Get comfy and prepare to discover the 3 best hostels in San Francisco! We wrote a big guide to the hometown of Sadie, one of the Hostelgeeks writers.
These top San Francisco hostels are all about comfort, cute details and cool organised events.
Your Shortcut:
- Green Tortoise Hostel - best for digital nomads, solo-travellers and party animal
- HI San Francisco - Downtown - best for groups and families
- Pacific Tradewinds Hostel - best for budget travellers
- Extra: Samesun San Francisco - best for female solo-travellers
Money-saving tip: Compare hostel prices with Hostelz.com. They compare prices from Hostelworld, Booking.com and others with 1 click.
1. Green Tortoise Hostel
2. HI San Francisco - Downtown
3. Pacific Tradewinds Hostel
And not just that. We also share the neighbourhoods and areas we recommend – and do not recommend.
Your time in sunny California should be topped with a unique stay that will create memories to last a lifetime.
Read: Our collection of the best hostels in California
That is why we’ve put together this useful article just for you! So instead of you spending time researching where to stay in San Francisco, you can focus on your travels – and we do the leg work for you.
This guide is perfect for YOU, when you…
- are tired of crappy hostels!
- want a social Hostel to actually meet people
- are happy to spend $1 to $2 more for a much better experience
What we cover in this article?
You can find all 5 Star Hostels here with Hostelgeeks and all guides to “Best Hostels In” here.
We’re sad to say that right now there is no 5 Star Hostel in San Francisco downtown. But we’re always on the lookout.
Check out also the 3 Best Hostels in Los Angeles. Here you can find all the 45 best hostels in USA, the complete backpackers guide.
Quick Introduction to San Francisco Hostels
Average price for a bed: A bed in a dorm can be as cheap as 20€ up to 38€ per night. This is a rough average to give you an idea. Prices always depend on the season and holidays. Please always check exact rates on Hostelworld.com or Booking.com.
Check-In and Check Out: The average check-in time is from 15:00 (3pm), while the Check Out time is before 11:00 (11am). Hostels usually offer luggage storage in case you arrive earlier or leave later. Make sure you check if luggage storage is free or if there is an extra cost.
San Francisco Tourism Tax: Unfortunately there is a high tax in San Fran. Daily bed rates of $40 or more are subject to a 15% tourist and hotel tax if you stay in San Francisco hotels. Bed rates of less than $40 are taxed only a 1% tourist tax, per city regulations.
Taxes are usually added at check-in so bare this in mind.
Parking in San Francisco: Most hostels in the city do not offer any free parking, but HI San Francisco Hostel does! For sure the hostel staff will do their best to help you find the easiest local parking option. Currently, the cheapest parking downtown is around $25 overnight.
🎁 New to Hostels? Read our guide to staying in a Hostel for the First Time here. We especially recommend reading:
- How to book hostels? (and websites to save $)
- 23 clever items: the hostel packing list to download
- How does the Hostelworld App work exactly? Our Advanced Guide
The 3 Best Hostels in San Francisco are …
Let’s jump right into the coolest hostels in San Francisco.
- Green Tortoise Hostel – best for digital nomads, solo-travellers and party animal
- HI San Francisco - Downtown – best for groups and families
- Pacific Tradewinds Hostel – best for budget travellers
- Extra: Samesun San Francisco - best for female solo-travellers
These are our favorite hostels in San Francisco. We want to make your life even easier, so we put all accommodations on a map for you. We even added our own tips for favorite restaurants, things to see, and more.
1. Green Tortoise Hostel
2. HI San Francisco - Downtown
3. Pacific Tradewinds Hostel
Overview: Best Hostels by Traveler Type
| 🦸 Solo Traveler: | Green Tortoise Hostel |
| 🙎♀️ best for Female Solo Traveler: | Samesun San Francisco |
| 🥳 Party Hostel: | Green Tortoise Hostel |
| 👩❤️👨 Couple Hostel: | HI San Francisco Fisherman’s Wharf Hostel |
| 👨👩👦 Family Hostel: | HI San Francisco - Downtown |
| 👩💻 For Digital Nomads: | Green Tortoise Hostel |
| 🦸 For Backpackers: | Pacific Tradewinds Hostel |
1. Green Tortoise Hostel
Backpackers and tourists love Green Tortoise Hostel San Francisco. People love their North Beach location, just minutes to Chinatown, Little Italy, Fisherman’s Wharf, and Union Square.
