Where to sleep in San Francisco: best hotels with and without car parking

In the search and choice of the hotel to sleep in San Francisco, there are a few things to keep in mind. Hotels in San Francisco are more expensive than in other American cities, but cheaper than those in the neighborhood of Manhattan in New York.

You will have to be careful about the area where to stay: in order to reach the most touristic points of the city on foot or with its trams, you must find a hotel in the heart of San Francisco. This is also the more expensive choice. If you want to save money, you have to move a little from the center, being careful not to book in unsafe or degraded areas of the city.



Also, parking in this city isn't easy, so it's better book a hotel with parking. Normally, in San Francisco, tourists only use the car to cross the Golden Gate Bridge, to reach Sausalito or to make the mythical descent of Lombard Street. It is best to leave the car parked because San Francisco has more than 50 hills and driving in an unfamiliar city with steep inclines is not pleasant.

How much does it cost to sleep in San Francisco

Of course, the budget needed will depend on the location of the property, the services included and the time of booking. But overall it is clear that sleeping in San Francisco like a New York, it is quite expensive. For under $ 100 a night it's nearly impossible to find a centrally located double room with private bathroom. But don't worry 2-3 days are enough to see the city and its main attractions, so you won't spend a lot of money.


Budget under $ 100 per night

If you want to spend less than $ 100 a night there are hostels or hotels that offer rooms with shared bathrooms.


  • The Urban - double room rate per night 80 euros
  • Music City Hotel - double room rate per night 90 euros

Budget $ 200-300 per night

For good hotels you have to budget 200-300 dollars per night for a double room. Many of these establishments also offer car parking.

  • Hotel Zoe Fisherman’s Wharf - double room rate per night 210 euros
  • Hotel Nikko San Francisco - double room rate per night 240 euros
  • Fairmont San Francisco - double room rate per night 280 euros

Budget $ 100-150 per night

One way in between are centrally located hotels at around $ 100-150 per night per double room. They offer private bathroom, decent quality and some even breakfast. But services such as car parking almost never.

  • San Remo Hotel - double room rate per night 120 euros
  • Seaside Inn - double room rate per night 130 euros
  • Harbor Court Hotel - double room rate per night 150 euros

Where to park your car in San Francisco

Many hotels do not offer car parking. If you arrive in San Francisco with arental car and your hotel does not have a car park, you need to look for one near the hotel. Prices are often very high.


One site that helps in this research is www.parkingpanda.com. In addition to presenting the various car parks in the area, it shows the opening hours and the hourly or daily costs.

Hotel with free parking in San Francisco

  • Chelsea Inn
  • Pacific Heights Inn
  • Buena Vista Motor Inn
  • From Ness Inn
  • Royal Pacific Motor Inn
  • Super 8 by Wyndham Near the Marina
  • Surf Hotel

Where to sleep in San Francisco - neighborhoods

Where to sleep in San Francisco: best hotels with and without car parking
Map of the best neighborhoods to sleep in San Francisco

The area of the Financial District It is perfect for sleeping in San Francisco on a business trip, the area of Union Square in the city center it has a wide and varied offer of accommodation, being the center of the whole city. TO Marina District, the hotels are all grouped practically in the main street, and it is easy to find accommodation.


The areas SOMA, Chinatown, North Beach e Haight-ashbury they are ideal for those who want to stay in dynamic neighborhoods, with history, in contact with the locals.

Downtown and Union Square, the best area to sleep in San Francisco

Price: €€€€
Strengths: perfect location, perfect mobility, very lively
Places of interest: Market Street, Coit Tower, Dragon’s Gate, San Francisco City Hall


In a city like San Francisco, there is nothing better than sleeping in the center. Unlike Los Angeles, it is a city where it is much better to move around on foot or by public transport.

Union Square it is considered the center of the city. In its surroundings there are many clothing stores, several shopping centers, cafes, restaurants and souvenir shops for tourists. Plus, the area is excellently connected with public transport and here you will find most hotels.

It is also a fairly safe area, as long as you don't go into the neighborhood Tenderloin. In San Francisco, you can see a big difference from street to street.

The only negative point in the area is the large presence of homeless people, especially at night in Market St. But don't worry, it's still the best area to sleep in San Francisco.

