San Francisco is a compact hilltop city of about 874,000 people on the tip of a peninsula between the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay, known for the Golden Gate Bridge, cable cars, Alcatraz, Victorian houses, fog and a food scene built on Bay Area produce and seafood.
Accommodation overview
San Francisco hotels cluster in a few compact districts, and most visitors can walk or use transit between them. Union Square and the adjacent Theater District hold the densest group of mid-range and boutique hotels, within walking distance of the Powell Street cable car, the Powell Street BART and Muni station and the shops. SoMa around Moscone Center and Yerba Buena Gardens has convention hotels and SFMOMA, the Financial District and Embarcadero suit business visitors and the Ferry Building, and Nob Hill holds the grand historic hotels. Fisherman's Wharf has family hotels near Pier 39 and the Alcatraz ferry, though it is the most tourist-oriented area, while the Marina, Cow Hollow and Presidio offer motor inns and quieter stays near the Golden Gate Bridge. Haight-Ashbury, the Mission and the Castro have small guest houses and inns with a neighbourhood feel. The city levies a hotel tax of roughly 14% on room rates, and many hotels add a daily resort or destination fee on top, so the final price is higher than the headline rate. Rates rise sharply during large conventions, especially Dreamforce in autumn and other major events at Moscone Center. Parking is expensive and car break-ins are common, so most visitors do better without a car. Fog and cool weather are common in summer, and September and October are usually the warmest months.
- Budget
- $40-$150 per night (hostel dorm beds and private rooms, and older motor inns on Lombard Street and in the Tenderloin), plus the roughly 14% hotel tax
- Mid-range
- $150-$350 per night for most chain and boutique hotels in Union Square, SoMa, Fisherman's Wharf and the Financial District, plus the hotel tax and any resort fee
- Luxury
- $300-$1,200+ per night at the Ritz-Carlton, Four Seasons, St. Regis, Fairmont, Palace Hotel and similar five-star hotels, before the hotel tax and fees
- Where to stay
- Union Square for first-time visitors using transit; Fisherman's Wharf for families visiting Pier 39 and Alcatraz; SoMa for museums and conventions; Nob Hill for classic luxury.
Hotels by budget
Find accommodation that fits your travel budget.
Budget-friendly
Mosser Hotel
Historic budget hotel near Market Street and the Moscone Center, with some rooms using shared bathrooms.
Check rates on Booking.comHotel Bijou
Small hotel with a San Francisco-film theme, a few blocks from Union Square and the Powell Street transit hub.
Check rates on Booking.comWharf Inn
Motor inn at Mason and Beach Streets with on-site parking, close to the Wharf.
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Small Victorian-style inn near Lombard Street's motel row and the Marina Green.
Check rates on Booking.comCow Hollow Motor Inn and Suites
Motor inn on Lombard Street with parking, in Cow Hollow and the Marina area.
Check rates on Booking.comPhoenix Hotel
1950s motor lodge in the Tenderloin with a courtyard pool, long popular with touring musicians.
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Budget hotel on Divisadero Street near the Lower Haight and Alamo Square.
Check rates on Booking.comBeck's Motor Lodge
1960s motor lodge on Market Street at the Castro, with on-site parking.
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Hostel one block from Union Square with dorm beds and private rooms.
Check rates on Booking.comHostelling International San Francisco City Center
Hostel on Ellis Street in the Tenderloin near Civic Center and Van Ness.
Check rates on Booking.comHostelling International San Francisco Fisherman's Wharf
Hostel on the Fort Mason grounds in the Marina, with views of the bay and Alcatraz.
Check rates on Booking.comGreen Tortoise Hostel
Hostel on Broadway at the edge of North Beach, with free breakfast and community dinners.
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Hostel on Sacramento Street at the border of Chinatown and the Financial District.
Check rates on Booking.comAdelaide Hostel and Hotel
Small hostel on an alley off Taylor Street between Union Square and the Theater District.
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Hilton San Francisco Union Square
One of the city's largest hotels, with two towers a few blocks from Union Square and the Powell Street cable car line, and a rooftop pool.
Check rates on Booking.comParc 55 San Francisco
Large Hilton-managed hotel at the Powell Street BART and Muni station, two blocks from Union Square.
Check rates on Booking.comHandlery Union Square Hotel
Family-run hotel on Geary Street one block from Union Square, with one of the few outdoor pools in the district.
Check rates on Booking.comBeacon Grand, A Union Square Hotel
1928 Beaux-Arts hotel on Powell Street, formerly the Sir Francis Drake, known for its liveried doormen.
Check rates on Booking.comHotel Zeppelin San Francisco
Retro-themed boutique hotel on Post Street, a short walk from Union Square.
Check rates on Booking.comThe Marker San Francisco
Boutique hotel at Geary and Taylor Streets in the Theater District, a few blocks from Union Square.
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Spanish Revival-style boutique hotel in the Theater District with a street-level restaurant.
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Design-led hotel on Geary Street, steps from Union Square.
