Where to stay in San Fransisco

Where you stay in San Francisco heavily depends on the kind of experience you want to have. Is your trip solely built around attending games at Oracle Park? Are you interested in seeing some of SF’s iconic tourist attractions? Do you want to get the experience of a local, and explore some of the most well-loved neighborhoods in the city? Do you want to do a little of column A, a little of column B, and have the location flexibility to see it all? Below, we will explore some of the different lodging areas and options in the city, to help you choose what’s best for your visit.

Where Oracle Park is located

Oracle Park sits on the eastern side of San Francisco, right on the Bay. It is located where the SOMA (South of Market) District meets China Basin, and is known for its nightlife, cultural attractions, commercial businesses, and industrial architecture. It’s close to downtown, and a hop, skip, and a jump from the famed Embarcadero. If the sun is going to be out anywhere in the city, you can bet on it shining here, but don’t underestimate that aggressive windchill from the Bay.

While the area directly around Oracle Park has limited lodging options, nearby Downtown SF is a great option. The popular tourist destinations of Pier 39 and Fisherman’s Wharf also offer some great lodging opportunities for your stay in SF. Below, I’ll share the various places you can hang your (Giants) hat by district.

Soma / Oracle Park

The two closest hotels to Oracle Park are Hotel VIA and Hyatt Place. Both are a block away from the park, but they can also both be very pricey options—sometimes in excess of $400/night. Hotel VIA is a boutique hotel and boasts a partnership with Giants Enterprises, which means you can book an entire travel package through them that includes the room and a tour of the stadium. 

What’s here:

• Oracle Park (duh)
• Chase Center 
• San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
• Yerba Buena Gardens
• The Fly Trap (one of the oldest bars in SF!)

Pros

• Closest proximity to the ballpark
• Easiest for grabbing your luggage and heading to the airport after an afternoon game
• Best if you’re also trying to catch an event at the Chase Center

Cons

• If you veer off the beaten path, it can quickly become a bit desolate out here
• Not as close to some of SF’s tourist destinations
• Requires a number of transfers if you are using public transport to get from SFO or OAK airports. 

How long does it take to get to Oracle Park?

It seems like this should be obvious, but it does sort of depend on where you stay. It’s a three-minute walk from Hotel VIA and an 18-minute walk from SFMOMA, which is also considered SOMA. Either way, it’s very close and by far the most convenient option. 

Anywhere along the Embarcadero 

Personally, this is my favorite option because of its views of the San Francisco Bay, and its delicious dining options. Staying along the Embarcadero keeps you close enough to the park that wheels aren’t necessary as long as you don’t mind a walk, and it’s also stunningly beautiful. Not to mention, you can hop on a passenger bike or MUNI very easily, if strolling isn’t your thing. 

If you’re going to go this route, I recommend the Harbor Hotel, a boutique accommodation located directly on the waterfront. It offers a free continental breakfast, is pet-friendly, and has been highly rated by travelers far and wide. 

What’s here:

• The Ferry Building
• Gorgeous views of the Bay/Bay Bridge
• Cupid’s Span statue

Pros

• It’s very pretty
• Proximity to activities
• It’s a direct 40 minute BART ride from SFO to the Ferry Building. 

Cons

• It can get a little chilly!
• Limited activities once you’re away from the Ferry Building

How long does it take to get to Oracle Park?

From the Ferry Building, it will take you about 10 minutes by car, 15 minutes by Muni, and 30 minutes on foot. 

Downtown

If you are in San Francisco for any reasons beyond seeing a ballgame, I recommend staying downtown. You are still within a 20-30 minute walk, 15-minute MUNI ride, or 10-minute drive to the ballpark, but you also have the benefit of easy access to all sorts of San Francisco experiences. Downtown is the most centrally located option and perfect if you are interested in seeing some sites during your visit. 

