San Francisco hotels to suit any budget

Updated May 13, 2021

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San Francisco is an ideal city to walk around if you’re in the right spot.

So whether you’re in for a family holiday or are travelling for business, we’ve found the perfect location for you in the city.

Our top San Francisco hotel picks

Best 5-star hotel: Palace Hotel a Luxury Collection Hotel San Francisco from Marriott

Palace Hotel brings you luxurious accommodation among popular sightseeing spots. Union Square Plaza, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art and the Moscone Center are all within walking distance. Satellite and cable TV are provided in the rooms, with a jacuzzi, indoor pool and sauna also available. Dining options include the on-site restaurant.

Star rating: 5 stars
Location: 2 New Montgomery Street, SoMa,
Why we love it: This hotel is incredibly decadent with modern and authentic architecture that dates back to 1875. It was San Francisco's first premier luxury hotel.

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Best hotel near Union Square: The Westin St Francis San Francisco on Union Square from Finder Hotels

The surrounding area is ideal for shopping and Union Square is only a five-minute walk away. Childminding services as well as an on-site fitness centre are available. Two restaurants are within the hotel and plenty of cafes and bars are in the area.

Star rating: 4 stars
Location: 335 Powell Street, Union Square
Why we love it: This is the only hotel on Union Square and to make travelling around San Francisco easy, a tram stop is located just outside the front door. How neat is that?

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Best cheap hotel: Artmar Hotel from Finder Hotels

Praised for its cleanliness and facilities, Artmar Hotel is a wallet-friendly quality stay. It offers dorm rooms and double rooms with shared facilities. Private rooms with ensuites are also available if you'd prefer your own space.

Star rating: 2 star
Location: 433 Ellis Street, San Francisco
Why we love it: With double rooms from $130 a night and a location a 20-minute walk from the city centre, it's a convenient location at a more than convenience price.

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Best boutique hotel: Hotel Nikko San Francisco from Finder Hotels

Hotel Nikko is located within walking distance of the Moscone Center, the Society of California Pioneers, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art and Union Square Plaza. Many clubs and bars are in the area for exploring local nightlife. A beauty centre and spa are on-site.

Star rating: 4 stars
Location: 222 Mason Street, Tenderloin
Why we love it: This hotel takes on a different flair to many others with Asian-inspired trimmings moments from Union Square. It's pool is worth swinging by, being 15 metres long and basking in natural light via its glass ceiling.

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Best hotel near Fisherman's Wharf: Argonaut Hotel a Noble House Hotel from Finder Hotels

This top hotel is located among eateries, boutiques and popular attractions like Fisherman’s Wharf and Lombard Street. Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel and beauty treatments can be found in the on-site spa. Jefferson and Taylor stations are within walking distance to explore more of the city.

Star rating: 4 stars
Location: 495 Jefferson Street, Fisherman's Wharf, Northeast San Francisco
Why we love it: This hotel goes above and beyond being themed to its Fisherman's Wharf location with nautical elements such as deep blue booths in the dining room and compass and star decor in the bedrooms.

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Best cool hotel: Hotel Triton from Finder Hotels

It might look a little camp on the outside, but inside The Triton is all hipster chic with sleek modern furniture and splays of colour to make your eyes water. This boutique hotel offers 24-hour service, an airport shuttle and is within walking distance to some of the city's best nightlife.

Star rating: 3 stars
Location: 342 Grant Ave, Union Square, San Francisco
Why we love it: It is all things extra. On top of its decor it hosts events like tarot card readings. It's also on the corner of three distinct neighbourhoods: the Financial District, Chinatown and Union Square.

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Best near airport: Aloft San Francisco Airport from Finder Hotels

Stay close to the airport check-in by checking into Aloft. It's contemporary and youthful in vibe and friendly on the price front with rooms from $230 a night. Rooms and showers are spacious and there's an airport shuttle to ferry you to and from the airport.

Star rating: 3 stars
Location: 401 E Millbrae Ave, Millbrae
Why we love it: Unlike your stereotypical 5-star airport hotel, Aloft bucks all the trends offering a trendy stay with a vibrant nightlife. Because not all of us are business travellers.

