What's Chinatown Like?

There's a lot visitors like about Chinatown, especially its shops and Chinatown. Enjoy this walkable neighborhood's art scene and selection of restaurants. Take time to see places like Old St. Mary's Cathedral and Norras Temple while you're here. There's plenty more to see, including Tin How Temple and Kong Chow Temple.

Where are the Best Places to Stay in Chinatown?

We have 14 accommodations in the neighborhood. Here are some of our travelers' top lodging choices in Chinatown:

Orchard Garden Hotel

4-star hotel with restaurant, bar

• • Free WiFi • Free area shuttle • Fitness center • Rooftop terrace • Central location

Grant Plaza Hotel

City-center hotel

• • Free WiFi • 24-hour front desk • Central location

Hotel North Beach

City-center hotel

• • Free WiFi • Central location

SF Plaza Hotel

2.5-star hotel

• • Free breakfast • Free WiFi • 24-hour front desk • Central location

How to Get to Chinatown

Chinatown is located 0.5 mi (0.8 km) from the heart of San Francisco.

Flying to:

• • San Francisco Intl. Airport (SFO), 12.4 mi (19.9 km) from Chinatown
• • Oakland Intl. Airport (OAK), 12 mi (19.3 km) from Chinatown
• • Hayward, CA (HWD-Hayward Executive), 18.3 mi (29.5 km) from Chinatown

Getting to Chinatown on Metro

Stations in the neighborhood include:

• • Powell St & Clay St Stop
• • Powell St & Jackson St Stop
• • California St & Grant Ave Stop

Things to See and Do in and around Chinatown

What to See in Chinatown

• • Old St. Mary's Cathedral
• • Norras Temple
• • Tin How Temple
• • Kong Chow Temple
• • Buddha's Universal Church

Things to Do near Chinatown:

• • Chinese Historical Society of America (0.1 mi/0.2 km away)
• • Exploratorium (0.6 mi/1 km away)
• • San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (0.7 mi/1.1 km away)
• • Pier 39 (1 mi/1.6 km away)
• • Ghirardelli Square (1.1 mi/1.8 km away)

When Is the Best Time to Visit San Francisco?

• • Hottest months: September, October, August, June (average 61°F)
• • Coldest months: January, December, February, November (average 53°F)
• • Rainiest months: February, December, January, March (average 4 inches of rainfall)