The best hotels in the Union Square area of ​​San Francisco

The Urban - double room rate per night 80 euros

Warwick San Francisco - double room rate per night 150 euros

Cornell Hotel de France - double room rate per night 170 euros


The Westin St. Francis San Francisco on Union Square - double room rate per night 350 euros

Find a hotel near Union Square

Marina District and Fisherman's Wharf, sleep in front of the sea

Price: €€€€
Strengths: port area with sea view, tourist district
Places of interest: Aquatic Park Cove, Museo marittimo, SS Jeremiah O’Brien, USS Pampanito, The Dungeon SF

These neighborhoods represent two very trendy areas where to stay in San Francisco. Both are very close to the bay and the Golden Gate. This position of theirs offers fantastic views but also makes the area quite expensive compared to the center. In addition, there are few hotels in the area where you can stay.

Of course, the main advantage is that you will be close to the great attractions of San Francisco: the Golden Gate Bridge, the museums, Fisherman's Wharf… For a price reference, a double room here costs around € 200 per night.

There are several bus lines that guarantee mobility and connect the Marina District with the other districts of the San Francisco Bay. The bus lines that run through the Marina District are 80 and 22 (red), 51A and C (green). There is also a BART stop, a fast subway system that crosses the bay.

Without a doubt, they are two of the best areas to sleep in San Francisco. They are very safe and have all kinds of facilities for a sightseeing tour.

The best hotels in the area

Seaside Inn - double room rate per night 130 euros

Inn at Golden Gate - double room rate per night - double room rate per night 130 euros

Cow Hollow Inn and Suites - double room rate per night 180 euros

Hotel Del Sol, a Joie de Vivre hotel - double room rate per night 200 euros

Find accommodation in the Marina District Find a hotel in Fisherman's Wharf

Russian Hill e Nob Hill

Russian Hill and nob Hill are neighborhoods located north of San Francisco, right at the entrance to the bay. Their location is great, a short walk from Fisherman's Warf, North Beach, Chinatown and a stone's throw from the Embarcadero area.

Over time, Russian Hill and Nob Hill became between the most elegant districts of the city of San Francisco. The views from their heights are exceptional, especially if you take the tram to Hyde Street.

They are, moreover, residential neighborhoods that they represent a true postcard of the city. Here, the streets go up and down (we remind you that "Hill" means "hill"), the houses are Victorian and there is also the cable car that runs through their streets. Cafes, restaurants, boutiques and antique shops give the neighborhoods a European and bohemian touch.

But the most popular attraction in the area is Lombard Street, the iconic winding road seen in hundreds of films and television series. It is said to be the steepest road in the world.

Getting around Russian Hill and Nob Hill is easy with the city bus system. The main lines are 45 (at Safeway and Whole Foods Market), 28 (at Crissy Field) and 73 (at Oakland Airport). There is a fast BART subway stop to cross the bay.

The best hotels in the area

Van Ness Inn Hotel - double room rate per night 120 euros

InterContinental San Francisco - double room rate per night 250 euros

Fairmont San Francisco - double room rate per night 280 euros

Omni San Francisco Hotel - double room rate per night 300 euros

Find a hotel in Russian Hill Find a hotel in Nob Hill

South of market

Price: €€
Strengths: good location, quiet, good value for money
Places of interest: Mission Creek Park, Chase Center, SF Museum of Modern Art, AT&T Park

SoMa, as it's nicknamed, is a fairly large area of ​​San Francisco, located south of the Financial District and Union Square. It did not initially enjoy a very good reputation, but the area has become increasingly popular over the years. It is ideal if you want to get off the beaten track during your stay.

This San Francisco neighborhood is quite central. Hotels are cheaper here than in Downtown but also more dated. Prefer the northern part if possible of this district to stay. You will be very close to Downtown and Unions Square and can easily travel on foot, without having to systematically take public transport.

If you choose to stay in San Francisco's South of Market neighborhood, you'll be close to many points of interest such as Yerba Buena Park, the Morderne Art Museum and the Giants Stadium which gives an exceptional atmosphere on a game night. Union Square and Chinatown are less than 2 km away and Castro and Haight-Ashbury about 5 km.

Find a hotel in SoMa

Sleeping in Richmond

If you choose one cheap area to sleep in San Francisco, Richmond is definitely the right choice. This neighborhood is located west of San Francisco, near Golden Gate Park and the Presidio, but far enough away from other attractions. The savings on hotel rates can be nullified by higher transport costs.

