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Where to stay in San Francisco for first-time tourists
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Our recommendations are based on neigborhoods, attractions, restaurants and proximity to public transit
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Best neighborhoods for first-time tourists in San Francisco
From inexpensive hostels in quiet residential areas to high-end hotels near the city center, San Francisco has accommodations for every budget. Key consideration is what kind of neighborhood you want to stay in. You'll find luxury hotels in Union Square, which has prime shopping, is near theaters, and is on the cable car line. Many hotels are in the northeastern portion of the city, near the tourist-driven neighborhoods of Chinatown and Fisherman's Wharf, both easily explored on foot. To get away from the tourist crowds, consider the smaller inns and family-run bed and breakfasts in some of the city's more charming neighborhoods, such as Noe Valley or Pacific Heights. There are also boutique hotels scattered around town. Avoid staying in the Tenderloin. If you plan to have a car with you, ask about parking availability and fees. Parking is often difficult and expensive.
Downtown San Francisco
Budget
: 32 hotels from $25
Mid-range
: 33 hotels from $57
Luxury
: 48 hotels from $72
Marina District
Budget
: 21 hotels from $48
Mid-range
: 8 hotels from $62
Fisherman's Wharf
Budget
: 2 hotels from $75
Mid-range
: 2 hotels from $111
Luxury
: 11 hotels from $99
Based on your sightseeing preferences
Hotels with best location in San Francisco
Location score is based on the places you will visit combined with the best areas to stay
Luxury
Proximity  9.8
Marriott Vacation Club Pulse, San Francisco
Fisherman's Wharf
Guest rating
Proximity  9.8
Hyatt Centric Fisherman's Wharf San Francisco
Fisherman's Wharf
Guest rating
Proximity  9.8
Hotel Zoe Fisherman's Wharf
Fisherman's Wharf
Guest rating
Proximity  9.7
San Francisco Marriott Fisherman's Wharf
Fisherman's Wharf
Guest rating
Mid-range
Proximity  9.9
Columbus Inn
North Beach
Guest rating
Proximity  9.7
Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Fisherman's Wharf, an IHG Hotel
Fisherman's Wharf
Guest rating
Proximity  9.6
The Suites at Fisherman's Wharf
Fisherman's Wharf
Guest rating
Proximity  9.4
SW Hotel
Chinatown
Guest rating
Budget
Proximity  9.8
San Remo Hotel
North Beach
Guest rating
Proximity  9.8
Travelodge by Wyndham by Fisherman's Wharf
Fisherman's Wharf
Guest rating
Proximity  9.7
Entella Hotel
North Beach
Guest rating
Proximity  9.6
Hotel North Beach
Chinatown
Guest rating
Apartments
Proximity  9.2
N Beach 1BR w Pool Fitness Center nr Muni SFO-233
Proximity  9.1
N Beach Tel Hill 1 bedroom, Office Ready, Quiet, BBQs, GR1
Proximity  7.9
Telegraph Hill Studio wSpa nr Coit Tower SFO-38
Proximity  7.9
Telegraph Hill 1BR Gym nr Coit Tower Pier 39 SFO-74
Others
Proximity  9.3
ITH Pacific Tradewinds Hostel
Financial District
Guest rating
Proximity  9.2
N Beach 1BR w Pool Fitness Center nr Muni SFO-233
Proximity  9.1
N Beach Tel Hill 1 bedroom, Office Ready, Quiet, BBQs, GR1
Proximity  8.9
SF Plaza Hotel
Downtown San Francisco
Guest rating
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San Francisco
San Francisco is a top holiday destination featuring scenic beauty and great ethnic and cultural diversity. Spanish colonists established the city in 1776, but 80 percent of it was destroyed in the 1906 earthquake and the fires that followed. Despite its outsize reputation, the city is physically quite compact, located on a relatively small square of land at the tip of a peninsula between the San Francisco Bay and the Pacific coast. This allows you to take sightseeing tours of most of the city's neighborhoods, each with its own distinct character and microclimate, on foot or by bicycle. To get around town on public transportation, buy a visitor's pass, available for one, three, or seven days, for unlimited rides on Muni buses, trains, streetcars, and cable cars. San Francisco also contains more restaurants than any other city in the country per capita, providing dining options to suit every traveler's tastes.