Best Areas of San Francisco to Stay 2024
San Francisco is an exciting place to visit, with endless streets of cuisine and independent stores, as well as leftfield art and internationally recognized tourist destinations. Locals here range from the bohemian to the hipster, from the homeless to multi-millionaires, the demography of a diverse and vibrant yet laid-back city that is satisfying in any of its must-see areas, which include chilled coastal areas as well as historic small lanes inland. To help you decide where to stay in San Francisco, we’ve listed some of our favorite neighborhoods below.
Throughout the article where to stay in San Francisco, I will give hotel recommendations for every budget, but here are my quick hotel recommendations for those who do not have time:
- 3 ★ Courtyard by Marriott Union Square – Quality and relatively affordable in the center.
- 4 ★ Grand Hyatt Union Square, within walking distance of attractions.
- 5 ★ Loews Regency San Francisco for those who do not want to compromise on quality.
Best Area to Stay in San Francisco
There are 8 regions in San Francisco where you can stay. These are:
- Union Square, which is the main accommodation and shopping area of the city;
- The culturally rich North Beach & Fisherman’s Wharf;
- Nob Hill, which carries traces of the city’s past;
- Financial District & Chinatown, which successfully blends Eastern and Western opportunities;
- Offering budget-friendly accommodation options, SoMa;
- Marina that appeals to young people;
- The Mission, which has rich content in terms of nightlife;
- The Castro – Haight Ashbury, representing the bohemian spirit of the city.
Union Square Hotels
Stay near Union Square if you want to be in touch with the city’s lively atmosphere and enjoy its cultural richness while on vacation.
The square, which was constructed in the 1850s, appears to have kept its entire historical atmosphere. The fact that it is full of modern possibilities adds to its allure.
While staying in Union Square, which is surrounded by shopping and dining options, you can easily get to the Embarcadero, where the docks and the Ferry Building are located.
Don’t forget to stop by Maiden Lane and The Flood Building. When you want to get around the city, you can take public transportation. Because the square serves as a hub for the entire urban public transportation system, including the cable cars.
Union Square Hotel Recommendations
3 ★ Courtyard by Marriott Union Square
The 3-star hotel with a Booking.com score of 8.1 stands out with its peaceful atmosphere and modern facilities. The hotel, which is close to the square, shows its difference even at the entrance.
4-Grand Hyatt Union Square
The 4-star property, a few minutes away from Chinatown, got an average score of 8.6 from Booking.com users. If you are traveling with your pet, and ask “Where to stay in San Francisco?” You can give priority to review this hotel when searching for an answer to the question.
5 ★ Four Seasons Hotel San Francisco
In your research for Union Square, you can also include this 5-star hotel with a Booking.com rating of 8.9 due to its central location. It takes a very short time to reach the pier of the ferries going to Sausalito from the hotel, which is a few minutes away from gourmet markets and shops.
Hotels near North Beach & Fisherman’s Wharf
North Beach, one of the city’s hippest neighborhoods, exudes authentic Italian culture. Fisherman’s Wharf appeals to families with its shopping and entertainment options.
During the day, you can visit Pioneer Park, the Beat and North Beach museums, and Washington Square Park, which is popular with locals and houses the Coit Tower. You can even stop by City Lights and buy a book. In the evening, dine at Little Italy restaurants or dance the night away at the city’s most popular nightclubs.
If you stay near Fisherman’s Wharf, I recommend including the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz Island in your itinerary’s first two lines. Pier 39, from which ferries to the island depart, Ghirardelli Square, Madame Tussauds, and the USS Pampanito submarine are also nearby.
North Beach & Fisherman’s Wharf Hotel Recommendations
3 ★ Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites FW
The 3-star hotel operates very close to the beach. The hotel offers comfortable accommodation in rooms with a wide range of motion, and the hotel’s Booking.com score is 8.4.
4 ★ Hotel Zephyr San Francisco
The 4-star property, with all rooms overlooking the sea, is 300 meters from Fisherman’s Wharf. With a Booking.com score of 8.1, the facility has a distance of approximately 21 kilometers from the international airport.
5 ★ The Fairmont Heritage Place Ghirardelli Square
If you want to stay around Fisherman’s Wharf, I recommend you to include this beautiful 5-star hotel in your list. The Booking.com score of the resort hotel, which offers travelers a high-level accommodation experience with its luxury apartments, is 9.1.
Nob Hill Hotels
Consider staying at one of the Nob Hill hotels if you want to spend your vacation in a historic neighborhood.
