Miami to San Francisco Flights

  About Miami

If there is one place that you can head to, any time of the year, for the perfect beachy holiday, it is Miami. The crazy parties, sunbathing at the beach, diverse cultures are only some of the things that attract tourists to Miami. Miami Beach is another destination that is extremely popular among tourists. You can go with your family or with your friends. Miami is a city that never sleeps, and you won't even notice time passing by when you are holidaying in Miami. You won't feel like leaving from the beach at all. Waking up to the wonderfully blue waters from your hotel room makes for the perfect vacation, don't you think? You will not get used to a view like this and will definitely want to come back for another holiday pretty soon.

Best Time to Visit Miami

Summer is one of the most popular seasons to visit Miami, even though the city does welcome tourists all year round. There are quite a few parties and events hosted in the city throughout the year, which also leads to a spike in hotel rates and flight tickets to Miami. However, if you are keen on partying till sunrise and hitting the beach every now and then, this is worth every penny spent. Spring is also a popular season to visit Miami and has a lot of teenagers turning it into a crazy party destination, thanks to the Spring break. June to August is summer in Miami, and the temperature ranges from 23 to 32 degree Celsius. There are quite a few events and festivals in all of these months like the American Black Film Festival in June, Florida Supercon in July and Coconut Grove Food and Wine Festival in August. If you are planning to hit the Miami beach, make sure you carry loads of sunscreen because you will want to take a dip in the ocean quite frequently. However, this is also the start of Atlantic's hurricane season so make sure that you are prepared to face the humid temperatures.

September to November is the autumn season, and the city sees a dip in the number of tourists since there are frequent showers and the threat of hurricanes hitting the city. It will be a lot of gambles to plan a trip to Miami during the autumn season. However, if you are still keen on hitting the Miami beach during this time, you can catch the South Beach Seafood Week in October and the White Party Week in November. Not to mention, there is also a BK Beach Run event that happens in October. The temperature ranges from 22 to 31 degree Celsius. However, it does drop considerably in November.

The city experiences winter from December to February. The temperature ranges from 15 to 26 degree Celsius, and this is a very pleasant time to hit the beach. You will see a minimal crowd and can enjoy your solitude at the beach though you must book your hotel in Miami at least four months in advance since the hotel prices start increasing. It will get difficult to find something decent in your budget at the last moment.

March to May is the most popular time to head to Miami. The temperature ranges from 17 to 30 degree Celsius. Since it is Spring season, you will see a lot of young crowds, mostly at the beach to celebrate Spring break. There are quite a lot of events to attend during this season, too. You can attend the Miami International Film Festival in March, Miami Beach Pride in March or April and the Miami Fashion Week in May or June. However, since it is also a popular tourist season, especially among youngsters, you might want to check for your flight and hotel availability in advance.

Places to Visit in Miami

Put on your fanciest bikini and head to the Miami beach. It is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Miami and also one of the main reasons why tourists plan a trip to the city. There are long stretches of pristine and tranquil beaches that you will not get over at all. The South Beach is another one of the famous beaches in Miami that a lot of people head to. If you are travelling with your family, you can also visit the Miami Zoo that is home to approximately 3000 animals and 500 different species. One of the specialities of the zoo is that it has created a natural habitat for the animals to move around freely instead of caging them. Make sure you are all set for a long walk since the zoo is quite big. You will also find a lot of water fountains in the zoo and play areas for the kids.

The Vizcaya Museum and Gardens is yet another popular tourist that you can visit. It used to be a winter home of industrialist, James Deering and is a blend of European and Italian Renaissance style architecture. You will love the gardens and the outdoor area here. Bayside Marketplace is one of the most popular shopping areas in Miami. Located on the Miami waterfront, you will find a lot of unique shops here and a lot of souvenirs to take back home, too. Bayfront Park is another wonderful place to go to that has a lot of sculptures and monuments spread across 32 acres of space. It is a famous place to host musical performances since it also has an amphitheatre and makes for a great place to take pictures. Make sure you also head to Wynwood to catch the beautiful wall arts. You will find a lot of graffiti paintings on the walls here that make it a spot you must visit in Miami. Little Havana is in the Cuban district of Miami and is known for its cultural scene. You will find a lot of restaurants and food stalls here, in addition to Latin music. You can also attend the Calle Ocho Festival in March that celebrates the Cuban culture.