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Boutique hotel at Sutter and Mason Streets, about a block from Union Square.
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Modern boutique hotel with a distinctive glass and steel facade in the Theater District.
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Boutique hotel near Union Square and the Tenderloin edge, with a restaurant on site.
Check rates on Booking.comHotel Union Square
Small hotel on Powell Street beside the Powell Street BART, Muni and cable car turnaround.
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Boutique hotel in a 1913 building at Fourth and Market Streets, at the edge of Union Square and SoMa.
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Small hotel on Ellis Street, a block from Union Square and Powell Street BART.
Check rates on Booking.comHotel Triton
Quirky art-filled hotel at the Dragon Gate entrance to Chinatown.
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Boutique hotel in a 1911 building in the Financial District, beside the Crocker Galleria shops.
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Large hotel at the Embarcadero Center with a 17-story atrium lobby, near the Ferry Building and the Embarcadero BART and Muni station.
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Hilton tower on Portsmouth Square, a short walk from Chinatown and North Beach.
Check rates on Booking.comSan Francisco Marriott Marquis
Large convention hotel with the distinctive jukebox-style exterior, across from Yerba Buena Gardens and Moscone Center.
Check rates on Booking.comThe Clancy, Autograph Collection
Chain hotel in SoMa, a short walk from Oracle Park and Caltrain.
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Small 1930s-style hotel on Columbus Avenue in North Beach, near City Lights Bookstore.
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Hyatt hotel in the heart of Fisherman's Wharf, with a heated outdoor pool near Pier 39.
Check rates on Booking.comArgonaut Hotel
Nautical-themed boutique hotel in the Cannery building, at the Maritime National Historical Park.
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Industrial-chic boutique hotel at Fisherman's Wharf, with a shipping-container courtyard and fire pits.
Check rates on Booking.comHotel Riu Plaza Fisherman's Wharf
Large 531-room hotel (formerly the Sheraton) with a heated outdoor pool, near Pier 39 and the Wharf waterfront.
Check rates on Booking.comCourtyard San Francisco Fisherman's Wharf
Chain hotel a few blocks from the cable car turnaround and Pier 39.
Check rates on Booking.comFairmont Heritage Place, Ghirardelli Square
Residence-style suites in Ghirardelli Square with kitchens and views across the bay.
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Colourful Marina District motor hotel with a heated pool and a courtyard, near Chestnut Street.
Check rates on Booking.comInn at the Presidio
1903 Georgian-style officers' quarters on the Presidio's Main Post, near the Golden Gate Bridge.
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Hotel in Japantown, beside the Japan Center Mall and the AMC Kabuki cinema.
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Edwardian 1902 mansion-turned-hotel on Sutter Street at Gough.
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Small hotel on Sutter Street at the Nob Hill and Civic Center border.
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1904 Victorian hotel facing Golden Gate Park at the Haight-Ashbury end.
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Italianate Victorian mansion hotel on South Van Ness in the Mission District.
Check rates on Booking.comThe Parker Guest House
Edwardian guest house between the Castro and Mission Dolores neighbourhoods.
Check rates on Booking.comLuxury
The Westin St. Francis
Landmark 1904 hotel on the west side of Union Square, with a historic main building and a modern tower, and the cable car stop on Powell Street outside.
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Japanese-owned hotel near Union Square with a Japanese-style soaking spa and an indoor pool.
Check rates on Booking.comThe Clift Royal Sonesta Hotel
Historic 1913 Theater District hotel with Philippe Starck-designed public rooms and the Redwood Room bar.
Check rates on Booking.comJW Marriott San Francisco Union Square
Upscale Marriott hotel one block from Union Square, in a former 1920s building.
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Waterfront hotel across the Embarcadero from the Bay Bridge, with a rooftop spa and views of the bay.
Check rates on Booking.comThe Jay Hotel
Upscale hotel at the northeast edge of the Financial District, near the Embarcadero Center and Jackson Square.
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Historic 1926 bank building on California Street, at the foot of Nob Hill and the California cable car line.
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Tall Hyatt tower on Stockton Street on the north side of Union Square, with views over the city.
Check rates on Booking.comTaj Campton Place
Intimate luxury hotel on Stockton Street, next to Union Square, known for its restaurant.
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Design hotel beside SFMOMA and Yerba Buena Gardens in SoMa.
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Five-star hotel above the Museum of the African Diaspora in SoMa, near SFMOMA and Moscone Center.
Check rates on Booking.comFour Seasons Hotel San Francisco at Embarcadero
Five-star hotel on the upper floors of a Market Street tower, with a spa and indoor pool.
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Landmark hotel from 1909 at Market and New Montgomery, with the Garden Court restaurant under its stained-glass dome.
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Historic 1907 Nob Hill hotel, with a cable car line out front and views over the city.
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1926 Nob Hill hotel known for the Top of the Mark sky lounge on the top floor.
Check rates on Booking.comThe Huntington Hotel
Quiet, residential-style luxury hotel on Nob Hill beside Huntington Park and Grace Cathedral.
