San Francisco essentials

Entry: visas and ESTA

Citizens of Visa Waiver Program countries, including the UK and most EU countries, can visit the United States for up to 90 days without a visa but must have an approved ESTA before they travel. Apply only on the official site, esta.cbp.dhs.gov; other sites charge extra. Everyone else needs a visa. Rules change, so check the US government’s official pages before you book.

Arriving by air

San Francisco International (SFO) is the main airport, south of the city, with BART trains from the airport into downtown. Oakland’s airport, now called Oakland San Francisco Bay Airport (OAK; iflyoak.com), is across the Bay, and San José Mineta (SJC) serves Silicon Valley.

Getting around

Muni runs the buses, Muni Metro, the historic F Line streetcars and the cable cars. An adult ride is $2.85 with Clipper, MuniMobile or a contactless bank card ($3.00 cash) and is valid for 120 minutes. A cable car ride is $9.00, and Visitor Passports give unlimited rides on everything, cable cars included: $15 for one day, $35 for three and $47 for seven (sfmta.com). BART and Caltrain take Clipper too.

Money and tipping

Prices are usually shown before sales tax, which is added at the till. Tipping is customary in restaurants and bars, and some restaurants add service charges or surcharges: read the menu and the bill.

Weather: bring layers

San Francisco’s weather changes from street to street and hour to hour, and summer fog can make July feel cool. Pack layers and a warm jacket at any time of year. The water at Ocean Beach is cold with strong currents: walk, don’t swim.

Health and safety

Call 911 in an emergency. For minor problems, urgent care clinics are quicker than emergency rooms. Carry travel insurance that covers US medical costs. As in any big city, keep valuables out of sight, and never leave bags visible in a parked car.

Questions and answers