After their nighttime activities, such as our Pub Crawl or Beer Olympics, you may relax in your San Francisco hostel private rooms or dorms and enjoy our evening meals.
If you have time, jump aboard their hostel on wheels for Green Tortoise Adventure Travel treks to Yosemite, Alaska, and other US National Parks. These are some reasons the Tortoise is legendary.
To top all of that, there is a free daily breakfast and a free sauna. What can we say? It is the best hostel in San Francisco.
Their guests love meeting and hanging out with other travellers, and spending evenings in their ballroom.
You’ve had a nice night at the Green Tortoise Hostel San Francisco if the sun rises before you go to bed. Come back and make more noise!
No curfew, an enormous kitchen, a giant common area with a pool table, ping pong, piano, stereo, bike rack, and quiet spots to work on your next Startup or App.
Check prices at:
Hostelworld | Booking.com | Hostelz.com
Non-smoking rooms with huge lockers to store gear, comfy mattresses with reading lamps and 4 plugs per bunk, and new people to meet. The private rooms provide a home-away-from-home experience with comfortable beds.
Location: This San Francisco hostel is 3 minutes from City Lights Bookstore and the nightlife area. Green Tortoise Hostel is 1 km from Ferry Building stores, markets, and restaurants and if you walk 20 minutes, you will reach Fisherman’s Wharf.
The best choice in San Francisco for
- digital nomads
- solo-travellers
- party enthusiast
Check prices at:
Hostelworld | Booking.com | Hostelz.com
2. HI San Francisco - Downtown
HI San Francisco - Downtown is conveniently located next to Union Square, making it easy to reach everything the city has to offer.
Meet other travellers and see San Francisco like a local with the help of the hostel’s fantastic staff, who can advise you on the finest self-guided walking tours and reveal the city’s hippest districts.
Whether you’re in the area for the Mission District’s tacos and street art, Oakland’s sunlight and culture, or a quick trip to the airport, the area’s bus and subway lines make getting everywhere quick, affordable, and convenient.
Backpackers in san Francisco will love this hostel!
Stay in one of their recently renovated dorms or a private room and see for yourself why we’re the budget traveller’s paradise in the land of expensive hotels.
They provide free Wi-Fi and tonnes of free or inexpensive activities and trips to keep travellers amused.
Location: 5 minutes from Union Square shopping and eating. Chinatown Gates are 7 minutes from HI San Francisco Downtown Hostel. 5-minute walk to Westfield Mall on Market Street.
All the best attractions, including cable cars, Chinatown, Museum Row, Union Square, and a wide variety of restaurants, theatres, and bars, are within walking distance of our clean and secure hostel.
A great choice for
- family
- groups
- solo-traveller
Check prices at:
Hostelworld | Booking.com | Hostelz.com
3. Pacific Tradewinds Hostel
Are you an adventurous and open-minded traveller?
Pacific Tradewinds Hostel is the one for you.
This hostel is one of the cheapest in San Francisco. It is perfect for budget-conscious travellers who want San Francisco hostels cheap accommodation.
Because the hostel is small, their mantra is
“There are no strangers here, only friends you haven’t met!”
Staffs make sure that their guests feel comfortable and like a family. They even offer more free stuff than you will ever find in any other hostel!
What free stuff exactly?
- Ramen noodles & peanut butter and jelly sandwiches
- Tea & coffee
- Book/games nook
- Movie nights
Check prices at:
Hostelworld | Booking.com | Hostelz.com
There is also often the chance to join free walking tours of the city and inclusive activities such as a pub quiz.
Of course, all other necessities such as Wi-fi, linen and luggage storage are included.
Good to know: there are only dorm rooms on offer here, all of which come with 8 beds.
