San Francisco is a destination that offers a diverse and fascinating experience to the millions of visitors who set foot in this city every year. Its old world charm, combined with its modern-day exuberance is what truly sets it apart from other destinations. From the iconic Golden Gate Bridge to the state-of-the-art Moscone Convention Center, San Francisco has something for everyone, whether you are a tourist or business traveler.

If you are planning a visit to this exciting city and are searching for a suitable hotel to best suit your expectations, you will soon discover that you will be spoilt for choice from the numerous options available. Thus, you can read on to find out what you need to know about hotels in San Francisco and what to expect when staying in different parts of the downtown area.

Staying in San Francisco – a diverse range of accommodation choices

San Francisco is home to the most diverse array of accommodation that you can imagine, offering many choices to guests seeking to experience the familiar or something rather different. Some hotels, such as boutique hotels and budget guesthouses, sport Victorian-style façades which create a historic, charming atmosphere for guests, while the more contemporary hotel buildings blend in with the modern skyline of the city. No matter what your budget is, you are bound to find lodging, whether rustic or modern in design, for any price range. For instance, accommodation with Victorian architecture can either take the form of simple bed or breakfasts, or the grandest historic buildings which have been lovingly restored.

If you are looking for high-end accommodation, you can expect 5-star hotels with great locations near the city centre in hotspots such as Union Square as well as the most spacious rooms and suites and finest personalized services such as in-room spa services.

On the other hand, you will also not be disappointed if you opt for more modest accommodation as the bed and breakfasts are also cozy and comfortable, but are situated further away from the city centre in less central areas such as Golden Gate Park. Hotels in the city generally charge an additional room tax of 14%, so be prepared to pay for it when you check out.

Where to stay when in San Francisco

In San Francisco, many of the popular tourist spots, as well as the main business and cultural areas are located in the downtown area within a short distance from each other. Hence, when visiting town, it is often advisable to stay near these central areas such as Union Square and Fisherman’s Wharf, instead of the more remote outskirts.

This is because although it may be easier to get cheaper accommodation in the outskirts, the high traffic which you may encounter when getting to town and the lack of parking spots once you are there may not be worth saving that extra money. Other than that, the hotels’ parking fees are rather high, thus renting a car to drive within the city is generally not encouraged either.

The main benefit of staying close to the centre of town that it is very convenient to get to the tourist attractions that San Francisco is known for, such as Fisherman’s Wharf, Chinatown and North Beach. You can get there on foot or by utilizing the many forms of public transportation readily available near your hotel.

These include the rail and bus networks, as well as the iconic cable car system that offers a unique riding experience and is thus a must-try for new tourists to San Francisco. We shall now look at the different areas in downtown San Francisco which may serve as your base during your visit to this city.

Union Square

Union Square is located in a very accessible area with many shopping and dining choices as well as proximity to popular tourist attractions such as Chinatown, business facilities such as the Moscone Convention Centre and arts venues such as the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.

As this area is also known as a public transport hub, Union Square could be your ideal location if accessibility is important to you. You can generally find more luxury accommodation in Union Square East, while those on a modest budget can search for more affordable 2- to 4-star hotels in Union Square West.

Nob Hill

Nob Hill, a steep hill that is one of the highest in San Francisco, houses some of the classiest hotels which offer spectacular bird-eye views of the city. Hence, if you are seeking a pampering five-star experience, you can consider staying here.

Fisherman’s Wharf and the Waterfront

If a lively and raucous environment is what you are looking for during your stay in San Francisco, why not consider staying at Fisherman’s Wharf and the Waterfront, one of the must-see tourist hotspots in the city? Here, you can even enjoy proximity to other tourist attractions such as Chinatown. You can take your pick from a large selection of accommodation that ranges from mid-range to luxury hotels. However, if you are looking for a low cost alternative, you might want to try elsewhere instead due to the lack of budget accommodation here.

Cathedral Hill

If you are travelling to San Francisco on a budget and looking for low cost accommodation close to the downtown area, this could be the right place for you. Even though you may not find tourist attractions here, the cable car system located at the north of Cathedral Hill will take you quickly and easily to Chinatown, Union Square and Fisherman’s Wharf, among other prominent downtown areas.