Background
on a city is always helpful when traveling.
Take note of the following as you discover
and re-discover the magic of San Francisco.
Geography
Surrounded
on three sides by the Pacific Ocean and San
Francisco Bay, San Francisco's compact 46
square miles (125 sq. km.) crowd the tip of
the San Francisco Peninsula.
Population
"The
City" has a population of 723,959; nevertheless
it looms large in the imagination as the hub
of the greater Bay Area. The nation's fifth
largest metropolitan region registers a population
of 6 million and hosts over 16 million visitors,
conventioneers and business travelers each
year.
Weather
The San Francisco Bay Area has some of the
best weather in the nation. For year-round
temperatures and a comprehensive five-day
weather forecast, click
here.
|
Daily
Mean
|
Daily
Mean
|
Rainfall
|
| Temperature°F
|
Maximum
|
Minimum
|
Total
In.
|
| January
|
56.1
|
46.2
|
4.48
|
| February
|
59.4
|
48.4
|
2.83
|
| March
|
60.0
|
48.6
|
2.58
|
| April
|
61.1
|
49.2
|
1.48
|
| May
|
62.5
|
50.7
|
0.35
|
| June
|
64.3
|
52.5
|
0.15
|
| July
|
64.0
|
53.1
|
0.04
|
| August
|
65.0
|
54.2
|
0.08
|
| September
|
68.9
|
55.8
|
0.24
|
| October
|
68.3
|
54.8
|
1.09
|
| November
|
62.9
|
51.5
|
2.49
|
| December
|
56.9
|
47.2
|
3.52
|
| Annual
Average |
62.5
|
51.0
|
19.33
|
Phone
Facts
Emergency Dialing
Dial 911 to get help fast in any emergency
situation. An operator will connect you to
the police, fire department or ambulance.
Area
Code
The area code for San Francisco is 415. The
510 area code encompasses all of Alameda and
Contra Costa counties in the East Bay, including
the communities of Oakland and Berkeley. The
650 area code covers most of the Peninsula
and San Mateo County, including San Francisco
International Airport. For dialing outside
the 415 area code, callers must dial 1 plus
the appropriate area code and seven-digit
number.
Information
Please (all area codes 415)
Driving/Traffic
Regulations
Department
Of Motor Vehicles
1377 Fell Street (Haight-Ashbury) 415-557-1191.
The Department of Motor Vehicles helps drivers
with drivers licenses and car registration
by appointment. Parking violations, however,
are handled by the Department of Parking &
Traffic (DPT).
Driver's
Licenses
Valid licenses from Western nations authorize
their owners to drive in California without
further licensing for one year. Persons from
other countries must possess a International
Driver License.
For information on curbing wheels and curb
colors, visit our Tips
for Tourists section.
Towaway Zones
The San Francisco Police Department does not
take parking regulations lightly, and any
improperly used spot can become a towaway
zone. Watch for street cleaning signs and
stay out of parking lanes opened up for rush
hour traffic. Be aware that neighborhood parking
is by permit. The parking violation alone
may cost more than $20, plus another $100
for towing, and storage fees each day. Keep
in mind that the fine for parking in a bus
zone or a wheelchair access space is $250,
while parking in a space marked handicapped
or blocking access to a wheelchair ramp costs
$275. To obtain your car, you must get a release
from the nearest district police department,
then pick up the car at the towing company.
Parking
Garages
Telephone for availability, rates and hours
(all area codes 415).
| Fisherman's
Wharf |
665
Beach at Hyde |
673-5197
|
Moscone
Center/
Yerba Buena Gardens |
255 Third Street |
777-2782
|
| Museum
Parc |
Third
and Folsom |
543-4533
|
| Civic
Center |
355
McAllister Street |
863-3187
|
| " |
370
Grove Street |
626-4484
|
| Downtown |
833
Mission Street |
982-8522
|
| " |
Mason
and Ellis |
771-1400
(ask for garage) |
|
Ellis-O'Farrell |
123
O'Farrell Street |
986-4800
|
| " |
Sutter-Stockton
|
982-8370
|
| "
|
333
Post Street |
397-0631
|
| North
Beach |
766
Vallejo Street |
558-9147
|
| Embarcadero
Center |
250
Clay Street |
433-4722
398-1878 |
| Japan
Center |
1660
Geary Boulevard |
567-4573
|
| Union
Street |
1910
Laguna |
563-9820
|
| "
|
2055
Lombard Street |
495-3772
|
| Mission
District |
90
Bartlett near 21st Street |
567-7357
|
| Van
Ness |
1230
Polk Street |
567-9147
|
| Chinatown
|
433
Kearny Street |
956-8106
|
| "
|
733
Kearny Street |
982-6353
|
Liquor
Laws
Liquor, grocery and some drug stores sell
packaged alcoholic beverages daily from 6
am to 2 am. Most restaurants, bars and night
clubs are licensed to serve a full line of
beverages during the same hours, but some
have permits to sell beer and wine only. The
legal age for purchase and consumption is
21; proof of age is required.
For consumer tips information, visit our Tips
for Tourists section.
Gratuities/Tips
Restaurants service is not usually included
in restaurant checks. The average tip is 15
percent of the total check.
Taxis: Average tip is 15 percent.
Airport and Hotel Porterage: Tipping is expected
for all baggage handling. Airport porterage
is usually $1 per bag, one way.
For information on public transit accessibility,
click here.
For valuable information on safety tips, visit
our Tips for Tourists
section.
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