar) if you plan to walk around outside often. Air quality is not good. Hope that helps!

Why????😱😱

A M there's poop everywhere

Nicely put ... other comments I've read about this have been much more crude.

Hi Prabha! Please see my episode on SF lodgings and check in the description box where there is a more complete list: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-DbfKK8lBEts.html . If you have younger children, I recommend you stay in either the Marina area or around Fisherman's Wharf. Marina is reasonably priced, near lots of retail/restaurants, and a short distance to Golden Gate Park, Presidio, and Embarcadero where family activities are located. Fisherman's Wharf is at the center of SF's tourist area but can be expensive. If you come November through February hotels are priced better. Check out the big ones like Marriott and Sheraton.

Thanks for the nice comments! Sydney sounds fantastic and I hope I get a chance to visit!

Zeene InRealLife if you like San Francisco, you’ll like Sydney. Sydney Harbour is absolutely beautiful. Our weather is probably more like Los Angeles. Hope you can make it Down Under sometime.

The info here should be fairly evergreen. If you have any specific questions or need clarification just let me know!

CoVid19 hit us hsrd in SF You will likely have to change/cancel your plans.

Same dude. “Distasteful” her taking about the less fortunate is DISTASTEFUL. Fuck this video.

Wonderful! Very excited for you to come out and explore our awesome city :) From SFO to the city I would recommend taking an Uber carshare. If you are budget traveling there is also BART public transportation that goes into the city but the stations are limited so there's a bit of walking (and it's not that much cheaper). An Uber will cost around $40-$60 depending on peak periods. In terms of renting a car, yes, you can rent from the city but keep in mind that downtown locations will be more expensive than out of SFO. Also, if you are making a one way trip down to SoCal there is a re-location fee. Have fun!

Thanks Bianca!

Thanks for the kind thoughts :) 🤗

Hey there! What is your travel style? Do you prefer adventure, culture, food, popular tourist attractions, off the beaten path? For churches the most popular are Grace Cathedral (Episcopal) followed by Cathedral of St. Mary (Roman Catholic) -- those would be the two grandest. Other historical churches include the churches at Mission Dolores, St.s Peter & Paul Church in North Beach, and St. Patrick Church across from Yerba Buena in SoMa.

Zeene InRealLife We prefer adventure, couture, food, and also tourist attractions. We don’t drive so we will take public transportation and walk around. We will stay in the hotel at Union Square.

Definitely spend a day shopping in Union Square for couture fashions. In that area you can try Sears for authentic "American" style breakfast and the Neiman Marcus Rotunda for lunch or dinner. Ferry Building is also a must for foodies (attend on Tuesday/Thursday/Saturday when farmer's market is set up in the morning/early afternoon) and you can either take a bay cruise from there or hop over to Sausalito for the afternoon (check the ferry schedules for both). It's also walkable up to Fisherman's Wharf from here if you'd rather do that instead. Most locals avoid this area but it's a hugely popular tourist spot :) North Beach ("Little Italy" and great for food) is also popular for tourists and can be combined with Fisherman's Wharf. Also hit Valencia Street in the Mission District for boutique shopping. Stop by Tartine for croissants and patisserie, Bi-Rite Creamery for ice cream, and Dolores Park for the view. If you don't mind a bit of a walk, head up to Mission Dolores for a bit of culture. Hope that helps! I'll be hosting another "Ask Zeene" livestream next week Sunday (PST) if you have any additional questions!

Zeene InRealLife thank you. I’ll join your next hosting with my other questions

Awesome! Thanks for the lodging tip.

Thanks for being a frequent visitor to SF !!!

Hello! It looks like the Powell/Hyde line (which runs between Market St & the Buena Vista Cafe through Union Square) is scheduled to resume in the Fall. There is no timeline yet for the other two lines. The historic streetcars are also coming online slowly. The one that runs along Embarcadero will resume faster in May timeframe so good that stretch (between Fisherman's Wharf and the Ferry Building) will have service again soon.

