San Francisco Essentials

San Francisco Essentials & Tourist Information

San Francisco Tourist Attractions
Bay cruises are a must on a San Francisco short break and there are literally dozens of itineraries to choose from. A visit to imposing Alcatraz combined with a cruise under the Golden Gate Bridge is a photographer's dream and highly worthwhile. This is the most popular and advance bookings should be made. Available every day with departures until 3pm, prices start at $12 inclusive for adults.      

San Francisco Opening Hours
San Francisco is filled with an indoor arcade and shopping mall that offers many services besides retail stores and generally has extended opening hours. These are until 8pm and 7pm at weekends with Thursdays open later until 10pm. The smaller high street shops are open from 10am - 6pm daily with Sundays a day of rest. Banking hours in San Francisco are from 9am until 5pm on weekdays.      

San Francisco Food & Drink
Seafood is unsurprisingly popular in the city with numerous waterfront eateries in the Fisherman's Wharf area serving up fresh shrimp, crab and lobster. Gourmet steak and rib establishments are popular offering hearty barbeques in tangy salsa and smoky hickory sauces and Chinese and Italian cuisine is especially well represented in the city. San Francisco is the birthplace of the Martini and has many atmospheric cocktail and wine bars for an after dinner tipple.

Tipping & Etiquette in San Francisco
Like the rest of the USA, there are no laws regulating the amount to tip for a particular service, but in general an amount of 15% is considered sufficient for a decent meal in a restaurant. Elsewhere hotel room service and taxi fares are subject to a similar amount. Other professions to consider rewarding for good service include airport and hotel portering, valet parking, health clubs and salons and bar staff.      

San Francisco Useful Numbers
• Calling the UK from San Francisco – 0044 + area code minus zero + number
• Police – 911
• Ambulance – 911
• Fire - 911

Disabled Access in San Francisco
The city of San Francisco has been an enlightened champion of disabled rights over the last few decades and offers many services and facilities to ease any discomfort and inconvenience. This is in spite of its disadvantages such as its steep hills and many listed historic buildings that cannot be adapted. Public transport is virtually all accessible with step free buses and wheelchair spaces on most services, elevators at all rail stations and large discounts for disabled travellers. Alcatraz is amazingly fully accessible to disabled visitors and the popular Fishermen's Wharf attractions and restaurants are all wheelchair friendly.

USA Embassies
• British Consulate - 1 Sansome Street San Francisco CA 94104 Telephone: (415)617 1300
• USA Embassy - 224 Grosvenor Square London, W1A 1AE Tel: 020 7499-9000