Location: Union Square and Coit Tower are a 15-minute walk. Moscone Center, Pier 39, and Ghirardelli Square area 20-minute walk. Oracle Park is 3 km from ITH Pacific Tradewinds Hostel and the closest airport is 23 km away.
This is one of the best hostels in San Francisco for
- Budget travellers
- Backpackers
Check prices at:
Hostelworld | Booking.com | Hostelz.com
4. Samesun San Francisco
Samesun San Francisco has spacious female-only and mixed dorms. Their private rooms come with a balcony and private bathroom.
It is also nice that they have a room with disability access which is kinda nice if you think about it.
To further accommodate their guests, Samesun Backpackers San Francisco provides free parking in both of their on-site garages on a first-come, first-served basis.
The hostel doesn’t have a great social environment since there isn’t much going on in the common area.
Check prices at:
Hostelworld | Booking.com | Hostelz.com
Location: Samesun San Francisco is located in San Francisco, 2.6 km from Crissy Field East Beach. Ghirardelli Square, Coit Tower, and Alcatraz are within walking distance. San Francisco City Hall is 2.8 km from Samesun San Francisco while Airport is 26 km away.
This is one of the best hostels in San Francisco for
- couples
- solo-travellers
Check prices at:
Hostelworld | Booking.com | Hostelz.com
Best Hostels in San Francisco for Solo Travellers
Right then, let’s get stuck into those very special hostels perfect for solo travellers.
Of course, every solo traveller is different, but we’re going to be presumptuous and say that our readers want to discover the best hostels in San Francisco for female solo travellers.
Adelaide Hostel (possibly the best breakfast in San Fran)
A pleasant surprise awaits weary, world travellers in San Francisco.
Tucked safely at the end of an alley is the cosy and colourful Adelaide Hostel.
Without a doubt, this is a great choice for female solo travellers because of the female dorms and great location.
The free breakfast here is highly rated – what a wonderful way to save even more pennies on your trip.
Compare prices and read reviews at: Booking.com | Hostelworld | Hostelz.com
For those of you travelling as part of a big group, you’re in luck.
Adelaide Hostel can accommodate groups of up to 60 people, wow!
Group Booking Tip: Just make sure you call in advance first so you don’t give the reception a heart attack.
What else makes this a super cool hostel in San Francisco?
- Free Wi-Fi + computers
- Dorm beds have a privacy curtain, power points + lamp
- Lockers under every bed
- Large fully equipped kitchen
There’s also a large lounge to collapse in after a big day exploring the sights.
The staff really want you to have a good time here. They know their stuff and will happily hand out insider information.
San Francisco is a great city for cycling, so definitely rent a bike and explore ‘til your heart’s content. Be aware though that the city is extremely hilly. Before heading out for a ride it’s probably a good idea to ask the staff about the hills on your planned route.
In the lounge area, there’s a notice board highlighting all of the upcoming events. It’s not compulsory to join, but we really recommend it if you’re keen to meet new people.
The Golden Gate Bridge is a mere 8km away. Fisherman’s Wharf can be reached in 10-minutes by car.
Adelaide Hostel is the coolest place to stay for:
- Female solo travellers
- Groups
Compare prices and read reviews at: Booking.com | Hostelworld | Hostelz.com
More San Francisco hostels worth a mention
We have given you the San Francisco best hostels, but if you want more, here you’ll find other SF hostels worth a mention.
San Francisco is one of the coolest cities so make sure to choose the best hostel San Francisco has to offer to enjoy your stay!
If you still want more options, we have listed more San Francisco hostels for you:
- Music City Hotel/Hostel
- Orange Village Hostel
- HI San Francisco Fisherman’s Wharf Hostel
- Amsterdam Hostel San Francisco
You will definitely find a lot of San Francisco hotel deals but staying in hostels are quite an experience! It is a way of meeting new people from different sides of the world.
Moreover, it is hard to find cheap hotels in San Francisco so if you are a budget-conscious traveller hostel is the best deal for you!
Music City Hotel/Hostel
Are you a music lover? Certified creative free spirit?
