San Francisco holidays
San Francisco is a little odd – but let’s face it, that’s all part of its charm. It’s got the twistiest street in the world, its own resident sea lion colony and a former prison flocked by tourists. You can have a very fun holiday here – whether you’re with family or friends, or going alone, on your first visit or your fifth.
Our cheapest holidays to San Francisco
See the best of San Francisco
San Francisco is one of California’s most visited cities. It’s permissive, relaxed and has great sights.
This brilliant city is very walkable – but it’s more fun to take the cable car – especially over the infamous hills. You could stay on Nob Hill or Russian Hill to be near Lombard Street, famously known as the world’s crookedest street.
From here you can easily head down to the seafront for a stroll on the popular Fisherman’s Wharf – a place where you can buy crab chowder to go and watch the sea lions that have taken up residence on its docks. San Francisco’s enormous, longstanding Chinatown is one of the most established neighbourhoods in the city. Roam around, then settle down for dim sum, picking your dishes from a roving push cart.
Whether you want to organise a last-minute city break, or the holiday of a lifetime, it starts when you book yout flights to San Francisco. Add a hotel in the city – and a car for exploring beyond the bay; and before you know it, you’ll be navigating San Fran like a local. Check out our holiday packages and prepare to start feeling San Franciscan.
Carefully selected San Francisco hotels
San Francisco hotels for all types of traveller
We know how important it is to be close to the sights when you stay in a big city. We have a range of great hotels in San Francisco that have all been carefully selected for their quality and their location. Stay on Nob Hill – San Francisco’s affluent area – at Fairmont San Francisco, a luxury hotel with amazing views over the city. If you want to be near the popular Fisherman’s Wharf, then stay at the nautical-themed Hotel Argonaut, at the wallet-friendly Kimpton Alton Hotel or choose Hotel Zoe Fisherman's Wharf – a boutique pocket of luxury.
San Francisco fly-drive holidays
San Francisco is perfectly located for exploring California’s best bits: Napa Valley, Lake Tahoe, Yosemite National Park, San Jose and Big Sur. They’re all nearby – so, it’s time for a road trip. Add car hire to your flight with British Airways – with 24-hour support, multiple drop-off points and no hidden costs, it’s the easiest way to get the holiday you want.
Car Hire with British Airways
Pick up your car at over 5,000 locations with our dedicated car hire partners, Avis and Budget
24-hour support
Roadside assistance, 24-hour customer support and ATOL protection as standard
No hidden costs
All mandatory charges are included, plus Executive Club Members collect Avios on every rental
Three epic California road trips
Down the coast or into the wild? Start at San Francisco and decide whether you want to head south towards San Diego or cross off national parks in northern California. Writer Mark Ellwood shows you how.
Author: Mark Ellwood for British Airways
San Francisco holiday FAQs
- San Francisco’s touristy waterfront is a pleasure to visit. Fisherman’s Wharf encompasses much of the waterfront – including Pier 39, an area that’s great for shopping, strolling and watching sea lions sunbathing on the platforms below the pier. From Fisherman’s Wharf you can get a ferry over to Alcatraz, viewable across the bay, or Angell Island. Stay at Hotel Zephyr in the area so you can fully explore the popular surrounding restaurants: eat crab chowder on the pier or chow down on chocolate at Ghirardelli Square.
- Nob Hill is where you’ll see historic buildings and experience traditionally ‘classy’ San Francisco: think swanky cocktail lounges, upmarket restaurants and hotels like the Fairmont. Go to the beautiful Huntington Park (don’t miss its replica of Rome’s Fountain of the Tortoises), and The Masonic, an iconic concert venue that is a wonderful example of mid-century architecture. The free Cable Car Museum is also nearby, where you can see some of San Francisco’s colourful retired trolleys.
- The public plaza Union Square is in the midst of downtown San Francisco’s upmarket department stores. It’s busy and bustling – but first-time visitors are often taken aback by the homeless population in the area. There are heaps of hotels around that capitalise on the abundance of sights and shops in the district, such as Hilton Union Square. Nearby you’ll find Neiman Marcus and Barneys, plus museums like the Museum of Ice Cream – pure Instagrammer bait – and the longer-established San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.
