Where to stay

Stay close to San Francisco Bay for the many favorite family activities on offer along the waterfront. Accommodations in the Marina District, Fisherman's Wharf and North Beach are great for strolling or biking along the harbor to view the Golden Gate Bridge, catching a ferry to Alcatraz or buying food and souvenirs at the city's popular piers. Book a hotel in the oddly named but pleasant and convenient neighborhood of Cow Hollow to be near the attractions of the Presidio, including playgrounds and parks as well as The Walt Disney Family Museum®.

Make a hotel booking in San Francisco's huge Chinatown, the largest outside Asia, where restaurants offer delicious authentic fare from dim sum to Peking duck. Stay in the Financial District and visit international restaurants serving exquisite Japanese, German, Mediterranean and French cuisine. South of Market, locally known as SoMa, is the adjacent neighborhood, where hotels, restaurants and bars are a bit more casual and very cool.

Union Square is one of San Francisco's most popular places to stay, partly because it's surrounded by great shopping destinations. From luxury brands and mid-range fashion retailers to quirky boutiques and art galleries, there's something for everyone. Find a hotel in Western Addition, Hayes Valley or Haight-Ashbury to explore vintage shops along Haight Street, which was the center of the hippie counterculture in the late 1960s.

Book a hotel in the Downtown Civic Center neighborhood to be in the heart of the city's Theater District. Admire the architecture of City Hall, visit the Asian Art Museum or attend performances of dance, opera, the symphony or touring Broadway shows. Stay in the Mission district and see where the city was actually founded in 1776. From accommodations near Fisherman's Market ride a historic cable car up the famous hills of San Francisco to the Cable Car Museum or make reservations in one of the luxurious hotels in Nob Hill and ride a different line down to the Financial District. Either way, the cable car ride is a must-do while in San Francisco.