Where to stay in San Francisco Bay Area

Neighbourhood-by-neighbourhood guidance for San Francisco Bay Area, United States: which areas suit which travellers, what they cost, and the stays we list in each.

• Palo Alto (4) — Low-rise tech, bicycle lanes Stanford's campus and the valley's headquarters, an hour south.
• North Beach (3) — Italian cafés, waterfront crowds Coit Tower, Alcatraz ferries, and espresso on Columbus.
• Hayes Valley (4) — Boutiques, patios, opera house Compact, walkable, and central without the crowds.
• Union Square (3) — Cable cars, department stores Cable cars at the door and most museums within a mile.
• Mission District (3) — Murals, taquerías, sun The city's best weather, best burritos, and Dolores Park.
• Berkeley (2) — Campus, bookshops, hills Chez Panisse, the campus, and BART straight into the city.

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