People of all ages may find a lot to enjoy in San Francisco. As a result, it is a popular destination for families taking short family vacations. San Francisco is the biggest and most influential city in Northern California. Tourists in the United States of America use it as a perfect destination, despite its relatively small size.
Intriguing architecture, iconic sites (such as the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, and Fisherman’s Wharf), outstanding cuisine, lovely streets and parks, rich cultural and historical heritage, museums, and more can all be found in this city. San Francisco is a significant tech hub as well, and it is where many major corporations like Adobe and Nvidia got their start.
Overview
Out of its modest origins as a gold rush town, San Francisco developed into the Paris of the West. Architectural wonders like the Golden Gate Bridge, which previously held the record for being the largest bridge in the world, were created during this development, as well as San Francisco’s famous cable car system.
Moreover, the city has served as a center for several generations of philosophers and artists. For writers from the Beat Generation like Ginsberg, Kerouac, and others in the 1950s, North Beach served as a hangout. When the 1960s came to an end, the Haight-Ashbury district became a haven for the hippie movement.
Following are the main two primary tourist places: downtown and Fisherman’s Wharf, as well as the neighboring Marina sector. Downtown is ideal for people who don’t have a car as several sights are within walking distance. Some of these sights include Union Square shopping, North Beach (Little Italy), Chinatown, and beautiful Nob Hill. While moving around is a workout, the breathtaking views are well worthwhile.
Read also: BEST NEW SAN FRANCISCO HOTELS: Top 10 Newest Hotels 2023
If you have a car, the Fisherman’s Wharf neighborhood is a delightful retreat from the city. Ghirardelli Plaza and Aquatic Park, with views of the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz, are part of this coastal area.
Modern San Francisco boasts a diverse range of art, architecture, and culture. Trendy neighborhoods, top-notch restaurants, unique shops, and thoughtfully curated museums are all places where visitors may learn about the city’s rich past. San Francisco has lots to offer everyone, including everything from marquee athletic events to stunning natural marvels.
Where Are the Best Places To Stay in San Francisco?
This jewel of a city provides everything you need for the ideal trip, whether you’re traveling alone, with a significant other, or with friends. Here is a list of the top family hotels in San Francisco to make it simpler for you to select the ideal accommodations while you’re in the city.
#1. San Francisco Proper Hotel
There are many San Francisco sights within walking distance of the upscale San Francisco Proper Hotel’s well-appointed suites. The hotel has a 24-hour lobby, a concierge, exercise equipment, and on-site cuisine to make guests’ stays enjoyable. There is free WiFi available throughout the hotel. Many eateries, stores, and entertainment choices are nearby, as well as Civic Center Plaza, Union Square, and San Francisco Hall.
Two of these proper hotels are:
Hotel Emblem San Francisco
Get in and leave the present situation. A retreat for individuals who think as openly as they live is Hotel Emblem San Francisco. This hotel is located in the heart of San Francisco between Nob Hill, Union Square, and the Theater District. The Hotel Emblem has 96 lively bedrooms and a restaurant that specializes in cocktails. Also, the hotel has lots of modern provocations that will get people talking in all the right ways. The Writer’s Alcove in the lobby, the Beat Generation-inspired bar, the unique bedrooms, where patterns play and an expressive spirit prevails, and every nook in between are all intended to stimulate creativity. You will find inspiration at this hotel as well. Get in on the weekly poetry slam. Enjoy the rhythm of the live jazz every night.
Chancellor Hotel on Union Square
In the center of San Francisco, just where the Cable Car stops, lies the historic boutique hotel known as The Chancellor Hotel on Union Square. In addition to being encircled by top-notch eating, shopping, and entertainment options, enjoy the quality inspection and innovative facilities. Take the Powell Street Cable Car from Union Square to Fisherman’s Wharf, passing via Chinatown and North Beach en route.
#2. Galleria Park Hotel
The Galleria Park a Joie de Vivre Hotel is ideally situated. It provides quick access to San Francisco’s top tourist destinations. Moreover, it has conference spaces, valet parking, and a rooftop patio. The amenities offered by this modern hotel include a 24-hour front desk, baggage storage, and a concierge. This 3-star hotel also enables visitors to readily discover what the neighborhood’s nightlife has to offer as it is only minutes from adjacent pubs and clubs.
