General Information about San Francisco

On planning a trip it is normal to have plenty of questions. There is no need to worry because here we’re going to try to help you address them.

FAQs

• 
  Necessary Documentation
  What do I need to travel to San Francisco? Do I need my passport or will an ID card suffice? What forms will I need to fill in?
• 
  Money
  What currency do they use in San Francisco? Is it better to pay by cash or card? Is it easy to find an ATM?
• 
  Prices
  How much does it cost to eat in a restaurant? How much does a bus ticket cost? How much money will I need to visit San Francisco?
• 
  Weather
  Which is the best time of year to visit San Francisco? Is it cold in winter? Does it rain? What clothes should I bring?
• 
  Public Holidays
  When are the public holidays in San Francisco?  Is it better to visit the city on these dates, or will everything be closed?

Other topics

Electricity and electrical sockets

Electrical plugs in the United States have two flat pins. If you are travelling from outside the country you will probably need an adaptor to connect your electronics. You can buy one in any hardware store before the trip or once you are there, although it will probably be more expensive if you wait.

The standard voltage in the United States is 110V. Although nowadays almost all the electrical appliances are compatible 220V-110V, it’s better to be safe than sorry, so you should check it before putting it in the suitcase.

Time difference

The official time in San Francisco is 8 hours behind Greenwich (in summer GMT-7). In comparison, San Francisco is 3 hours behind New York, 8 behind London and 9 hours ahead of Hong Kong.

Business hours

The business hours for stores in San Francisco are generally from Monday to Saturday and from 9:30 or 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 or 7:00 p.m.

Some stores in tourist areas like Fisherman's Wharf, Chinatown and North Beach stay open until midnight.

Health care

The United States is not Europe and so, if you want to receive medical attention, you will have to pay for it. Given that the basic price of any medical consultation is very high, sometimes it’s better to take precautions and get a private medical insurance.

If you do not have any coverage and you want to take out private insurance, Columbus Direct offers the highest coverage at relatively low prices. It can also be done online with only a few clicks.

• Columbus Insurance Direct, estimate your quote

Important telephone numbers

• Emergencies: 911.
• Area code for San Francisco: 415.
• Country code for the US: 1.