There are an overwhelming number of options when it comes to lodging downtown, and some are (much) better than others. Be weary of any place that has less than three stars and/or a slew of bad reviews. While hotels like the Ritz and the Palace are known for being standout places to stay, they are also not cheap. 

What’s here:

• Cable Car entry points
• SF City Hall
• War Memorial Opera House
• Davies Symphony Hall
• Westfield Mall

Pros

• Centrally located
• Wide variety of hotel options
• An easy 30-minute ride from SFO to Powell Street station on BART, no transfer required

Cons

• The area can be a little sketchy 
• Hotels are often overpriced for what you’re getting

How long does it take to get to Oracle Park?

If we use the Palace Hotel as a starting point, it’s eight minutes by car, ten minutes on the MUNI, and 23 minutes on foot. In other words, pretty easy-peasy. 

Union Square

Union Square is technically a part of Downtown, but gets its own heading because it’s a go-to spot for lodging. It houses some of San Francisco’s most historic hotels such as the Beacon Grand and the Westin St. Francis. It’s at the center of San Francisco’s major shopping district and is very easy to get to and from via public transportation. It’s also close to a cable car stop, so if tourism is part of your plan, it’s a convenient place to stay. You’re also steps away from Chinatown, which is a fantastic place to explore. 

What’s here:

• Lots and lots of shopping
• The Dewey Monument
• Chinatown 

Pros

• Heart of Downtown
• Classic San Francisco architecture
• Same straightforward, 30-minute BART route from SFO to Powell Station as mentioned above. 

Cons

• If you’re interested in a local’s more typical experience, this isn’t it. 
• Can be extremely busy, especially during high tourist season

How long does it take to get to Oracle Park?

11 minutes by car, 15-20 minutes by MUNI, and 26 minutes by foot. 

The Castro

While it’s not the most convenient spot in terms of proximity to the ballpark, the Castro is a fantastic neighborhood to stay in if you want to explore San Francisco’s one-of-a-kind charm, a very alive historical district, and make some new friends along the way. The Castro is an LGBTQIA+ mecca and as part of the community, I recommend making a pilgrimage. Similar to the Mission, it’s not super close to the ballpark, although different from the Mission, it’s quite easy to get to by MUNI. 

The Travelodge located in the Castro is an SF institution, and a great lodging option if you choose to stay in this area. It’s fairly affordable, recently renovated, and known for its fun, social atmosphere. The Castro district is also known for a number of adorable bed and breakfasts, such as the Parker Guest House, which offers a more quaint experience. If you opt for a B&B, I highly recommend booking well in advance. They are small and often fully booked.

What’s here:

• The Castro Theater (pop in for a sing-a-long or a classic film) 
• Twin Peaks Tavern (a famous and deeply loved gay bar that was established in 1935)
• Hot Cookie (delicious cookies, known for their “uniquely shaped” macaroons)
• Guy’s Flowers (If you saw the film, “We Were Here,” you can go visit Guy, the legend himself, and pick up a few stems from his breathtaking flower collection)

Pros

• Incredible LGBTQIA+ history
• Awesome nightlife
• Easy access to transit

Cons

• Pretty far from ballpark
• The line at Hot Cookie gets really long on the weekends
• A little trickier to get to from SFO via public transport: it requires one transfer from BART to MUNI at Civic Center station. That being said, you’re looking at around a 30-40 minute trip on BART, and a 5-minute ride once you’re on the MUNI!

How long does it take to get to Oracle Park?

As luck would have it, there is an underground MUNI stop in the heart of the Castro. You can take a number of underground trains to 2nd and King Street, which is right by the ballpark. It will take you about 30 minutes. You can hop in a car and cut that time down by about 10 minutes. 

The Mission

The Mission is an incredibly vibrant neighborhood, with rich history, culture, and fantastic nightlife. If you’re going to San Francisco solely to see baseball, it probably doesn’t make much sense to stay here. But, if you want to experience a local’s favorite spot, I can’t recommend it enough.

