San Francisco

Trendy district

The Castro is considered the most famous gay district in the world, and you can see it on every street corner. Rainbow flags hang above the entrances, and the Castro Theatre dominates the main street. On Castro Street, Harvey Milk's former camera workshop is a reminder of the movement's beginnings. The community moves between bars and cafés as a matter of course, the tone is neighborly. If you want to delve deeper, visit the GLBT Historical Society Museum, which explores the history of the queer movement in San Francisco and displays documents, photos, and memorabilia. South of Market Street is a second focal point, SoMa, where the leather and fetish scene has been at home for decades. Both areas can be easily connected on foot, even if the hills in between demand a lot.

Nightlife

The Castro is lined with classic community bars, most notably the Twin Peaks Tavern, one of the city's oldest openly gay bars with its large glass fronts facing the street. In the evenings, regulars and travelers mingle here, the tone remains more sociable than loud, and many restaurants open in the early evening. In SoMa, on the other hand, you meet an audience looking for clubs and men's bars, often with a dress code and a clear focus on the leather and fetish scene. The biggest stage is the Folsom Street Fair, the scene's famous street festival that brings hundreds of thousands to SoMa every fall. If you are planning the weekend, you should check the dates in advance, because hotels around the big events are booked up quickly.

Best time to visit

San Francisco has an idiosyncratic climate that surprises many first-time visitors. Summer is often foggy and cool because cold sea air drifts over the city and persists, especially in the mornings. The warmest and clearest days are usually in September and October, which makes these weeks the most pleasant time to travel. Nevertheless, a jacket almost always belongs in your luggage, because the wind blows constantly through the hilly streets, and in the evening it gets noticeably fresher.

Arrival

From German-speaking countries, San Francisco can be reached via SFO International Airport, which is located south of the city. From the terminal, the BART regional train runs directly to the centre, which makes taxis or rental cars superfluous for many. Within the city, you can get around easily by bus, tram and the historic cable cars, and the Castro is connected by metro. Because the steep hills make longer walks strenuous, the mix of local transport and short distances on foot is worthwhile. You hardly need a car in the city itself, but rather for trips to the surrounding countryside such as Napa wine country or the coast.

Safety & LGBT Rights

California is one of the most queer-friendly regions in the USA, same-sex marriages are recognized and discrimination is prohibited by law. In the Castro and in large parts of the city, visible queer life is part of everyday life, no one notices holding hands. As in any big city, there are neighborhoods with social problems and homelessness, such as around the Tenderloin area, where more attention is needed in the evening. If you take care of your belongings and follow the usual precautions, you will experience San Francisco as a relaxed and open travel destination.