Destination information
San Francisco looks even better in real life than it does in the movies. Crammed into a relatively small area surrounded by the bay and the Pacific Ocean, its streets can be explored on foot, taking in the various neighbourhoods.
Chinatown is lively and bewitching, with its shops selling curios and restaurants tempting you with their sizzling delights. Union Square is for department store shopping, and downtown is ideal for drinking and dining. North Beach has some great Italian restaurants, and is also famous for its association with the Beat poets. Well to-do Nob hill can be visited on one of the famous cable cars (it's compulsory to take a ride!), while swanky Russian Hill and Pacific Heights are a delight to stroll around. In Mission, sample some great Central American food in the funky restaurants.
Down at Fisherman's Wharf, you can meet sea lions, sample delicious local seafood and take the ferry to Alcatraz Island, home of the world's most notorious prison. Golden Gate Bridge must be walked over and an afternoon in Golden Gate Park is a delight. Sonoma and Napa wine valleys are slightly north with Carmel and Monterey 2 hours south down beautiful Highway One.
Eats & drinks
Famous for Fusion cooking, San Francisco is home to some of the best restaurants in the West. There's Chinese, Italian, Japanese, Thai and even a few Indian restaurants together with the usual favourites such as Hard Rock Cafe®. The Stinking Rose garlic restaurant is a must for lovers of this pungent herb - booking is essential!
Getting around
Either explore on foot or hop aboard one of the many cable cars, but hold on tight, riding down some of those steep streets requires nerves of steel!
Our Top 5 hotels
Here in the heart of Fisherman's Wharf, this much-loved hotel is also where you can find our Virgin Holidays' office. Getting around is easy - the cable car turnaround is 2 blocks away (taking you all the way up to Union Square) and city tours leave opposite. The ferry dock, for that essential trip to Alcatraz, is just a few minutes' walk away. The hotel is divided into 2 sections.
In an excellent location, the hotel is just a short walk from Pier 39. Ghirardelli Square and The Cannery are also close by, together with shops, restaurants and various nightspots. Enjoy a Martini or some sushi at the lobby lounge with its outdoor lobby and open fire pits to warm up during cool San Francisco evenings. The rooms now all have Sheraton Sweet Sleeper™ beds.
Perched conveniently on the edge of the bay at Fisherman's Wharf, this Kimpton Deluxe Hotel is a nautically inspired boutique hotel which has something of the feel of a luxury cruise ship.
The Holiday Inn Express is conveniently located at Fisherman's Wharf, close to many attractions, including PIER 39 and Ghirardelli Square, as well as being adjacent to the Holiday Inn Fisherman's Wharf. A smart, maritime theme throughout creates a warm and relaxing respite from the many things to do in San Francisco.
The elegant Westin St Francis is located in the heart of cosmopolitan San Francisco, overlooking the picturesque Union Square. This wonderful hotel has enjoyed a rich, colourful history at the centre of the city's social and cultural life.
Additional info
eats and drinks
Famous for Fusion cooking, San Francisco is home to some of the best restaurants in the West. There's Chinese, Italian, Japanese, Thai and even a few Indian restaurants together with the usual favourites such as Hard Rock Cafe®. The Stinking Rose garlic restaurant is a must for lovers of this pungent herb - booking is essential!.
getting there
There is 1 Virgin Atlantic flight per day and its takes about 30 mins to get to your hotel from the airport.
getting around
Either explore on foot or hop aboard one of the many cable cars, but hold on tight, riding down some of those steep streets requires nerves of steel!
time difference
GMT -8 Hours
Weather and climate