Hi Sylvia, Happy birthday! What is your budget and food type preference? For very high end California Lazy Bear is a very popular prix fixe choice. A step down from this try State Bird Provisions which also has innovative California cuisine. These are small bites (like tapas) so much easier to control budget. Finally, a nice but more "homey" California cuisine spot is Nopa. Now to ethnic cuisine :) Nice Chinese - Mister Jiu's in Chinatown, nice Moroccan - Mourad in Financial District, nice Indian - Rooh, nice Italian - Che Fico (or the more casual Che Fico Alimentare). Check out those menus and see if you find something you like. If not, give me some pointers and I can help narrow down some more choices. Note that these restaurants are super-popular so at this late date you might have issues getting reservations.

Thanks for the suggestions and advice!

Glad it was helpful! There are a couple of options. If you have a rental car you can drive to Fisherman's Wharf and park there. The garages can be expensive so shop around either in advance on a website like parktopia or drive around until you find a good one. Usually the further you get from Embarcadero the cheaper it will be. Also, make sure you go after rush hour dies down or you'll be stuck in agonizing traffic. You can also take public transportation -- if you are close to a BART station in Oakland that will take you across the bay (Embarcadero Station) and then you can transfer to Muni once in the city. If you don't mind a bit of a walk, start at or wander down to the Ferry Building (see my vid on it here: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-tvzguJh2LVo.html) also on Embarcadero. There are lots of tourists going back and forth so a very safe walk and the bay views are fantastic. For downtown I assume you mean around Union Square/SoMa area? For me the best parking garage is the Mission & 5th Garage (at Mission & 5th :)) adjacent to Yerba Buena Gardens. From there you can explore the museums around Yerba Buena, there's a Westfield Shopping Mall across the street, then hop up to Union Square and check that out. If you decide on public transportation the BART has a Powell Street station that will put you very close to Union Square. Have a great time!

Oh, thank you very-very much! You are awesome :)

Hi Rick, Thanks for your feedback and perspective. I agree that San Francisco has some really great arts and cultural venues. My opinion compared San Francisco which is relatively small on the scale of offerings with cities such as New York, London, Paris, Amsterdam, Sydney, etc. (even Chicago with its enormous Art Institute and Broadway scene). These are what I personally consider "world class" 😀 What San Francisco does offer that these cities don't are phenomenal outdoor activities and diverse neighborhoods (we are one of three left with an active Japantown)! This is what I encourage viewers to spend their limited time exploring. But by all means they should catch a show and museum or two if they so desire! The De Young has fantastic views of the Lincoln golf course and Beach Blanket Babylon is not only unique but highly entertaining and funny!

I highly recommend this show... facebook.com/pg/SFPlayhouse/reviews/ - a very innovative and beautifully performed production of Sondheim's classic Sunday in the Park with George about the artist and their personal process and challenges. BRILLIANT theatre with all local professionals... BBB is not the only show in town. These small theatres need to be supported or expensive SF will force them out of business. CTC in Sunnyvale closed after 41 years! I worked there for over 25... the media really has to help keep art alive here as it is MUCH more challenging to survive paying higher than NYC rents, yet competing with so many outdoor opportunities all year long...

yes it is perspective; as a local i definitely enjoy arts and music here in san francisco, but if a friend is visiting from another city for few days, i don't recommend him or her to spend time at the museums or concerts, because there are things unique to sf that visitors cannot enjoy elsewhere

The San Francisco Ballet is definitely a world class company (it is considered such by the international dance community, not just by me!). As for specifically San Franciscan entertainment, I recommend the SF Ethnic Dance Festival, in June. Those performances always reinforce my love of San Francisco. Or, for very little money, attend a segment of the auditions for the festival, in January.

