Hi everyone! My wife and I are doing our first trip to SF in late May, 4 nights. We keep seeing Union Square recommended for location but then every other Reddit thread is screaming about the Tenderloin being one block over and people getting harassed. Is it really that bad or are folks being dramatic?
Fisherman’s Wharf seems safer but also very touristy and further from restaurants we want to try. Would y’all just stay in Nob Hill or somewhere a bit more boring but walkable? Budget is around $300/night, not a hard ceiling but trying to be reasonable.
I personally would stay somewhere more boring but walkable and go to Union Square during the day. This is coming from someone who lived in downtown SF & stayed at hotels in Union Square. The hotels are beautiful but there is definitely an element when you step out of the hotel that you may not want to deal with. I got pickpocketed in Union Square and I stumbled into the Tenderloin before I knew what it was (this was before moving to SF for work). Also, there are frequent strikes in front of the hotels in Union Square (or at least there were in 2025) where the noise was so loud I could hear them on the 33rd floor of one hotel I was in. Chanting and banging all day and into the evening. Just my 2 cents.
It’s not as people on the news and stuff say it is. I would stay away from Union Square for multiple reason including the busy vibes day and night. I would stay a little further out like by the stadiums. The transit is pretty amazing out here. Order or buy a clipper card for each of you and take the metro, bus or Bart to the places you want to go. Fisherman’s Wharf isn’t far by bus.
My personal opinion on SF. I went there once, stayed 2 days, was the UNSAFEST I’ve ever felt in any city (and I’ve been to many countries in Sth America and Africa) I decided to walk to a bookstore, in the middle of the day, being an Aussie I walk anywhere, bookstore was about 20mins from my hotel… I turned around 10minutes in, because I felt unsafe (druggies and homeless) being a single female, yes, the feeling is obviously 10fold, but yeah, not in ANY hurry to see SF, other than the airport to anywhere else… but that’s my experience. Most cities are only worth the airport time.
Depends on your main purpose for the visit. Is it just to ‘see’ the city or something more specific, in which case stay near that. I personally would not stay around Union Square these days for a few reasons Every day you leave your hotel and run a gauntlet of people wanting to harass you for money or outright rob you. It’s stressful. Definitely do not walk around after dark. Lots of homeless, and very confronting, but some are just scammers pretending to be. Nothing like seeing the ‘Veteran’ in a wheelchair collecting money for hours then packing up his wheelchair up and walking away. Shopping such as the huge Westfield and many others around Union Square are closed and derelict. Walkable is debatable because of crime and feeling unsafe around SF. Union Square is fairly flat but elsewhere the terrain can be very steep. If I was going to San Francisco I would do a day tour of the city(organised) including Muir Woods and Sausalito, then get out on a drive or tour to Yosemite for a night at least. There are bus companies that specialise in it but would need to book as accommodation in Yosemite is limited. San Francisco is a visually beautiful unforgettable city.
I’ve been to San Francisco and honestly I think people online exaggerate it a bit
Union Square is actually very convenient for a first visit — super central, easy to get around, close to transport, shops, etc. Yes, the Tenderloin is nearby and you might notice a difference in a few blocks, but it’s not like you’ll accidentally walk into chaos. You just stay aware like in any big city.
Fisherman’s Wharf feels safer and more relaxed, but it’s definitely more touristy and a bit disconnected from the “real” city vibe.
If it were me, I’d go for Union Square or Nob Hill — best balance between location, walkability, and access to restaurants.
So no need to stress too much — just pick a good hotel, stay aware, and enjoy the city. SF is still an amazing place
Union Square and Fisherman’s Wharf are nice and pretty safe places. Tenderloin has indeed a lot of problems with drug addicts and homeless, but I would recommed to visit a plaza in front of City Hall. Very beautiful place, especially after sunset. It is close to Tenderlion, but there are a lot of cops on patrol at night. The other place I would recommend is the Palace of Fine Arts, close to the Golden Gate Bridge.
on a drive or tour to Yosemite for a night at least. There are bus companies that specialise in it but would need to book as accommodation in Yosemite is limited. San Francisco is a visually beautiful unforgettable city.