You will surely love this Music hostel. They have amenities that are perfect for you. Imagine having recording studios right under the hostel! That is something, isn’t it?
You will never miss your music because you can play guitar and drums and you can sing at their music studios.
Aside from its wonderful location, marvellous staffs and excellent cleanliness, they also have laundry facilities.
The neighborhood surrounding the hostel is very safe and you have easy access to cafes and grocery stores.
So if you want to meet musical-minded travellers, this Music City Hotel/Hostel is for you!
Compare prices and read reviews at: Booking.com | Hostelworld | Hostelz.com
Orange Village Hostel
The location of Orange Village Hostel is great. It is close to Bart Train and all other public transportation. Union Square is right around the corner and it is great for shopping.
They have 24-hour security and lockers. They offer a variety of rooms available from shared dormitory rooms to private bedrooms.
Breakfast is included but if you feel like cooking, they have a shared kitchen that you can use.
The rooms have a decent size with outlets, lamps, and shelves for every bed. Private rooms include cable TV, a small fridge, a microwave, an electric fan, and basic toiletries for your comfort.
Coin-operated laundry machines, free WiFi throughout the building, and a 24-hour reception desk are some of the hostel’s excellent amenities.
Compare prices and read reviews at: Booking.com | Hostelworld | Hostelz.com
HI San Francisco Fisherman’s Wharf Hostel
Since you’re visiting the ‘city by the bay’, we thought you’d appreciate an option located right on the waterfront.
HI San Francisco Fisherman’s Wharf Hostel is surrounded by National Park on one side, and the bay on the other.
The Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz can be seen just outside the hostel, too!
Rooms are split into small, medium and large. Basically the bigger the dorm, the more rooms there are.
Calling all travelling couples: the private rooms have absolutely stunning views!
Compare prices and read reviews at: Booking.com | Hostelworld | Hostelz.com
Hi hostel San Francisco downtown is all about getting social.
To support this, there are many cool (and free) activities on offer including
- Pub Crawls
- Museum visits
- Walking tour
Back at the hostel, there is plenty to keep you occupied.
The on-site Cafe Franco serves delicious coffee and homemade, organic food. This is where you’ll find the free breakfast, by the way.
Psst! You can even grab yourself a local beer and wine by the glass if you fancy.
Alternatively, take advantage of the fully equipped guest kitchen.
Relax on the sun deck, curl up in front of the gas stove or watch a movie in the cinema room – which will you choose?
Guess what? There’s free parking here!
Not many hostels offer this in San Francisco.
This is the top hostel in San Francisco for:
- Couples
- Flashpackers
Compare prices and read reviews at: Booking.com | Hostelworld | Hostelz.com
Amsterdam Hostel San Francisco
The heart of San Francisco, this neighborhood is home to some of the city’s most popular attractions as well as some of the greatest restaurants, bars, and shopping.
At Amsterdam Hostel San Francisco, you’ll be only a few steps away from the world-famous Cable Cars, Theatre District, and Chinatown. This is just where you want to be!
In addition to their convenient location and affordable rates, they have a common space, which can be used for a variety of purposes, such as hosting big parties as well as more intimate get-togethers.
You may prepare breakfast or any other meal in the enormous communal kitchen, and then enjoy it either inside or on their wonderful Terrace outdoors.
Bicycles are available for hire, and we also arrange pub crawls for the guests.
Compare prices and read reviews at: Booking.com | Hostelworld | Hostelz.com
What about the cheapest hostels in San Francisco?
Of course, there are always cheap hostels. But how do you actually find them? When you are traveling on a shoe-string budget and you want to save every dollar, there are ways to find the cheapest places in San Francisco.
- Open Hostelz.com with a full list of all hostels in San Francisco
- add your dates
- Order the listings by price
Simple as that.
Hostelz.com is a price comparison site for hostels. They list every single one in the world and tells you exactly which website is cheaper to use.
Another smart Tip: Check what is actually included, and what is excluded. Take a closer look at the location, too. A further location might mean more costs in transport.
Any Discounts?
