San Francisco Flights
Flying from all major UK airports on all major airlines, we have loads of discounted flights to San Francisco, so simply use our search box below to book the cheapest available San Francisco flight.
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- Indian Resort - 4* - Belle Mare
Mauritius from £100 - Sahara hotel & Casino / Mayfair Hotel
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from £83 - Best value Triple centre 3 nights in Los Angeles 4 nights in Las Vegas, and 3 nights in San Francisco
from £1149 - Cape Diamond Hotel - 3* - Cape Town
from £43
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They came from the west but also from the east thousands of people escaped famine in China for a hard life on the railroads, which were created to connect the isolated city with the rest of the country, a project completed in 1869. During this time, Chinese workers were subjected to appalling discriminatory laws. Japanese immigrants came, too, but settled separately, establishing their own businesses in the Western Addition neighbourhood and, later, what is now Japantown. Chinatown and Japantown now constitute the biggest Asian enclave outside Asia, and the city today takes pride in its diverse population and has come to be known for its tolerance overall.
Also changing the landscape of the city was the devastating earthquake of 1906, the fires of which all but levelled its wooden Victorian homes a handful that survived are the citys famed and colourful Painted Ladies in Alamo Square. Ever resilient, San Franciscans rebuilt their city on the sea. In place of horse-drawn streetcars that traversed Russian and Nob Hills, the introduction of cable cars at the approach of the 20th century changed the way residents got around. When the Golden Gate Bridge opened in 1937, it charted yet another horizon for man and nature working as one and soon becoming the symbol of a city that has it all.
Modern San Francisco retains its relationship between materialism and money on the one hand and cutting-edge thought and progressive politics on the other. In the 1950s, the bohemian Beat movement grew up and out of San Franciscos Little Italy neighbourhood of North Beach, which helped foster the citys importance in the arts. The counter culture flowered in the Haight Ashbury neighbourhood (now just called the Haight) during the 1967 Summer of Love and the gay community fought for and found a home in Castro and Polk Street, where they could live openly and happily.
The city saw rapid growth in dotcom industries (located South of Market, and in nearby Silicon Valley) and has now recovered from downturns in that same area. San Francisco is the financial capital of the West Coast and once a prime shipping gateway to the Pacific, although most cargo ships now head for Oakland. Tourism is the key industry and nets San Francisco billions of dollars each year (US$6.7 billion in 2005). The Bay, which fits neatly between the Golden Gate Bridge to the west and the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge to the east, is home to 14 small islands, including Alcatraz, Angel, Yerba Buena and Treasure. These can be the perfect escape from the city.
San Francisco has a mild year-round climate but it should not be confused with hot and sunny Southern California. As a testament to the moderate temperature, many homes do not have central heating systems and outdoor dining may be enjoyed almost year-round, thanks to the frequent use of outdoor patio heaters. A handy rain- and wind-resistant coat is always advised for those foggy, chilly days.
People live in San Francisco because they are passionate about the city, willing to work two jobs and sacrifice while developing other creative or artistic pursuits. Quality of life is paramount in this environmentally conscious city, ranked among the top five cleanest in the US in 2005. Perpetually on the brink of the next wave, change is both embraced and inevitable, be it political upheaval, earthquakes, or a new social or spiritual movement. Tolerance for all ways of life is perhaps the citys keynote, and people are constantly reinventing themselves. A city of cultural diversity ever since the Gold Rush days, San Francisco is not a melting pot, but a salad bowl. Her irresistible charm that captivates all who visit is perfectly echoed in the words of the song I Left My Heart in San Francisco.
One would be hard pressed to name another city positioned so glamorously, between the ocean and Sierra Nevada mountains to the east and west and redwood forests and the California desert to the north and south. Alistair Cooke, the British-born commentator, summed up this most beautiful and breathtaking of American cities as a fortuitous mating of marine grandeur and terrestrial snugness. It remains the best summation on record, of this city, perched precipitously at the edge of the world.
- Zeum
Zeum is San Francisco's interactive children's art and technology museum, offering hundreds of hands-on activities that facilitate learning and fun. It is now a much-cherished part of the redevelopment of Yerba Buena Gardens. - Friday Night Skate
The Friday Night Skate in San Francisco begins at the clock tower on Embarcadero St. Between 100 and 300 people skate side-by-side for 12 miles down the waterfront and through the downtown area. Anyone and everyone is welcome to join in this Sna Francisco institution. - Alcatraz
From its origins as the West Coast's first lighthouse and fort to its more recent history as a maximum security prison and site of Native American occupation, Alcatraz, in the centre of San Francisco Bay, has always been iconic. - Devotion
One of San Francisco's premier clubs, The End Up, hosts the deep house night Devotion, a classic on the Bay Area club scene. Attracting a soulful and sophisticated crowd, the night boasts a roster of distinguished guests to keep the spirit of Sunday partying alive. Ruben Mancias is the resident DJ.
