Lonely Planet San Francisco

by Ashley Harrell, Greg Benchwick, Alison Bing

Lonely Planet’s San Francisco is your passport to the most relevant, up-to-date advice on what to see and skip, and what hidden discoveries await you. Catch a ferry to Alcatraz, wander in the Castro, and admire the Mission murals; all with your trusted travel companion. Get to the heart of San Francisco and begin your journey now!   Inside Lonely Planet’s San Francisco Travel   Up-to-date information - all businesses were rechecked before publication to ensure they are still open after 2020’s COVID-19 outbreak
NEW top experiences feature - a visually inspiring collection of San Francisco’s best experiences and where to have them
What's NEW feature taps into cultural trends and helps you find fresh ideas and cool new areas
NEW pull-out, passport-size 'Just Landed' card with wi-fi, ATM and transport info - all you need for a smooth journey from airport to hotel Planning tools for family travelers - where to go, how to save money, plus fun stuff just for kids Color maps and images throughout Highlights and itineraries help you tailor your trip to your personal needs and interests Insider tips to save time and money and get around like a local, avoiding crowds and trouble spots Essential info at your fingertips - hours of operation, websites, transit tips, prices Honest reviews for all budgets - eating, sleeping, sightseeing, going out, shopping, hidden gems that most guidebooks miss Cultural insights give you a richer, more rewarding travel experience - history, people, music, landscapes, wildlife, cuisine, politics Over 40 maps   Covers The Marina, Fisherman’s Wharf, the Piers, Downtown, Civic Center, SoMa, North Beach, Chinatown, Nob Hill, Russian Hill, Japantown, Fillmore, Pacific Heights, The Mission, Dogpatch, Potrero Hill, the Castro, The Haight, Hayes Valley, Golden Gate Park, the Avenues   The Perfect Lonely Planet’s San Francisco , our most comprehensive guide to San Francisco, is perfect for both exploring top sights and taking roads less traveled.  Looking for just the highlights? Check out Pocket San Francisco , a handy-sized guide focused on the can't-miss sights for a quick trip.   Looking for more extensive coverage? Check out Lonely Planet’s USA for a comprehensive look at all the country has to offer.   About Lonely Lonely Planet is a leading travel media company, providing both inspiring and trustworthy information for every kind of traveler since 1973. Over the past four decades, we've printed over 145 million guidebooks and phrasebooks for 120 languages, and grown a dedicated, passionate global community of travelers. You'll also find our content online, and in mobile apps, videos, 14 languages, armchair and lifestyle books, ebooks, and more, enabling you to explore every day.    'Lonely Planet guides are, quite simply, like no other.' – New York Times     'Lonely Planet. It's on everyone's bookshelves; it's in every traveler's hands. It's on mobile phones. It's on the Internet. It's everywhere, and it's telling entire generations of people how to travel the world.' – Fairfax Media (Australia)

Genres: Travel, Reference, Nonfiction

320 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2002

Reviews

[Illiterate · Rating 2 out of 5]

This guide devotes as much space to shopping, dining, and nightlife as to sights. I find that off putting.

[Maria Klondike · Rating 4 out of 5]

Went to San Fran this past May. Weather estimation was on point, I did not wear shorts!

Unfortunately, what they don't mention in this is that you really don't want to park on the public beaches. Yes. It was dumb. But we parked there anyway. Our car window was smashed and some of our bags were stolen.

Here's a pro-tip for travelers to San Fran: the vast majority of pharmacies are not open on Sunday! If something happens, like your medicine gets stolen and you need an emergency replacement and it happens to be Sunday, head for the Chinese Hospital Pharmacy because it's sort of the only pharmacy open. Even then, you might not get your prescription filled.

But this book is great. I used it to make all sorts of really neat plans that got de-railed. While I don't actually know how helpful it was in execution, I know it was fun to flip through it!

Although I did get to take their suggestion to walk down the Filbert Street steps from the Coit Tower. That was spectacular, 10/10 would recommend.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy the Lonely Planet series of guidebooks. I like reading more about the history of places I am visiting.

[Trevor · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this guide very helpful during our visit to San Francisco. Easy to use and some great tips on good restaurants and cafés. Was very helpful in planning the best way of seeing the sights and visit restaurants in our limited 3 day visit.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was published in September of 2022 so the information was new and had been updated with relevant COVID-related information. The book was organized well and had many easy-to-navigate maps. The information about public transportation options was detailed and easy to understand.
There was just so much good information and history about San Francisco- we were glad to have had it on our recent trip (March 2023).

[Kevin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good introduction to SF. Has overview of the more touristy areas, landmarks, neighborhoods, and little history of the city. Picking places to eat or stay definitely needs to be double-checked online through sites like Yelp or Tripadvisor.

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Useful content and well-organized, but I read it as an e-book, and it kept freezing up! I have never had that problem with an e-book before. Too much trouble to bother with. I'll stick with paper!

[Laurie Byro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Again, just reading a few of these for forthcoming travel and always enjoy them, as a former travel agent, find them lively, accurate, and helpful.