Why go
- American geographic and cultural region.
History
Northern California is a geocultural region that comprises the northern portion of the U.S. state of California, spanning the northernmost 48 of the state's 58 counties. One of the 11 megaregions of the United States, Northern California in its largest definition is determined by dividing the state into two parts, the other being Southern California. The region's main population centers include the San Francisco Bay Area, Greater Sacramento, Metropolitan Fresno, and the Monterey Bay Area.
Airports
San Francisco International Airport (SFO) 13 mi to the centre
San Francisco, CA 94128 — You board from the indoor waiting area — no need to plan for the weather. ✈ 42 airlines (United Airlines, Virgin America, Delta Air Lines, American Airlines…) · direct flights to 104 destinations incl. Atlanta, London, Los Angeles, New York, Seoul… (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 42 airlines, 104 direct destinations
- United Airlines UA (737-800, A319, A320, 737-900, CRJ, EM2…) · 88 routes: Albuquerque*, Arcata CA*, Atlanta, Auckland*, Austin, Bakersfield*, Baltimore, Beijing, Boise*, Boston, Burbank*, Calgary*, Cancun, Chicago, Chico*, Cleveland, Colorado Springs*, Crescent City*, Dallas-Fort Worth, Denver, Edmonton*, Eugene*, Fort Lauderdale, Frankfurt, Fresno*, Guadalajara, Hong Kong, Honolulu, Houston, Indianapolis, Kahului, Kansas City*, Klamath Falls*, Kona, Las Vegas, Lihue, London, Los Angeles, Medford*, Mexico City … +48 more
- Virgin America VX (A320, A319) · 19 routes: Austin, Boston, Cancun, Chicago, Dallas-Fort Worth, Fort Lauderdale, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, New York, Newark, Orlando, Philadelphia, Portland, Puerto Vallarta, San Diego, San Jose Del Cabo, Seattle, Washington, Washington
- Delta Air Lines DL (A320, 734, 737-900, 747-400, 757-300, 757…) · 17 routes: Amsterdam*, Atlanta, Cincinnati, Detroit, Honolulu, London*, Los Angeles*, Mexico City, Minneapolis, New York, Palm Springs*, Paris*, Salt Lake City, Seattle*, Seoul*, Shanghai, Taipei*
- American Airlines AA (737, 737-800, A321, 767-300, A320, 747-400…) · 15 routes: Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas-Fort Worth, Hong Kong*, London*, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Palm Springs*, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Portland*, Puerto Vallarta*, Seattle*, Tokyo
- US Airways US (737-800, A320, A321, 767-300, 777-300ER, 757…) · 14 routes: Auckland*, Beijing*, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas-Fort Worth, Hong Kong, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, Phoenix, San Salvador, Seoul, Taipei
- Alaska Airlines AS (734, 737-800, 767-300, 737-900, 757, 737-800…) · 10 routes: Chicago*, Dallas-Fort Worth*, Los Angeles*, Miami*, New York*, Palm Springs, Portland, Puerto Vallarta, San Jose Del Cabo, Seattle
- Southwest Airlines WN (737-700, 73C, 737-300, 737-800) · 9 routes: Atlanta, Chicago, Denver, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Milwaukee, Phoenix, San Diego, Santa Ana
- AeroMéxico AM (737-800, 734, 737, 737-900, 767-300, 73J) · 7 routes: Atlanta*, Del Bajio, Guadalajara, Mexico City, Morelia, Puerto Vallarta*, San Jose Del Cabo*
- Air New Zealand NZ (737-800, 747-400, 777, A319, A320, 777-200) · 7 routes: Atlanta*, Auckland, Frankfurt*, Guadalajara*, London*, Mexico City*, Sydney*
- Air Canada AC (A319, A320, CRJ-700, Embraer 190, CRJ) · 6 routes: Calgary*, Edmonton*, Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver, Victoria*
- JetBlue Airways B6 (A320, 777-300ER) · 6 routes: Austin, Boston, Dubai, Fort Lauderdale, Long Beach, New York
- AirTran Airways FL (737-700, 737-700) · 5 routes: Atlanta, Chicago*, Denver*, Milwaukee*, Norfolk*
