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San Francisco, arguably the most beautiful city in the United States, is divinely formed by nature to be a gift to walkers and hikers. And stairway fans!
Dotted with over 40 hills, SF occupies the northern tip of a peninsula that is bordered by the Pacific Ocean on the West, the San Francisco Bay on the East, and the majestic Golden Gate Bridge to the North.
Due to its dense population and hilly terrain, numerous stairways – over 600 of them – were constructed to connect various neighborhoods and sloping streets.
In the process, these stairways paved the way for previously hard-to-reach sweeping viewpoints to be finally accessible to pedestrians.
As my first ever stairways post in the blog, this particular walk is dear to my heart as this is hands down one of my perennial favorites.
In fact, I’ve brought friends, family, and guests to these stairways, which is why I’m thrilled to share this with you too.
Special thank you to Adah Bakalinsky, the author of Stairway Walks in San Francisco, for igniting my love for these secret stairways. I had given her book as gifts to friends. I highly recommend grabbing a copy if you plan to be in San Francisco for more than a few days or if you’re a local.
It’s the best guide book for the city you could ever find. You can also purchase it from www.amazon.com. Click the image below to read more about the product.
What to Expect in this Walk?
- Spellbinding classic views of San Francisco, including iconic bridges, breathtaking hills, and its most famous island, Alcatraz.
- Marvelous stairways that pierce through scenic gardens and bird habitats (keep your eyes peeled for parrots in the wild). Highlights: Filbert Steps and Greenwich Stairs.
- Atmospheric neighborhoods such as North Beach’s Little Italy and the Embarcadero.
- An opportunity to climb up one of SF’s most famous hills – Telegraph Hill – with its crowning glory, The Coit Tower.
Total Distance
Part 1 – Coit Tower, Greenwich Gardens, and Telegraph Hill: 1 mile (31 minutes without stops)
Part 2 – Washington Square & Filbert Steps: 1 mile (39 minutes without stops)
Feel free to download and share the FREE walking tour MAP below.
- What to Expect in this Walk?
- Total Distance
- Part 1: COIT TOWER, GREENWICH STAIRWAY & TELEGRAPH HILL
- A. Starting Point: North Beach
- B. Open Space for Bay Views
- C. Whiting Cul-De-Sac
- D. Julius and Child Street Stairways
- E. The Path to Coit Tower
- F. The Gardens of Greenwich
- G. The Embarcadero
- H. Telegraph Hill
- I. Stairs to Jack Early Park
- J. Small but Spectacular
- K. End of the Coit Tower Urban Hike
- Part 2: WASHINGTON SQUARE, CITY LIGHTS & FILBERT STEPS
- A. Washington Square
- B. Filbert Steps
- C. Levi’s Plaza
- D. Broadway Street (Red Light District)
- E. City Lights Bookstore
- F. Kearny Stairway
- G. Vallejo Stairway
- H. Montgomery Stairway
- I. Calhoun Terrace
- J. End
- Other San Francisco Posts/Tours
- Before your trip to San Francisco
Part 1: Coit Tower, Greenwich Steps & Telegraph Hill
Length: 1 mile, 31 minutes without stops
A. Starting Point: North Beach
Park your car anywhere near the vicinity of Stockton and Chestnut Streets.
Don’t forget to glance towards the bay as “The Rock” (Alcatraz) will be visible from this vantage point.
Our start point is located in the North Beach district of San Francisco or commonly called “Little Italy,” coined after the countless Italian migrants that settled in the area from the mid-1800s.
Italians from Genoa, Liguria, Sicily, and Tuscany gravitated to this area because the climate and topography resembled their hometowns.
Although the demographics have shifted to a more diverse populace, Italy’s influence continues to be palpable in North Beach, where cafes, bakeries, and Italian restaurants line the neighborhood streets.
You can also take public transportation to Washington Square Park. It is a few blocks away from our start point.
