How to find cheap flights to San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
The cheapest price currently available for a one-way flight to San Francisco International Airport is £256. A round-trip plane ticket to SFO right now is £440.
Let the deals come to you by setting up a Price Alert for tickets to SFO. We'll keep an eye on it for you, sending notifications when fares go down.
Book as early as possible. You might even be able to pick up some awesome early bird deals on tickets to San Francisco, where San Francisco International Airport is located.
Select 'Add nearby airports' when searching for a better chance of scoring cheap flights to San Francisco. This will give you more choices for where you begin and end your journey, along with different prices.
If there's no rush to travel to San Francisco, consider making a pit stop along the way. You might find cheaper plane tickets to San Francisco International Airport if you book a flight with one or more stops.
Best time to go to San Francisco
The cheapest month to get on a flight to San Francisco is usually May.
Use the 'Whole month' tool if you're flexible with your dates. Browse fares for the entire month and find a flight to SFO that suits your budget and schedule.
Head to San Francisco in July if you want to go when it's busy. This is the most popular month for flights to SFO, but also when fares are likely to be more expensive.
December is the least busy time of year to visit if you prefer a more laid-back vibe. There's also a good chance you'll find cheaper prices on plane tickets to San Francisco then.
The weather can make or break a trip, so consider the type of conditions you want to get away in. San Francisco is warmest in September, averaging between 12ºC and 24ºC.
January sees the lowest temperatures, ranging from about 5ºC to 16ºC.
July gives you the best chance of sunshine. This is the driest month in San Francisco.
March brings the wettest weather. You can expect around seven days of rainfall if you visit during this time.
Flying to San Francisco International Airport (SFO): What you need to know
Skip the layovers and travel to San Francisco in one easy hop. Lock in a direct flight to San Francisco International Airport with one of these popular airlines:
If you want to jet away with the carrier with the fewest delays, book your SFO plane ticket with Cathay Pacific. Up to 93% of its flights into this hub arrive as planned.
When you hop off the plane at SFO, you'll be in the UTC-8 timezone.
Eager to get a good night's sleep after your flight to SFO? These hotels near San Francisco International Airport offer the perfect place to relax and recharge:
San Francisco International Airport has an on-time rating of 78%, which is based on the arrival performance of departing flights. This can be useful to know if you're catching a tight connecting flight or need to be somewhere soon after you land.
San Francisco International Airport is located in San Francisco, California, the United States.
Getting to central San Francisco from San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
The distance from SFO to central San Francisco is about 21 kms (13 miles).
If you're taking a taxi or ride-sharing after your flight to SFO, it'll take around 25 minutes to reach the centre.
Public transport will get you there in roughly 35 minutes.
The right hotel can upgrade your whole experience. Settle in at one of these guest-approved stays in San Francisco:
San Francisco highlights
Hop off your flight to San Francisco and head directly for these well-known attractions:
Golden Gate Bridge: Located around 6 kms (4 miles) northwest of the city centre, this landmark is a classic place to start your sightseeing in the city.
Japanese Tea Garden: You'll find this park roughly 5 kms (3 miles) west of the centre in Golden Gate Park. Take a little breather and slow things down in this corner of San Francisco.
Alcatraz Island: Want more reasons to visit San Francisco? This landmark brings in the crowds and is about 6 kms (4 miles) north of the city centre.
How to get to San Jose from San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
The nearby city of San Jose is about 56 kms (35 miles) from SFO. Heading into the centre by taxi or ride-share will take around 40 minutes.
Expect a journey time of 1 hour 35 minutes or so when making your way to San Jose on public transport.
Travelling from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Fremont
About 32 kms (20 miles) away, Fremont is another city that's easy to reach from San Francisco International Airport. It'll take you around 2 hours 5 minutes to make the journey by public transport from SFO.
It'll take you 40 minutes or so to drive to Fremont.
Explore more of the United States
There's loads more to see and do in the United States, starting with San Jose. Winchester Mystery House, The Tech Interactive and Santa Clara Valley are must-do's in this city, which is around 56 kms (35 miles) southeast of San Francisco. San Jose Mineta International Airport (SJC) is the major airport in San Jose.
Fresno fits right into any adventure through the United States. You'll find it around 257 kms (160 miles) east of San Francisco. Forestiere Underground Gardens, Shinzen Japanese Garden and Fresno Chaffee Zoo are among the highlights. The main airport serving this city is Fresno Yosemite International Airport (FAT).
About 129 kms (80 miles) northeast of San Francisco, Sacramento is worth a detour. Big reasons to visit include California State Railroad Museum, Old Sacramento State Historic Park and Crocker Art Museum. Sacramento International Airport (SMF) is the easiest way to arrive here.