- Head south from Union Square and you’ll reach SoMa. ‘South of the Market’ is all converted warehouses and gritty regeneration. It spans a large area that includes the Civic Center, the Yerba Buena gardens, and, on the eastern edge, Oracle Park, home of the San Francisco Giants – the area’s beloved baseball team. Stay at the four-star Hyatt Regency San Francisco Downtown SOMA in the heart of this art district.
- Downtown San Francisco, with its earthquake-proofed skyscrapers (such as the striking Transamerica Pyramid), is known simultaneously as the Financial District and Downtown. Chinatown nudges this area from the north west, and the Ferry Building sits to the east on the waterfront. It’s a pretty building that holds a farmers’ market.
Whatever type of San Francisco holiday you are looking for, you’ll discover lots of places to go and things to see. Here are our top five suggestions of things to keep you busy:
- Walk the city, including famous Lombard street (or take the hop-on hop-off bus)
- Plan a trip to Alcatraz
- Cruise in Golden Gate Bay
- Visit Yosemite National Park
- Book the Go City five day San Francisco All-Inclusive Pass
With more than 3,400 restaurants in the area, you won’t be short of places to satisfy your appetite, whatever type of food you prefer. Here are some of our ideas from in-the-know locals:
- Eat like a local
- Head over to Oakland, its burgeoning foodie scene is well worth checking out
- Enjoy some of the state’s finest cocktails: pick from one of more than 300 bars in the city
- Head to the Ferry Building to taste cooking from up-and-coming chefs
- Check out the growing number of San Francisco food trucks
Why choose British Airways Holidays?
The British Airways experience is more than a flight.
We’re one of the UK’s largest holiday companies offering carefully chosen hotels and resorts in the most amazing places, and car hire with no hidden extras. Our access to the extensive British Airways global network and oneworld® alliance puts us in a unique position to create holiday packages with convenient flights across the globe. From start to finish consider your holiday taken care of.
Low deposits
Secure your holiday with a low deposit and spread the cost with flexible payments.
Baggage allowance
All of our holiday packages include a generous checked baggage allowance.
24-hour helpline
We have a dedicated 24-hour holiday helpline if you need to contact us while you're away.
Pay with Avios
Reduce the cost of your next trip and pay for your holiday with Avios.
Other holiday destinations you might be interested in...
California holidays
Las Vegas holidays
Los Angeles holidays
Miami holidays
New York holidays
Phoenix holidays
San Diego holidays
USA holidays
City breaks
Fly-drive holidays
LGBTQ+ holidays
Multi-centre holidays
Terms and Conditions
- Flight only prices are updated every 24 hours and are accurate when published. Flights at these prices are limited and may sell out quickly.
- Package holiday prices (flight + hotel or flight + car) prices are updated every 24 to 48 hours and are accurate when published and may vary upon reaching subsequent pages. Availability may be extremely limited particularly during peak periods.
- Return fares displayed are the lowest adult return prices in the cabin specified including taxes, fees and carrier charges, based on a 7-day return journey.
- Each–way fares displayed are the lowest adult each-way prices in the cabin specified based on the lowest adult return prices for a 7 day travel period, including all taxes, fees and carrier charges available in this period.
- One-way fares displayed are the lowest adult prices in the cabin specified including taxes, fees and carrier charges available in this period.
- Package holiday prices (flight + hotel and flight + car) shown are in GBP per person based on 2 adults sharing one room or one car and prices include taxes, fees and carrier charges unless otherwise specified. Flight + car prices based on drivers aged 30-70 years.
- Additional charges will be applied for payments made using a corporate credit card.
- Advertised fares are available on ba.com. Additional charges may apply if purchased through British Airways outlets or travel agents.
- Combine and save on Holidays: Guaranteed savings are only available when booking a Flight + Hotel or Flight + Car booking including one land product, it does not apply to a ‘Customise your trip’ holiday including more than one hotel and / or car.
- Package holidays are protected under British Airways Holidays Ltd by the Civil Aviation Authority. Our ATOL number is 5985.
- Standard British Airways terms and conditions apply