Public Transportation: You can take the Powell-Mason cable car line from Powell Street in downtown SF and get off at Mason St. corner Union St., which is a block away from Washington Square Park. Alternatively, you can take buses 30 or 15 from Market Street in downtown SF and get off at this scenic square. From this square, it is about a 5-minute walk to our start point.
Barbary Coast Trail Plaque
Before you start your stairways tour, look for a plaque on the pavement at the corner of Stockton and Chestnut, just right in front of 1960 Stockton Street. This walk is also a part of the Barbary Coast Trail.
The Barbary Coast Trail® is a San Francisco walking tour that connects the City’s most important historic sites.
Bronze medallions and arrows set in the sidewalk guide you along the trail, drawing you into a world of gold rushers and railroad barons, writers and visionaries, shanghiers and silver kings.
Barbarycoasttrail.org
Easily done in a full day, this 3.8-mile incredibly scenic walk is a must if you have an extra full day in San Francisco.
Passionate hikers and sightseers will be constantly rewarded with sweeping vistas, fascinating history, and a plethora of evidence why San Francisco is the most stunning city in the United States.
If you want to do a deep dive exploration of this trail or this stairways walk, you can borrow the books below at your public library or purchase them from Amazon.com. Click the image if you want more details about these guides.
B. Open Space for Bay Views
Now, it is time to start this stellar walk. Definitely one of my favorites in San Francisco.
From the corner of Stockton and Chestnut Street, walk along Chestnut towards Grant Street.
Walk past Grant Street until you are almost at the Chestnut Street cul-de-sac.
To your left is a city designated “Open Space” that provides an astonishing view of the bay, including an unobstructed view of Alcatraz. Binoculars are required if you prefer to zoom in.
This view should hopefully whet your appetite because this trek is overflowing with more of these extraordinary sceneries. Let’s keep on going!
C. Whiting Cul-De-Sac
After being blown away by the vista above, retrace your steps back to Grant Street and make a left on Grant.
Make another left on Whiting Cul-de-sac, cross to the other side, and walk up towards our first stairway located on your right – the Julius Street Stairway.
D. Julius and Child Street Stairways
The Julius Street Stairway has a total of 9 steps.
This will deliver you to Lombard Street, where you need to cross to the other side to find our second stairway on your left – Child Street Stairway.
Ascend the 21 steps to Telegraph Place.
E. The Path to Coit Tower
Upon landing at the photogenic Telegraph Place, look up and be greeted by your first glimpse of the striking TransAmerica Pyramid building located in downtown SF.
Greenwich Street Stairway
Continue walking straight down on Child Street until you get to Greenwich Street.
Turn left on Greenwich. From here, you can see the hill covered with lush vegetation before you.
On top of this hill is our destination – Coit Tower. Walk towards this hill.
Before you ascend the Greenwich Street stairway to your right, circle around the oval garden at the end of the street.
This is Pimentel Garden, a project that a resident jumpstarted.
Ascend the Greenwich Street Stairway, on your right, which will take you to Telegraph Hill Boulevard.
Telegraph Hill Boulevard Stairway
Safely cross Telegraph Hill Boulevard and continue your climb up the Telegraph Hill Boulevard stairway, located right across from the top of the Greenwich Stairway.
The first section consists of 39 stone steps. Do not forget to gaze up as the towering Coit Tower is visible from this vantage point.
On top of the stone stairway is another set of stairs made up of concrete steps.
Walk up 52 more steps to reach the top of Telegraph Hill, where the tower is located.
Pay attention to the names inscribed on the steps. These commemorate the generous donors who funded the beautification of this park.
Golden Gate Bridge and beyond
At the top of Telegraph Hill, marvel at the distinctive tower and San Francisco Bay’s expansive views that stretch out to the Pacific Ocean.
Slowly walk around the perimeter of the circular parking lot, so you can fully absorb the stellar SF Bay vistas.
Weather permitting, the Golden Gate Bridge should be visible from this vantage point if its resident fog does not envelop it.
