Language
American, with a West Coast accent. But on the streets of San Francisco, you’ll also hear everything from Hispanic to Chinese.
Currency And Tipping
The American dollar or greenback, made up of 100 cents. And just in case you need to know, a nickel is 5 cents, a dime is 10 and a quarter 25. The customary tipping rate is 15-20% for taxi drivers and waiters; bellhops are usually given $2 a bag in luxury hotels and $1 elsewhere; hotel maids should be tipped $2 a day. A doorman who hails or helps you into a cab can be tipped $1 or $2. You should also tip your hotel concierge for services rendered.
Dress Code
Take clothes for spring-like weather, and bear in mind that it can be cold on the ferries and on the Golden Gate Bridge and even colder when the fogs of summer roll in. San Francisco benefits from a constant breeze that can create a wind-chill factor in lower temperatures. Most Californians like to dress smart but casual – a few top restaurants expect men to wear a jacket and tie.
Safety
Major earthquakes in 1906 and 1989 are a reminder that San Francisco is built on a fault line. Many new buildings have been constructed to withstand tremors while older ones carry solemn warnings. If the earth moves, the official advice is to take cover, move away from windows, don’t use lifts and don’t run outside.
As in all large American cities, crime and potentially hostile street characters are a problem. Avoid all parks and deserted or poorly-lit streets at night, carry no obvious valuables and leave nothing you care about in the car. Panhandlers (beggars) are obvious and sometimes aggressive, particularly near Union Square and along Market Street. Most San Franciscans decline politely and continue on their way.
Travel
Cable cars are a city trademark. The two most popular lines of the three routes, Powell/Hyde and Powell/Mason, start from a turntable by Hallidie Plaza, at the junction of Powell and Market Streets. At peak times there can be long queues – better to ride the cars early in the morning, in the evening or taking the less-crowded California Street line. MUNI (San Francisco Municipal Railway) operates a complex but comprehensive public transport network reaching all corners of the city. It’s a cheap and reliable way to enjoy San Francisco. The most economical way is to buy a MUNI Passport, valid for 1, 3 or 7 days, which allows unlimited travel on buses, metro lines and cable cars, as well as discounted admission to some museums and sights. These can be bought from the Visitor Centre in Hallidie Plaza and other outlets, along with the useful MUNI street and transit map.
