Where to stay in San Francisco

The best areas to stay in San Francisco

Union Square, Fisherman's Wharf, North Beach and Chinatown, the Embarcadero and SoMa, plus Napa and Carmel for side trips: here is where to base yourself, with hotel picks in each area and honest advice on safety near the Tenderloin, hotel prices and tax, and staying without a car.

By the Things to Do in San Francisco editorial team Hotels checked 23 October 2026

Columbus Tower and the Transamerica Pyramid where North Beach meets downtown

Short answer

For a first visit to San Francisco, stay near Union Square for transport. Or stay at Fisherman's Wharf if you want the bay on your doorstep. North Beach suits food lovers, and the Embarcadero and SoMa are best for BART. Add a night in Napa or Carmel if you plan a trip out of the city. The table of all 6 areas shows who each one suits.

The 6 best areas to stay in San Francisco, compared

Area	Best for	Keep in mind
Union Square	First visits, shopping and the cable cars	The Tenderloin starts a few blocks west; some streets there feel rough at night
Fisherman's Wharf	Families, the bay and the sea lions	Busy with visitors; far from BART
North Beach & Chinatown	Food, cafés and walking to Coit Tower	Few hotels; the hills are steep
Embarcadero & SoMa	BART, the Ferry Building and business trips	Quiet after office hours; higher hotel tax near the Moscone Center
Napa Valley	Wine tasting and a slow night in the country	You need a car or a tour to get there
Carmel‑by‑the‑Sea & Monterey	The coast, Cannery Row and a slower trip south	Far from the city; small inns fill up on weekends

Area 1 of 6

Where to stay in Union Square

Union Square is the best base for a first visit. It has the most hotels in the city center. The Powell-Hyde and Powell-Mason cable cars start at Powell and Market, a short walk away.

Chinatown is also close: Dragon Gate is on Grant Avenue at Bush Street. Stay on the north and east side of the square, away from the Tenderloin.

Best for: First visits, shopping and the cable cars
Keep in mind: The Tenderloin starts a few blocks west; some streets there feel rough at night

Nearby guides: San Francisco city tours and hop-on hop-off buses

Union Square with its column and the surrounding hotels

Our picks in Union Square

Taj Campton Place

Historic hotel steps from Union Square with a Michelin-starred restaurant and a 24-hour rooftop gym.

See prices on Booking.com: Taj Campton Place
Kensington Park Hotel

Boutique hotel two minutes' walk from Union Square, with evening sherry served in the grand lobby.

See prices on Booking.com: Kensington Park Hotel
Beresford Arms

Historic Victorian hotel near Union Square and cable car lines, with free continental breakfast each morning.

See prices on Booking.com: Beresford Arms
Grant Hotel

Simple downtown hotel on Bush Street, steps from the Powell-Mason cable car and near Chinatown.

See prices on Booking.com: Grant Hotel

More hotels in Union Square on Booking.com →

Area 2 of 6

Where to stay at Fisherman's Wharf

Fisherman's Wharf is the best base if you want the bay on your doorstep. You can walk to Pier 39, the sea lions and the boats. The Powell cable cars end nearby.

Best for: Families, the bay and the sea lions
Keep in mind: Busy with visitors; far from BART

Nearby guides: San Francisco city tours and hop-on hop-off buses · Golden Gate Bridge tours and viewpoints

A tall ship at Hyde Street Pier, Fisherman's Wharf, with Alcatraz behind

Our picks in Fisherman's Wharf

Argonaut Hotel

Hotel in the historic red-brick Del Monte Cannery at Fisherman's Wharf, with a National Park Service museum.

See prices on Booking.com: Argonaut Hotel
Riu Plaza Fisherman's Wharf

Large family-friendly hotel ten minutes' walk from Pier 39, with an outdoor pool and fire pits.

See prices on Booking.com: Riu Plaza Fisherman's Wharf
Marriott Vacation Club, San Francisco

Hotel on Jones Street four minutes' walk from Fisherman's Wharf, with a fitness center and mini-fridges.

