San Francisco Travel Guide for Indians going on Vacation

San Francisco

Some refer to San Francisco as the more refined cousin of Los Angles; it’s more compact and has the charms of a small town with a patchwork of different cultures but it’s also the most progressive city in America. The city has some stunning sights, a booming nightlife and world class cuisine.

For visitors from India, it can feel expensive but there are ways to cut costs. Don’t rent a car, parking is difficult and costly. A better way is to get a 1 day, 3 days or a week’s travel pass or just walk; the city is only nine miles across. Hotels and bed breakfasts in Nob Hill and Marina are much cheaper than the big downtown ones.

Golden Gate Bridge

This bridge connects the city with Marin County. If you want to capture a picture postcard like photo of this iconic bridge, head for the Golden Gate Vista Point which is on a hill overlooking San Francisco.

Ferry Building Marketplace

Ferry Building Marketplace has a variety of food stalls and some are almost like mini restaurants. Some visitors pick a meal to go and enjoy it sitting at the waterfront. If you want to avoid queues, avoid visiting on weekends.

Golden Gate Park

It’s bigger than New Yorks Central Park and gets almost 13 million visitors annually; admission is free. It will take a whole day to explore it fully but you should not miss the 5 acre Japanese Tea Garden here. It has cherry trees, a 5 story Pagoda, a Zen garden and a functioning tea house.

The Exploratorium, Near Pier 15

The Exploratorium has 600 plus exhibits for ‘hands on’ learning experience. Described as a Learning Laboratory, the kids will love it and so will you, but if you want to avoid the kids rush then come on Thursday between 5pm to 10 pm.

Mission District

This is the Mexican quarter of SF that has retained its authentic ambience. Said to be the place that introduced the Burrito to the world, it has lots of hole in the wall and small eateries. From here you can also visit Bernal Hill for the sights of SF or visit Dolores Park. Avoid visiting Mission District alone after dark. Besides this Mexican enclave, the city has Japanese and a China town too.

Alcatraz, San Francisco Bay

This American version of Kala Pani is a small rocky island in the San Francisco Bay. It housed the infamous Al Capone as well as prisoners from the Spanish American War and the Civil War and is featured in numerous Hollywood movies.

Muir Woods National Monument, 16 miles north of SF

Home of the giant redwood trees; the largest is 258ft tall, and the average age of the trees is 600 to 800 years. Parking can be a problem here so take a bus.

With summer holidays just around the corner, it’s advisable to book early. Not only will you avoid disappointment but will be able to get a few discounts too. Carry cash for sundry expenses and the remaining amount in EbixCash World Money multi-currency forex card and don’t forget to get purchase travel insurance as well.