Rick Haffner a

Preach. She said it as if kicking minorities out of their own neighborhoods is a good thing. She said that something nice about San Francisco is its diversity and also referred to gentrification as if it is something good. I was upset that she said this, and it became clear to me who her intended audience is. I live in Nebraska and have seen beggers of all colors here. I don't discriminate. I'll give them a dollar if I have some change. No biggie. But I digress from the main point.

@@acpadilla7146 : A whole dollar? Wow.

Hey there! Happy to help. Do you know what the intersection of the Big Bus tour's stop is located at? Looking just at your hotel, it's right in the middle of a fairly touristy area and under normal circumstances, should be fine. However, in June, I'm not sure whether foot traffic will be back up post-covid (which would make it safer). You may have to play it by ear depending on time you are done (probably prior to 9PM should still be OK and relatively light out).

@@ZeeneInRealLife Thank you so much. I'll find out which one is closest. I believe it's on Union Square. Let's hope things are better in the summer.

@@otaviovieira1041 Union Square is relatively close to your hotel so it should be OK. Market will sometimes have a few homeless people so just be vigilant when crossing over. They are relatively harmless but just be aware of your surroundings and exercise caution.

@@ZeeneInRealLife Thank you.👍

Hello! Yes, it's pretty easy to use but I normally use cash. The app looks pretty nifty and def more convenient (otherwise you have to have exact change on you at all times and feed the ticketing machine). I'm going to try the app out this week and let you know how easy or not it is to use.

Hi shaine b! Sorry it's taken so long to get back to you! I tried out the app last week and it is very easy to use! It's probably a better solution since you get a discounted fare for using it vs. cash (and the discount has gotten even better for the day passes starting 9/1/18). Also, getting on is more convenient -- you activate the ticket on the app as you get on and it becomes your proof or purchase. There isn't a need to use the ticket machine at the front. Hope that helps!

Best to store cash credit on a Clipper card, you just scan it when boarding and the fare amount is deducted automatically. You have 90 minutes of travel time from the time you start your trip. MUNI fare inspectors do check proof of payment, but they are M.I.A. for the past 10 months because of the pandemic. Clipper is also accepted on BART, Golden Gate Transit, SamTrans, Caltrain, AC Transit.

Thanks for watching!

Thank you !!!!!

Thank you so much! Hope you have an awesome trip - things are starting to open up so good timing.

Lol

It isn't really the right term here. The areas that are sketchy aren't connected racially but rather by alcohol and drugs.

I am about to publish a video soon on places to stay in SF and most of the hotels along Lombard in Marina offer free parking (call or e-mail Travel Inn to doublecheck that it's free). So you should do a cost comparison but you can either rent a car and mass transit/uber within the city for direct distances, use some combination of BART/Caltrain into SF and then take an Uber the rest of the way to Marina, or just take an Uber directly to the Marina. Your hotel is very convenient to several attractions including the Presidio (walking distance), Golden Gate Bridge & Fishermna's Wharf (biking distance and there are bike rental shops on that strip of Lombard), bus distance to curvy portion of Lombard and North Beach. For the rest Uber is likely the way to go. Hope that helps and let me know if you need any more pointers :)

Oh, also bus distance to Golden Gate Park!

@@ZeeneInRealLife thanks for your reply ! We are family of 4, (2 kids age 3 and 9), hope there is mass transportation nearby our stay, I wonder do you ever use gocard or citypass or sightseeing pass in San Francisco ? What do you know about that ?

Yes, Lombard is a major street and there are plenty of bus stops along that strip (all inns and motels). If not in front of your hotel then a few blocks walk away. The Gocard is great if you plan to maximize the attractions you visit in one day -- perhaps do the math vs. a la carte. With children that young I'd recommend touring Golden Gate Park with a stop at California Academy of Science (which alone can take you the entire day), Fisherman's Wharf down the Embarcadero to Exploratorium (again another solid day to see it all) and then down to the Ferry Building for farmer's market/artisanal food stalls inside. The CityPass looks better as there doesn't seem to be a time restriction (but doublecheck) and includes a 3-day MuniPass in the package.

thanks for the tip!