You can find all our hostel discounts worldwide here. Subscribe to our newsletter to receive the freshest hostel discounts directly in your inbox. There are even special discount codes that we only share in our newsletter.
It is completely free to join!
How to book?
The most popular booking platforms are Booking.com and Hostelworld.com. On both platforms, your credit card is 100% protected and the booking 100% confirmed.
We included some handy links to each of the recommended hostel. Just click on the hostel name. The link will lead you to check prices and availability.
Read: step-by-step guide on how to book with Hostelworld
We recommend booking your hostel as early as possible! All of San Francisco best hostels are popular; especially in high-season. To make sure you end up in those stylish and good hostels, secure your room/ bed as soon as you have your travel dates fix.
The coolest Hostel App you need comes as well from Hostelworld. It gives you super cool features like you can contact your hostel mates beforehand and make plans together. Find more details in our review of the app
Scan the QR Code with your Smartphone to download the Hostelworld App from the App Store - like a real Hostel Geek!
Need an eSIM Card for San Francisco?
Get your eSIM Card with Airalo.com instantly online. It is easy to set up and cheap! Read our review of Airalo here.
No more searching for mobile stores. Get your eSIM Card for now and enjoy it instantly after landing in your new destination.
Our Favorite Hostels in San Francisco put on a map + sights
Let us have a look at the map. Below, we list all three best San Francisco hostels on a map.
Personally, we love to plan our trips with a map having all sights and potential hostels on it. We thought this map will help you with planning your trip too.
We’ve gone one step further and included the top sights worth seeing in the city. They are:
- Golden Gate Bridge
- Fisherman’s Wharf
- Alcatraz Island
- Pier 39
- Golden Gate Park
- Union Square
- Twin Peaks
- Painted Ladies
- Golden Gate National Recreation Area
- Baker Beach
- Land’s End
- Presidio
- Palace of Fine Art
- Golden Gate Park (great place for a bike ride)
There are a bunch of awesome things you can do whilst you’re there. Here’s a handy list of a few ideas we hope you’ll like:
- Escape from The Rock Cruise of San Francisco Bay
- Explore with the San Francisco Hop-On Hop-Off bus – classic, premium or deluxe
- Take a day tour to the beautiful Muir Woods of California
- Join an LGBTQ Castro tour
- Hop on a luxury Catamaran Sunset Tour of the bay
- Check out the Exploratorium, a science museum located right on the water
Any questions about hostels in San Francisco?
🤔Join our Facebook Group and TikTok here!
Ask all your questions and connect with like-minded wanderers 🔥
FAQs
Here we share with you the most asked question:
What are the best hostels in San Francisco?
Our personal favorites are the hostels that we feature in this article!
- Green Tortoise Hostel – best for digital nomads, solo-travellers and party animal
- HI San Francisco - Downtown – best for groups and families
- Pacific Tradewinds Hostel – best for budget travellers
- Extra: Samesun San Francisco - best for female solo-travellers
What are the best hostels in San Francisco for solo travellers?
Adelaide Hostel is the best for solo travellers. Adelaide Hostel is perfect for female solo travellers because they offer four-bed female dorm room.
Are hostels in San Francisco safe?
Overall, most San Francisco neighborhoods are not dangerous. But if you want to be sure you're sticking to the safest areas, make sure to research neighborhood of your hostel choice.
We will do our best to give you information about the hostels' neighborhood so make sure to check out Hostelgeeks.com. You can find safe hostel with top ratings! Keep a close eye on the overall ratings on booking platforms!
If you are not secure, you can also send us an email and ask us!
How much are hostels in San Francisco?
According to Hostelworld, a hostel in San Francisco costs $25 per night.
It will always depend on the season! Expect higher rates when it is peak season. We strongly suggest to always book earlier.
What is San Francisco best known for?
There are a lot of beautiful places to visit in San Francisco! Here is the TOP 5!
- Golden Gate Bridge
- Alcatraz Island
- Fisherman's Wharf
- Golder Gate Park
- Union Square
What are the best sites for finding hostels?
Of course, the best site to find hostels is Hostelgeeks.com
We are doing our best to deliver the best hostels to you. Check out the best hostels in the world guides; from Paris to Tokyo.
