The Unofficial Guide
to San Francisco Tourism
...insider tips from a local

COVID-19 Status: at midnight on Monday, March 16, 2020, San Francisco was placed under a "shelter-in-place" order.

All residents were ordered to stay home, except for necessary trips to grocery stores and essential medical visits, and solo outdoor activities like hiking.

The city was gradually reopening many businesses and activities, but in December, 2020, came under another strict, stay-at-home directive, due to a sudden increase in infection and hospitalization rates.

Since then, Covid numbers dropped significantly, but rose again when Omicron hit, then dropped again. They are fairly low now.

Big changes arrived June 15, 2021:    California was "fully reopened", meaning all business sectors  reopened to full or almost full capacity, including concerts, stadium sports and festivals. SF since then has been basically open, though somewhat more cautious in some regards than other locations.

Vaccine requirements:  as of March 9, 2022.  SF no longer requires that restaurants, bars, theaters and gyms check for proof of  vaccination, but they can choose to require it, so check each venue individually.  

Documents accepted: paper or digital vaccination records.

Mask rules: as of September 15, 2022, no one is now required to wear a mask indoors in SF, whether vaccinated or not. The exception: hospitals and nursing homes.

As of March 28, 2022, over 88% of SF residents had been fully vaccinated.

Public transportation options had been cut back, but are expanding again. See SF transit for more info. Masks are no longer required on public transit;  vaccination is not required.

The cable cars are running again. 

What is open? Pretty much everything, now. Muir Woods, the Botanic Gardens, Golden Gate Park, Japanese Tea Garden, Pier 39, SF beaches, Golden Gate Bridge, most museums, and Twin Peaks (car access on Portola) are all open.

Parking lots for SF beaches, Twin Peaks, and the Golden Gate Bridge are open, including the Welcome Center lot.

Restaurants can now be open to full capacity for indoor as well as outdoor dining, and many restaurants are open for take-out or delivery. 

Bars that serve food can serve customers indoors.

Businesses can allow customers inside, up to full capacity. Malls are open.

The SF Zoo is open again.

Offices: can reopen up to full capacity.

Alcatraz is open. Both the Day Tours, Night Tours and Behind the Scene Tours are running now. The Cell Block is open also.

No proof of vaccination is required for the Alcatraz tours. Masking only for the boat over, the dock area and indoor areas. See Alcatraz.

Hair salons, and open air tour buses, outdoor walking tours, and boat cruises can now operate.

Indoor museums are open, including the CA Academy of Sciences. 

Travel to SF. There are no quarantine requirements for travelers to SF.

Hotels are  accepting reservations, but travelers are urged to limit contact with others in the hotel.

Masks are no longer required inside the SF airport.

Exploratorium:  open.

Playgrounds: open.

Schools: public and private schools are open. SF public schools started in-person learning for all students last fall. Masks are no longer required for students in SF public or private schools.

Indoor gyms and indoor movie theaters are open to full capacity.

Indoor swimming pools are open to full capacity.

Indoor concerts, live theater, and sporting events,  may open at full capacity. For indoor gatherings of >1,000, proof of vaccination or negative Covid test will be required.

Outdoor events for >10,000: may require proof of vaccination or negative test, but aren't required to.

Check individual events for requirements.

Napa and Sonoma county wineries are open.

See COVID rules for current SF status.

See coronavirus news in the SF Chronicle for articles and updates.

Also see site closures for the National Park Service (Alcatraz, Muir Woods, etc).

And to check the air quality (fires) in SF and the Bay Area, see airnow.gov.