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Nob Hill hotel on California Street at Powell, on the cable car line.
Check rates on Booking.comThe Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco
Five-star hotel in a neoclassical former Metropolitan Life building on Stockton Street at Nob Hill.
Check rates on Booking.comHotel Drisco
Small, quiet luxury hotel on Pacific Avenue in Pacific Heights.
Check rates on Booking.comBest neighborhoods to stay
Choose your base based on your interests and travel style.
Union Square
Shopping, the Powell Street cable car, the Powell Street BART and Muni station and the Theater District; the most convenient base for first-time visitors.
Best for: All travelers
SoMa
Moscone Center, SFMOMA, Yerba Buena Gardens and Oracle Park; convention hotels and luxury towers.
Best for: All travelers
Financial District and Embarcadero
Business district, the Ferry Building and Embarcadero BART and Muni station; weekday-oriented and quieter at weekends.
Best for: All travelers
Nob Hill
Grand historic hotels on the hill, cable car lines and Grace Cathedral.
Best for: All travelers
Fisherman's Wharf
Pier 39, the Alcatraz ferry and sea lions; family hotels and the highest tourist crowds.
Best for: All travelers
North Beach and Chinatown
City Lights Bookstore, Italian cafes and Chinatown's Dragon Gate; small boutique hotels and a hostel.
Best for: All travelers
Marina and Cow Hollow
Chestnut Street dining, Fort Mason, the Palace of Fine Arts and Lombard Street's motor inns; parking is included at many properties.
Best for: All travelers
Presidio
The Presidio's trails, the Golden Gate Bridge and a handful of lodgings in historic buildings.
Best for: All travelers
Pacific Heights and Japantown
Pacific Heights' mansions and Japantown's Japan Center; quiet, residential and hilly.
Best for: All travelers
Civic Center and Tenderloin
City Hall, the opera, the symphony and Van Ness; low-cost hotels with mixed street conditions.
Best for: All travelers
Haight-Ashbury
Haight Street, Golden Gate Park and Victorian-era inns; a counter-culture neighbourhood.
Best for: All travelers
Mission District
Mission Dolores, Valencia Street dining and murals; good BART access and fewer hotels.
Best for: All travelers
Castro
The Castro Theatre, the rainbow flag and LGBTQ+ nightlife; small guest houses and inns.
Best for: All travelers
Our top picks
Handpicked recommendations for every type of traveler.
The Westin St. Francis
Landmark 1904 hotel on the west side of Union Square, with a historic main building and a modern tower, and the cable car stop on Powell Street outside.
Check rates on Booking.comHilton San Francisco Union Square
One of the city's largest hotels, with two towers a few blocks from Union Square and the Powell Street cable car line, and a rooftop pool.
Check rates on Booking.comParc 55 San Francisco
Large Hilton-managed hotel at the Powell Street BART and Muni station, two blocks from Union Square.
Check rates on Booking.comHandlery Union Square Hotel
Family-run hotel on Geary Street one block from Union Square, with one of the few outdoor pools in the district.
Check rates on Booking.comHotel Nikko San Francisco
Japanese-owned hotel near Union Square with a Japanese-style soaking spa and an indoor pool.
Check rates on Booking.comBeacon Grand, A Union Square Hotel
1928 Beaux-Arts hotel on Powell Street, formerly the Sir Francis Drake, known for its liveried doormen.
Check rates on Booking.comBooking tips
Get the best deals and avoid common mistakes.
Add the San Francisco hotel tax of about 14% to every rate, and check for a separate daily resort or destination fee of roughly $20-$60 at many hotels; the US FTC rule requires mandatory fees to appear in the headline price.
Check the convention calendar before booking: Dreamforce in autumn and other major conferences at Moscone Center can double or triple nightly rates in SoMa and Union Square.
Avoid hotel parking where possible: overnight parking commonly costs $60-$90 in Union Square and Fisherman's Wharf, and car break-ins are common in the city, so never leave bags or valuables visible in a parked car.
Use BART from SFO or Oakland airport to Powell Street or Embarcadero stations rather than renting a car, and use a Clipper card or the Muni app for cable cars and buses.
Check the block, not just the neighbourhood: some Tenderloin, Mid-Market and Civic Center budget hotels sit beside areas with open drug use and street camping, so read recent reviews and arrive in daylight.
Book summer and September-October stays early, and expect fog and cool evenings in July and August; bring layers rather than counting on warm weather.
Hostels with private rooms, such as HI San Francisco Downtown, Green Tortoise and Pacific Tradewinds, are the cheapest central option, and rooms with shared bathrooms at the Mosser Hotel are the cheapest hotel option.
Alternative accommodations
Beyond traditional hotels, consider these options.
Guesthouses
Family-run guesthouses offer authentic local experiences and often include home-cooked meals. Great for cultural immersion.
Serviced apartments
Ideal for longer stays or families. Kitchen facilities help save money and provide flexibility.
Hostels
Budget-friendly option for solo travelers. Dorms and private rooms available with social common areas.