Things to do in Miami

Since Miami Beach is one of the main highlights of the city, you can try a bunch of beach activities here like swimming, paddle surfing or even take a speed boat tour. You can also try deep-sea fishing in Miami. Since it is a hot party destination, you can also experience the crazy nightlife here. The food and cocktail in Miami are to die for, and you will simply love it. Take a walking tour of the Art Deco Museum and make sure you also hire a guide for this one. You can challenge your photography skills at the Wynwood Walls, and we are certain the pictures here will get you loads of likes and followers on social media.

Food and Restaurants in Miami

It is not difficult to find your favourite type of cuisine in Miami. Be it Japanese food or Cuban cuisines, and you will find everything here. Owing to its proximity to the ocean, seafood is also a speciality here. You can head over to Garcia's Seafood Grille and Fish Market for sustainable seafood. You can also try Versailles Restaurant for authentic Cuban cuisine or Chef Creole's at Little Haiti for Caribbean food. You can also head to House of Food Porn for sushi and other kinds of Japanese food. La Mar by Gaston Acurio at Mandarin Oriental, is another restaurant that is recommended by food experts. Aromas del Peru serves the best Peruvian food in Miami. You can also try Cuban and Spanish food at El Mago de las Fritas. Head over to Lagniappe for a glass of wine. It has an impressive menu of different types of wine that you can choose from.

How to reach Miami (Transportation)

The Miami International Airport is about 16 km away from Downtown Miami. The flight connectivity to Miami from India is excellent. However, be prepared for tedious hours of flights and more than one layover. Though there are flights to Miami that only have layovers in one city, the duration is close to 22 hours. It is not very easy to get cheap flight tickets to Miami from India, so make sure you plan and book it way in advance. It is also advisable to book your hotel in Miami well in advance to avoid any inconveniences. Layovers at London, New York and Istanbul are some of the popular routes to Miami via air. Miami airport is well-equipped with lounges, shopping arenas, restaurants, cafe, WiFi, smoking rooms, children's area and prayer area. You will not get bored at all if you are waiting to board your flight. With so many options to dine in and sip a coffee, Miami airport makes sure that it stands out. Not to mention, you will also get a taxi and other transport services from the airport quite easily. The airport also has art exhibitions for passengers. The airport has specific exits and areas for pets and service animals.

  About San Francisco

Located on the coast of Northern California is the culturally rich city of San Francisco. The city has been christened with an array of colloquial names such as SF, The City, San Fran and Frisco. The city is a cultural haven and also the commercial and financial hub of Northern California. With attractions such as Alcatraz, Fisherman's Wharf, and the Golden Gate Bridge, the city of San Francisco is one of the best in the United States as a tourist destination.

Best time to visit San Francisco

March through May can be quite the time to visit San Francisco if you wish to avoid the tourist rush. The temperatures are quite comfortable as they range between 10 degree Celsius to 17 degree Celsius. With the temperatures slowly inching towards summer, it is definitely an excellent time to visit San Francisco. This doesn't mean you will get to take a dip in the Pacific. However, you can still take lovely strolls within the city and savour all the beautiful locales of San Francisco. Plus, these months come with exciting festivals such as San Francisco International Film Festival, Carnaval San Francisco, Bay to Breakers, International Beer Festival and St. Patrick's Day Parade and Festival.

Summers start from June through August. Tourism is at its peak with many folks flocking over to the city from various parts of the country and worldwide. The summer temperatures range from 11 degree Celsius to 20 degree Celsius. It is perfect to put on your swimming trunks and head straight to the ocean. The hotel rates do get high in San Francisco as it is peak season. For budget-travellers, this might not be the best time to visit the port city. To ensure that you do find a decent accommodation, you can make prior hotel bookings in San Francisco and let the rest follow. Even the flight tickets to San Francisco sees a surge. Not to mention how the city beams with joy to be entertained by a bevy of festivals such as North Beach Festival, Outside Land Music Festival, San Francisco Pride and more.

