How to do San Francisco on a Budget!
San Fran is located in northern California and, of course, is home to the Golden Gate Bridge! But there is much much more to this city with its historic streetcars, hillside neighborhoods (including the famous painted ladies from 'Full House') and my favorite, the wild sea lions on Pier 39 that decided to make this their home. It is a rather pricey destination, but a must! So here are my wallet-friendly tips and tricks for visiting this iconic US city.
1. FREE STUFF – San Francisco is one of the most expensive cities in America. It has such a high cost of living where the typical rent exceeds $4,500 - crazy, right?! That’s more than 2.5 times the typical national rent. It has a booming tech industry and is home to some well-known companies, like Google. Even just visiting, a typical day costs at least $50. Don’t worry, there are things you can do that won’t cost you a penny!
If you’re an animal lover, Pier 39 is a must. You can hear the sea lions as you are walking up to the pier! They hang out there all day, just soaking up the sun. If only we could trade lives for a day.
The painted ladies are one of the most photographed locations in the city. If you can, try to get some photos when the sun is setting. It casts a gorgeous flower over the houses and gives you that postcard-worthy shot.
Twin Peaks are the second-highest point in the city and have the best view of the city. If you can, go on a sunny day so the fog doesn’t ruin the spot.
2. Cheap Thrills - You can’t visit San Francisco without catching a ride on the famous Cable Cars. It’s $6 for a one-way ride and there are three different cable cars that run throughout the city.
The Kittea Cat Cafe - Again, I’m an animal lover so this was a great way to spend the afternoon. Weekends tend to be more pricey, but you can save $10 by booking a weekday happy hour slot, for a total of $15, including all the cat cuddles you can handle!
You can get a rental bike for $35 for the day, and bike your way across the bridge. Quaint Sausalito awaits you on the other side, which makes for the perfect spot for lunch. Grab the ferry back to get a view of Alcatraz, and you’ve had a fabulous day out for no more than $50, seeing some iconic sights.
There you go, these were some of my ways to make the most of an expensive city and not feel like I was missing out on anything. A little bonus tip is to eat in China Town - some of the cheapest meals I found, and super delicious!