See prices on Booking.com: Marriott Vacation Club, San Francisco
Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Fisherman's Wharf

Chain hotel on North Point Street, a four-minute walk to Fisherman's Wharf, with a modern gym.

See prices on Booking.com: Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Fisherman's Wharf

More hotels in Fisherman's Wharf on Booking.com →

Area 3 of 6

Where to stay in North Beach and Chinatown

North Beach is San Francisco's Little Italy, around Columbus Avenue and Washington Square. Chinatown is right next to it. You can walk to cafés, dim sum and Coit Tower.

There are only a few small hotels and hostels here. Book early if you want one.

Best for: Food, cafés and walking to Coit Tower
Keep in mind: Few hotels; the hills are steep

Nearby guides: Chinatown, North Beach, Coit Tower and Lombard Street · San Francisco food tours

Washington Square park in North Beach, with Saints Peter and Paul Church

Our picks in North Beach & Chinatown

Hotel Boheme

Small boutique hotel on Columbus Avenue in North Beach, styled after the area's 1950s bohemian era.

See prices on Booking.com: Hotel Boheme
Orchard Garden Hotel

Eco-minded hotel on Bush Street next to Chinatown, with a rooftop garden and organic bath products.

See prices on Booking.com: Orchard Garden Hotel
Columbus Inn

Simple hotel on Columbus Avenue near Lombard Street, with free covered parking and a 24-hour desk.

See prices on Booking.com: Columbus Inn
Green Tortoise Hostel

Hostel with shared dorms in North Beach, with a ballroom, pool table and 24-hour guest kitchen.

See prices on Booking.com: Green Tortoise Hostel

More hotels in North Beach & Chinatown on Booking.com →

Area 4 of 6

Where to stay on the Embarcadero and in SoMa

The Embarcadero and SoMa (South of Market) are the best areas for BART. BART trains run from here to the airport. The Ferry Building and the waterfront are close by.

Oracle Park, the baseball stadium, is in this area too. Near the Moscone Center, extra fees push the hotel tax up.

Best for: BART, the Ferry Building and business trips
Keep in mind: Quiet after office hours; higher hotel tax near the Moscone Center

Nearby guides: Day trips from San Francisco

The Ferry Building clock tower on the Embarcadero

Our picks in Embarcadero & SoMa

Palace Hotel, a Luxury Collection Hotel

Landmark hotel on New Montgomery Street with a glass-dome indoor pool, five minutes' walk from Union Square.

See prices on Booking.com: Palace Hotel, a Luxury Collection Hotel
1 Hotel San Francisco

Hotel at 8 Mission Street overlooking the Embarcadero waterfront, with an outdoor rooftop terrace.

See prices on Booking.com: 1 Hotel San Francisco
Harbor Court Hotel

Boutique hotel on Steuart Street by the bay, with guest access to the next-door YMCA pool.

See prices on Booking.com: Harbor Court Hotel
Hyatt Place San Francisco/Downtown

Chain hotel on Third Street near Oracle Park, with sofa beds, refrigerators and a sun terrace.

See prices on Booking.com: Hyatt Place San Francisco/Downtown

More hotels in Embarcadero & SoMa on Booking.com →

Area 5 of 6

Where to stay in Napa Valley

Stay in Napa Valley if wine country is a big part of your trip. Downtown Napa has hotels near the river, and Yountville has small inns.

A night there saves you the drive back after a day of tasting.

Best for: Wine tasting and a slow night in the country
Keep in mind: You need a car or a tour to get there

Nearby guides: Napa and Sonoma wine tours from San Francisco

Vineyards on the rolling hills of Napa Valley

Our picks in Napa Valley

Napa River Inn

Boutique hotel in the historic Napa Mill downtown, with a free downtown shuttle and evening wine tastings.

See prices on Booking.com: Napa River Inn
Archer Hotel Napa

Downtown Napa hotel on First Street with a rooftop bar, an American restaurant and a fitness center.

See prices on Booking.com: Archer Hotel Napa
Maison Fleurie, A Four Sisters Inn

Bed and breakfast inn in Yountville with a full daily breakfast and afternoon wine and snacks.