Fall is undoubtedly the perfect time to visit if you want to enjoy the warm temperatures and to get a good flight and hotel deals in San Francisco. The fall is warmer than summer, and the temperature is comfortably ranging from 12 degree Celsius to 21 degree Celsius. The sunny skies do feel good on the skin, and the brisk breeze is perfect to have a good time. Plus, the flight tickets and hotel bookings in San Francisco are also cheap and easy on the pockets. You will thoroughly have a good time during your trip to the city. Not to mention how there are some festivals too hosted by the city such as the San Francisco Fringe Festival, Castro Street Fair and Treasure Island Music Festival. You will have to pack your clothes that fit the weather's features. A little layer in terms of clothing would do you good. Try to avoid winters in San Francisco. Even though the hotel prices in San Francisco are cheap, the weather might be unfavourable for tourist activities.

Places to see in San Francisco

San Francisco might be a small city in terms of area, but with the packed tourist attractions, food and living culture and much more, it's tourism easily skyrockets. The assortment of outdoor activities that the city has to offer is mind-blowing. The first thing for you to do in San Francisco as part of your tourist endeavour would be to visit the Golden Gate Bridge. The legendary bridge cannot be missed for the view it offers as it faces the San Francisco Bay. The structure was originally constructed to bridge the gap between San Francisco and Marin County. Of course, Alcatraz Island is also a trip that you shouldn't miss. You will need to take a ferry ride to reach the island of Alcatraz, known for its reputation as a federal prison which housed some of the biggest offenders in the US history. They also had mob boss Al Capone in custody at Alcatraz.

Fisherman's Wharf is another lovely place that would be a fun expedition. The pier is often crowded with tourists as it has a slew of interesting attractions such as San Francisco Maritime National Historic Park as well as the Maritime Museum. More places that should be on your list include Lands End, Muir Woods National Monument, Ferry Building Marketplace, The Castro, Yerba Buena Gardens and more.

Things to do in San Francisco

The best part about a trip to San Francisco is the covey of cool activities that can be undertaken. Right from climbing the popular Twin Peaks to riding the cable cars, you have a lot of interesting things you can take up. In fact, divulging in their food culture would be the best of things to do when in San Francisco.

Food and Restaurants in San Francisco

San Francisco's casual lifestyle brings forth a lovely melange of cuisines and flavours that range from budget to upscale. Thanks to the perfect balance of cuisines and Michelin-starred food establishments, the city has easily turned into one of the best food destinations of the US. It is easily one of the most recognised cities in the country with exquisite food. There are quaint coffee shops, steakhouses, Italian trattorias and of course, Chinatown too. You name a cuisine, and San Francisco has it for you. Their commitment towards encouraging diversity in international cuisine is what makes their food culture so popular. You will be surprised to know that the Bay Area alone has over 50 farmers market experiences in store for you. You should definitely visit the farm-to-table styled food establishment called Chez Panisse. The place brings out flavours with fresh ingredients that would certainly go down well with your system. You should also check out the Ferry Building Marketplace. There are many culinary treats that you will be able to find here.

It will take you more than one trip to San Francisco to cover up all the food establishments in the city. Some of the classics include Boudin's, which has clam chowder as its big seller. You should also visit Tartine Bakery to relish some sweet treats. Speaking of the same, you should also check out Bi-Rite Creamery. The ice cream parlour manages to bring forth some exquisite sweet flavours in a cup with sprinklers and other fun toppings. Golden Gate Bakery is another good establishment for sweet and savoury food. They are known for their egg tarts in the city. Geoff of Ichido is also a good place where you can indulge in some Japanese and Asian seafood. Know that the city is on the Pacific coast and hence, has seafood as its top big seller. At the cafe De Casa, you can revel in some exquisite Brazillian cuisine. At Tacorea, you can find a good array of Mexican dishes. As stated, the city has an array of international cuisine, including Greek and Mediterranean. You can actually find this at the Kokkari Estiatorio. Of course, do not miss their breweries and roasteries at Anchor Brewing Company and Philz Coffee respectively.