This bridge is where the ocean and bay converge. It connects San Francisco to Marin County, the county to the north of SF.
The hills beyond the bridge are the Marin Headlands. A fantastic spot for endless trails and ocean vistas. Savor the spectacular views.
Signal Hill
This hill was previously called “Signal Hill” as signals were emitted from here to announce the arrival of ships in the bay.
It was subsequently called “Telegraph Hill” as it was San Francisco’s first Morse Code signal station back in 1853.
A plaque commemorates this hill’s invaluable contribution to the blossoming city of SF back in the Gold Rush days of the mid-1800s.
Hike instead of Drive
There used to be a statue of Christopher Columbus in the center of the rotunda.
This is a very popular SF landmark, and it is not advisable to drive up here as parking is minimal.
This urban hike is used definitely a recommended alternative.
Restroom Break
Approach the tower on the right pathway next to a FREE public restroom. This innovative restroom automatically cleans itself after every use.
Check out the SF map on the side of the toilet and find your exact location. You may want to use this bathroom as the next public restroom will not be available until Part 2 of this urban hike.
Bay Bridge Views
Circle Coit Tower until you reach the lawn area, which has staggering views of the Bay Bridge in SF’s Embarcadero district. Do not confuse the Bay Bridge with the Golden Gate Bridge.
As previously mentioned, the Golden Gate Bridge connects SF with the county to the north, Marin. The Bay Bridge connects SF with the counties to the east.
Beyond the Bay Bridge is the area locally known as the “East Bay,” where Oakland, Berkeley, and Fremont are located.
Try to locate the piers and the Ferry Building with its distinctive bell tower. Take in this fantastic view of San Francisco Bay.
Financial District
As you turn your body a tad bit to the right, peer beyond the bushes to get a glimpse of the skyscrapers in San Francisco’s Financial District (FiDi).
Look for the Transamerica building with its easily recognizable pyramid architecture. It stands at 853 feet and has 48 stories.
Transamerica was SF’s tallest building until 2018 when the 1,070-feet Salesforce Tower construction was completed.
The majority of the buildings in FiDi were constructed on reclaimed land that was previously part of the bay.
Picnic, Murals, and 360-degree views
This lawn area may be the best spot to have a picnic on this tour.
You can pretty much pick what bridge views you want to glance at while munching your snack. Alternatively, you can continue to move along.
Loop around Coit Tower and view the interior through the glass windows.
It contains 19 murals depicting the plights of Californians during the Great Depression. Inspired by activist Mexican painter Diego Rivera, local painters illustrated scenes portraying the exploitation of workers during those economically difficult times.
Should you want to explore the tower’s interior and climb to the top, it is possible to access it for a small fee.
This is the only time you will shell out money on this tour. I’d skip it if in a tight budget.
An elevator whisks sightseers to the peak for 360-degree views of this glorious city.
Lillie Hitchcock Coit
The tower is named after Lillie Hitchcock Coit, who, as a little girl, got fond of her local fire company.
Her favorite engine was Knickerbocker No. 5. She was such a big fan that she even signed her name “Lillie Coit 5”.
Ms. Coit 5 had been known to chase this fire engine every time it ran down the street that she even sprinted out of a wedding party in her bridesmaid dress when she heard the truck pass by.
She eventually became the Knickerbocker Company’s mascot. When she passed away in 1929, she left a portion of her estate ($150,000) to the city.
$100,000 of this donation was ultimately used to construct the Coit tower and the surrounding park. $50,000 funded the firemen statue in nearby Washington Square (one of the stops in Part 2 of this Urban Hike).
Pioneer Park Project
After you finish looping around and touring the tower, go down 25 steps to the front stairway.
Here, locate another plaque commemorating the creation of this memorial tower and the adjoining Pioneer Park, where the parking lot is located.
The landscaping project, including the tower’s design, was spearheaded by Arthur Brown Jr. and was jumpstarted in 1933. It took over 70 years for it to be finally accomplished (completed only in 2002).
