San Francisco is a port city at the tip of the peninsula between the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay in northern California. The gold rush of 1848 turned it from a small town into a large city within a few years; the earthquake and fire of 1906 destroyed most of it and it was rebuilt. The city spreads over about fifty hills, and the cable cars developed for these slopes in 1873 still run. Silicon Valley lies to the south and the wine regions beyond the Golden Gate Bridge to the north. It is one of the most distant American cities reached by direct flight from Istanbul.
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See flights to San Francisco →When to visit San Francisco
September and October are the warmest and clearest months in the city, with daytime temperatures of 20C to 23C and little fog. June to August is surprisingly cool: fog from the Pacific closes over the bay in the afternoons and temperatures stay between 17C and 20C, so a jacket is needed. December to February is the rainy season at 12C to 15C. All year the difference between morning and midday is large, so dress in layers.
Things to do in San Francisco
Golden Gate Bridge
Opened in 1937, the 2.7 kilometre suspension bridge crosses the strait where the bay opens to the Pacific, and its towers rise 227 metres. The orange red colour was chosen for visibility in fog and the bridge is repainted continuously. It can be crossed on foot on the eastern walkway; the best views are from Battery Spencer to the south and the Marin headlands to the north.
Alcatraz Island
The rocky island in the middle of the bay was a federal prison from 1934 to 1963 and held Al Capone. Today it belongs to the national park service, and an audio tour narrated by former inmates and guards leads through the cell blocks. The ferry leaves from Pier 33, and in summer tickets sell out weeks ahead, so book early.
The Cable Cars
Invented in 1873 for the steep slopes, the system works by gripping a steel cable that moves continuously beneath the road and is the last manually operated one in the world. Of the three lines Powell-Hyde is the most scenic: it climbs Nob Hill, passes Lombard Street and drops to the bay with a view of Alcatraz. At the turntable at Powell and Market the cars are turned by hand.
Pier 39 and Fisherman's Wharf
The old fishing wharf on the northern shore is now the busiest promenade in the city. Sea lions have occupied the wooden platforms on the western side of Pier 39 since 1990, and in winter they number in the hundreds. Clam chowder served in a bread bowl and Dungeness crab are the local classics on the wharf, and the Alcatraz ferry leaves from right next door.
Palace of Fine Arts
The Roman style rotunda and colonnade in the Marina district were built as a temporary structure by architect Bernard Maybeck for the 1915 Panama-Pacific Exposition; the public refused to let it be torn down and it was recast in concrete in the 1960s. Swans swim on the lagoon in front and it is the most used spot for wedding photographs. The walk to the Golden Gate Bridge starts here.
Alamo Square and the Painted Ladies
Six Victorian timber houses side by side on Steiner Street, with the towers of downtown behind them, make up the best known postcard view of San Francisco. Built in the 1890s and painted in pastel colours, they are among the few wooden rows that survived the 1906 earthquake. The view is taken from the top of Alamo Square park opposite, and afternoon light is best.
Flights from Turkey to San Francisco
Direct flights to San Francisco from Turkey leave from Istanbul Airport, operated by Turkish Airlines up to nine times a week, which means daily on most days, and take about 13 hours 25 minutes. Departure is between noon and afternoon and, thanks to the time difference, arrival is the same afternoon; the return lands the following day. San Francisco Airport is about 21 kilometres south of downtown and the BART train reaches the centre from the terminal in 30 minutes.
San Francisco FAQ
How many days do you need in San Francisco?
The bridge, Alcatraz, the cable cars and the wharf take three days. A fourth suits Golden Gate Park and the Mission district. Adding the Napa wine region or the Muir Woods redwoods stretches the trip to five or six days.
How far is the airport from the city centre?
San Francisco Airport is about 21 kilometres from downtown. From the BART station attached to the international terminal the train reaches the centre in 30 minutes and runs until around midnight, while a taxi or ride hailing car takes 25 to 45 minutes depending on traffic.
Do you need a visa for the United States?
A Turkish passport needs a United States visitor visa. The application consists of an online form and a consular interview, and appointment waiting times can stretch a long way in some periods, so planning should start months before the travel date. Those who hold the visa need no further permit on arrival.
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