The best thing about the neighborhood is the atmosphere (near the sea and surrounded by parks). Also, if you have rented a car, finding a parking space here is much easier and cheaper than in the center.

The best hotels in the Richmond area of ​​San Francisco

Hotel Boston - double room rate per night 60 euros

Geary Parkway Motel - double room rate per night 110 euros

My Rosegarden Guest Rooms - double room rate per night 160 euros

Other neighborhoods to sleep in San Francisco

castro – If you want to discover the heart of San Francisco's gay community and LGBT culture, this is where you need to stay. It's a neighborhood full of history and full of charm, with a lively, colorful and surprising atmosphere. In addition, it offers an endless choice of restaurants and bars. To be seen Corona Heights Park, the perfect place to take a great photo of the city, and the Castro Theater. Finally, you can easily reach downtown San Francisco taking the tram that passes at the corner of Market and Castro.

Haight Ashbury –  Not far from Castro, it is a lively and colorful district. And the hippy district of the city. A must to visit are its vintage shops. Music fans will be able to visit the houses of Janis Joplin o Jimi Hendrix (located at 635 Ashbury Street and 142 Central Street respectively). Unfortunately there are few facilities where to stay and they tend to be booked up pretty quickly.

Find a hotel in Castro Find a hotel in Haight Ashbury

Is it worth sleeping in Oakland?

You have surely wondered if it is worth sleeping in Oakland. AND very close to San Francisco and very well connected by public transport. However, going from Oakland to San Francisco by car is not a great option because there are big ones traffic jams at rush hour.

If you sleep in Oakland, the time lost in transport will have to be made up for with an extra night in a hotel, which combined with the cost of transport, nullifies the savings. Plus, while you can save a lot of money a night by staying here, there are some areas you should avoid. Oakland is one cities with high crime rates.

Choosing a hotel in Oakland is a good choice only for those who want to get to San Francisco by boat. It is very nice to arrive by boat, because you can see the splendid skyline of San Francisco from a distance, surrounded by its magnificent bridges.

The best hotels in Oakland

Radisson Hotel Oakland Airport - double room rate per night 110 euros

Executive Inn & Suites - double room rate per night 145 euros

Best Western Plus Airport Inn & Suites - double room rate per night 145 euros

Find a hotel in Oakland

Sleeping in cities near San Francisco

On the choice of sleeping in nearby cities to save money, the same goes for Oakland, it is not convenient. Perhaps the only city that can be examined is Daly City, a city located southwest of San Francisco, which offers good and cheap prices, with many facilities that also offer car parking.

It's a lot well connected to downtown San Francisco, especially with the subway. Depending on the area, you'll be in Union Square in under 20 minutes.

The best hotels in Daly City

Comfort Inn & Suites San Francisco Airport North - double room per night 90 euros

All Seasons Lodge - double room per night 100 euros

Mylo Hotel - double room rate per night 110 euros

Find a hotel in Daly City

Unsafe areas to not sleep in San Francisco

San Francisco eats Los Angeles has various unsafe areas. The most dangerous neighborhoods are The Mission, Bayview-Hunters Point and Tenderloin. In these areas it is not only advisable to book a hotel, but also to take a walk in the middle of the day. Furthermore, there are no attractions that would justify the visit.

Tenderloin - This neighborhood is a stone's throw from downtown San Francisco. But it is best not to visit it as there are many homeless people and drug trafficking and use is the order of the day. Violent robberies are also frequent.

Bayview-Hunters Point - They are the most dangerous areas in San Francisco, where there are more murders. They are far from the center and have no tourist attractions.

Mission District - It is a neighborhood that has been revitalized, where you can see beautiful works of urban art and there are interesting places to eat. But it has a rather violent past due to street gangs. If you want to visit it, do it during the day. We do not recommend sleeping here as it is not pleasant to walk around at night.

We take this opportunity to remind you that it is essential to travel to the United States with atravel insurance. Medical attention is extremely expensive. In addition, the insurance will cover unforeseen events such as loss of baggage or cancellation of transport.

Where to sleep in San Francisco: best hotels with and without car parking
Where to sleep in San Francisco: best hotels and where to park your car
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