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Best in the Financial District: Hyatt Regency San Francisco from Finder Hotels

The Hyatt Regency is ideally located in the centre of the city. It’s among popular eateries, shops and boutiques. Within a 10-minute walk is Broadway and The Embarcadero Station. Other famous attractions like 350 Mission Street and Transamerica Pyramid are also close by. A lounge bar and restaurant are on-site.

Star rating: 4 stars
Location: 5 Embarcadero Center, Financial District
Why we love it: The Hyatt might be a chain hotel but each room has a feature colour that makes it instantly Insta-worthy.

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How did we pick these San Francisco hotels?

Our editorial team selected the San Francisco hotels on this list based on price, location and real customer feedback from hotel booking sites and review platforms. Where applicable, we used our own personal experiences to make recommendations.

- We compared dozens of San Francisco hotels from top brands like Hilton, Accor, Marriott and IHG along with independent and boutique properties to find the best of the best.
- We put ourselves in your shoes and considered what most travellers would look for in a hotel, whether it's proximity to the CBD, local attractions, public transport or the amenities available for guests.
- We read reviews from real guests on sites such as Tripadvisor and Google, travel sections of newspapers and magazines and on booking sites like Expedia, Wotif, Hotels.com and HotelsCombined.
- When possible, we'll include first-hand reviews from our visits to the San Francisco hotels we've recommended.

Where should I stay in San Francisco?

There are so many districts to choose from - so we've broken them down by what's nearby to steer you in the right direction.

Union Square: Stay here if you're hoping to hit the department stores running or take in a theatre production (or two) in the theater district.
Fisherman's Wharf: Stay on the wharf and you'll never have to venture far to tick off those big tourist attractions. This includes the Golden Gate Bridge, Lombard St, Presidio and Pier 39. From the wharf you can catch views of Alcatraz and the Golden Gate Bridge.
The Financial District: Not just a hub of business skyscrapers, the Financial District is renowned for having some of the best bars in the city. It's also on the doorstep of the ferry terminal if you wish to hop across the San Francisco Bay to places like Bay Island and Alameda.
Chinatown: Stay close to cheap eats in the oldest Chinatown in the USA.
SoMa: Short for South of Market, this is a trending hub of art museums and warehouse conversions.
The Mission: Colourful and full of energy, The Mission is a predominately Hispanic area with plenty of traditional Mexican fare to tuck into.

Which sites let me book San Francisco accommodation with free cancellation?

These sites let you make a refundable booking for your trip to San Francisco, so there's less risk of losing the cost of your stay or deposit. Some sites only offer free cancellation on select San Francisco hotels or at a slightly higher rate, so it's best to check the terms on your booking before confirming your stay.

Most sites, like Wotif or Expedia, will clearly state whether each San Francisco hotel is non-refundable.

See the latest coupon codes

Which sites let me use a coupon code to book San Francisco accommodation?

Using one of our coupon codes at these sites will save you money on your San Francisco stay. Some may ask you to pay for your stay upfront rather than on arrival in order to apply the code to your San Francisco booking, but the same cancellation policy does apply so if you are able to cancel, you'll be able to get refunded.

Which sites let me book San Francisco accommodation without a credit card?

If you don't have a credit card to make your San Francisco booking, but would like to reap the rewards of one, compare credit cards that offer hotel rewards here.

Which San Francisco hotel booking sites have rewards programs?

Get access to cheaper prices, collect points toward free stays and get extra perks like Wi-Fi or breakfast if you book your San Francisco accommodation on sites like these:

Wotif: Part of the same family, Wotif lets you access the same benefits as the Expedia Rewards program. You'll get access to lower rates and earn points, which can be used toward discounted stays in the future. Depending on how often you make bookings, you'll be able to get bigger discounts and earn more perks like breakfast.
Agoda: PointsMAX lets you earn up to 6,000 points for your stay that you can put toward a preferred loyalty or frequent flyer program, including KrisFlyer and Velocity.
Trip.com: Trip Coins is Trip.com's rewards program where you can earn $1 for every 100 Trip Coins. It's free to join the program. Membership tiers from Silver, Gold, Platinum and Diamond have different perks to enjoy.
Hotels.com: Collect one stamp for every night's stay. Once you stay for 10 nights, you'll be able to redeem one free night up to the average value of your previous 10 nights.
Expedia.com.au: Access lower rates as a member and earn Expedia points on bookings, which can be used toward discounted stays in the future. Different levels of membership get you access to deeper discounts and perks, such as free breakfasts.
Marriott: The Marriott Bonvoy Benefits program lets you earn points towards free nights, access special member rates, get free Wi-Fi with your stay and check into your room via the mobile app. There are different status levels depending on how often you stay, starting with Silver Elite (10 nights per year).

San Francisco hotel deals

Code exclusive

Extra 10% off worldwide hotels with code

Expires 31 Dec 2021

Available on stays until 31 December 2022 when you use the code. Destinations include New Zealand, Fiji, London, Maldives, Japan, USA and more. T&Cs apply.

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Extra 10% off North America stays

Verified 2 days ago Expires 31 Mar 2022

Available on stays until 31 March 2022. Destinations include New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Cancun, Montreal and more. T&Cs apply.

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Code

Up to 25% off resort getaways for members

Expires 16 Jan 2022

Available on select dates 31 January 2022 when you book for 3+ nights. Destinations include USA and more. Membership is free. T&Cs apply.

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Up to 25% off worldwide getaways

Expires 10 Jan 2022

Available on stays until 31 March 2022. Destinations include India, Dubai, Cairo and more. T&Cs apply.

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Deal

Earn a free night’s stay

Stay for 10 nights at any hotel worldwide to get a free night. Must be a Hotels.com Rewards member. Membership is free. T&Cs apply.

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Code

Get 10% off USA stays with code

Expires 22 Dec 2021

Available on midweek stays until 21 December 2021. Destinations included Los Angeles, Hawaii and more. T&Cs apply.

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Kids stay and eat free on Holiday Inn stays

Available on stays across Australia, New Zealand, Greece, South Africa, USA, Fiji, Maldives, Canada and more.

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Up to 10% off USA vacation rentals

Expires 20 Dec 2021

Available on select stay dates until 21 December 2021. T&Cs apply.

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Up to 50% off worldwide stays

Become a member and get up to 50% off hotels. Destinations include Australia, New Zealand, USA and more.

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Up to 35% off USA stays

Available on all dates for seniors who are 50 years and above. T&Cs apply.

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Deal

Up to 5% extra savings on stays

Sign up your email and become an IHG member to enjoy discounts and earn points or stays worldwide including Australia. T&Cs apply.

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Up to 25% off suite rooms + an extra 10% off for members

Expires 31 Dec 2021

Available on stays until 31 December 2021 across USA, including Boston, Los Angeles, New York and more. Membership is free. T&Cs apply.

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Deal

Up to 60% off last minute stays

Available on select stay dates across USA, Canada and more. T&Cs apply.

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Extra $10 off worldwide hotels

Sign up your email address and receive discounts. Destinations include Las Vegas, London, New York, Toronto, Dubai and more. T&Cs apply.

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Free nights with Best Western Rewards points

Earn points and redeem a free night on worldwide stays. Destinations include Canada, USA and more. T&Cs apply.

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Fairmont hotels stay from $249/night

Available on select stay dates. Destinations include New York, London, Singapore, Dubai, Maldives and more. Sample stay is for San Francisco. T&Cs apply.

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Up to 25% off worldwide stays

Enroll and save 25% with Marriott Bonvoy Escapes. As a member, you can experience these exclusive benefits.

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Taylor Lorenz

Taylor Lorenz is a writer for Finder, focusing on travel content. She has previously written guides for World Nomads, Matador Network and the Huffington Post, and she also writes for her own travel blog, Taylor’s Tracks. Taylor makes her way around the globe writing and beach hopping and can usually be found with a book and a cup of tea in hand.

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San Francisco hotels that are perfect for any guest