If you do not have binoculars, coin telescopes are available to allow curious visitors to zoom in on views of Marin County and the Golden Gate Bridge.
F. The Gardens of Greenwich
Coit Tower is not the only highlight of this tour. There are a couple more so let’s continue forging forward.
Across the park, locate the lamp post bearing the street signs for Greenwich Street and Telegraph Hill (see picture below). This may be covered by vegetation.
Greenwich Street Stairway
To the left of this lamp post is your next stairway, the continuation of the Greenwich Street Stairways – one of the most scenic stairways in San Francisco.
The first section consists of brick steps that cut through gorgeous, well-kept terraced private gardens.
After 147 steps, the stairs will eventually deliver you to Montgomery Street.
A landmark here is the famous Julius Castle restaurant built in 1923, located to the stairs’ right as you look back up towards Coit Tower.
And yes, do not forget to look back before proceeding onto the next section of these beautiful steps – it is stunning!
Montgomery Street is at the halfway point of this descending section of the Greenwich Street Stairways. Cross over to the other side of Montgomery and breathe in the sublime landscapes.
Then, walk to your right. The continuation of the Greenwich Stairways is definitely hidden as it’s tucked behind a fence and some scaffolding during my visit.
Find the mosaic sign on a post pointing to the continuation of the Greenwich Street Stairways.
Prepare for a visual and auditory treat of stupendously breathtaking flowers and soothing chirps of birds. Roses, irises, ferns, cedar & redwood trees, and parrots are the showstoppers here.
Yes, if you are lucky, you can see a few wild parrots jumping from one tree to the next, casually feeding on juniper berries.
There was even a documentary film created to showcase the lives of these rambunctious birds – The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill.
They typically make their presence known at around late afternoon, so if you can time this urban hike a few hours before sunset then you might just get lucky seeing these parrots in the flesh.
Below is a video I took that captured the chirping birds on the Greenwich Steps.
G. The Embarcadero
Continue until the end of the Greenwich stairway onto Sansome Street.
You are now just a block away from San Francisco’s famous Embarcadero District.
This is a worthwhile detour if you want to walk along the bay and experience San Francisco from another perspective – down below near the water.
Recommended Embarcadero Attractions:
- Pier 33: Ferries that sail to Alcatraz depart from here (near)
- Pier 15: Exploratorium: a museum of technology, science, and the arts (somewhat near)
- Pier 39: Fisherman’s Wharf (somewhat near)
- Ferry Building Marketplace (far)
H. Telegraph Hill
After experiencing SF from the ground/sea level, we will continue our stairways tour back up again towards Telegraph Hill.
From Embarcadero or Sansome, follow the directions towards the corner of Francisco and Montgomery Streets.
At the bottom of the Greenwich Steps, follow the directions below to find our next set of stairs.
- Walk down to the corner of Greenwich & Sansome
- Left on Sansome Street until Lombard Street
- Left on Lombard Street until Montgomery Street
- Right on Montgomery Street until Francisco
- Left on Francisco until Kearny
We find our next stairway at the corner of Kearny and Francisco.
This stairway is different from all the previous ones because it is fairly modern and features a lengthy elevated walkway.
You will arrive at the Francisco cul-de-sac at the end of the stairway. Then, walk straight towards Grant Street.
Turn left on Grant Street and look for the entrance to Jack Early Park.
I. Stairs to Jack Early Park
Singlehandedly created by Jack Early (“Mr. Tree”), a resident who started planting trees and flowers in this deserted patch of land on Telegraph Hill.
He began his solitary crusade in 1962 when he reportedly carried buckets of water by hand to nurture the seeds he had earnestly planted.
Currently, this diminutive park is being maintained by the Telegraph Terrace Association.
Climb up the 63 steps to this secret viewpoint and savor the majestic views of this wondrous city by the Bay.
I’ve been here several times, and it is quite rare that I end up sharing this park with anyone else.
A perfect area to be alone to journal and meditate. Or to appreciate alongside someone dear.
