If you're looking for a cosmopolitan city with striking architecture, gorgeous, hilly landscapes and a progressive attitude, then take a non-stop, 13-hour flight from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL) to San Francisco. A private car or taxi is the fastest way to negotiate the Manila traffic and reach the airport. Jeepney and bus connections are less expensive but may take longer.

Attractions

Public transportation will get you around San Francisco quickly and efficiently. BART, or Bay Area Rapid Transit, travels underground, streetcars range from vintage to modern, and the quaint cable cars are attractions in themselves. Use the walkway to cross the nearly two mile long Golden Gate Bridge on foot. Take a ferry to Alcatraz and learn about its history. Stop by Fisherman's Wharf to watch the antics of the resident sea lions. Chinatown awaits, if you want to sample some dim sum.

Hints and Tips

One of the busiest airports in California and in the world, San Francisco International (SFO) has four terminals attracting business and leisure travelers. Temperatures are cool with the hottest month of September averaging 56 to 73 degrees, and colder December ranges from 44 to 54 degrees. Although snow is unknown, fog is common. Visitors need a passport, and a visa is also required unless you hail from a country on the Visa Waiver Program.