You can also have a look at Hostelworld.
Any questions about hostels in San Francisco?
🤔Join our Facebook Group and TikTok here!
Ask all your questions and connect with like-minded wanderers 🔥
Where to stay in San Francisco? The Areas
This is our complete Neighborhood Guide for San Francisco, with all the best areas to stay in San Francisco City Center.
San Francisco is not the biggest city in terms of area, but it varies greatly from one Neighborhood to another.
- Chinatown in San Francisco
- North Beach
- Financial District
- Mission District
- Haight-Ashbury
- Castro
- Russian Hill
- Tenderloin
1. Chinatown in San Francisco
Go through the gates of Chinatown to find one of the largest Chinese immigrant populations in the United States.
This neighborhood has been home to the Chinese community for generations.
Chinatown is a great place to get cheap souvenirs such as t-shirts and key chains, as well as other knick-knacks.
If you’re feeling hungry, you can’t go wrong with any restaurant in this neighborhood (and there are a lot of them).
For some desert, check out Great Eastern Bakery on Grant Avenue (a few blocks from the gates).
Be advised that many of the restaurants and some of the stores in Chinatown are cash-only.
Chinatown is an easy walk from the Financial District, Nob Hill, or North Beach
2. North Beach
If you’re a lover of Jack Kerouac, Allen Ginsberg, and the other Beat Generation writers, then it is will worth a trip to North Beach to see the Beat Generation Museum and the places they frequented.
Even if you’re not into the Beat Generation thing, North Beach is definitely an area to check out.
Browse City Lights Booksellers, grab some Italian food, and–if you don’t mind a steep walk–head to Coit Tower for a beautiful view of the Bay, especially in the early evening.
This neighborhood features great restaurants and bakeries – I recommend Stella Pastry and Café–at a variety of price levels from tasty and cheap fare at Taqueria Zorro to fine dining at the Stinking Rose, a garlic themed restaurant.
North Beach is less than a 10-minute walk from Chinatown or Nob Hill, and a 20-minute walk from Fisherman’s Warf.
3. Financial District
In San Francisco’s Financial District you will find Union Square, Westfield Shopping Centre, and many of the city’s designer clothing stores as well as the headquarters for companies such as Twitter, which are located on Market Street.
If you’re hoping to ride the cable car, you can catch it in the Financial District at Powell and Market Street (there is always a crowd so you can’t miss where to go).
This neighborhood tends to feature higher prices, because it is catering largely to the tech-start-up crowd.
If you are looking for a treat to walk around with, I recommend Boba Guys, a popular bubble tea spot on Stockton Street.
Don’t be scared off by the line, it’s only because the shop is very small (and extremely popular) wait times are very short.
If you’re looking to eat cheaply near the Financial District, checkout Chinatown, or head down Market Street to the Embarcadero and grab a bite at the Ferry Building.
4. Mission District
The Mission has been the traditional home San Fran’s Latin-American community, and is a great place to get Mexican food and see some amazing street art.
As far as affordability goes, this tends to be one of the cheaper parts of the city to grab a bite to eat.
Poetry lovers should check out the 16th and Mission Slam Poetry circles where local performers bear their uncensored hearts to a supportive crowd outside the 16th and Mission BART station every Thursday at 9pm.
The Mission District is near to Haight-Ashbury and Bernal Heights Park.
To get to the heart of the Mission District it is best to set out from the 16th and Mission BART station.
6. Haight-Ashbury
The Summer of Love was one of the defining moments in the recent history of San Francisco, and Haight-Ashbury is where it all took place.
This is a great neighbourhood for finding some funk hippie San Fran threads and one of the many vintage clothing stores, and a short walk from the Painted Ladies.
Haight-Ashbury is near to the Castro and Golden Gate Park.
7. Castro
The City by the Bay has a long history of being extremely inclusive of the LGBTQ+ community.
If you’re looking for bars, clubs, and stores that are geared towards the LGBTQ+ community then the Castro is the place to be.
The Castro is walking distance from Haight-Ashbury and the Mission District.