J. Small but Spectacular
I did save the best for last. Undoubtedly, this last stop will take your breath away.
This secluded small little park packs a massive punch as far as views are concerned.
Its elevated location soaring above North Beach’s rooftops provides the ultimate panoramic lookout spot of the entire San Francisco Bay.
From Golden Gate Bridge to the Bay Bridge, from Alcatraz to Angel Island, all the highlights can be enormously enjoyed here.
Chances are, you also get to marvel at this million-dollar view alone as this park is relatively unknown.
Let’s keep it that way.
K. End of the Coit Tower Urban Hike
Congratulations!
You had just finished one of my favorite urban hikes in San Francisco.
If you still have the energy to complete another hike, I suggest continuing to Part 2 of this hike, which will include the fantastic Filbert Street Stairway – another one of my favorites!
The start point for Part 2 is at Washington Square Park, approximately a 7-minute leisurely walk from Jack Early Park.
Walk down Pfeiffer away from Jack Early Park, make a left on Stockton until you arrive at Washington Square, which is at the corner of Stockton and Filbert Streets. See map below.
If exhausted, you have several options:
a. Go back to your car or take public transit back to downtown SF.
b. Explore the North Beach neighborhood for dining and more sightseeing.
c. Walk towards Fisherman’s Wharf for more touristy attractions.
Part 2: Washington Square, City Lights, and Filbert Steps
Length of Hike: 1 mile (39 minutes without stops)
A. Washington Square
The center point of North Beach is Washington Square. This is where we will start the second part of this tour.
The famous landmarks in this square are Washington Park and St. Peter and Paul Catholic Church.
If you get to Washington Park early in the morning, you will notice Chinese residents from neighboring Chinatown performing their Tai-Chi exercise routine while the scent of freshly-baked focaccia bread from nearby Liguria bakery waft through the air.
All other times will be perfect for people watching and just merely relaxing on the lawn or one of the benches.
St. Peter and Paul Catholic Church is located on the north end of the square and an unmissable stop while in this area. It is FREE to enter.
Started in 1912 but not completed until 1924, this Romanesque church with twin spires is one of the only few churches in town that provides mass in Chinese and Italian.
Joe DiMaggio and Marilyn Monroe had their wedding photos taken in this church’s facade back in 1954 after tying the knot in City Hall.
On the west side of the park, near the public bathrooms, is a statue dedicated to the brave firemen that protected the city from multiple fires at the turn of the century.
This statue was funded by the dollars that came from the bequest of Lillie Hitchcock Coit. Her estate also funded the creation of the Coit Tower.
Once done sightseeing around the square, start walking towards the direction of Filbert Street.
B. Filbert Steps (Napier Lane & Grace Marchant Gardens)
Walk along Filbert Street towards the direction of Coit Tower and ascend the Filbert Steps towards Telegraph Hill. Signs are plentiful.
This will be a long trek that eventually ends a couple of blocks from San Francisco Bay again, near the Embarcadero District.
At the top of Telegraph Hill, find the descending leg of the Filbert Street Steps until you reach the corner of Filbert and Montgomery.
Keep an eye out for views of the Bay Bridge along the way.
Once at the corner of Filbert and Montgomery, look right to gaze at the towering pyramid of the TransAmerica building. We will get closer to this building later in this walk.
Cross to the opposite side of the street and find the continuation of the Filbert Steps.
Prepare to conquer the second half of this famous pathway – one of the highlights of this walk.
A signpost will welcome you to the steps and two alluring alleys along this walk – Darrell Place and Napier Lane.
The plaque also says “In Appreciation of Grace Marchant for her Unselfish, Devoted Energy in the Beautification of Filbert Gardens”.
The spectacular public garden along the Filbert Steps on the east side of Telegraph Hill is known as the Grace Marchant Garden. As the story goes, Grace Marchant moved to the corner of Napier Lane and Filbert Street in 1949, when the Filbert Steps was a pathway through an informal garbage dump. She began cleaning up the slope herself. She petitioned City Hall for permission to burn the trash that was many feet deep, and it is said the fire burned for three days. Making a garden there was a passionate embrace of public space, as Marchant spent the next few decades creating it as a public corridor.
