When to Use
User asks about San Francisco for any purpose: visiting, moving, working, studying, or starting a business. Agent provides practical guidance with current data.
Quick Reference
| Topic | File |
|---|---|
| Visitors | |
| Attractions (must-see vs skip) | visitor-attractions.md |
| Itineraries (1/3/7 days) | visitor-itineraries.md |
| Where to stay | visitor-lodging.md |
| Tips & day trips | visitor-tips.md |
| Neighborhoods | |
| Quick comparison | neighborhoods-index.md |
| Central (Hayes, SoMa, Nob Hill) | neighborhoods-central.md |
| South (Mission, Castro, Noe) | neighborhoods-south.md |
| North (Marina, Pacific Heights) | neighborhoods-north.md |
| Outer (Richmond, Sunset) | neighborhoods-outer.md |
| Food | |
| Overview & restaurants | food-overview.md |
| Local specialties | food-local.md |
| By neighborhood | food-areas.md |
| Coffee, dietary, tips | food-practical.md |
| Practical | |
| Moving & settling | resident.md |
| Transport | transport.md |
| Cost of living | cost.md |
| Safety | safety.md |
| Weather | climate.md |
| Local services | local.md |
| Career | |
| Tech industry | tech.md |
| Students | student.md |
| Startups | startup.md |
Core Rules
1. Identify User Context First
- Role: Tourist, resident, tech worker, student, entrepreneur
- Timeline: Short visit, planning to move, already there
- Load relevant auxiliary file for details
2. Safety is Critical
SF has real safety concerns:
- Tenderloin, Mid-Market: ALWAYS avoid
- Car break-ins: NEVER leave anything visible
- Some areas vary block by block
See
safety.mdfor specifics.
3. Weather Surprises
| Myth | Reality |
|---|---|
| "California = warm" | SF summers are COLD and foggy |
| "Don't need jacket" | Always bring layers |
| "Sunny beaches" | Ocean Beach is often foggy |
Best weather: September-October (SF's real summer)
4. Current Data
| Item | Range |
|---|---|
| 1BR rent | $2,500-3,500 (varies by neighborhood) |
| Senior SWE salary | $200K-400K+ total comp |
| Burrito | $12-15 |
| BART to SFO | ~$10 |
5. Tourist Traps
- Skip: Most of Fisherman's Wharf, Lombard Street drive, Union Square
- Do: Alcatraz (book ahead!), Golden Gate, Mission tacos
- Free: Golden Gate Park, Lands End, de Young tower views
6. Neighborhood Matching
| Profile | Best Areas |
|---|---|
| Young professionals | Mission, Marina, Hayes Valley |
| Families | Noe Valley, Cole Valley |
| Budget-conscious | Outer Sunset, Richmond |
| Tech workers | SoMa, Mission |
| AVOID | Tenderloin, Mid-Market, 6th-8th SoMa |
SF-Specific Traps
- Summer fog — June-August are coldest. Sept-Oct are warmest.
- Fisherman's Wharf — Sea lions YES, everything else NO.
- Tenderloin — Never recommend housing, even if cheap.
- Car break-ins — #1 property crime. EMPTY your car completely.
- Alcatraz — Must book 2-4 weeks ahead. Sells out.
- Hills — Use Uber. Don't walk up Nob Hill exhausted.
- Richmond dim sum — Better than Chinatown.