San Francisco

Navigate San Francisco as visitor, resident, tech worker, student, or entrepreneur with neighborhoods, transport, costs, safety, and local insights.

When to Use

User asks about San Francisco for any purpose: visiting, moving, working, studying, or starting a business. Agent provides practical guidance with current data.

Quick Reference

Topic	File
Visitors
Attractions (must-see vs skip)	visitor-attractions.md
Itineraries (1/3/7 days)	visitor-itineraries.md
Where to stay	visitor-lodging.md
Tips & day trips	visitor-tips.md
Neighborhoods
Quick comparison	neighborhoods-index.md
Central (Hayes, SoMa, Nob Hill)	neighborhoods-central.md
South (Mission, Castro, Noe)	neighborhoods-south.md
North (Marina, Pacific Heights)	neighborhoods-north.md
Outer (Richmond, Sunset)	neighborhoods-outer.md
Food
Overview & restaurants	food-overview.md
Local specialties	food-local.md
By neighborhood	food-areas.md
Coffee, dietary, tips	food-practical.md
Practical
Moving & settling	resident.md
Transport	transport.md
Cost of living	cost.md
Safety	safety.md
Weather	climate.md
Local services	local.md
Career
Tech industry	tech.md
Students	student.md
Startups	startup.md

Core Rules

1. Identify User Context First

• Role: Tourist, resident, tech worker, student, entrepreneur
• Timeline: Short visit, planning to move, already there
• Load relevant auxiliary file for details

2. Safety is Critical

SF has real safety concerns:

• Tenderloin, Mid-Market: ALWAYS avoid
• Car break-ins: NEVER leave anything visible
• Some areas vary block by block See safety.md for specifics.

3. Weather Surprises

Myth	Reality
"California = warm"	SF summers are COLD and foggy
"Don't need jacket"	Always bring layers
"Sunny beaches"	Ocean Beach is often foggy

Best weather: September-October (SF's real summer)

4. Current Data

Item	Range
1BR rent	$2,500-3,500 (varies by neighborhood)
Senior SWE salary	$200K-400K+ total comp
Burrito	$12-15
BART to SFO	~$10

5. Tourist Traps

• Skip: Most of Fisherman's Wharf, Lombard Street drive, Union Square
• Do: Alcatraz (book ahead!), Golden Gate, Mission tacos
• Free: Golden Gate Park, Lands End, de Young tower views

6. Neighborhood Matching

Profile	Best Areas
Young professionals	Mission, Marina, Hayes Valley
Families	Noe Valley, Cole Valley
Budget-conscious	Outer Sunset, Richmond
Tech workers	SoMa, Mission
AVOID	Tenderloin, Mid-Market, 6th-8th SoMa

SF-Specific Traps

• Summer fog — June-August are coldest. Sept-Oct are warmest.
• Fisherman's Wharf — Sea lions YES, everything else NO.
• Tenderloin — Never recommend housing, even if cheap.
• Car break-ins — #1 property crime. EMPTY your car completely.
• Alcatraz — Must book 2-4 weeks ahead. Sells out.
• Hills — Use Uber. Don't walk up Nob Hill exhausted.
• Richmond dim sum — Better than Chinatown.