8. Russian Hill
The HI San Francisco Fisherman’s Wharf Hostel is located near the Russian Hill, at Fort Mason.
This neighborhood is the perfect place to go if you are looking for a nice café, wanting to browse a used bookstore, or get breakfast.
Polk Street will provide you with plenty of options at generally reasonable prices, for food and coffee.
Most of the restaurants cater to the breakfast crowd and can fill up around brunch time on weekends.
If you’re hoping to check out Russian Hill at night, I recommend getting a drink and a bite to eat at Nick’s Crispy Tacos.
The bar/restaurant is set up so that someone looking for a quiet night with friends or to meet new people can have a good time.
Food is cheap and very good.
Russian Hill is about a 30-minute walk from Nob Hill and can be accessed easily by taking the 1 bus towards 39th and Geary to Sacramento and Polk Street.
9. Tenderloin
As a tourist, this may not be a part of the city you want to frequent, but it is worth knowing about.
Located between Nob Hill, the Financial District, and Russian Hill, the Tenderloin covers a square that roughly runs along Geary Street between Grant Avenue and Van Ness Avenue, and down to Market Street.
This is where you will find the majority of San Francisco’s sizeable homeless population.
This area tends to be one of the less safe parts of the city.
If you are interested in learning more about the area, the Tenderloin Museum is worth visiting, the museum offers tours of the neighbourhood with guides who will explain the history of the area, how it functions, and how it came to be what it is.
Safety tips for San Francisco
Is San Francisco safe?
By and large, San Francisco is a fairly safe city, and most of the crimes that tend to take place are unlikely to impact tourists.
However, there are some things that are worth keeping in mind when visiting downtown San Francisco.
This city has a large homeless population, many of whom unfortunately suffer from mental illnesses and are unable to afford their medications.
The homeless population can primarily be found in the Tenderloin and on Market Street, but you are likely to see large numbers of homeless in many parts of the city.
When walking in areas with larger numbers of homeless people, it is important to keep your eyes open and be aware of the people around you.
Female travellers are very likely to experience catcalling and other verbal harassment when walking around, regardless of whether they are solo, with a partner, or in a group.
My best suggestion is to not respond and keep walking.
It is extremely unlikely that anyone will try and make any form of physical contact with you.
Trying to tell them off or engage with the person will likely escalate the interaction.
If you are eating or walking, particularly in a tourist area, keep your possessions close to you.
When sitting at a restaurant, it is a good idea to keep your purse on you lap where it is out of sight and you are holding it, and you should take it with you when going to the washroom.
Avoid putting valuables like your phone or wallet on the table if you are sitting outside at a restaurant on Powell or Market Street.
In my experience, I have seen many car windows smashed in the portion of Van Ness Avenue that borders the Tenderloin, so if you are staying in that area, or end up parking on the street there overnight, you should avoid leaving anything valuable in your car.
This is just a quick overview on how safe San Francisco is. As always, ask the hostel if there’s anything special to know about SF in terms of safety.
Read: How safe are hostels? Very safe, but here’s a few things you need to know
Read: Staying safe while traveling – 39 best tips
Read: Best yoga retreats in California.
Flights to San Francisco?
We enjoy Kiwi.com to find cheap flights all over the world including, San Francisco, New York City, and actually over the world. We love to use them to identify great combination of flights.
We use Skyscanner and Omio.com to find cheap flights and good connections all over the globe.
Skyscanner has a bunch of cool features like Multi-City Trip. Instead of doing this research step-by-step, Skyscanner offers this flight planning tool.
More handmade Guides for you
So here you have it, a great list of your places to sleep in SF. We did the leg work for you here.
And not just that. We have also covered many more destinations around the US such as Seattle and Los Angeles.
Read our complete guide to best hostels in USA. Also, we recommend also a road trip from San Francisco to Los Angeles. Read this guide on the perfect California Road Trip.