FoundSF.org / Chris Carllson
On the wall, look for a mosaic reminder to keep the steps beautiful.
It is just so fascinating to ponder that this gorgeous hillside stairway/garden was a former garbage dump.
Currently, it has some of the most expensive houses in San Francisco. Rags to riches, indeed!
Keep an eye out for prime real-estate Napier Lane, a corridor accessible only via wooden planks that branch out of Filbert Steps.
The latest house sold here cost almost 3 million dollars. It comes with zero parking. Plus, the only way to access the area is through the steep Filbert Steps.
All things considered, the price tag for the arresting unobstructed views of the mesmerizing San Francisco Bay from your windows may be worth the expense for a few people.
Across from Napier Lane is the wooden gate entrance to Grace Marchant’s Garden.
Springtime is the best time to explore this gorgeously landscaped sanctuary. Don’t forget to jot down the number of flowers and plants you can identify. This is undoubtedly a gardener’s paradise!
Also, listen out for wild parrots hovering above you. You will definitely notice their arrival due to their infamous loud boisterous chirping. They are here if you did not see them along the Greenwich Stairs.
The scenic wooden stairway eventually turns into concrete, which will ultimately transport you down to sea level, back on Sansome Street, a few blocks from the bay.
C. Levi’s Plaza
Cross over to Levi’s Plaza to take a breather. You are now just a block away from the stunning SF bay. This park has an amiable open space, complete with benches and fountains.
Levi’s was founded in May 1853 when German immigrant Levi Strauss moved from Buttenheim, Bavaria, to San Francisco, California to open a west coast branch of his brothers’ New York dry goods business.
Wikipedia
If you haven’t detoured and explored the Embarcadero neighborhood, now is the time. Otherwise, make a right on Sansome and continue your trek down four blocks towards Broadway Street.
D. Broadway Street (Red Light District)
At the corner of Broadway and Sansome, pause and look left to take a glimpse of the Bay Bridge framed between the SF downtown skyscrapers, then make a right on Broadway. You’re now entering SF’s Red Light District.
As you walk along Broadway toward City Lights Bookstore, don’t forget to peek through the buildings to your left for fantastic views of the TransAmerica pyramid and SF’s Financial District.
E. City Lights Bookstore
If you have time and curious to see SF’s most iconic bookstore, walk down Broadway past Kearny Street until you hit Columbus.
Safely cross the street to the opposite side of Columbus, then make a left. City Lights Bookstore will be on your right-hand side. It is hard to miss.
Earmark about 30 minutes if you enjoy browsing literature. I naturally make a beeline for their travel section.
You’ve also officially crossed the border from North Beach’s Italy into Chinatown. You’re welcome to walk around and explore the streets in this neighborhood.
Grant Street is Chinatown’s tourist shopping street but locals do their groceries along hectic Stockton Street.
F. Kearny Stairway
After browsing City Lights’ extensive collection, head back down along Broadway towards the corner with Kearny Street.
Cross the street towards the Kearny Stairway and ascend the steps all the way to the top until you reach Vallejo Street.
Pause for a few minutes here and savor the terrific views of SF’s Financial District. One of the best views of downtown on this walking tour.
On top of the stairs, you will see a lamp post bearing the sign of the stairs’ current name – Peter Macchiarini Steps.
Macchiarini was an Italian-American California-based American Modernist jeweler and sculptor who was a pioneer in the field of avant-garde jewelry. He maintained an art studio and shop on Grant Avenue in San Francisco, California, for more than 50 years and was instrumental in organizing the first San Francisco outdoor art festival in 1938.
wikipedia
G. Vallejo Stairway
Let’s continue our urban trek by making a right on Vallejo until you reach the Vallejo Stairways.
