Nestled next to the Pacific Ocean, with rolling hills and iconic museums, islands, beaches, and fine art, San Francisco is among the most beautiful cities in the United States. The Bay Area, full of history and cultural significance, is considered the crown jewel of Northern California.
Enjoying the sights and sounds of the Bay, however, get very costly. From hotels to transportation costs, you may end up spending all your savings just in a few days. Leave your heart in San Francisco, not all your savings. Don’t you agree?
To help you avoid that, here are a few tips to help you enjoy your experience on a budget:
Affordable lodging
The San Francisco Bay Area is considered the most expensive region to pay for a hotel. Unless you came all the way to spend all your money on accommodation, you would want to consider the much cheaper hotels.
Therefore, make sure to take time and compare the different hotel prices according to your pocket. In most cases, the East Bay is considered a lot more affordable.
Get around cheap
Having secured yourself a cheap hotel to stay, the next thing will be to ensure your transportation is also affordable. One way would be to find nearby attractions or curiosities, like a San Leandro dispensary located near your hotel.
For destinations that are beyond walking distance, choose to move around with the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART). It’s relatively cheap and also very easy to use.

Let’s consider a few affordable sites to stay in the East Bay Area:
Oakland – From the history to the nature of arts to theaters, restaurants, and galleries, you name it and Oakland has it. The city has plenty of fun things to see and do while visiting. Also, being just 12 miles away from San Francisco, you do not have to spend a lot in search of adventure.
Walnut Creek – When it comes to affordable shopping and getting around, walnut will be the best place to stay. The easy BART access comes in quite handy.
Finally, to ensure you maximize the fun and memories, take advantage of the free things. Let us explore several fun activities to do for free.
Golden Gate Bridge
The Golden Gate Bridge is among the well-known attractions popular in San Francisco. The bridge has a fascinating history of how it came to be. The best part? You don’t have to pay to enjoy a walk or ride across the 1.7-mile bridge. It’s all free.
The Presidio
Another exciting activity will be to visit the Presidio national park and enjoy the spectacular views, natural habitats, and open, peaceful spaces. From Downtown, you can get a free ride in the PresisdiGo shuttle to the park, have a picnic, or perhaps a hike and explore the park’s museum.
San Francisco art, music, and film festivals
I don’t know about you but I have always enjoyed the festivals. In San Francisco, you can have a feel of festivals all for free. Every fall, for instance, the bluegrass festival features seven stages and over 100 musicians.
There is also the stern Grove Festival, which takes place every Sunday over summer and the North Beach Festival, just to name a few. All free of charge.
To conclude, there is so much to do even with your tight budget!