San Rafael

By car

San Rafael is on the 101 Freeway, north of San Francisco over the Golden Gate Bridge. 101 crosses Highway 580 in San Rafael, making the city a major influx point for drivers from the East Bay.

By ferry

Ferries run from the ferry terminal in Union Square-Financial District, downtown San Francisco. With hourly departures, every 30 minutes during rush hours, ferries are a convenient way of reaching San Rafael. is about two kilometers from downtown, but is served by buses.

By bus

The is a hub for local buses, with service to other parts of Marin provided by Marin Transit and service to Sonoma County, San Francisco, and Richmond provided by Golden Gate Transit. The Marin and Oakland airporters (with service to San Francisco International Airport and Oakland International Airport) and Greyhound buses also stop at the transit center.

By train

Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit, or SMART, has two stations in San Rafael, connecting it with Novato and places in Sonoma County: Petaluma, Rohnert Park, Santa Rosa, and Sonoma County Airport. Extensions are planned to Cloverdale and Larkspur. One railroad station is located downtown next to the Transit Center, and the other is near the Civic Center.

By plane

The nearest major airports are San Francisco International Airport (SFO) and Oakland International Airport (OAK). To get to San Rafael from SFO, you can take the Marin Airporter, which departs SFO every half hour, early morning to late evening, and drops passengers at Anderson Drive and at the Transit Center. Fare is $23 to be paid in cash when you get off.
The Airport Express, better known as the Oakland Airporter, goes to San Rafael from Oakland Airport, departing once an hour.

Downtown San Rafael is based on a grid network, with numbered streets running east-west and lettered streets running north-south. The downtown area is walkable, but to visit other places like the Civic Center or China Camp, you're better off driving or biking. Marin Transit's bus service, mentioned above, is also a feasible option for getting to different areas.
Taxis are available in San Rafael, and they can also take you to other towns in Marin. You won't usually be able to hail one off the street, but you can call one, and they also line up at the transit center. You can call a taxi from North Bay Cooperative Taxi at +1-415-258-2800.

Fourth Street, the main street in central San Rafael, is full of shops and restaurants and has a vibrant downtown feel.

• Mission San Rafael Arcangel

  phone: +1-415-456-3016
  address: 1104 Fifth Ave
  The 20th of the 21 California missions, San Rafael was founded as an asistencia or adjunct to Mission Dolores in San Francisco in 1817, but was promoted to full mission status in 1822. San Rafael was a hospital mission, tending the sick from Spanish settlements and natives. The first mission secularized, it was used by General John C. Fremont during the Mexican-American War, and during statehood as the Marin County Courthouse. The original church was torn down in 1861, and a series of Catholic churches were erected at that site. The mission chapel has been restored in 1949, and tours of the site as well as a museum containing three original mission bells are open to the public.

• Marin County Civic CenterThe Civic Center is the only example of a Frank Lloyd Wright-designed government building in the world, and was considered to be well ahead of its time, making it a creative choice as the backdrop of the film Gattaca. Ninety-minute tours of the building leave every Wednesday and Friday at 10:30AM from the café on the second floor (room 233) and cost $10 ($5 for seniors and students). A branch of the county's public library, where you can see a model of the Civic Center, is located on the fourth floor. Next to the building is the large Duck Pond, officially the Civic Center Lagoon, a nice, shady area to take a walk or feed ducks.

• Christopher B. Smith Rafael Film Center

  phone: +1-415-454-5813
  address: 1118 Fourth St
  The Christopher B. Smith Rafael Film Center is a beautifully restored Art Deco theater that was seen in the film American Graffiti. It plays independent films, popular foreign films, and documentaries daily and is located at the heart of 4th street.

• China Camp State Park

  phone: +1 415 456-0766
  China Camp was established as a village by Chinese immigrants. Now it's a state park with hiking trails, a beach, a museum, and natural scenery. If you keep your eyes open, you may still stumble across shards of Chinese pottery during your visit.

• McNears BeachFeaturing a swimming pool, fishing pier, snack bar, picnic areas, and volleyball and tennis.

• Marin Shakespeare

  phone: +1 415-499-4488
  address: 890 Belle Ave
  Shakespeare and other classic plays performed every summer in an outdoor theater. Sit near the front to make sure you can hear clearly, and consider bringing or renting cushions for the wooden bench seats. Bring a jacket or a blanket for evening performances—San Rafael cools down quickly when the sun sets.

• Italian Street Painting FestivalAn annual street painting festival held in central San Rafael every summer.

• Marin County FairFood, rides, art and performances at a large fair held every summer near the Civic Center. Don't miss the firework shows every night of the fair, culminating on the Fourth of July.

• HikingThe hills north of San Rafael have some hiking trails, as does China Camp, though for really great views you have to go a little further afield to other parts of Marin.

This region of California is full of fertile farmland, so fresh produce is plentiful. There are several weekly farmers' markets which feature music, crafts, and activities for kids as well as a variety of local food.