Airport Guide
San Francisco International Airport
Airport Information
Country
United States (US)
Address
San Francisco International Airport, PO Box 8097, San Francisco, California 94128, USA
Country Code
1
Telephone
650 821 5000
Fax
650 821 4004
None
Website
www.flysfo.com
Location
The airport is located 22km (14 miles) south of San Francisco
Time Zone
GMT - 8 (GMT - 7 from the first Sunday in April to the last Sunday in October)
Number of Terminals
4
Transfer between Terminals
The 24-hour AirTrain light rail service links the International Terminal with the other terminals, parking garages, the Airport BART station and the car hire centre.
Driving Directions
From central San Francisco, take Route 101 south and follow signs to the airport. For access to the car hire centre, turn left onto I-380 and turn right onto South Airport Boulevard. For access to the long-term car park, take Route 101 south, exit at San Bruno Avenue/San Francisco International Airport, take the San Bruno Avenue exit, turn left and follow the signs.
Car Parking
Short-term (hourly and daily) car parking, with direct access to the terminals, is available at both the domestic and international parking garages. Passengers flying to Canada should use the domestic terminals parking garage. Valet parking for all terminals is located in the domestic garage, off the Departures level roadway. A long-term car park is located 3.5km (2 miles) north of the airport terminals. A free shuttle bus service operates between the long-term car park and the terminals. Parking information is available (tel: 650 821 7900).
Car Hire
The rental car centre is located outside of the terminals but on airport property and is linked to the terminals and BART station on the 24-hour AirTrain Blue Line. Eight major car hire companies are based at the centre: Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, National and Thrifty.
Public Transport
Rail: The Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) operates a rapid rail service to northern San Mateo County, San Francisco (journey time: 30 minutes) and the East Bay from the SFO BART station on the Departures level of the International Terminal. The station is linked to all terminals via the free AirTrain service. BART services connect to Millbrae Station, from where a Caltrain shuttle service runs between San Francisco and San Jose. Road: Taxi: Taxis depart from outside the Arrivals levels of all terminals. Taxi drivers are required by airport regulations to accept fares to all destinations. Limousine: A number of limousine companies provide transport to/from the airport and must be pre-arranged; a full list of providers is available on the airport’s website. Van: Door-to-door vans provide services between the airport and various destinations in San Francisco and surrounds; vans are available on a walk-up basis until 2300 and pick-up is outside the Departures levels of all terminals. Bus: SamTrans buses run from the terminals to destinations in San Mateo County and parts of San Francisco and Palo Alto, 24 hours. For further ground transportation information, visit the airport information booths or call the Bay Area Transit information line (tel: 511; website: www.511.org).
Information and Help Desks
Airport information booths are located on the Arrivals level of all terminals; staff can translate over 166 languages (tel: 650 821 8211). Computerised information kiosks are available at the desks 24 hours a day. Travelers Aid kiosks are located on the Departures levels of all terminals (tel: 650 821 2735). They are open daily 0800-2000.
Airport Facilities
Money and communications: ATMs are available in all terminals and boarding lounges. There is a full service bank in Terminal 3, as well as a self-service postal centre. Bureaux de change and automated currency exchange machines are located throughout the International Terminal. Telephones equipped with data ports are located throughout the terminals. Wireless Internet is available. Mobile telephones can be hired. Eating and drinking: There are various bars, cafés and restaurants in each terminal. Shopping: Four duty-free shops are located in the International Terminal. There is a duty-free kiosk in Terminal 1, boarding area B. Other shops include gift shops, newsagents, bookshops, clothing and accessories stores, sweet shops, toy shops and cosmetic and toiletries shops. Luggage: There is a lost property office on the Arrivals level of Terminal 1 (tel: 650 821 7014). Trolleys are available for a fee throughout the terminals. Left-luggage is available at the Airport Travel Agency, in the International Terminal. Other facilities: These include a medical centre, nurseries and a meditation room.
Conference and Business Facilities
The Turpen Aviation Museum, in the International Terminal (tel: 650 821 9911), is available for hosting private functions, accommodating up to 250 delegates, with catering and equipment available. The Airport Travel Agency (tel: 650 877 0422), also in the International Terminal, provides fax and photocopying services.
Disabled Facilities
The airport is physically accessible and airline employees can assist passengers with disabilities before departure or upon arrival; passengers requiring wheelchairs should contact their airline prior to travel. There are TDD/TTY phones throughout the airport for hearing-impaired travellers. Reserved car parking is also available in all car parks (tel: 650 821 7900); the shuttle bus from the long-term car park is equipped with a lift. Ramp-accessible taxis are available. SamTrans buses and the Caltrain shuttle are wheelchair accessible. So are all BART stations.
Airport Hotels
Hotels located very near the airport include the Holiday Inn San Francisco International Airport North (tel: 650 873 3550), Hyatt Regency San Francisco Airport (tel: 650 347 1234), San Francisco Airport Marriott (tel: 650 692 9100) and the Sheraton Gateway Airport (tel: 650 340 8500). Courtesy telephones for hotel reservations are located on the Arrivals levels of all terminals.
City
San Francisco
Full Airport Name
San Francisco International Airport
State or Province
California
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