Fan Guide to San Francisco

Make the most of your match week in San Francisco: see more, stress less.

Introduction

Seattle for World Cup 2026 Visitors

San Francisco is a great home base for Bay Area matchdays: compact, walkable cores, easy transit, and plenty of post-game energy. You’ll be staying in the city while fixtures play at Levi’s Stadium down the peninsula in Santa Clara. Between games, stitch together classic views (Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz), breezy waterfronts, and food-centric neighborhoods—most of it reachable on Muni buses, historic streetcars, and cable cars. When it’s time to head to the stadium, you’ll ride Caltrain to Mountain View and transfer to VTA light rail, or go straight on VTA from San Jose; both drop you by the gates. Use SF Travel’s neighborhood guide to plan your in-city days, then follow the Bay Area Host Committee and stadium channels for venue specifics.

Fast Facts

Population (city/entidad): 827,526
Time zone: Pacific Daylight Time (UTC−7)
Airports: San Francisco International (SFO); Oakland International (OAK); San José Mineta International (SJC).
Currency: United States Dollar (USD).
Power & voltage: 120 V/60 Hz; plug types A & B are standard.
Weather snapshot (June–July): Typical highs ~66–67°F (19°C); lows ~53–55°F (12–13°C). Cool marine mornings; microclimates by district.
Language: English
Drinking age: 21

The Pitch

Levi’s Stadium

Levi’s Stadium (FIFA designation: San Francisco Bay Area Stadium) sits in Santa Clara, about 40 miles south of San Francisco. It’s an open-air NFL venue and World Cup host with a natural-grass surface and an event capacity around 68,500, expandable for major events. Primary transit connections include VTA Light Rail’s Great America Station and the nearby Santa Clara–Great America rail stop (Capitol Corridor/ACE), plus Caltrain transfers at Mountain View to VTA.

Stadium Basics

Location: 4900 Marie P. DeBartolo Way, Santa Clara, CA 95054.
Surface: Natural grass.
Getting there: VTA Light Rail (Great America), Santa Clara–Great America (Capitol Corridor/ACE), or Caltrain → VTA transfer at Mountain View.
Bag policy & payments: NFL-style clear-bag policy applies; check the A–Z Guide for dimensions and entry rules. Most concessions operate cashless.

Full stadium details

Match dates in San Francisco

June 13, 2026 — Group Stage
June 16, 2026 — Group Stage
June 19, 2026 — Group Stage
June 22, 2026 — Group Stage
June 25, 2026 — Group Stage
July 1, 2026 — Round of 32

Inside San Francisco

Districts & Vibes

Use SF Travel’s map to link districts in easy halves of a day. Pair SoMa (museums, breweries, clubs) with the Embarcadero and Ferry Building for waterfront time. Match Chinatown with adjacent North Beach for temples, Beat-era hangouts, and espresso. Save a second day for the west side: Haight-Ashbury into Golden Gate Park, then cap sunset in the Marina/Crissy Field zone. Each pocket has a distinct vibe and plenty of transit coverage for quick hops.

Global Eats, Local Pours

San Francisco’s Food & Drink Hit List

Make the Ferry Building Marketplace your daytime anchor—cheese counters, oysters, coffee, and bay views under one roof—then graze your way up the Embarcadero to Fisherman’s Wharf for classic seaside snacks. Evenings, Chinatown’s Grant and Stockton corridors deliver banquet halls and late-night bakeries, while North Beach leans Italian with trattorias and convivial bars. If you want craft beer and patios, SoMa gathers taprooms in easy walking distance; for taquerias and natural-wine dens, the Mission stacks options along Valencia and 24th.

Iconic San Francisco

Must-Sees Between Matches

Start at the Golden Gate Bridge for the definitive skyline shot, then sail the story of the Bay on a trip to Alcatraz Island—both icons with robust visitor infrastructure and year-round access. Back ashore, hop a cable car from Market Street toward the waterfront and climb to Coit Tower for art-filled interiors and 360° views.

Aim your park day at the Golden Gate Park side of town (gardens, museums, meadows), then sweep into Chinatown and North Beach for temples, cafés, and night-glow neon. Curve past the “crookedest” block of Lombard Street and the Painted Ladies at Alamo Square for the postcard-perfect skyline backdrop.

Discover Los Angeles Through

Local Experiences & Tours

Narrated bay time is a must: Blue & Gold Fleet runs 60–90 minute cruises that glide under the Golden Gate and around Alcatraz with live/recorded narration. Back on land, San Francisco City Guides—a program of the Public Library—offers free, volunteer-led neighborhood walks daily. Prefer to DIY? The San Francisco Arts Commission publishes resources and maps to explore the city’s vast public-art collection. For museum-style deep dives, book a guided or audio tour at SFMOMA to parse modern and contemporary highlights.

Keep the Party Going

Fan-Friendly Nightlife

Stick to clusters with easy transit. SoMa has the city’s densest run of large bars, lounges, and late-night venues near downtown hotels; North Beach packs old-school cafés and music bars for post-match hangs; and the Mission concentrates lively spots along Valencia and 16th/24th for a more local feel. Many corridors are walkable from Market Street, with Muni and late-night rideshare coverage. Keep stadium nights on the early side if you’re coming back from Santa Clara by rail.