Union Square

Union Square is the main tourist and shopping hub - safe, central, but quite commercial. Good for first-time visitors who want easy access to everything and don't mind paying tourist prices for the convenience.

Union Square is tourist central - think big department stores, street performers, and crowds of people with shopping bags. It's safe during the day because there are always cops around and tons of foot traffic, but it can feel pretty commercial and sterile. Everything is overpriced because they know tourists will pay for the convenience. The cable car lines get ridiculously long, especially if you're trying to catch one around lunch time. It's a good base if you want to be in the middle of everything and don't mind paying extra for that location. Just be aware that the areas immediately around Union Square can get sketchy once you leave the main tourist zone, especially toward the Tenderloin. Stick to the well-lit main streets after dark.