Vacation Rentals in San Francisco

If you want to explore central San Francisco’s attractions, choosing a downtown vacation rental is the only way to go. From Haight-Ashbury to the Embarcadero district, you’ll discover attractive, historic apartments with enough space for you and your family, as well as furnished suites in convenient locations.

Luxurious vacation home options can be found all over the city. There are compact and cosy cottages in Outer Mission, homes near the sea in the Sunset District, parkside properties by Golden Gate Park, and plenty of comfortable family-sized homes all over the northern part of the peninsular.

For over a century, San Francisco has been America’s most important Pacific port, bridging the gap between North America and Asia. Located on a peninsular at the mouth of San Francisco Bay, the city is characterized by dramatic steep streets, beautiful parks and historic architecture, as well as a blissful, relaxed culture.

San Francisco International Airport is located around 13 miles south of the center of town, and offers a wide range of connections to almost every American city (as well as plenty of international destinations too). The airport has rapid train links to the city itself, taking just half an hour to get from the terminal to Union Square Station.

San Francisco includes both the city itself, and the San Francisco Bay Area. If you want to explore the wider region, renting a car to use during your stay is the best option, although public transportation in the city is reliable, and the center of town is compact enough to walk or cycle.

From riding early 20th century trolleys and visiting Alcatraz Island to exploring the history of the Beat Generation and the Summer of Love, San Francisco is a city full of activities that history fans will adore.

Trace the plots of world famous movies set in San Francisco, including Bullitt, Vertigo, Dirty Harry and the Conversation. The steep streets and beautiful setting of San Francisco have made it a popular film set for decades.

Food is a big deal in San Francisco. Head to Chinatown to sample gourmet Chinese cuisine, trawl the food stalls at the Ferry Building or grab a burrito in the Mission District. And try to be there for Eat Drink SF - a huge wine, beer, food and spirits festival held in Fort Mason every August.

Because of its hills, San Francisco developed an extensive cable car network, much of which remains. Soar above Fisherman’s Wharf and Chinatown and see the city as it should be seen – it’s an amazing experience.

Just off the coast of San Francisco, Alcatraz was a fearsome high security prison. Nowadays, visitors can take eerie night tours, to experience what life was like on “the Rock.”

One of the city’s best attractions for kids, the Walt Disney Museum chronicles the life of one of America’s most famous sons, with plenty of cartoon based exhibits to enjoy.

San Francisco has long been associated with music, ever since the jazz era. These days, venues like the Hemlock Tavern and the Great American Music Hall keep up a proud tradition and are great venues to see rock, blues, jazz and folk music,

The city’s most famous landmark and one of America’s tourist gems, the Golden Gate Bridge spans the entrance to San Francisco Harbor. Head to Battery Spencer in Marin County for the best photos that will wow the folks back home.

The best time to visit San Francisco is probably in the fall – not high summer as you might expect. Northern California experiences beautiful fall weather (most years), with warm temperatures and fewer visitors – so the attractions will be much less crowded.

The BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) service provides rail links to all parts of the Bay Area, with prices rising the further you travel. Trains and buses tend to run until midnight on most days, before resuming at 4 a.m., so late night bar hoppers might need to think about prebooking a cab.

San Francisco has a packed annual festival schedule as well, so think about booking ahead for the events you want to attend. Highlights include Outside Lands in Golden Gate Park (August) which brings worldwide pop acts to town, and the International Arts Festival in May and June, which blends art, theater, and dance events.