Nob Hill, one of the city’s most prestigious neighborhoods, has a history that dates back to the Gold Rush. This is one of the seven hills that the city was built on. Luxury hotels have largely replaced the wealthy’s mansions.
While walking towards the upper reaches of Nob Hill, you can see iconic buildings such as the Fairmont Hotel and Floor Mansion, which is an ideal accommodation area for both couples and families with children.
Despite the fact that the perfectly preserved streets and Victorian-style houses surrounding them garner as much attention as these two structures. Of course, when it comes to breathtaking architectural details, the Gothic-style Grace Cathedral should not be overlooked.
Nob Hill Hotel Recommendations
3 ★ Nob Hill Inn
If you prioritize options close to Union Square, Chinatown and Fisherman’s Wharf, you can add the 3-star Nob Hill Inn with a Booking.com rating of 8.5 to your review list.
4 ★ Stanford Court San Francisco
Another facility I recommend to you within the boundaries of Nob Hill is the 4-star Stanford Court San Francisco. If you enjoy staying in technology-friendly hotels, I think you shouldn’t miss this property with a Booking.com score of 8.2.
5 ★ Fairmont San Francisco
Operating at the top of Nob Hill, the 5-star Fairmont San Francisco aims to offer its guests a perfect experience with its dazzling architecture and luxurious facilities. It takes only 20 minutes to get to the international airport by car from the hotel, which has an average score of 8.7 by Booking.com users.
Hotels near Financial District & Chinatown
The Financial District in San Francisco, also known as the “Wall Street of the West Coast,” is ideal for visitors who prefer modern-style lodging. Through its authentic atmosphere, Chinatown, on the other hand, emphasizes the city’s multiculturalism.
The Financial District offers numerous opportunities to visitors. I believe you will have a better understanding of what awaits you in the Financial District if I tell you that Union Square, the first accommodation area I recommended, is already here.
The main attractions outside the square are the Exploratorium, Neiman Marcus Last Call, and the Transamerica Pyramid.
In Chinatown, where three-quarters of the city’s visitors cannot stop, you can find every detail specific to the Far East. You can even easily obtain the opportunity to expand your historical knowledge.
The Chinese Historical Society of America is in charge of this task in the region. The Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory, Old Saint Mary’s Cathedral, and Portsmouth Square have been identified as the best places in town to witness the clash of eastern and western cultures.
Financial District & Chinatown Hotel Recommendations
4 ★ Club Quarters Hotel in San Francisco
Exclusive club-style 4-star hotel, Booking.com rating 8,2. It takes 10 minutes to reach Embarcadero and Ferry Building on foot from the hotel with a high level of comfort.
4 ★ Le Meridien San Francisco
Providing easy access to some of the region’s most popular tourist attractions, the 4-star Le Meridien San Francisco fascinates travelers with magnificent views from its rooms. Ideally located for those who focus on the center of the Financial District, the hotel’s Booking.com score is 8.7.
5 ★ Loews Regency San Francisco
You can find more than what you are looking for in a 5-star hotel, with the central location, massage service in the room, spacious accommodation units and the features you care about when choosing gourmet meals. With a Booking.com score of 8.9, the property is very close to Union Square.
South of Market (SoMa) District of San Francisco
If you’re looking for a cheap place to stay in San Francisco, SoMa is the obvious choice.
However, there are numerous affordable lodging options in areas such as Richmond and Sunset. SoMa, on the other hand, is more prominent than these regions because it offers more options within its borders.
SoMa, or South of Market, was a typical commercial district where warehouses once existed. These areas became widely known among the arts, music, and technology communities by the mid-1990s due to the low rents.
As a result of the ensuing economic downturn, the region adopted a low-key security structure. As a result, when choosing a facility, I recommend that you consider the environmental conditions. After taking security into account, you can design a very enjoyable travel program for SoMa, which is located near Union Square. Oracle Park should be on your list if you enjoy watching baseball games.
The San Francisco Railway Museum, African Diaspora Museum, and Cartoon Art Museum are all nearby. If the city’s mobility bores you, you can go to Yerba Buena Center and see the Revelations Waterfall.
SoMa hotel recommendations
3 ★ Hampton Inn SF Downtown
The 3-star hotel with an 8,3 Booking.com rating is frequently preferred by travelers due to its central location and proximity to public transportation facilities.
4 ★ InterContinental San Francisco
The 4-star facility equipped with modern amenities has an average rating of 8.4 from Booking.com users. If you have focused on SoMa in your research, you can take a look at this hotel, which stands out with its high hygiene level, central location and comfort.
