What should I know before visiting San Francisco?
Apply for an ESTA at least three days before your Christchurch to San Francisco flights
New Zealanders are required to obtain an ESTA travel authorisation before travelling to the United States. You can apply online, and it’s often approved relatively quickly - sometimes immediately. However, the ESTA can sometimes take up to 72 hours to process, so be sure to apply at least three business days before your flights Christchurch to San Francisco. The good news is, once you have an ESTA, it’s valid for the next two years.
San Francisco is infamous for its fog
California is often portrayed in films as a coastal paradise that’s always sunny. San Francisco experiences plenty of sunshine, but you’ll also discover the other side to the California climate while holidaying on cheap flights Christchurch to San Francisco. A thick fog often covers San Francisco in the evenings and is such a part of the city’s identity that it even has a name – Karl. You’re most likely to experience Karl if you book cheap flights to San Francisco from Christchurch for travel in the winter.
Book your Alcatraz tickets early
Alcatraz is one of the most popular attractions for visitors holidaying on flights Christchurch to San Francisco. Tickets often sell out, particularly during the summer high season. To ensure you can get tickets, book at least a week in advance. For an extra eerie but exciting visit while in the city on Christchurch to San Francisco flights, you could book onto a night tour of Alcatraz.
What are the best things to do in San Francisco?
Ride a Cable Car
There are few things in San Francisco that are more iconic than riding a cable car. Three cable car routes travel up and down the hills of central San Francisco and provide an exciting way to see the city. Hop on a cable car at least once while holidaying on Christchurch to San Francisco flights to experience this thrilling attraction for yourself. You could sit inside or get your adrenaline pumping by standing along the side of the cable car.
Fisherman’s Wharf and Pier 39
San Francisco is centred around a bay, and many of its attractions are located along the waterfront. Head to the northeastern corner of San Francisco where you can spend some time exploring the waterfront in between Christchurch to San Francisco return flights. There are a series of piers and docks, with Fisherman’s Wharf and Pier 39 being the most well-known. Each is lined with restaurants, bars, shops, and tourist attractions to enjoy while holidaying on cheap flights to San Francisco from Christchurch. You can even spot a colony of sea lions sunning themselves along the side of Pier 39!
Taste wines in Napa Valley
Plan a day or two to visit Napa Valley when you book flights Christchurch to San Francisco. Napa Valley is made up of more than 500 vineyards, many of which open their cellar doors to visitors. Learn more about wine production in Northern California, and taste several of the local wines. If you want to extend your wine-tasting tour, you could also spend a day at the nearby Sonoma Valley while visiting California on Christchurch to San Francisco flights.
What is the cost of visiting San Francisco?
Once you’ve booked tickets to San Francisco from Christchurch, continue planning your California adventure with Webjet. A variety of hotel options are available across the city, with prices averaging about $300 to $350 NZD per night. If you’d like to explore areas outside the city, such as Napa Valley or the redwood forests, you may consider renting a car too. Rental cars can be booked through Webjet for daily rates starting around $45 NZD and picked up from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) on arrival.
While rental cars are perfect for day trips, public transport is the best way to explore the city centre while holidaying on cheap flights to San Francisco from Christchurch. A single-ride ticket for the bus or train costs $3 USD ($4.80 NZD).
A primary cost to consider when you book cheap flights Christchurch to San Francisco is entertainment. A ticket to Alcatraz costs $40 USD ($63.95 NZD) and includes a return ferry ride and audio tour. San Francisco is also on the doorstep of one of the world’s most famous wine regions, Napa Valley. You could visit by rental car, but a guided tour means you don’t need to drive. Budget $120 to $150 USD ($191.80 to $239.80 NZD) for a day tour of the vineyards. Something else to experience while visiting California on flights Christchurch to San Francisco is the legendary cable car. Tickets to ride the San Francisco cable cars cost $7 USD ($11.20 NZD).