Hi Felicia! Happy travels! Nob Hill is a great residential neighborhood that is central to everything. Be a bit careful it's not too far south towards Bush which borders the Tenderloin (rough neighborhood). And just to note you're close to Chinatown to the east and busy Van Ness to the west which I don't find personally too problematic but depends what kind of traveler you are. For car rentals there are several mainstream car rental agencies near Nob Hill. However, I personally like a service called Turo which is a smartphone app that lets you rent cars from regular people. I find there are more car options, it's cheaper, and the car owners are more flexible. Yosemite is great -- I made a very early video on it here: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-_T7kIk41mV8.html which I cringe now at the production but the content is still good :)

I grew up on Bush and Leavenworth, in Nob Hill, it is a wonderful area, never felt unsafe. Sucks when you try to find parking though but thats most of the city.

Hi Solange! Generally there isn’t an issue with the buses and trains themselves so much as walking from the bus stops/stations in sketchy areas. As a tourist it’s going to be hard for you to identify those areas so as a precaution just switch to Ubers/Lyfts after 9PM.

@@ZeeneInRealLife Thank you very much 🙌🏽

check my channel 😇

Hiya! Luckily I have a DJ friend who does the circuit. Sent him a quick email to scope it out for you. Will let you know what he says. R u on Insta? Might be easier to DM you the info there.

Sooo...I checked with my DJ friend and he says he hasn't come across any but will keep an ear to the ground for ya!

Hi Christina! Not sure if this is directed at another commenter? I'll answer just in case but make sure to tag Napili54 with an @ before the handle if you are looking for their feedback :) Union Square is quite safe and is one of the nicer parts of downtown. Yes, there are panhandlers (especially along Market) but just avoid them. Even if you unwittingly cross over into Tenderloin, the people are not going to attack you but their dirty appearance and behavior can be quite jarring and you may *feel* unsafe. Some are mentally disturbed and act out in public. It's documented about the open drug use on the street although I haven't personally seen it. When we don't come into contact with this on a daily basis, it can be scary to see people struggling (which is why I recommend avoiding this area for tourists who are here to relax and see the best of the city). I have several friends who live in the area and they have not experienced issues. Hope that helps.

Hi Orestgreece! Hmm, many factors to consider so I can only give general answers. Depends on where in SF and to where in Oakland you are planning to travel. Generally BART stations around downtown are OK at night (you get some rabble hanging around outside Powell). In Oakland some stations are better than others and there are good and bad neighborhoods so once you arrive at the BART station it may not be great to walk back to your hotel. In general the cost of an Uber/Lyft from downtown SF to say Jack London Square is about $35 when NOT in surge pricing. It will cost more if you call during peak Saturday night times when everyone is letting out at the bars and after shows. Hope that helps!

@@ZeeneInRealLife Many thanks Zeene your answer is really helpful. Well, I don't know where I will be every evening in SF that's why I questioned like it, I know for sure that my hotel is close to Jack London square in Oakland. I will be there during weekdays so hopefully there won't be peak night times. To sum up, your advice is to leave afternoon time from Jack London square with BART to SF downtown and to return around midnight with Uber/Lyft ?

OK. First a caveat that I am not as familiar with Oakland as I am with San Francisco. From Jack London Square the most direct from Oakland is to take Uber/Lyft BUT that's not always most budget friendly. So, here's some info that might help you figure it out: Jack London is closest to 12th St. station but it's still 12 blocks away. Enough to consider Uber/Lyft to/from the station. What I understand is the area between is not great. OK during the day but borderline at night. If you'd like to take BART, do a daytime foray first to check it out and you can make a judgement. Also, remember that the ferry leaves from Jack London directly and can sometimes be better than BART. Check the ferry schedule beforehand for times and what terminals in the city are included on the route (service is limited). In SF the major terminals are at the Ferry Building (near downtown) and at Fisherman's Wharf.

