1. get a data plan first, without google map, you will get lost pretty easy unless you are extremely good with maps and directions. T-mobile have 2 types of plan.
type 1
1. US$50 for 500MB data and call
2. US$60 for 1.5GB data and call
3. US$70 for 2.5GB data and call
there will be extra US$10 activation fee, so you are probably looking at $70-80 for the week.
type 2.
US$3 a day, only 2.5G, pretty slow, for whatsapp and facebook, but cheap. they will only show you type 1, you have to ask for type 2.
2. Free wifi, if you don't want to pay, there is only few places you can have free wifi in the city (except your hotel), the best place is a shopping mall named target, at 789 Mission St, San Francisco. You can access wifi and restroom there, can consider to use it as a check point before you start your day.
1. US$50 for 500MB data and call
2. US$60 for 1.5GB data and call
3. US$70 for 2.5GB data and call
there will be extra US$10 activation fee, so you are probably looking at $70-80 for the week.
type 2.
US$3 a day, only 2.5G, pretty slow, for whatsapp and facebook, but cheap. they will only show you type 1, you have to ask for type 2.
2. Free wifi, if you don't want to pay, there is only few places you can have free wifi in the city (except your hotel), the best place is a shopping mall named target, at 789 Mission St, San Francisco. You can access wifi and restroom there, can consider to use it as a check point before you start your day.
3. there are two main street in the city, market street (where all the shops locates), and California street (where one of the cable cars line run through it)
4. China Town and Financial district always stick together just like any city, financial district is considered to be the "wall street" of the west coast.
5. must find a day visit Fishermans Wharf, there are many pier, the key pier is the pier 39, where the restaurant and shops for tourist locates
6.Being a sea lion at Pier 39 is the best job in the world, they just sun bath there everyday and that's it, go visit them. Try crab there for lunch, find a restaurant with good reputation, but it is pretty sure the restaurants at pier 39 will be very tourist kind of expensive.
7. can take a boat trip there too, there are 2 boat trips, one just circle around up to golden gate bridge, the other one will land on Alcatraz which is called Alcatraz Cruises, at Pier 33, Alcatraz island was a famous jail for extreme dangerous criminal, also where the Nicolas Cage's film "the rock" was filmed.
8. cable cars have 3 lines, http://www.sfcablecar.com/routes.html, single trip cost US$6, a day pass will give you access to underground, tram and cable cars for only US$14, so get one unless you want to walk all day on the hills like i did.
9. go up Russian hill and Nob hill by cable cars, where the famous Lombard street locate, take pictures is essential.
10. if you travel cable cars as a tourist, remember to hop on at the front side, where you can stand or sit in open area, even "high five" with the incoming cable cars, don't hop on at the back, you won't able to feel the views. there is also a cable car museum if you are interested.
11. golden gate bridge have two viewing point, north and south, most tourist (travel by tourist bus) can only access the south area, with museum. the north area you must drive or ride a bike to get there.
12. golden gate park is a 3 miles long national park, there is a science museum inside can spend you a day, there are also couple area you need to pay in order to gain access, a green house, a Japanese style garden and a large garden.
13. if you want to ride a bike, there are couple bike cruise companies, some will just circle around the city, some can let you ride across the golden gate bridge, ask what cruise they are offering.
14. visit the city hall for free, you will find some historical things inside, or see some random people get marry there, but there are security check.
15. if you travel on bus/ tram, all run by the company golden gate transit, there is also free wifi on bus, but don't rely on it, get a map on the bus/ tram will show you all the routes within the city.
12. golden gate park is a 3 miles long national park, there is a science museum inside can spend you a day, there are also couple area you need to pay in order to gain access, a green house, a Japanese style garden and a large garden.
13. if you want to ride a bike, there are couple bike cruise companies, some will just circle around the city, some can let you ride across the golden gate bridge, ask what cruise they are offering.
14. visit the city hall for free, you will find some historical things inside, or see some random people get marry there, but there are security check.
15. if you travel on bus/ tram, all run by the company golden gate transit, there is also free wifi on bus, but don't rely on it, get a map on the bus/ tram will show you all the routes within the city.
16. telegraph hill, coit tower will give you 360 view to the city, but if you want to get to the top, you have to pay $7.
17. Ferry Building Marketplace have many cute things
18. if you are unsure, hop on a tourist bus for a quick tour first so you can have a basic understanding of the city, ask for a pass so you can hop on and off anytime you like, once you have a basic understanding of the city, it is easier to plan your route.
have fun!
