Cheap flights to San Francisco
Set your departure airport and maximum budget: SniperAir tracks prices to San Francisco and alerts you the moment a deal matching your criteria appears.
Quick summary
Country
United States
Continent
North America
Airport
SFO
Currency
US dollar (USD)
Time zone
UTC-8 (UTC-7 in summer time)
Deals already spotted to San Francisco
Real flight examples detected by SniperAir, with their reference price.
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Airport and getting into town
SFO south of the city, linked to downtown by BART in about 20 to 30 minutes
San Francisco International (SFO)
San Francisco International Airport lies south of the city, roughly 20 to 25 km (13 to 15 miles) from downtown; sources disagree, from 16 km (10 miles) in Wikivoyage (EN) to 24 km (15 miles) in Wikivoyage (FR, DE). BART, the regional metro, has a station linked to the terminals by the free AirTrain. The ride downtown takes 18 to 32 minutes depending on the destination, with a train every 15 to 20 minutes, running from about 4 am on weekdays until midnight according to Wikivoyage (EN, DE). A taxi takes roughly 30 minutes, longer at rush hour. SamTrans buses and shared vans also run. Wikivoyage (EN) warns that SFO is prone to fog delays.
Oakland (OAK)
Oakland, across the bay, is the usual alternative: Wikivoyage (EN) describes it as closer for the East Bay and less affected by fog, with BART links to downtown San Francisco. San Jose (SJC) to the south connects by Caltrain, whose Baby Bullet takes about an hour according to Wikivoyage (EN).
Distances and times are approximate, based on Wikivoyage (EN, FR, DE, ES) and Wikipedia; timetables change, so check them before you travel. We do not quote fares.
San Francisco has about 830,000 residents (827,526 in 2024 according to Wikipedia in French and Spanish) on a peninsula of roughly 121 km2 (47 sq mi) of land, surrounded by the Pacific and the bay. Its 42 or so hills explain both its panoramas and its steep streets. Founded in 1776 around a presidio and a mission, it went through the Gold Rush and the earthquake of 18 April 1906 before becoming a hub of neighbouring Silicon Valley.
Landmarks
Golden Gate, Painted Ladies, Palace of Fine Arts and the waterfront
San Francisco is best known for its views as much as its monuments: a red bridge in the fog, painted wooden houses on a hill, a neoclassical backdrop beside a lagoon. The places below are illustrated; Alcatraz, Lombard Street, Coit Tower and Chinatown are covered in text.
The Golden Gate Bridge
Completed in 1937 according to Wikipedia (EN, ES), the red suspension bridge links the city to Marin County across the mouth of the bay. Construction began on 5 January 1933 according to Wikipedia (FR). It is the symbol of San Francisco, usually photographed from the headlands on the north side, from the Presidio, or by walking or cycling across it.
The bridge in the fog
Fog is a character in its own right: Wikipedia (FR) counts about a hundred foggy days a year, mostly in summer on the western half of the city. Summer mornings are often overcast and clear in the afternoon according to Wikivoyage (EN). To see the bridge sharp, aim for early autumn, warmer and drier according to Wikivoyage (EN, DE).
The Painted Ladies at Alamo Square
This row of colourful Victorian houses faces a park on the Alamo Square hill, with the downtown towers behind it. SF Travel lists it among the city's iconic sights. The bright wooden facades have become a postcard image of the city.
The Palace of Fine Arts
This colonnaded monument, with its rotunda and lagoon, stands in the Marina district. Its ornate Corinthian capitals and golden glow in the sun make it a popular spot for a stroll beside the water, among the ducks.
The bay waterfront
From the water, downtown shows its office towers and the Embarcadero waterfront. Ferries leave from the Ferry Building and Fisherman's Wharf for Sausalito, Tiburon, Oakland or Alcatraz according to Wikivoyage (EN). A crossing gives the best panorama of the city.
Alcatraz, Lombard Street, Coit Tower and Chinatown
Alcatraz, the former federal prison, closed in 1963 according to Wikivoyage (DE); ferries leave from Pier 33, run under contract with the National Park Service according to the NPS, and booking ahead is advisable in high season. Lombard Street winds down Russian Hill, Coit Tower stands on Telegraph Hill, and Wikipedia (ES) presents Chinatown as the oldest Chinese quarter in North America. Golden Gate Park holds the Japanese Tea Garden and the Conservatory of Flowers.
Museums and culture
de Young, SFMOMA, California Academy of Sciences and small neighbourhood museums
Art: the de Young, Legion of Honor and SFMOMA
The de Young Museum, opened in 1921 according to Wikivoyage (DE), and the Legion of Honor are two major art museums, while SFMOMA is the museum of modern and contemporary art, as listed by Wikipedia (EN) and Wikivoyage (FR). We do not quote fares: several museums offer reduced-price days or hours, but these conditions change.
Science: California Academy of Sciences
In Golden Gate Park, this museum combines natural history, a planetarium and an aquarium according to Wikivoyage (DE). It is a handy choice on a foggy day, and the neighbouring park also has the de Young, the Japanese Tea Garden and the Conservatory of Flowers.
Small museums and culture
The Cable Car Museum, free to enter according to Wikivoyage (FR), explains the cable mechanism of the streetcars. The GLBT History Museum traces the history of the LGBT community linked to the Castro, and the Musee Mecanique at Fisherman's Wharf shows vintage automatic machines. San Francisco was also the home of the Beat Generation in North Beach and of the Summer of Love in Haight-Ashbury, as Wikipedia (FR) recalls.