Descend the steps but make sure to look straight out for sweeping views of the Bay Bridge and the bay. It does not get any more striking than this.
H. Montgomery Stairway
At the bottom of the Vallejo Stairway is Montgomery Street.
Make a left on Montgomery and walk towards your next set of stairways – one of my favorite stairways in this walk.
Ascend the Montgomery Stairway and take a moment to pause at the viewing platform at the top and pat yourself on the back for a job well done.
You’ve successfully summited one of SF’s astonishing hidden lookout points without the tourist crowds. Despite multiple visits, I have yet to come across other tourists in this secret stairway.
Continue walking straight down on Montgomery towards the next street – Union Street.
Make a right on Union Street and walk on the left side (bottom level) until you arrive at a small park at the end – this is the location of the final stairway in this walking tour.
I. Calhoun Terrace
Located just right on the edge of Telegraph Hill, Calhoun Terrace is a handsome garden well-maintained by the neighborhood.
Views of the bay from here are astounding. Calhoun also has some of the oldest houses in SF, some of which were built in the 1860s.
Upon entering Calhoun, you will be greeted by a sign that informs you that these stairs do not give you access to the bay.
You have to loop back again to the Filbert Steps (where we came from) in order to reach Sansome Street for the Embarcadero.
J. End
Congratulations!
We had reached the end of our walk. Kudos if you completed both hikes in one day. I am almost certain that this is a day you will remember for a long time.
There are several options from here.
a. You can go down Union Street and make a right on Stockton and walk back where you parked.
b. You can go up Montgomery and make a left on Filbert Stairway or Greenwich Stairway for additional heart pumping cardio.
c. Go back to Washington Square for restaurant options.
d. You can take Uber/Lyft back to your car or to the nearest train station.
Visiting SF in the future? Pin this post for later!
Other San Francisco Posts/Tours
Please click the image below to be redirected to all the other blog posts and FREE walking tours in San Francisco.
Before your trip to San Francisco
A. Book your Accommodations
San Francisco is expensive, even for locals.
For tourists, I suggest staying outside of the city or staying in a hostel to save some cash.
If I am not redeeming points, I usually go to booking.com to search for reasonably-priced deals. Below are the current hotel deals being offered at www.booking.com in San Francisco.
Booking.comI use Hotels.com regularly as well. What I like about hotels.com is you get a free night after every 10 stays. The price of the free night would be the average of your previous 10 stays. What a generous perk!
I also use hostelworld.com every so often, particularly when hotels are insanely expensive or when I’m traveling solo. This gives me the opportunity to meet other travelers and join cheap tours that are frequently offered by these budget-friendly accommodations.
B. Walking Tour Essentials
Click any of the images for more product information.
C. Book your Flights using Miles / Points
All of my trips the past decade had been ALMOST FREE via travel miles.
I’ve visited a total of 85 countries using miles and points. I accumulate these points from credit card rewards and bonuses. Some of those travel credit cards are featured here.
D. Travel Insurance
Don’t Leave Home without Travel Insurance. Get a Quote Here:
EDITORIAL DISCLOSURE – Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. The content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
Hope you enjoy this wallet-friendly walking tour! Leave me a comment about this tour and feel free to connect with me below.
Wow, this is great content that takes us each step of the way (pun intended) =) ! I never considered the idea of secret stairways being an attraction, but I’m sold! I love how you drew inspiration from books, I can really relate to that!
Hi Natalie. I’m glad you liked the secret stairways. SF has hundreds of them. I have so many more stairway hikes to share, just need to find the time. Make sure to do any of the hikes here when you visit SF. You can also download the map anytime!
LOVE all the details! Totally saved this for later!!
Thank you Mary. I’m glad you liked it. Make sure to explore this hike when you’re visiting SF!
This place looks so beautiful! Still have not gone to Cali but will someday keep this hike in mind when I do go. Love the detailed information!
Thank you Alexyia. SF is filled with rolling hills and spectacular seascapes. I’m sure you’ll love it when you come visit.