How to reach San Francisco (Transportation)

San Francisco has brilliant flight connectivity. In fact, the city does see a lot of demand from Indians as it does have some of the finest universities, including UC Berkeley. Flight connectivity to San Francisco from major Indian metropolitan cities is immaculate. Although there are no direct flights to San Francisco from India, they usually have layovers in international cities. Airlines such as Cathay Pacific, Singapore Airlines, Turkish Airlines, American Airlines, British Airways, Emirates, Lufthansa, Swiss, to name a few, have dedicated flights flying to San Francisco. The most popular route chosen to fly to San Francisco from India is from cities such as Singapore and Hong Kong. In fact, Cathay Pacific is the most popular airline to take this international route to San Francisco. The flight is perfectly connected to San Francisco and reaches the city in close to 21 hours. Singapore Airlines also has excellent connectivity and stops at Singapore to reach San Francisco. For this route though, you will need a transit visa.

With Cathay Pacific and Singapore Airlines, you wouldn't have to worry about changing flights in international cities. In fact, the flight simply has layovers in these cities before reaching the destination. Other airlines mentioned also have flights that directly connect to San Francisco with layovers in their respective cities. The flight tickets to San Francisco are quite reasonable. If you do make prior flight bookings to San Francisco, you might be able to get some discounts. There are innumerable online flight deals to San Francisco that you might be able to avail. Depending on the airlines you choose, the ticket price to San Francisco might vary. It would be best to book your flight and hotels in advance. Often it is recommended that you book your flight and hotels in San Francisco together. When you combine the two bookings, you might be in for some fantastic online deals. Even airlines have their own flight deals to San Francisco that you can avail.

  About San Francisco Airport

San Francisco International Airport is located in the San Mateo County of California. It is 21 km away from downtown San Francisco and is located close to San Bruno. The international airport is one of the major getaways for airlines connecting Europe and Asia. After Los Angeles International Airport, San Francisco International Airport is the second busiest airport in California. The airport is also recognised to be the largest in the Bay Area. It stands at the 24th level on the global list of busiest airports. San Francisco International Airport is also the fifth-largest hub for United Airlines. It operates as a transpacific getaway to the country. The second big airlines that it serves base to is Alaska Airlines. Much recently, the airport started serving Virgin America airlines as the base for operations. The airport has four runways made of asphalt and is arranged in parallel intersections. It has been recorded that SFO witnesses about 1,287 flight operations in a day with approximately 470,164 taking place in a year.

About Airport Terminals

San Francisco International Airport has four functioning terminals namely, 1, 2, 3 and international. These are followed by seven concourses of boarding areas and has 115 gates in total. Terminal 1 caters to boarding areas arranged in alphabetical orders of B and D. Terminal 2 accommodates boarding area D and Terminal 3 takes care of boarding areas E and F. This terminal also handles operations of domestic flights. Meanwhile, the international terminal has boarding A and G with the majority of international flight operations along with a handful of domestic flights. Terminal 1 is also referred to as Harvey Milk Terminal 1 which works predominantly for domestic flight operations. Terminal 2 also caters to domestic flights and hosts airlines such as Virgin America and American Airlines. Terminal 2 has been constructed to cater to sustainability. It is considered to be eco-friendly with respect to paper ticketing and parking bays. Level 2 is reserved for domestic boarding and is in area D. Terminal 3 is also domestic but is directly connected to the International Terminal. It has exclusive functions of inbound and outbound flights by United Airlines and flies within the US. International Terminal is divided into level 2 for arrival and baggage claim and level 3 for departures. Level 2 also has check-in and boarding area.

About Airport Authority

Despite its location in the San Mateo County, San Francisco International Airport is owned and managed by the City and County of San Francisco. The airport is an enterprise that falls under the wing of City and County of San Francisco which strives to bring about a safe and secure travel expedition. The management is responsible for the expansion and infrastructural design and development of San Francisco International Airport. The airport authority recently announced plans to switch to sustainable fuels and have already signed agreements with agencies, fuel suppliers and airlines to enable the same. Following the same, the agreement brought together Shell and NkyNGR to supply sustainable fuels for aviation to KLM, Finnair and SAS flights that operate out of San Francisco International Airport. The airport's body has also been working on enhancing the runway structures' sturdiness as well as that of the terminals and buildings to withstand natural calamities, following an earthquake that took place in the county. Plans to expand Terminal 1 is also being conducted and is scheduled to complete by 2024.

