Resources - Orientation

What to wear?

San Francisco has a mild climate and does not experience a lot of temperature variation between seasons.

• Average temperature tends to be lower than other cities
• Summers in San Francisco are long and chilly with lots of fog
• Winters are short, windy and rainy but snow is rare
• ~55 to 65 degrees (rarely exceed 80 degrees) in summer and 48 to 59 degrees in winter

The weather of San Francisco is noticeably colder than nearby cities even during the summertime. Wear light to medium clothing (e.g., t-shirt, short/long-sleeved shirt) plus a jacket or cardigan.

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Where to live?

Given its location, San Francisco is a major hub for international commerce, technology, and finance.

• Many work in downtown and live nearby
• Popular communities, e.g., Oakland, Mountain View, Menlo Park, San Jose, San Mateo, Palo Alto, Sunnyvale, Redwood City, and Santa Clara

Downtown and Oakland are the economic engines of San Francisco, with numerous large corporations specializing in industries such as technology being based here.

• Living arrangements are provided in the form of units in high-rise apartment buildings
• Work and commute using public transportation
• Costs are high here, with rent averaging around $3,600 for a one-bedroom apartment

Outlying cities (e.g., Mountain View, Sunnyvale) have large job markets that provide internship opportunities.

• Living quarters are usually located in medium-sized complexes
• Public transportation is available but less developed than San Francisco
• Renting a car is recommended
• Average rent in these regions range between $2,600 and $3,200

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How to get around?

San Francisco’s transit system is headed by the San Francisco Municipal Transit Authority (SFMTA). With numerous services providing accessibility to the entire city, it’s no wonder that it ranks as #2 for public transit in the US.

Riders can elect to pay cash for their fare, but San Francisco has more modern options that cost even less. With the Clipper Card, riders can pay the fare for any Bay Area transit system at a lower cost than with cash. There is also the Clipper App, which lets you purchase tickets for any Muni service. Busses, trains, streetcars, and even cable cars are provided by the SFMTA. More fare information can be found HERE.

• Bus service: Bus lines include Judah and Third Street Buses – Click HERE
• Muni Metro: Seven light rail lines – Click HERE
• Trolley coaches/street cars: Runs throughout the city in hilly areas – Click HERE and HERE

San Francisco is known as a popular hub for rideshare services such as Uber/Lyft, providing yet another easy way to get around town. Just like any other city, San Francisco also has several cab services that operate within its jurisdiction, some of which are listed below.

• Cab services: Click the following links for Yellow Cab San Francisco or Luxor Cab.

Much like Los Angeles, San Francisco is an important hub within the state of California, and by extension, the United States. Despite this, the city does not actually have a dedicated AMTRAK station, although there are nearby stations such as Oakland, Emeryville, and Hayward. The city is known to host interstate bus services such as Greyhound.

• Interstate train: Check out Amtrak
• Interstate bus: Check out Greyhound, Megabus, and Flixbus.

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What attractions to see?

San Francisco is known for many things, from cultural festivals to magnificient sights and views. Exchange visitors can easily fill up their after-work and weekend schedule with fulfilling travel experiences and activities in this city.

• Golden Gate Bridge – Click HERE
• San Francisco Museum of Modern Art – Click HERE
• Alcatraz Island – Click HERE
• Lombard Street: An east–west street in San Francisco
• PIER 39: A shopping center and popular tourist attraction – Click HERE
• Golden Gate Park: A large urban park consisting of 1,017 acres of public grounds – Click HERE

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City Spotlights