San Francisco Travel Planner's Guide - 2025/2026 TPG
San Francisco FAQs
2025-05-14 10:42:52
YOUR QUESTIONS ABOUT SAN FRANCISCO. ANSWERED.
HOW BIG IS SAN FRANCISCO?
Surrounded on three sides by the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay, San Francisco’s compact 49 square miles (127 sq. km) crowd the tip of the San Francisco Peninsula. The hub of the Bay Area, San Francisco has a population of nearly 900,000 and welcomes millions of annual visitors, conventioneers and business travelers.
DOES SAN FRANCISCO EVER HAVE SHORTS-AND-T-SHIRT WEATHER?
San Francisco is blessed with a temperate marine climate and enjoys mild weather year-round. Temperatures seldom rise above 70° F (21° C) or fall below 40° F (5° C). San Francisco weather can change by the hour, so the best things visitors can do are to pack layers and have a light jacket or coat handy for cool evenings.
WHAT ARE THE TAX RATES?
Sales tax is 8.5 percent. Hotel fees in San Francisco include 14 percent occupancy tax and a 1.0625–2.25 percent Tourism Improvement District (TID) and Moscone Expansion District (MED) assessment (depending on the location of the property).
WHAT PHONE NUMBERS ARE IMPORTANT TO HAVE ON HAND?
Emergency Service (for police, fire, ambulance; no area code required) ……….. 911
California Road Conditions ……….. 800-427-7623 (U.S. only)
San Francisco International Airport Ground Transportation ……….. 800-435-9736 (U.S. only)
Transit Service Information ………..511 (Bay Area) or ………..888-500-INFO (4636)
City Services………..311 (Bay Area) or………..415-701-2311 or………..415-701-2323 (TTY)
City Services numbers connect customers with highly trained customer service representatives ready to help with non-emergency matters, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.
WHAT’S EXPECTED WHEN IT COMES TO TIPPING/GRATUITIES?
Restaurant service is not included in restaurant checks, although some are adopting this custom. The average tip is 15–18 percent of the total check. A standard tip is sometimes included for groups of six or more. A San Francisco health initiative has impacted costs at local restaurants and diners may encounter an additional charge related to this. Taxis’ average tip is 15 percent of the fare. Airport and hotel baggage handlers’ average tip is $1 per bag, one-way.
CAN MY CLIENTS SMOKE IN PUBLIC PLACES?
In the state of California, it is illegal to smoke tobacco products in any public gathering space including parks, restaurants and bars, stores and office buildings.
WHAT ARE THE RESTRICTIONS Promotional Materials ON MARIJUANA USE?
Marijuana remains classified as a Schedule I drug under the federal Controlled Substances Act, and its purchase, possession, distribution, or use within California may be unlawful under federal law. Recreational use has been legalized in the state of California; however, there are a number of rules and regulations governing usage. For additional resources, visit sftravel.com and search “marijuana.”
WHERE CAN I FIND INFORMATION ON ACCESSIBILITY IN THE CITY?
Visit the Accessibility section of San Francisco Travel’s website at sftravel.com/accessibility-san-francisco.
MUNI ACCESSIBLE SERVICES PROGRAM
One S. Van Ness Ave., San Francisco, CA 94103. 311 (within San Francisco), 415-701-2311 (outside Bay Area) or 415-701-4485, 415-701-2323 (TTY)
HOW CAN VISITORS ENSURE THEY HAVE A SAFE EXPERIENCE?
San Francisco is a very walkable, approachable and safe city. While visiting any city, travelers should take a few precautions. Safety tips are available online at sftravel.com.
Promotional Materials
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Many of the promotional items San Francisco Travel offers are available online in the Travel Trade section of the website at sftravel.com/travel-trade.
VISITOR’S GUIDE
The San Francisco Traveler is our exclusive guide to San Francisco and the Bay Area. The award-winning guide features “what’s fresh” in San Francisco, a calendar of events, neighborhood coverage, and more.
SAN FRANCISCO VIDEOS
Promotional videos are available from San Francisco Travel, including our brand anthem, pieces on San Francisco's cultural institutions, its annual festivals and events, and its diversity, as well as a variety of short videos on numerous locations.
IMAGES AND B-ROLL
San Francisco Travel can also provide high-resolution images and b-roll footage of San Francisco for immediate download from San Francisco Travel’s website. Information is available at sftravel.com/media.
MEDIA RESOURCES
Fact sheets and background stories on San Francisco and the surrounding Bay Area are available at sftravel.com/media.
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