At the Galleria Park a Joie de Vivre Hotel, guests can make use of the chic rooms that come with a desk, a refrigerator, and a minibar. The restrooms offer a hair dryer and a shower. A restaurant and a bar are available for visitors to unwind in at the Galleria Park a Joie de Vivre Hotel. As an alternative, there are other foreign eateries nearby.
Powell Street Station is not far from Galleria Park a Joie de Vivre Hotel, making it simple for visitors to explore San Francisco and the nearby areas. The neighborhood is renowned for its stores and boutiques as well.
#3. Nob Hill
If you want ancient houses with a view, Nob Hill is the nicest neighborhood in San Francisco to stay in. This mountainous neighborhood near downtown boasts beautiful streets, a majestic church, and plenty of cafés and restaurants. That’s not even mentioning the cable cars. This neighborhood is ideal for those who enjoy wandering lovely streets, soaking in the typical San Francisco vibe, and admiring city vistas. There are also several notable hotels in the area, so it’s excellent if you wish to stay at a historic building.
Nob Hill is, in essence, the epitome of San Francisco. It is located at the top of a hill, so keep that in mind if you have mobility concerns. You can always use Lyft or Uber to get around. Parking is notoriously tough, so if possible, visit Nob Hill without a car (you don’t need to hire a car in San Francisco anyhow).
The Benefits and Drawbacks of Remaining in Nob Hill
Pros: You’ll be centrally positioned and able to stroll to Fisherman’s Wharf (if necessary), Lombard Street, North Beach, the Embarcadero, and other attractions. Furthermore, it is a charming area with breathtaking views of San Francisco around every corner. Polk Street is lined with fantastic pubs, restaurants, shopping, and other attractions.
Cons: Apart from the high climb, the major difficulty with Nob Hill is that there aren’t many places to stay. And many of them are overpriced for what you receive. The neighborhood’s southern end, called “Lower Nob Hill,” is essentially the Tenderloin, which is not the greatest area of town. Parking is a nightmare – “you must stay here if you have a car because parking is a big challenge.”
#4. The Stanford Court Hotel
The hotel here offers the finest bargain in San Francisco. Its position is ideal—directly it’s on top of Nob Hill and close to California Street, one of the main routes into the city. The fabled San Francisco cable car is right outside the entrance.
however, they took a hiatus in 2020 and the beginning of 2021 to renovate the building, and it looks amazing now. All of the rooms contain a mini-fridge and contemporary comforts like USB charging connections. Moreover, you can use their free real bike rentals and use their fitness facility, which is quite beautiful and has Peloton cycles.
In your accommodation, you’ll find tasty Equator coffee and Mighty Leaf tea. These two represent some of the greatest coffee and tea alternatives I’ve ever seen in a hotel room. Not to mention, they accept pets. But, there is a $50 per charge that comes with a goody bag of dog snacks and toys.
#5. White Swan Inn
A sibling hotel to the Petite Auberge mentioned above is The White Swan Inn. also, Bush Street is the exact border between Nob Hill and Union Square, yet this establishment is included here mainly because it has a much more Nob Hill-inspired style than Union Square does.
The facilities offered here are identical to those at Petite Auberge: free WiFi, breakfast, evening wine, and fireplaces in the rooms. These two locations provide an amazing amount of food for free. The White Swan Inn’s English rather than French inspiration is the primary distinction between the two.
#6. The CitizenM San Francisco Hotel
One of our favorite hotel chains worldwide is CitizenM Hotels. They have received our recommendation in Seattle among other cities, and we would also suggest CitizenM at Union Square in San Francisco. This is a lovely, refreshing change of pace in a city full of pricey, traditional hotels, which we enjoy.
They’re a Dutch luxury hotel that has ultimately made living in a hotel super simple and simplified, with all the facilities that contemporary, younger travelers are looking for (USB charging, climate controls via iPad, and more), while also stripping out the extras (like fluffy robes and shoes or couches, for example) to provide a great value.
There is just one accommodation type available: a small room with a king bed. This is another thing we enjoy since it makes things simpler and easier. Most hotels provide a variety of somewhat different room kinds, such as small, small deluxe, and small deluxe with partial city view.
