Under $100: San Francisco

The City by the Bay boasts some of the richest cultural and technological wonders of the world. While San Francisco can feel like a slam on your wallet, there are plenty of ways to discover this elegant, timeless city on a budget.

Accommodations at regular hotels can cost well over $100 during any given season. Check out AirBnB and look for spaces in the historic, booming Mission or the Lower Haight. Both of these neighborhoods are famous and affordable, boasting the quirky energy of the city.

Start off your morning at the Ferry Building Marketplace just east of the Financial District. Have a jolt of high-quality coffee at Blue Bottle Coffee (bluebottlecoffee.com), a local superstar in the java world. For about $4, you can get the nuttiest, smoothest coffee in the area. Then stroll through the Ferry Building to sample the best bread, cheeses and produce in the area for breakfast. Pick up a round of the famous San Francisco sourdough for a few bucks and take a walk outside along the waterfront to gaze across the bay. It this point you’ve spent about $15 for breakfast and a sampling of the culture.

Ferry Building, San Francisco © Tangducminh | Dreamstime

Once you have taken in the view across the water, take a 20-minute walk towards Chinatown and stop by the Chinatown Restaurant for some classic dim sum. Sample a wide range of dishes each for around $5 apiece. After lunch, stroll by the famous City Lights Booksellers a few blocks away. The bookstore was the home of the beat poetry movement and you can find classic works as well as locally published books for a range of prices. This is the perfect spot to buy some gifts.

Sea Lions, Fisherman’s Wharf, San Francisco © Sguazzini | Dreamstime

Make your way up to Fisherman’s Wharf in the afternoon and visit the Mechanical Museum, which is free. You can also stop by the Aquarium of the Bay.Admission is $19.95 for adults, but it is one of the most prestigious aquariums in the country. If you choose to visit the aquarium you should still have about $40 left for the rest of your day.

To finish out a long day of walking throughout historic neighborhoods, take the cable car from Hyde and Beach all the way down to Powell and Market streets. For only $2.25, you’ll get a scenic ride to the center of the city.

End your day on the rooftop of the landmark Macy’s store in the Cheesecake Factory. The restaurant has a balcony that overlooks Union Square and all the bustling downtown traffic. Grab a cocktail and some dinner for a reasonable price in the heart of it all to end an affordable day in the