5 ★ St. Regis San Francisco
The 5-star St. Regis San Francisco is located directly opposite Yerba Buena Gardens. Regis San Francisco; It includes facilities such as a spa, indoor infinity pool, and elegantly decorated accommodation units. It takes 10 minutes at most to get to Union Square on foot from the hotel with a Booking.com rating of 8.8.
Marina
To be honest, I don’t think you’ll need a car to get around during your San Francisco vacation. However, if you dislike travel constraints and extra energy expended on foot, you can rent a car. If you have such a plan, you can concentrate on the Marina area and enjoy an exquisite stay in a hotel with a view of the Golden Gate Bridge.
The Marina, where you can find affordable hotel options on Van Ness Boulevard and Lombard Street, owes its current popularity to the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. Because the region was almost completely rebuilt after this incident.
The residential area attracts young people because of its fun atmosphere, especially on weekends, and it has many boutique shops, hilly green areas, and restaurants ideal for pleasant dinners.
The Palace of Fine Arts, with its breathtaking architectural beauty, is one of the places you can visit while staying at the marina. You’ll also have the opportunity to witness some spectacular performances here.
A Farmer’s Market is set up every Sunday morning where you can buy fresh farm products. Fort Mason, where the market is located, is also a great place for a picnic and scenic viewing.
Marina hotel recommendations
3 ★ Comfort Inn By the Bay Hotel
The hotel, 5 minutes away from Lombard Street, is one of the most attractive options for travelers who want to stay in the Marina District. The 3-star property with a Booking.com rating of 8.1 is 2 kilometers from Chinatown and about 5 kilometers from the Golden Gate Bridge.
3 ★ Cow Hollow Inn and Suites
Booking.com rating of the 3-star hotel with many shopping and restaurant options around is 8.5. Each suite of the hotel has an oven, refrigerator and dishwasher.
The Mission
If you want to visit hipster cafes and shops, Mexican food, and local markets, staying in The Mission is the best option.
The region’s population consists primarily of blue-collar Latinos. This situation amplifies Mexican and South American influence in every aspect of life, from food culture to entertainment options in the Spanish-speaking neighborhood.
The Mission is a softer side of San Francisco nightlife that combines the old and the new. As a result, you won’t find places as hip as SoMa or as refined as Union Square here. However, you can go to cheap and cheerful bars that play Latin music and meet people who share your interests.
The Mission’s lodging options set it apart. Because the majority of the local accommodations are bed and breakfast. While staying at one of these facilities, you can visit the city’s oldest structures, Mission San Francisco de Asis and AKA Mission Dolores. While wandering around Paxton Gate, you can see beautiful murals and extraordinary products.
Castro – Haight-Ashbury
Castro’s cultural structure is remarkably similar to The Mission, which I have just described in detail. Because of the cultural similarities, the lodging options here must also serve travelers in the same manner.
Through its bohemian ambience which once piqued the interest of hippies, Haight-Ashbury leaves indelible imprints on the souls of visitors. Although the community that helped shape the region has long since vanished, the slogan “freedom, peace, and love” lives on. Haight Ashbury can easily entice people from various cultures with its vintage shops, restaurants, and entertainment venues of various styles.
Within the boundaries of Haight-Ashbury, numerous venues, particularly Victorian-style houses, await you, including the Peace Arts Center, The Booksmith, Mad Dog in the Fog, and Haight Street Market.
Final Word on San Francisco Accommodations
Union Square is an ideal lodging area for visitors who want to be close to everything while visiting San Francisco’s culturally rich and fun-filled city. Furthermore, because the square is at the heart of the city’s public transportation system, getting to other parts of the city is simple.
If you’re traveling with your family, there are numerous attractions near the North Beach and Fisherman’s Wharf hotels. If you want to unwind, Nob Hill is a great place to stay. The Financial District for modern style hotels and Chinatown for authentic style opportunities are the first areas to look in the city.
Of course, when it comes to entertainment, SoMa, Marina, and The Mission are deserving of their own brackets. Castro is the most significant alternative to The Mission. Haight-Ashbury, once teeming with hippies, continues to represent the city’s bohemian spirit.
If we come to the subject of hotel recommendation in San Francisco; 3-star Courtyard by Marriott Union Square, Holiday Inn Express Hotel Fisherman’s Wharf and 4-star Grand Hyatt Union Square, Le Meridien are some of the most popular hotels in the San Francisco area.
If you want to stay in a 5-star, more luxurious place on your trip to San Francisco, you can check out Loews Regency San Francisco.