Flights to San Francisco reveal a city of hills, hipsters and all that's cool

Flights to San Francisco: practical information

Cheap airlines to San Francisco

There are flight deals to San Francisco all year long thanks to stiff competition at the three major airports that surround San Francisco and the Bay Area. San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is the first option, but don't rule out Oakland or San Jose before you compare San Francisco flight prices.

When to book flights to San Francisco

Of course this city is most popular in the summer when the days are long and hot. But the shoulder seasons are much more pleasant and cheaper. Autumn in San Francisco, there's nothing not to love about that.

• Peak season: July and August.
• Low season: Winter.

Flight duration

Direct flights from London take 10h 50min.

Experience San Francisco: what to do, what to see

San Francisco has a beautiful cityscape whether you strike out to the bay area or enjoy the city's neighbourhoods near the beaches and parks. There’s cultural entertainment and contemporary life all around, not to mention to great coastal rides you can take with a San Francisco car hire... the views!

Essentials in San Francisco

Golden Gate Bridge: Of course everyone arriving on flights to San Francisco will want to head to the Golden Gate Bridge first. It's one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World. Completed in 1937, it's an icon of America and is worth walking/driving/cycling across just for the experience.

Alcatraz: Thousands flock to this famous prison every year to see where the country's most dangerous criminals were once kept. Al "Scarface" Capone and George "The Birdman" Stroud were among the worst. For added effect, take the evening tour after it's dark.

Haight Ashbury: This end of town is trendy and got its reputation in the 1960s among the city's hippy population and today you'll find plenty of swanky shops and hip bars to hang out at. If there's one essential stop, it's where the Grateful Deal used to live in the mid-60s at 710 Ashbury Street.

Find more information on onlyinsanfrancisco.com.

Accommodations in San Francisco