What NOT to Do in San Francisco - 10 Mistakes to Avoid

Today, we'll discover what not to do in San Francisco and share some valuable tips and common travel mistakes to help you have a great time on your next trip to this big city.

Hi, I’m Michael, and I lived in San Francisco for over a year. During my time there, I picked up some invaluable tips and tricks about the city that you won't easily find elsewhere. Today, I'll share all the things you should not do in San Francisco.

Chapters:
00:00 Intro
00:09 Car Theft
00:33 Bring a Coat
00:54 Cable Car Stops
01:11 Parking
01:35 Ferry Ride
01:56 The Tenderloin
02:19 Look Down
02:29 Muir Woods
02:43 Transportation
03:01 Shoplifting

Number one on the list of things to avoid in San Francisco has got to be don’t leave anything in your car.

My friend came to visit, and on her second day in the city, her car was broken into. Her passport, wallet, and all her clothes were stolen. I've seen thieves break into cars just to check if there's anything valuable inside. Never leave anything in your car. San Francisco consistently has ranked as one of the worst places for car break ins in the country.


Next up - Don’t forget a light coat or long sleeve shirt in the summer.

Wow, does it get chilly here even in the summer. The micro climates in San Francisco are a very real phenomenon. You can be warm or very cold depending on what part of the city you are in. If you decide to go anywhere please remember to carry at least a long sleeve shirt or jacket because the climate can change quite quickly here.


Don’t board the cable car at one of the main turnarounds or boarding points.

I have stood in line for over 30 minutes to board the cable car just for someone else to board the same cable car a short distance away with no line. These stops don’t have a ticket counter though so you might need to buy a cable car ticket at the ticket counter before you try to board at a different stop. Cable car tickets are about 8$ dollars.


Don’t expect to find a parking spot in the city.

Parking in San Francisco is not for the faint of heart and the amount of double parking I saw while living there was astounding. Please don’t expect to find a parking spot anywhere near where you want to be. It can be quite difficult especially in the touristy areas. On the weekends the parking garages love to spike the cost of parking so be aware of price gouging as well.


Don’t skip a ferry ride to Sausalito or a Catamaran Cruise across the bay.

Taking a ferry ride to either Sausalito, Tiburon, Alcatraz or Angel Island are all well worth the adventure and generally cost a little under $30 round trip. However, my favorite way to soak in the bay would be a catamaran cruise. I recommend Adventure Cat as I have ridden with them twice and the second time was even better. If you can play your sailing cruise when there is no fog then that would be ideal because the San Francisco fog can really come when you least expect it.


Don’t venture into the Tenderloin neighborhood.

This is the neighborhood I lived in for over a year. It was the only place I could afford a studio apartment or to live by myself. I really did not like living here. It was worse than what is shown in the video and I saw a lot of things that I would rather never see again. If you are thinking of moving to San Francisco please don’t let the cheaper apartment prices in the Tenderloin entice you, this place is not where you want to live.


Don’t forget to look down.

I looked down a lot when I walked because I never knew what I was going to step on. There’s a lot of trash.


Don’t drive to Muir Woods instead take a bus.

If you're going to Muir Woods, don't drive there and instead take the shuttle. The shuttle to Muir Woods is quite easy to get on and off of. You can also book a tour from downtown San Francisco but it will cost quite a bit more.


Don’t use Uber/Lift.

Now while I have used uber many times for the convenience you can still get a decent trip out of public transportation here. While San Francisco is not even close to being as good as the public transportation I have ridden on abroad - it is decent for the US and usually arrives on time. Apps like Muni Mobile and Transit are great for getting you around town. Also, pick up a Clipper Card - you will save a lot of money in the long run if you plan to ride a lot.


Don’t be surprised if you see shoplifting.

Having worked in a retail store I can assure you that the shoplifting epidemic in San Francisco is a very real thing. Don’t be surprised if you come across shoplifting; instead, stand to the side and inform the employees what is going on or walk out of the store if things feel dangerous.