Holiday lettings in San Francisco

San Francisco consistently ranks as North America's 'Favourite City'. The boom-or-bust nature of the place, twinned with the stunning location and relaxed, liberal locals, make it an exciting place to stay. The Mission District is probably San Francisco's most famous neighborhood. A hipster hotspot infused with Latin roots, this is a popular area to explore San Francisco's eclectic food scene and late-night drinking dens. Neighbouring Castro was the center of gay activism in the 1960s and 70s and though it has gentrified significantly since, it remains a hub for the San Francisco LGBT community. SoMa (South of Market) is a sprawling district closer to the waterside, with several of San Francisco’s biggest and best clubs and art galleries. Families meanwhile might enjoy Noe Valley or Cow Hollow, areas with a laid-back atmosphere and beautiful parks. Richmond is also quiet, and has a rugged beauty due to its Pacific Coast location.

As one of the most walkable cities in the US, the streets of San Francisco are diverse, relaxed and a joy to stroll around. Check out the Castro neighbourhood, one of the first LGBT identifying suburbs in America and the adjacent Haight-Ashbury district, where the Summer of Love in 1967 famously popularised the hippie subculture. Take a ride on a cable car up the steep hills of the city and savour the view of the pretty ‘Painted Lady’ houses and iconic city skyline. Catch the ferry out to Alcatraz, the infamous island prison on San Francisco Bay, where Al Capone and other maximum security prisoners served their terms and afterwards, head to the Golden Gate Bridge, an excellent spot to take some photos (if it isn’t too misty!). In the evenings, discover fabulous San Franciscan cuisine on one of the city’s ‘Grub Crawls’, and sample food from the tastiest restaurants.

San Francisco started out as a Spanish colony, becoming part of Mexico in 1821 before the United States claimed it in 1846 when they took California during the Mexican-American War. The influence of these empires is still felt in the food culture here. Grab a burrito from a Mission Street ‘Taqueria’ and find out what a burrito is supposed to taste like! San Francisco has also had a significant Chinese population since the mass migration of the Gold Rush, so it’s no surprise there is some excellent Chinese food in the city - check out Chinatown in the Richmond District. To try some North Pacific seafood, head to Fisherman’s Wharf at the north end of the city on San Francisco Bay. Restaurants and street stalls line the wharfs, selling clam chowder and other local specialities. As the city has become more affluent, the fine dining scene has also developed significantly.

Getting to San Francisco is easy as the Bay area is served by the San Francisco, San Jose and Oakland airports. The city itself is seriously hilly so it’s not easy to walk or cycle around unless you are of a decent fitness level. The weather is also notoriously difficult to predict, so it’s usually best to stick to undercover forms of transport. San Francisco's iconic public transportation system is most famous for its cable cars. However, the Muni system operates 100 bus lines and the streetcar system, too. Tickets can be bought on board buses and streetcars, or at the underground Muni stations. A one-day Muni pass can be bought for unlimited travel on all services. To get out on the Bay or to visit Alcatraz, book a ferry or harbour cruise ticket at the wharves - there are plenty of operators to choose from.