Although it’s probably close to the same fee to rent a room here as it is to reserve 2 bedrooms in the majority of SF hotels, this isn’t the best option for those who will not feel at ease sleeping together. Instead, it’s good for couples and individuals who will not mind doing so. Union Square’s center, Powell Street Station (where you may board BART), as well as the cable car, are all within a block of it.
Best Places To Stay in San Francisco Without a Car
For you to be able to walk across the city’s major attractions and conveniently use public transit, we studied the finest neighborhoods in San Francisco to stay in without a vehicle.
If you pick the correct places to stay while visiting San Francisco, you actually won’t need to hire a car. You can easily get to and from the airport as well as move around the city thanks to the large public transportation network.
San Francisco is also not as huge as other big towns, so if you pick the correct starting point, you can walk or bike to most destinations. Also, the city is among the most pedestrian in the Nation and is just around 7 miles across at its widest part making it one of the best places to stay in San Francisco without a car. This is our selection of the finest neighborhoods in San Francisco to stay in without a car so that you may move about without worrying about parking.
#1. Union Square
The finest place to stay in San Francisco without a car, in our opinion, is Union Square. From the perspective of public transit, it serves as the city’s hub. Union Square is a hub for buses, metros, cable cars, and other public transportation, making it quite easy to get about without a vehicle or Uber.
Any of the communities above is only a 10 to 20 minutes walk away. Fisherman’s Wharf is about 30 minutes away on foot or 20 minutes by cable car, while the Ferry Building near the pier is only a 20-minute walk away. A few of San Francisco’s ideal dining establishments, nightclubs, cafes, and stores can be found in this vibrant neighborhood. As a result, it is one of the best places to stay in San Francisco without a car.
#2. Nob Hill
Russian Hill, Chinatown, and Union Square are all close to Nob Hill, which is situated in the center of the city. Together with its luxurious hotels, like the Fairmont, it is widely known for its top-notch eateries and bars. If you want to be close to a lot of sights during the day and enjoy excellent eating options at night, Nob Hill is the ideal place for you.
The finest place to stay in San Francisco without a car, in our opinion, is Union Square. From the perspective of public transit, it serves as the city’s hub.
Union Square is a hub for buses, metros, cable cars, and other public transportation, making it quite easy to get about without a vehicle or Uber.
Any of the communities above are only a 10 to 20-minute walk away. Fisherman’s Wharf is about 30 minutes away on foot or 20 minutes by cable car, whereas the Ferry Terminal near the pier is simply a 20-minute walking distance.
#3. Chinatown
Without a car, San Francisco’s well-known Chinatown neighborhood is one of the best places to stay in San Francisco without a car. The distance from the piers to Union Square may be covered on foot in roughly 20 minutes.
However, the area itself is one of San Francisco’s top tourist destinations, where you can sample some of the city’s greatest cuisine and visit one of the several supermarket companies.
#4. Financial District
Without a car, San Francisco’s Financial District is a terrific area to stay since it has some of the greatest hotels in the city, like the Omni San Francisco Hotel and Le Méridien San Francisco, and is conveniently located near all the city’s top attractions.
Being close to well-known areas like Union Square, Chinatown, and the Embarcadero makes the Financial District a very handy spot to stay.
#5. Embarcadero (One of the Best Places To Stay in San Francisco Without a Car)
The Embarcadero, which refers to San Francisco’s whole eastern waterfront, is the finest place to stay in San Francisco if you don’t have a car and want to explore a picturesque yet energetic portion of the city.
The renowned Ferry Building is located on the Embarcadero, which also has a lengthy promenade and provides views of the Bay Bridge.
Several cable cars and buses originate and end at the Ferry Building area, making public transportation easy from the Embarcadero neighborhood.
#6. Soma (One of the Best Places To Stay in San Francisco Without a Car)
South of Market, or SOMA, is home to many hip districts, including South Park and Mission Bay. For sports enthusiasts who want to be close to Oracle Park (or AT&T Park, or whatever they call it these days), or the Chase Center, it is arguably the finest spot to stay in San Francisco without a vehicle.
Most areas of SOMA are one of the best places to stay in San Francisco without a car. Also, you can access it on foot in between 15 and 20 minutes to get to the baseball stadium and between 20 and 40 minutes to go to the basketball stadium.
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