Is it worthwhile to rent a car for a four day visit to SF? Will it just sit in the hotel parking lot or are there sites to see that public transportation won't take us to see?

Unless you plan on traveling outside San Francisco, there is no reason to have a car. Parking is expensive and street parking is scarce.

This depends on your Travel Plans. And the location of you lodging. If you wish to leave the city and tour the wine country then you will need a rental car; or a seat on a tour bus.

The city is not particularly vehicle friendly. Granted, it not as bad as London, but it can still be crowded and slow-going. If you believe that you will stay within the city, a rental car may not be necessary. And public transportation may be a satisfactory means to reach your favored destinations.

Also, your lodging may charge a daily fee for the parking space. You should investigate this before looking further into a car rental.

wesals,

It really depends on what you're going to be doing. If you're planning to spend all four days in San Francisco proper, you may as well forget about a car. Overnight parking will run you (in most cases) $25 or more, and everyday parking/driving hassles will generally be great and not worth the trouble.

If, on the other hand, you plan on taking some side-trips, you may wish to consider picking up a car for the last day or two of the trip--just enough time to do whatever it is you wish to do outside of town.

Have fun!

AL

I disagree - I think a car is very helpful in SF, particularly if your hotel is not super-convenient to SF's slightly-better-than-mediocre public transportation. I visit frequently and always rent a car.

Perhaps it depends on your style of travel -- do you like to explore a city, or do you stick to the tourist zones?

For example, during a four day visit, you'll probably want to drive across the Golden Gate Bridge and see the Marin Headlands and possibly Sausalito and/or Tiburon. Tough to do without a car.

Regardless of your decision, Enjoy!

This question always comes up.

When we lived in SF, we had a car & took it everywhere, except when I went downtown to work. I don't think we ever took public transportation on weekends or to dinner. Now we live just 20 mins from SF, and we also take a car everywhere, except to downtown. We go into the City many times a week, for "playing" or shopping in the daytime, or for dinner. My wife is a volunteer tour guide for SF City Guides (30 free walking tours - sponsored by the SF Public Library - www.sfcityguides.org) and we go in quite often for her to give the tour, and for me to play.

However, since we've lived in/near the City for 30 years, we know where to park and where it's impossible to park - and you won't. If we go to a place where it is impossible to park (downtown, Mission, Russian Hill), we will park at one place & take a short bus/Muni Metro ride to the place where we want to be.

As a Tourist, most of the top tourist attractions for first or second timers are in hard to park areas, that are easily accessed by walking or public transportation. Also, parking a car overnight is expensive in most hotel areas, except for the Lombard St hotels, which are usually free.

However, when we have guests and I want to "show off" San Francisco, I drive them to places that it is difficult to get to by public transportation. Places like along El Camino Del Mar in Lincoln park, then through Seacliff (where I point out Robin William's house)and along Linclon Blvd in the Pesidio - this drive has fantastic views of the Golden Gate, and the GG Bridge. My favorite view is on the other side of the GG bridge, as you climb up through the GG National Recreation Area and get breathtaking views of the City through the GG Bridge, and then over the GG bridge. I also drive them to Treasure Island in the AM for a great view back to the Financial District/Coit Tower. I drive them around GGG Park, Haight, Victorian Houses on Alamo Sq, out along western Broadway for fantastic views of the Bay, & see where Gordon Getty & Larry Ellison live. I also show them the fantastic views of the City from Twin Peaks, and Goat Hill.

If you will be here for only 4 days, you probably won't really need a car. After your visit to SF or before, if you will have a car to go to other places, perhaps pick it up a day early & do some of the things I mentioned.

Stu Dudley

I think Stu's message is right on the money. During Christmas vacation, I was in SF for 4 days. We drove from So. Cal so I had a car. I ended up staying at the Columbus Motor Inn because I needed a suite and I didn't want to pay the high price of parking (they have free parking). The first two days we left our car in the garage and either walked or rode the bus everywhere-Union Square, Chinatown, North Beach, etc.

The third day we drove across the Golden Gate Bridge to Muir Woods, Sausalito, etc. Also used the car to go to Haight Ashbury, Alamo Square, the Presidio and of course had to drive down Lombard Street!! I had no problem getting around and not too much difficulty with parking. I would agree that you should avoid driving in the Union Square area although I did it to drop my daughter off at some shops. I wouldn't have wanted to find a place to park there.

So to get around the city, you don't need a car but I enjoyed the drives to other parts of town and over the bridge. Maybe rent a car for two days of the the four you are there.

Thank you all for your responses. We are going to stick with the original plan to rent a car. It will sit for a bit, but be used as well. As Stu mentioned the GG Bridge, etc. will be best visited by car. Anxious to leave behind snow and 20 degree temps for a few days anyway!