@@ZeeneInRealLife Really helpful information Zeene! After spending 2 days in LA, I arrived yesterday in Oakland. Everything is cool here, I will follow your advice for transportation, thanks again :)

😂

@@ZeeneInRealLife do you have Instagram?

Thiago Souza I do! Follow me on Zeene In Real Life 👍 I’m not as diligent posting there but some content u won’t get here :)

Have fun!

Hey there! Sorry for not responding sooner - getting over jet lag :( Depends on what you like to do! You are within walking distance to the Ferry Building which is a foodie’s paradise, Chinatown which is a top attraction, and the museums around Yerba Buena. Also the cable cars. Take them from the roundabout so you can see them turn the cars around manually. To get to Fisherman’s Wharf you’ve got a couple of options; 1) walk to the Ferry Building (20 min) then either take the historical streetcars down Embarcadero or a ferry over to Fisherman’s Wharf. The ferry is nice as you can do a short hop on the bay. 2) Take the cable cars from the turnabout at Powell/Market. Both lines will require a bit of walking from the end point; the Hyde line drops you off at Ghirardelli Square and the Mason line will take you as far as Bay. Hope that helps!

@@ZeeneInRealLife everything helps.. Thank you so very much 😁

👍 Let me know if you guys have any more questions! Have fun :)

@@ZeeneInRealLife sure thing, in fact what's the best way to Union square without using Uber or a taxi..partly don't want to pay the excess fees and partly want to jump right into the experience of the city.

Do you mean from the airport? If so, you can also look at public transportation on BART which picks up directly at SFO & Oakland and has a station right near Union Square. It will take between 45 min to an hour. But it might be hard to maneuver luggage if u have a lot of it.

Thanks Jay! Hmm...I don't have specific recommendations but can give general guidance -- lodgings in the city are expensive and about 2x what you'll find in other metropolitan cities (probably comparable to NYC). The touristy areas will be the most expensive; so around Union Square, Fisherman's Wharf, etc. For cheaper, look for quieter neighborhoods like around Japantown or Fillmore which are more residential but also central to major attractions. If traveling by yourself, you may want to check out hostels. There is a new breed of "luxe hostels" nowadays that have private en suite rooms with down bedding but allow you to share common living areas -- targeted towards "adults." AirBnB is also an excellent option. I'm just about to publish a new vid on Friday addressing public transport! Yes, there is something called the Clipper Card which is a joint project by 22+ mass transit agencies here in the Bay Area which can be used on any of their systems, including Muni, BART, Caltrain, and ferries. More info here: www.clippercard.com/ClipperWeb/index.do Good hunting!

@@ZeeneInRealLife Thank you very much

Can you guide what will be the weather like in say 2nd week of october,should i bring warm cloths also.Thanks

Hi Jay, it's been warm recently. Typically October is the changeover season when it starts to get cold but in the last few years Indian Summer has been extending into November. I would plan for warm clothing but bring a light shell and pullover just in case.

Thanks .

Hello! What kind of shopping are you looking for? In general, Union Square/Westfield San Francisco Center is great for higher end clothing retail. The big clothing trend in the US is outlet shopping and these malls are further away -- Gilroy Premium Outlets down south and San Francisco Premium Outlets in Livermore to the east (this one has a $25 coach bus that will take you there from downtown SF). There are a ton of boutique shops selling indie fashions you can only purchase in SF - try Valencia Street in Mission District (between 16th & 24th) or Fillmore Street in the Fillmore District (www.fillmoreshop.com) or Union Street in Pacific Heights (www.unionstreetshop.com). For food and related items try the Ferry Building -- I have a very early video review of it here: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-tvzguJh2LVo.html. Not my best work but you get some idea :)

Male clothes mainly... But Like I said I heard that san francisco is a expensive city thats why I am looking for advices from people who lives in San francisco.