Food and drink
Sourdough, the Mission burrito, cioppino and Dungeness crab
Sourdough and clam chowder
San Francisco sourdough is one of the "must-try" items named by the tourist board SF Travel. At Fisherman's Wharf, clam chowder is served in a hollowed-out bread bowl according to Wikivoyage (FR, DE).
Burrito, cioppino and crab
The Mission burrito is also on SF Travel's list, and the district is the home of the taquerias. Cioppino, a stew of fish and shellfish, is named by Wikivoyage (FR). Dungeness crab is a typical dish at Fisherman's Wharf according to Wikipedia (ES).
Markets and districts
The Ferry Building hosts a market of local produce; North Beach is the historic district of cafes, and Chinatown serves a wide range of Cantonese food. The most touristy places to eat are around Fisherman's Wharf, but the neighbouring districts are often more authentic.
Getting around
Muni, cable cars, BART and ferries; a car is more of a burden
Muni and cable cars
Muni covers buses, light rail, historic streetcars and cable cars according to Wikivoyage (EN). Three cable car lines run: Powell-Hyde, Powell-Mason and California, according to SFMTA. They have been a National Historic Landmark since 1964. The first line opened on Clay Street in 1873 according to Wikipedia (EN, ES). The F line, a vintage streetcar, links the Castro to Fisherman's Wharf.
BART, Caltrain and ferries
BART serves the East Bay and the airport, and Caltrain heads down the peninsula from the station at 4th and King. The Clipper card is accepted on most systems, and bay ferries reach Sausalito, Larkspur, Oakland or Alcatraz.
On foot, by bike, by car
The hills demand effort, but downtown is walkable. Wikivoyage (EN) warns of heavy traffic and limited, expensive parking, and suggests parking by a BART, Caltrain or ferry station. A rental car is only useful for Marin, the coast or the Napa area.
Budget and precautions
One of the most expensive US cities; be careful with cars
Price level
San Francisco is described as among the most expensive cities in the world, mostly because of housing, according to Wikivoyage (EN). The currency is the US dollar. We do not publish figures: the sources date from 2015 to 2020 and disagree, and prices have moved on.
Flights and alerts
SniperAir monitors flight prices to SFO and compares them with the route's history, but it does not sell or book tickets. Oakland (OAK) and San Jose (SJC) are worth watching too, as they serve the same bay region.
Precautions
The Tenderloin is rougher than its neighbours according to Wikivoyage (EN), and as in any large city, avoid leaving visible items in a parked car. Foreign visitors should check US entry requirements for their nationality and their own government's official advice.
When to go
Cool foggy summers, a warmer autumn, rain from November to March
Winter (December to February)
Mild, with a January mean of about 11.5 °C (53 °F) according to Wikipedia (FR). Rain falls from November to March according to Wikivoyage (FR).
Spring (March to May)
Fog becomes characteristic in late spring according to Wikipedia (ES); days are mild and the parks in bloom.
Summer (June to August)
Cool for California: an August mean of about 16.8 °C (62 °F) according to Wikipedia (FR) and daytime highs of 15 to 25 °C (59 to 77 °F) according to Wikipedia (DE). Mornings are often misty.
Autumn (September to November)
Late September and October are the warmest and driest months according to Wikivoyage (EN, DE), with little fog: the best time to see the city clear.
The mean annual daily high is about 18 °C (65 °F) and the low about 10 °C (50 °F) according to Wikivoyage (FR) and Wikipedia (DE), with annual rainfall of roughly 500 to 600 mm depending on the source. Bring layers: wind and fog make evenings cool even in summer.
By length of stay
What to do in San Francisco depending on how long you stay
The essentials
The Golden Gate, the Painted Ladies, a cable car ride, Fisherman's Wharf and a ferry crossing, with clam chowder or crab.
Districts and museums
Alcatraz, Golden Gate Park with the de Young and the California Academy of Sciences, the Mission District, North Beach and Chinatown.
Around the bay
Sausalito, Oakland and Berkeley by BART or ferry, then Napa or the Marin coast, with a rental car for those trips.
In pictures
San Francisco in pictures
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FAQ
Frequently asked questions about flights to San Francisco
How do I get from San Francisco airport to downtown?
The airport (SFO) is roughly 20 to 25 km (13 to 15 miles) south; BART reaches downtown in 18 to 32 minutes depending on the destination, with a train every 15 to 20 minutes or so. Taxis and shared shuttles are other options. Check timetables before you travel.
When is the best time to visit San Francisco?
Late September and October are the warmest and driest months, with little fog. Summer is cool and misty, and winter is the rainy season.
Is San Francisco expensive?
Yes, it is one of the most expensive cities in the world, mostly because of housing. We do not publish figures, as sources are dated or disagree.
Do I need a car in San Francisco?
Not for the city: Muni, the cable cars, BART and ferries are enough, and parking is expensive and limited. A car is useful for Marin or the Napa area.
How do I visit Alcatraz?
You get there by ferry from Pier 33, run by an operator under contract with the National Park Service. Book ahead in high season and check times on the official site.
What should I try in San Francisco?
Sourdough bread, the Mission burrito, cioppino, clam chowder in a bread bowl and Dungeness crab from Fisherman's Wharf.
How much does a flight to San Francisco usually cost?
The price depends mainly on your departure city, the time of year and how far ahead you book. The "opportunities" section above shows real examples of prices SniperAir has already detected to this destination.
How do I get alerted when a flight to San Francisco drops below my budget?
Create an alert profile with your departure airport, San Francisco as the destination and your maximum budget. You are notified automatically as soon as a matching price is detected.
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