I would recommend staying in an Airbnb or VRBO in this area. It’s pretty slim pickins when it comes to standard hotels and motels, but a good number of vacation rental options. 

What’s here:

• Mission Dolores 
• Dolores Park
• Great thrift shops
• Some of the best food in SF (Head to El Farolito for burritos and Delfina for fine dining)

Pros

• Great food
• Fun nightlife
• Extremely walkable
• You can take the BART from SFO straight to the station at 16th and Mission and be there in under an hour.

Cons

• Considerably removed from ballpark
• Parking is pretty horrific if you’re in a car

How long does it take to get to Oracle Park?

That reeeeallly depends on where you stay in the Mission–it covers a lot of ground. All that being said, you’re probably going to want to take a car. From here to the ballpark, you’re looking at 10 minutes by car and 30 minutes by public transport, or an hour by foot (roughly). 

Pier 39, Fisherman’s Wharf, Ghirardelli Square

If you want the peak tourist experience, opt for a hotel near these attractions. That being said, it’s one of the less convenient places to stay if you’re trying to get to the ballpark. Hotels in this area tend to be overpriced, as does food. If you absolutely must stay in a place within walking distance to the famous sea lions on Pier 39, I’d recommend looking into Hotel Caza. It’s particularly good for families and the rooms are lovely. 

It’s tough for me to recommend staying in this area based on its distance from the ballpark, tourist traps, and general chaos, but I can appreciate the desire to see the famous sites. If you do end up staying in this part of the city, I highly recommend exploring some of S.F.’s other neighborhoods to get a taste of what else the city has to offer. 

What’s here:

• Sea Lions
• Musée Mécanique
• SF Bay Aquarium
• The Ferry
• Aquatic Park

Pros

• Proximity to sea lions
• Ghirardelli Square’s famous chocolate

Cons

• (Extremely) Overpriced
• Crowded
• Far from Oracle Park
• Not very convenient to get to from SFO via public transport.

How long does it take to get to Oracle Park?

I don’t really recommend public transport from here, nor do I recommend by foot unless you’re like me and enjoy walking until you bust a hole in your shoes. By car though, it will take you between 15-20 minutes from any of these spots. 

East Bay

You can stay here… but probably doesn’t make a whole lot of sense unless you’re planning on catching Giants vs. A’s at the Coliseum. The price difference between East Bay and SF is negligible, and even what you would save, you’d likely end up paying for in transportation. 

What’s here:

• Oakland Zoo
• Chabot Space and Science Center
• Telegraph Avenue
• Lake Merritt

Pros

• The East Bay is cool

Cons

• It doesn’t really make any sense. 

A note about the ferry

It’s possible that you’ve seen pictures or footage during broadcasts of fans getting off of a ferry right behind Oracle Park, and you might be wondering “Hey, where did those fans come from?” Well, the answer is that they probably came from Vallejo or the East Bay. And while those are great areas, we don’t consider them places that would make much sense if you are traveling into San Francisco to see baseball at Oracle Park. 

Having said that, the ferry is an option, so if your specific plans call for the greater North or East Bay, here’s a link to a helpful site with more information about where the ferry runs from and how much it costs. You can also explore other routes that take you to Sausalito and Tiburon if you have some extra days to wander around the Bay Area. 

Areas we wouldn’t stay

The Tenderloin

I wish I could say SF has figured out a way to provide the proper rehabilitation, mental health, and economic resources to all our city’s inhabitants, but unfortunately that is not the case. The Tenderloin is one of the rougher areas in the city with an alleged 70% of the city’s violent crimes.

Bottom Line

If your main reason for visiting SF is to see games at Oracle Park, staying in SOMA is going to be your best bet. If you have some time to explore, a stay in Downtown or Union Square might be even better. For a more unique visit, The Mission and Castro Districts will fit that bill. And for the classic San Francisco tourist experience, it’s Pier 39/Fisherman’s Wharf. It can definitely be pricey here, but with a little creativity, you can absolutely find something that works for your budget and needs.