Got it! All of the areas I mentioned above should be great for men's fashion as well. My favorite men's wear store is Benny Gold in Mission District (on Valencia) which does street/skater apparel. They have a smaller collection so I wouldn't make a special trip out there but check it out if you decide to hit Valencia Street for some shopping! I feature them in my video here for a quick preview: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-CmwZ35KbrLE.html

Also, keep in mind that most higher end retail will have ongoing sales even though the regular retail prices might be high so worth checking out. :)

I thought shopping in Japan Town was pretty fun when I went

Chu*Chu The description of the weather in SF is accurate, as far as it goes. But you should know that the warmest months are September and October (it starts to cool off near the end of October). This is the time when we dress the way the rest of the country dresses in summer. It's also a good time to do things along the coast, since it's usually not foggy. However, since it is SF, it's still advisable to take a light jacket with you, especially if you're going to be out at night.

Hi Amar, I haven't attempted that route myself but quickly looking at all your transportation options I think your best bet might be to rent a car from a carshare service like Turo or Getaround. Your alternate option is to take the ferry (check Blue & Gold for schedule and fares) which isn't necessarily cheaper but is the other more direct route at a reasonable cost. Good luck!

There are tons of great bars :) I think it depends on what you're looking for and in what area of town. Here's a good article from Eater that includes a couple personal favs: sf.eater.com/maps/best-sports-bars-warriors-giants-niners-san-francisco

You need to make a couple of return trips! 😂

So glad to year! Have an awesome trip :)

Welcome to SF!

Awesome and welcome!!! I happen to be working on a Chinatown walking tour video right now which will be shot at end of July with some guest RU-vidrs :) Until then see this video: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-ZLKgmJvqHgY.html which has many of the main Chinatown highlights (but this one's from a historical perspective). Start at the Dragon's Gate and make your way up Grant to Portsmouth Square. Grant has all of the touristy shops you can look for souvenirs or cheap goods. At California & Grant are Sing Chong & Sing Fat buildings which were the two first anchor buildings of Chinatown. Portsmouth Square is historically the original town square of San Francisco (used to be called Yerba Buena). See the video for highlights here. Make your way up to Waverly Place. Some people like going up to the temple here but IMO it's only worthwhile if you've never seen a taoist temple before. This street is also famous for the brothels that once resided here. Head to Ross Alley (used to be gambling halls) and the Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Co. Hit Ten Red for boba tea and wait at Golden Gate Bakery for noon opening for egg tarts. Head up Pacific to Stockton where the real Chinese stores are. Hit Good Mong Kok for your pork buns, har gow, shu mai, and any other goodies. :) To eat them you can walk back down to Portsmouth or what's nicer is either Empire Park or Redwood Park at Transamerica Building (but they are a bit farther). OR you can eat while you walk and end your trip at China Live for some higher end dim sum items. Hope that help!!

Also if you're a huge history buff there are a ton of walking tours of the area. You can take one first to get a bit of orientation, then hit all the food places!

Maybe even kind.

Hi Steve -- see my video on best tourist neighborhoods which includes lodgings (also check in the description box for an extended list): ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-DbfKK8lBEts.html

Have a great vacation!

Awesome! So glad the information was useful :) Come back soon!

Thanks so much!

What a nice thing to say

Hi Isaias, first timers should avoid walking through the Tenderloin area, parts of Civic Center, the outer edges of Mission and parts of Potrero Hill. You can certainly visit businesses in these areas but I would recommend taking an Uber. In general, switch to Uber at night instead of public transport. Also, be aware of high tourist crimes (like pick-pocketing and car smash n grabs) in areas like Union Square, North Beach/Fisherman's Wharf, and Marina (where tourist traffic is quite high). Be safe and have a great time!

Have a great time!