San Francisco

International visitors from Visa Waiver Program countries can stay up to 90 days without a visa (requires ESTA authorization). Citizens of other countries need a B-2 tourist visa. Canadian and Mexican citizens have simplified entry requirements. Check requirements at travel.state.gov.

By Air: San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is the main gateway, 21km south of downtown. Oakland International (OAK) is across the bay and often has cheaper flights.

By Train: Amtrak connects to Los Angeles (11 hours), Seattle (22 hours), and other cities from Emeryville station.

By Car: Highway 101 and I-80 connect to other Bay Area cities.

English is the primary language. San Francisco is very diverse with many languages spoken, but English is universal.

US Dollar (USD). Credit cards accepted everywhere. ATMs widely available. Tipping is customary: 18-20% at restaurants, $1-2 per drink at bars, $2-5 for rideshare drivers.

Muni: Streetcars, buses, and historic cable cars covering the city. Get a Clipper card.

BART: Regional rail connecting SF to East Bay and SFO/OAK airports.

Cable Cars: Iconic but touristy ($8 per ride).

Uber/Lyft: Widely available.

Walking: Many neighborhoods are walkable, though the city is hilly.

BART: Direct train from SFO to downtown (30-40 min, $9.65).

Airport Shuttle: Shared shuttles ($17-20 per person, 30-45 min).

Uber/Taxi: $40-60 to downtown (25-35 min).

From OAK: BART connection (45-60 min, $10.20) or Uber ($50-70, 30-45 min).