Flights to San Francisco

San Francisco International Airport (SFO) serves as a major North American hub and a gateway to Asia and Europe. It serves around 50 million passengers annually, with four terminals connected by the airport’s AirTrain service.

Delta uses the C gates at Terminal 1 and offers direct service to Atlanta (ATL), Austin (AUS), Boston (BOS), Detroit (DTW), Minneapolis-St. Paul (MSP), Los Angeles (LAX), New York (JFK) and Salt Lake City (SLC).

The airport offers a wide selection of shops and restaurants. Be on the lookout for the airport’s most unique offering, the Wag Brigade, which brings trained therapy dogs to roam the terminals and greet weary travelers. Now that’s something to wag a tail about. 

Transportation from SFO is easy, with Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) taking travelers from its station in the international terminal to downtown stations in about 20 minutes, with continuing service to Alameda and Contra Costa  Counties. Take BART to Millbrae and connect to Caltrain for service to the peninsula and San Jose. Founded in San Francisco, both Uber and Lyft offer pick-ups from SFO. Many San Francisco hotels offer airport shuttle service, so be sure to check with your hotel before paying for a shuttle, taxi or shared ride service 

There is so much to love about San Francisco. From architectural styles to fusion restaurants, neighborhoods to natural wonders, sports teams to street art. Top it off with reliable public transit and the city’s cable cars, and it makes San Francisco easy to visit and even easier to love.

Enjoy your time in this coastal jewel — each block brimming with technology, trends, art and food from around the globe.

San Francisco Restaurants

For dining, start your stay in the Mission District — a popular neighborhood in San Francisco’s renowned dining scene. Try the classic Mission burrito at taquerias like El Farolito or La Taqueria, or stop by Foreign Cinema, a beloved brunch spot. The nearby SoMa (or South Market) district offers both local flavors and global flair. Of course, don’t miss out on San Francisco’s wide variety of Asian eateries. In Chinatown, you’ll find Sichuan-style favorites like Chong Qing Xiao Mian, dim sum favorites including City View or Yank Sing, plus Chinese bakeries, wonton soup shops, cocktail lounges and restaurants serving Vietnamese cuisine.

San Francisco Art & Culture

Long before technology giants started sprouting up in the city, San Francisco served as an art and cultural destination. After World War II, the city was the epicenter of the rise of “hippie” counterculture, the center of the Peace Movement, and played a role in the beginnings of the LGBTQIA rights movement. Throughout various political climates, the arts have thrived here. Whether you’re seeking historic architecture like the city’s “painted lady” Victorian & Edwardian houses, exploring the expanded San Francisco Museum of Modern Art or simply viewing the Mission Murals, you’ll find plenty to see.

San Francisco Landmarks

While it’s tempting to avoid the crowds at tourist spots in San Francisco like the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz, they really are worth a visit, with stunning views. The Golden Gate Bridge, surrounded by the Presidio, is an iconic landmark with beautiful views. For family fun, explore Alcatraz and the Ferry Building Marketplace at Fisherman’s Wharf. Top it off with a trip to Golden Gate Park, a greenspace home to the de Young Museum, San Francisco Botanical Gardens, Japanese Tea Garden and Stowe Lake.

Before you hop your flight to San Francisco, you’ll need to select a place to stay. Of course, lodgings are as numerous and varied as the city’s neighborhoods themselves — with everything from luxury hotels to boutique rooms to choose from.

If you’re seeking five-star accommodations in the heart of the city, try the St. Regis, the Ritz-Carlton or the Four Seasons. All offer sprawling properties, located conveniently for both business or recreational travel.

For more of a boutique feel with locations near popular San Francisco destinations, try checking in to Hotel Drisco or Cavallo Point in nearby Marin County. If you’re seeking more available rooms still close to the heart of the city, consider a stay at The Argonaut or Hotel Nikko.

For more intimate stays, book an Airbnb — the company’s headquarters is in San Francisco, after all. You can even earn SkyMiles for your Airbnb stay. Otherwise, stop in for a stay at the Inn on Castro or at the Golden Gate Hotel. Both offer cozy rooms, and the Golden Gate Hotel’s known for its resident dog named Cookie and cat named Pip.

A cool spring or fall day: that’s what residents enjoy in San Francisco most days, year-round. The city enjoys remarkably little temperature variation, with lows in the 40s and highs in the mid-50s to 60s throughout most of the year. Though it experiences the occasional heat wave in summer months, cool winds from the Pacific keep the city cool in the mornings and pleasantly warm in the afternoon. That said, the weather in San Francisco is known to change by the hour and even vary by neighborhood, so it is wise to pack plenty of layers. Some areas can be cooler or warmer depending on where they sit in the rolling city hills. If visiting in the rainy season, which runs from November to March, don’t forget to pack a raincoat.