See prices on Booking.com: Maison Fleurie, A Four Sisters Inn
Hawthorn Suites by Wyndham Napa Valley

Suite hotel on Soscol Avenue in Napa, with microwaves in rooms, a pool and a hot tub.

See prices on Booking.com: Hawthorn Suites by Wyndham Napa Valley

More hotels in Napa Valley on Booking.com →

Area 6 of 6

Where to stay in Carmel and Monterey

Stay in Carmel or Monterey if you drive down the coast. Carmel has small inns in the village. Monterey has hotels near Cannery Row and the wharf.

Best for: The coast, Cannery Row and a slower trip south
Keep in mind: Far from the city; small inns fill up on weekends

Nearby guides: Day trips from San Francisco

Rocky cliffs and coves on the Carmel coast

Our picks in Carmel‑by‑the‑Sea & Monterey

Tradewinds Carmel

Boutique hotel with Asian-inspired rooms, under two blocks from Carmel's shops, galleries and restaurants.

See prices on Booking.com: Tradewinds Carmel
Briarwood Inn

Inn on San Carlos Street in Carmel Village, where most rooms have a gas fireplace and refrigerator.

See prices on Booking.com: Briarwood Inn
Spindrift Inn

Inn directly on the beach on Cannery Row, with breakfast delivered to your room each morning.

See prices on Booking.com: Spindrift Inn
Monterey Bay Lodge

Lodge in central Monterey near the Municipal Wharf, with an outdoor pool, hot tub and kitchen facilities.

See prices on Booking.com: Monterey Bay Lodge

More hotels in Carmel‑by‑the‑Sea & Monterey on Booking.com →

San Francisco hotel prices and the 14% hotel tax

A typical 4-star room costs $183 a night. Most cost $153 to $243.

We read Google Hotels prices on 22 October 2026 for our 2026 San Francisco Travel Cost Study.

The 14% hotel tax may come on top of the room rate. It applies to stays of under 30 days. Near the Moscone Center, extra fees raise the total to about 16.75%.

Hotel parking in San Francisco

Hotel parking in San Francisco usually costs extra, so check the hotel page before you book. Free parking is rare. Among our picks, the Columbus Inn in North Beach has free covered parking.

Parking near the sights is hard too. At Coit Tower it is very limited. Without a car, you skip these costs.

Where to stay in San Francisco without a car

Without a car, stay near Union Square or on the Embarcadero. Both are close to cable cars, Muni and BART. A Muni Visitor Passport costs $15 for one day and covers the cable cars.

See our guide to getting around San Francisco for buses, trains and the airport.

Hotels near BART

For a hotel near BART, look on the Embarcadero or in SoMa. Booking.com lists about 44 hotels in SoMa near BART and the Moscone Center.

Questions about where to stay in San Francisco

What is the best area to stay in San Francisco?

Union Square for a first visit and the best transport. Fisherman's Wharf if you want the bay on your doorstep.

Where is the safest place to stay in San Francisco?

Fisherman's Wharf and North Beach feel calm for most visitors. In Union Square, stay on the north and east side, away from the Tenderloin. For more, see our answer to the question is San Francisco safe.

Where should I not stay in San Francisco?

Most visitors avoid the Tenderloin, west of Union Square. Some of its streets feel rough, above all at night.

Where should I stay in San Francisco without a car?

Stay near Union Square or on the Embarcadero. Both are close to cable cars, Muni and BART.

Hotels checked on Booking.com on 23 October 2026: each link opened in the browser and showed the hotel, rated 8.0 or higher there. We list no ratings or prices because they change daily; Booking.com shows the live ones.

Facts checked on 23 October 2026 against: SF Treasurer: transient occupancy tax · SF Civil Grand Jury: Moscone Center report (2020) · SFMTA: fares · SFMTA: cable cars · SF Travel: North Beach · SF Public Works: Dragon Gate · SF Travel: Coit Tower · Booking.com: hotels in SoMa.

Written by the Things to Do in San Francisco editorial team.