Here are all our US Hostel Guides:
- best hostels in New York City
- best hostels in Manhattan
- best hostels in Brooklyn
- best hostels in Key West, Florida
- best hostels in Los Angeles
- best hostels in San Diego
- best hostels in Seattle
- 3 best hostels in Washington DC
- 3 best hostels in Boston
- 3 best hostels in Chicago
- best hostels in New Orleans
- best hostels in Portland
- best hostels in Denver
- best hostels in Houston
- best hostels in Oahu
- best hostels in Hawaii including best hostels in Maui
- best hostels in Miami
- best hostels in Las Vegas
- best hostels in Honolulu
- best hostels in Boulder
Why not also head north, visit Cananda and discover the best hostels in Vancouver.
Over to you
Do you have any questions left, maybe doubts? Then please leave it in the comment below. We are very keen to help you - and actually you would even do us a favor!
Your question will help us to improve this San Francisco guide.
Last note: Our commitment
This is a genuine article to help you travel a bit smarter, and find the best place on a budget! We will never recommend you any place we haven’t evaluated or are not convinced by. We are constantly updating all our guides to keep them as fresh and accurate as possible.
Safe travels,
The Hostelgeeks
– – –
pin it for later
#1 CLOSED: USA Hostels San Francisco
Are you on the lookout for the best youth hostels in San Francisco?
Our number one hostel is super friendly and welcoming. It is also one of the cheap San Francisco hostels.
In fact, it’s the down to earth staff that really makes USA Hostel San Francisco what it is.
It’s a perfect place for relaxing, partying, socialising and acting like a hermit.
No really, this hostel is designed for every type of traveller. Whether you are looking for a backpackers hostel or a cool place just to hang and sleep cheaply, make it this hostel.
We really enjoyed our time here, especially the free dinners and pancake days. YUMMY!
USA Hostels is one of the most awesome youth hostels San Francisco has to offer.
Here you can choose between dorms and private rooms.
What’s great is there is a maximum of 4 beds per dorm. This way you’ll surely get to know all your room mates.
Would you like a towel with that shower? It’s free alongside bed linen!
The backpack-sized lockers also have a power point inside so you can securely charge your gadgets. Don’t forget your padlock.
There are so many freebies, it’s easier to make a list:
- FREE dinner every Monday + Friday
- FREE daily breakfast inc. Pancakes
- FREE luggage storage after check out
- FREE laundry powder + hairdryers
Good to know: there is a 14 day stay limit here!
As for the social aspect, it is doubtful that you’ll find yourself getting bored here.
Free city walking tours can be arranged, and you’d be crazy to miss out on the weekly pub crawls.
After a restful night, grab a bike and join the crew to cycle across the Golden Gate Bridge.
If you prefer chilling at the hostel, guess what?
There’s an actual yoga studio on-site for the guests! Just make sure you allow time to hang in the large lounge, too.
By the way, this is the only hostel in the city that offers privacy screening on dorm beds.
If you stay in this SF hostel, all the exciting sights of San Francisco will be surrounding you – bonus!
Best Travel Websites we recommend ❤️
(Fresh Update 2023)
Booking Hostels and Discounts 👏👏👏
As a user of Hostelgeeks, you also have access to exclusive hostel discounts. For booking hostels, we use:
- Hostelz.com - hostel price comparison
- Hostelworld
We recommend installing the Hostelworld App. It is very useful!
How to find cheaper Flights ✈️
The first websites we always check are Skyscanner and Google Flights.
Find our step-by-step process in our review about Skyscanner.
Travel Insurance made easy 🤒
We are currently using Safetywing and Hey Mondo. We wrote detailed guides about these insurances:
- Our review of Safetywing, compared to others
- a detailed review of HeyMondo Travel Insurance
Smartest Travel Tools you need to know 🤓
- Airalo.com - eSim Cards for traveling worldwide
- Onward Ticket - get proof for onward travel
- iVisa - get your visa online fast
- Get Your Guide - for activities and sightseeing tickets
- Omio.com - for all types of transport
Find all our recommended travel tools and websites here.
Get your Smart Packing List (Free Printable)
Knowing what to pack and what not to pack is key. As an example, you need a one-fits-all padlock.
We put together the ultimate list of smart items to bring.
