Why visit
San Francisco is the Golden Gate, Alcatraz, Mission murals, Ferry Building, Chinatown, and a short drive to Muir Woods redwoods or Napa wine country.
San Francisco at a glance
City population
810k
Metro: 4.8 million
Elevation
16 m
52 ft
Time zone
UTC-8 (UTC-7 DST)
America/Los_Angeles
Airport
SFO
San Francisco International
Founded
1776 (Mission San Francisco de Asís)
Getting around
BART + Muni + cable cars + buses + ferries
Signature dish
Sourdough, Mission burrito, Dungeness crab, cioppino
Neighborhoods for travelers
MissionCastroHaight-AshburyChinatownMarina
United States at a glance
Country center
38.0°, -97.0°
Coast
Has coastline
Country area
9,372,610 km²
3,618,783 mi²
Country population
334.9 million
36/km²
Subregion
North America
Currency
United States dollar ($)
USD
Dial
+1201
Language
English
Demonym
American
Internet
.us
UN
Member state
ISO code
US / USA
Where in the world
38.0° · -97.0°
United States
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Click the map to open in Google Maps. Outline via svg-maps/world · CC BY 4.0
Did you know
- The Golden Gate Bridge's distinctive "International Orange" color was chosen for visibility in fog.
- The city is literally slowly sinking: the SF Bay Area loses about 1 cm per year to subsidence.
- Alcatraz held only 1,500+ inmates over 29 years as a federal prison, but none ever verified to have escaped.
- The US has no official national language: English is de facto but not de jure.
- Alaska was bought from Russia in 1867 for $7.2 million (~2 cents per acre at the time).
Bordering United States
Traveler notes
- Alcatraz book 2+ weeks in advance
- Mission burritos + dim sum in Chinatown
- Drive to Muir Woods or Point Reyes
Plan checks
- Build a three-day plan before extending. Most travel cities are easy to undersell to yourself.
- Check seasonal timing: high season can triple costs on some coastal destinations.
- Reserve top restaurants 2–4 weeks out and plan two standout meals per city.
- Bring layered clothing and verify trail/park access before arrival.
Explore more
Frequently asked about San Francisco
What currency is used in San Francisco?
San Francisco uses the United States dollar ($), ISO code USD.
What languages are spoken in United States?
The primary language is English.
What is the international calling code for United States?
The calling code is +1201.
What airport serves San Francisco?
San Francisco International (IATA: SFO).
Other North America destinations
Barbados
Barbados is a destination in North America with coastlines and warm-water travel at its core. Plan around season, swim conditions, and regional island or coastal routes.
Belize
Belize is Caribbean reef travel. The Belize Barrier Reef (second-largest in the world), the Blue Hole, Caye Caulker island pace, and Mayan ruins at Caracol. English-speaking.
Canada
Canada is wilderness travel. Banff and Jasper in the Rockies, Tofino on Vancouver Island, Quebec City's old-world feel, Newfoundland's icebergs and puffins, and Yukon for the aurora.
Costa Rica
Costa Rica is biodiversity concentrated. Manuel Antonio's beach-jungle, Arenal volcano and hot springs, Monteverde cloud forest, and Pacific surf coasts. In a country you can cross in five hours.
Cuba
Cuba is Havana's 1950s cars and crumbling facades, Viñales tobacco valley, Trinidad's cobbled old town, and Varadero's resort beaches. With restrictions on US travelers.
Dominica
Dominica is a destination in North America where the landscape is the point. National parks, coastlines, forests, or mountain travel anchor most itineraries.