- KLM Royal Dutch Airlines KL (734, 747, 757-300, 757, 767-300) · 4 routes: Amsterdam, Atlanta*, Honolulu*, Seattle*
- Air France AF (A380, 737-900, 757-300, 757, 767-300) · 3 routes: Atlanta*, Honolulu*, Paris
- Lufthansa Cargo LH (A340-600, A380, 747-400, 777) · 3 routes: Frankfurt, London*, Munich
- Air China CA (747-400, 777-300) · 2 routes: Beijing, Shanghai*
- Air India Limited AI (777-300ER) · 2 routes: Hong Kong*, Seoul*
- Alitalia AZ (A380, 767-300) · 2 routes: Atlanta*, Paris*
- All Nippon Airways NH (777, 787-8, 777-300ER) · 2 routes: Osaka*, Tokyo
- China Airlines CI (737-900, 747-400, 757) · 2 routes: Atlanta*, Taipei
- Hawaiian Airlines HA (A320, A330-200) · 2 routes: Honolulu, Las Vegas*
- Singapore Airlines Cargo SQ (777-300ER) · 2 routes: Hong Kong, Seoul
- Virgin Atlantic Airways VS (737-900, 747-400, 757, 767-300) · 2 routes: Atlanta*, London
- WestJet WS (737-700) · 2 routes: Calgary, Vancouver
- Aer Lingus EI (A330-200) · 1 route: Dublin
- Asiana Airlines OZ (777-200LR) · 1 route: Seoul
- Avianca - Aerovias Nacionales de Colombia AV (A319, A320) · 1 route: San Salvador
- British Airways BA (747-400) · 1 route: London
- Cathay Pacific CX (747-400, 777-300ER) · 1 route: Hong Kong
- China Eastern Airlines MU (A330-200) · 1 route: Shanghai
- Emirates EK (777-300ER) · 1 route: Dubai
- EVA Air BR (777-300ER) · 1 route: Taipei
- Finnair AY (747-400) · 1 route: London
- Frontier Airlines F9 (A319, A320) · 1 route: Denver
- Iberia Airlines IB (747-400) · 1 route: London*
- Japan Airlines Domestic JL (787-8) · 1 route: Tokyo
- Korean Air KE (777-200, 777-300ER) · 1 route: Seoul
- Philippine Airlines PR (747-400) · 1 route: Manila
- Scandinavian Airlines System SK (A340-300) · 1 route: Copenhagen
- Sun Country Airlines SY (737-800, 737-700) · 1 route: Minneapolis
- Swiss International Air Lines LX (A340-300) · 1 route: Zurich
- Transaero Airlines UN (747-400) · 1 route: London*
Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.
Oakland International Airport (OAK) 13 mi to the centre
Oakland, CA, US — You board from the indoor waiting area — no need to plan for the weather. ✈ 12 airlines (Southwest Airlines, AirTran Airways, American Airlines, Alaska Airlines…) · direct flights to 34 destinations incl. Honolulu, Kahului, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Phoenix… (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 12 airlines, 34 direct destinations
- Southwest Airlines WN (737-700, 73C, 737-300, 737-800, 737-800) · 18 routes: Albuquerque, Austin, Boise, Burbank, Chicago, Denver, Houston, Kansas City, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Ontario, Phoenix, Portland, Salt Lake City, San Diego, Santa Ana, Seattle, Spokane
- AirTran Airways FL (737-700, 737-800, 73C) · 7 routes: Chicago*, Columbus*, Denver, Las Vegas*, Los Angeles*, Oklahoma City*, Santa Ana*
- American Airlines AA (737, A319, CRJ-900, Dash 8-400) · 7 routes: Honolulu*, Kahului*, Kona*, Lihue*, Phoenix, Portland*, Seattle*
- Alaska Airlines AS (737-800, 734, Dash 8-400, 737-700) · 6 routes: Honolulu, Kahului, Kona, Lihue, Portland*, Seattle
- Allegiant Air G4 (MD-80, A319) · 4 routes: Bellingham, Eugene, Mesa, Provo
- Spirit Airlines NK (A319, A320) · 3 routes: Chicago, Dallas-Fort Worth, Las Vegas
- Delta Air Lines DL (A319, A320, CRJ-700) · 2 routes: Los Angeles*, Salt Lake City
- Hawaiian Airlines HA (767-300) · 2 routes: Honolulu, Kahului
- JetBlue Airways B6 (A320) · 2 routes: Long Beach, New York
- Norwegian Air Shuttle DY (787-8) · 1 route: Stockholm*
- US Airways US (A319) · 1 route: Phoenix
- Volaris Y4 (A319, A320) · 1 route: Guadalajara
Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.
