Things to avoid

Due to its peninsula location, San Francisco has had a fairly anomalous urban growth. Often, very stylish and expensive areas are right next block to very poor areas. The usual precautions apply: when you go to touristic areas, watch your purse and don’t flaunt your valuable items: keep cameras hidden from view when you’re not using them, etc...

There are some areas which should be avoided at night by those who want to be 100% safe: the Tenderloin (which is located east of the Civic Centre); the so-called SoMa (which is near the Mission/Sixth Street interjection); Mission Street from 13th to 22nd Streets. Also the Golden Gate Park and the Haight-Ashbury tend to be less safe after dark. The paradox might be that the areas which are a bit more dangerous at night are usually also those which offer the best night life, so make your choice... To be on the safe side, if you want to go to these areas late, do not go alone and go there with a taxi instead of your own car, also try not to carry very expensive stuff like jewellery and cameras.

It must also be said that the Fisherman’s Wharf, which is the place where all tourists feel they have to go to, has declined from its past splendour and is now a major tourist trap, with businesses that try to milk you more than sell you stuff.