Downtown San Francisco, Union Square, and the waterfront are walkable and well served by BART and Muni, so a rental car is not necessary for a trip that stays within the city.
Hills, Parking, and One-Way Streets
San Francisco’s steep hills, scarce and expensive parking, and dense one-way street grid make city driving genuinely more stressful than in flatter cities, and many visitors are happier leaving the car behind entirely for downtown sightseeing.
When a Car Helps
Napa and Sonoma wine country, about an hour north, the coastal drive down Highway 1 toward Half Moon Bay, and Muir Woods and the Marin Headlands across the Golden Gate Bridge are all far more practical with your own car than by transit.
Compare rental rates above if wine country or a Highway 1 drive are part of your plans, or check flight and hotel options if you’re keeping things in the city.