San Carlos Airport (SQL) 22 mi to the centre
San Carlos, CA, US — Indoor waiting areas, but some gates board by bus or on foot across the apron — plan for the weather on the day.
Buchanan Field (CCR) 25 mi to the centre
Concord, CA, US — Indoor waiting areas, but some gates board by bus or on foot across the apron — plan for the weather on the day.
Hayward Executive Airport (HWD) 20 mi to the centre
Hayward, CA, US — Indoor waiting area, but you walk out to the aircraft to board — bring an umbrella or a coat if the forecast is poor.
Half Moon Bay Airport (HAF) 20 mi to the centre
Half Moon Bay, CA, US — Indoor waiting area, but you walk out to the aircraft to board — bring an umbrella or a coat if the forecast is poor.
Getting there by ferry
Red & White Fleet
Ferry terminal · 1.5 mi from the centre
Pier 41 Gate 2
Ferry terminal · 1.6 mi from the centre
Pier 41 Gate 1
Ferry terminal · 1.6 mi from the centre
Ferry Alcatraz
Ferry terminal · 1.9 mi from the centre · Alcatraz Cruises, LLC
Alcatraz Ferry Terminal
Ferry terminal · 2.3 mi from the centre · Alcatraz Cruises, LLC
San Francisco Ferry Building
Ferry terminal · 2.3 mi from the centre
Alcatraz - Pier 33 Alcatraz Landing
Ferry route · Alcatraz Cruises, LLC
San Francisco Pier 41 - San Francisco Ferry Building
Ferry route · Water Emergency Transportation Authority
San Francisco Bay Ferry: San Francisco Pier 41 => San Francisco Ferry Building
Ferry route · Water Emergency Transportation Authority
San Francisco Bay Ferry: San Francisco Ferry Building => San Francisco Pier 41
Ferry route · Water Emergency Transportation Authority
Sausalito - San Francisco Ferry Building
Ferry route · Golden Gate Bridge, Highway & Transportation District
Golden Gate Ferry: San Francisco => Sausalito
Ferry route · Golden Gate Bridge, Highway & Transportation District
Golden Gate Ferry: Sausalito => San Francisco
Ferry route · Golden Gate Bridge, Highway & Transportation District
Sausalito - San Francisco Pier 41
Ferry route · Blue & Gold Fleet
Where things are
Local search powered by Geoverts and geo-intelligence by Better Mapping
base map © OSM
Photographs
credit: Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons · See source page
When to go
Tourist season
May – September
The warmer, longer-day half of the year is the safest bet for a first visit.
Shoulder season
April, October
Cooler and quieter, with fewer visitors and better value.
Worth avoiding
Deep winter
Short days and the coldest weather — check local conditions before travelling.
Getting there & around
Getting there. We do not yet hold airport or rail details for Northern California — check the official tourism sources below for the best routes in. By water: 6 ferry terminals within 12 mi (nearest: Red & White Fleet, 1.5 mi); routes include Alcatraz - Pier 33 Alcatraz Landing, San Francisco Pier 41 - San Francisco Ferry Building, San Francisco Bay Ferry: San Francisco Pier 41 => San Francisco Ferry Building.
Getting around. Use the map above to orient yourself; nearby hotels, attractions and places to eat are listed from the live Ultimate data for Northern California. Local transit details will be added as the guide is expanded.
Local transit
Bus · San Francisco, California · Schedules & GTFS data (official feed)
Public transit · Schedules & GTFS data
Bus · San Mateo, California · Schedules & GTFS data
Trains & rail
National rail
Coaches & shuttles
Intercity coach
Intercity coach
Intercity coach
Intercity coach
Private aviation
On-demand charter, jet cards and the semi-private scheduled carriers that serve this city.
Semi-private scheduled · Embraer 135 (16 seats) · First-class-only scheduled flights from Van Nuys to Aspen, Sun Valley, Cabo and Europe in summer.
Charter, management, FBO · Managed fleet, light to ultra-long-range · Charter, management and FBOs at Van Nuys and Orange County; the original Hollywood jet operator.
Semi-private scheduled · Pilatus PC-12, King Air · Subscription and per-seat regional flights in California, Texas and Hawaii.
Fractional, jet card · Embraer Phenom 300, Challenger 350 · Fractional and jet card programme centred on the US Midwest and East.
Charter, shared flights · Light to large-cabin via partner fleet · Vista Global's on-demand charter and by-the-seat shared flights, app-based.
Tours & experiences
Sightseeing