• Thursday Farmer's Market

• Sunday Farmer's MarketA great place to stock up on farm fresh vegetables & fruit, bread from many local bakeries, and gourmet cheeses and fresh seafood. Grab a cup of coffee, sample a fresh crepe or waffle, and get to know some of the most dedicated farmers in Marin.

• San Rafael Downtown Farmer's MarketUnlike the Civic Center farmer's markets, this market is more focused on entertainment. Approximately 100 farmers, food vendors, and artists attend each week.

• Northgate Mall

  phone: +1 415 479-5955
  address: 5800 Northgate Mall
  Nothing to write home about, but a perfectly nice mall with a movie theater and food court.

Like most Bay Area towns, San Rafael has a number of pubs and taco joints as well as cafes and bars. Many restaurants are located on Fourth Street

• Muffin Mania

  phone: +1 415 485-1027
  address: 2 Bayview St
  Vegan and cornmeal muffins, among others. Grateful dead atmosphere. Delicious sandwiches. Excellent coffee.

• Sushi To Dai For

  phone: +1-415-721-0392
  address: 816 4th St

• Taqueria San Jose

  phone: +1-415-455-0999
  address: 615 4th St
  Just under highway 101.

• Lotus Indian Cuisine

  phone: +1-415-456-5808
  address: 4704 4th St
  Simply the best Indian food in Marin, relaxed and quiet atmosphere, excellent service, and a retractable ceiling to let in the sun on a warm day.

• Sol Food

  phone: +1-415-451-4765
  address: 901 Lincoln Ave
  Puerto Rican cuisine and tropical ambiance make this restaurant very popular with the locals.

• Puentez Taqueria

  phone: +1-415-721-7992
  address: 243 3rd St
  Mom & pop taqueria in Montecito plaza.

• Aroma Cafe

  phone: +1-415-459-4340
  address: 1122 4th Street
  Coffee shop vibe, but the menu has a variety of food, including wraps and pita. Grab a bite to eat or just chat over coffee.

• Arizmendi

  phone: +1-415-456-4093
  address: 1002 4th Street
  Worker-owned bakery and pizzeria with delicious cookies. Lots of vegan and gluten-free options.

• Double Rainbow Café

  phone: +1-415-457-0803
  address: 860 4th Street
  It calls itself a café, and yes, there are drinks and sandwiches, but the real draw here is the ice cream. Double Rainbow just has good old-fashioned ice cream—nothing fancy, not too expensive. There's usually a vegan/dairy-free option or two.

• The Mayflower Pub

  phone: +1-415-456-1011
  address: 1533 Fourth Street
  Authentic British pub & grill, same location since 1971. Serves lunch & dinner. Great salads, burgers, fish & chips, bangers & mash, sausage rolls, and other standards.

• Trevor's Pub

  phone: +1-415-456-7044
  address: 927 Tamalpais Avenue

• Red Whale Coffee

  phone: +1-415-906-6277
  address: 169 Paul Drive
  Unpretentious coffee place with a unique approach to coffee.

• Embassy Suites by Hilton San Rafael Marin County

  phone: +1-415-499-9222
  address: 101 McInnis Pkwy

• Motel 6

  phone: +1-415-453-3450
  address: 737 E Francisco Blvd

• Extended Stay America

  phone: +1-415-451-1887
  address: 1775 Francisco Blvd E
  Accommodations geared towards the extended stay traveler. 112 guest rooms complete with fully equipped kitchens, on-site laundry facility, indoor pool, outdoor hot tub, meeting room, breakfast in the morning, business center, Wireless Internet throughout the property, flat screen televisions in all rooms, and fitness center on-site.

• North Bay Inn - San Rafael

  phone: +1-415-456-8620
  address: 855 E Francisco Blvd
  B&B.

• Panama Hotel

  phone: +1-415-457-3993
  address: 4 Bayview St
  A small, quaint, eclectic hotel, with unusual and uniquely decorated theme rooms. The restaurant is likewise unusual and pleasing, and yes, the jazz is a nice addition. Mexican-Italian-Californian cuisine in an artsy interior, and outdoor dining in spring and summer. The whole affair is located in a quiet district, near the center of town. Rates include a very nice continental breakfast.

San Rafael's crime rate is higher than most of Marin County, but it is still much safer than larger nearby cities like San Francisco or Oakland.
If you decide to venture into the Canal District, stay alert, even in the daytime, as parts of it are quite dangerous. However, it is home to some of the best Latin food in the Bay Area. Try not to wear too much red- or blue-colored clothing—you may be confused as a rival to another gang and approached. It is best not to walk around the Canal District at night. West of Kerner is more dangerous than East of Kerner, which has nice town homes along the water.
Parts of Downtown, Terra Linda, and near Woodland Avenue have some crime as well so just be aware of your surroundings and don't dress all in red or blue.

• Nearby Fairfax and Larkspur
• Continue north on 101 towards Napa Valley and the wine country.
• Point Reyes is to the west on the Pacific coastline.
• San Francisco is just a 20-30 minute drive south on 101.
• Head over the hill to Stinson Beach on the Pacific Coast.