Top airlines flying from San Francisco International Airport

San Francisco International Airport has only one Indian airline that operates from the city, Air India. Besides this, the rest of the airlines that operate from the airport are mostly international airlines. The airlines are well-connected to Europe and Asian continents. The domestic connectivity of SFO Airport is also quite good as it reaches almost all cities of the United States. The international airlines operating from San Francisco International Airport are Air Canada, Air China, Air France, Air New Zealand, Alaska Airlines, Alitalia, All Nippon Airways, American Airlines, Asiana Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, China Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Emirates, Fiji Airways, Finnair, Iberia, Lufthansa, LOT Polish Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Scandinavian Airlines, Swiss International Air Lines, Turkish Airlines, United Airlines and Virgin Atlantic. The airport also accommodates a decent number of cargo planes to operate from the vicinity. Carriers such as Asiana Cargo, DHL Aviation, FedEx Express, Korean Air Cargo, Nippon Cargo Airlines are some of the few prominent ones.

Facilities at the San Francisco International Airport

Airport Butler - Airport Butler is a customised concierge service that is available at the airport. You can avail these services as they include assistance with respect to check-in, personal shopping, translations for non-English speaking travellers, lounge reservations, business services and more. You can make prior bookings and customise the necessities that you might need.

In-transit hotel - The airport actually has a luxury hotel present in the proximity of the airport's terminals. With the views of the Bay, the rooms at SFO's Grand Hyatt are beautiful and accessible. You can take the AirTrain to reach the hotel from the airport. The features of the hotel cater to upscaled hospitality.

Medical services - There are dedicated pharmacies and medical rooms at the San Francisco International Airport. The medical rooms with professionals are stationed for emergency cases that would happen at the terminals. You can also make last-minute medical purchases at the airport pharmacy.

Pets and service animals - Travellers who are travelling with pets can avail some services as well. There are reserved areas where the pet can do their business. There are some experts at the airport too who can help you with your pet.

Spas and showers - There is accommodation for luxury services such as spas and showers. You might have to pay some nominal fee before you can get hold of the services. You can use the showers to refresh yourself if you need to go for a professional meeting. There are spas too where you can get a good massage.

A travel agency - There are specific travel agency booths that are present at the San Francisco International Airport. In case there are any last-minute bookings that you need to make, you can directly head to the airport. You can get your complete travel itinerary sorted along with accommodation bookings.

Yoga Room - San Francisco International Airport is the first airport in the world to have a Yoga Room. The room is located in terminal 2, and you can indulge in yoga while you wait for the connecting flight or for the layover period to be over.

SFO museum - The San Francisco International Airport has a museum and a few galleries installed for travellers' entertainment. There are public art, photography exhibits, student art and video arts that can be found at the San Francisco Museum.

AMTs and currency exchange - The airport has ATM kiosks located at convenient spots. The terminals also have a foreign exchange booth at the departure zones and arrivals. It would be very convenient for international travellers.

Airport lounges – The airport also caters to a slew of lounges located at various departure zones of all the terminals. There are first-class and business-class lounges for travellers holding the respective flight tickets. The airport also has a VIP lounge, meeting rooms and other spaces where one can avail luxury services and hospitality.

WiFi and internet – The airport provides free WiFi services for travellers. You can visit the information desk to get more details on how you can procure the service. Not to mention how the airport also has internet cafes where you can get your work done.

How to reach San Francisco International Airport

Bus

SamTrans, a transit agency of San Mateo County, has dedicated buses that connect to the San Francisco International Airport. You will have to check out their schedules and the routes to know which ones would reach you to the SFO Airport. They can be accessed from the arrivals or baggage counter of the airport.

Car and rentals

The airport sees good connectivity by road, and you can always use rentals or taxis to reach the San Francisco International Airport. You can actually find booths and counters to book transport from the airport itself. Apps such as Lyft and Uber are also available and would be perfect to use when at the airport terminal's arrival section. If you are driving down to SFO Airport, you should opt for the short freeway that links the US 101 with Interstate 280. As the airport is on the US Route 101, this is the most favourable route to reach the San Francisco International Airport. The airport also has short term and long term parking facilities available, in case you plan to do on a day tour.

Ferry

A favourable way to reach the San Francisco International Airport is to take the ferry. From the San Francisco Bay, there are ferry services that go to Oakland and Alameda. You can reach the ferry by taking SFO Airport's shuttle bus services. This can be found at the South San Francisco Ferry Terminal.