One of the most beautiful and cosmopolitan cities in the world, San Francisco is also an intellectual hub of the western United States. This city of 49 square miles is situated upon 44 hills and surrounded on three sides by water. The microclimate provides natural air-conditioning: cloudy and cool summers, sunny and warm springs and falls, and rainy winters.

San Francisco's excellent restaurants, museums, art galleries, symphony orchestra, ballet company, and resident theater groups are internationally known.

Residents also benefit from ready access to some of the world's most beautiful areas: the Pacific Coast; nature reserves such as Muir Woods, Point Reyes, and Angel Island; the Napa and Sonoma wine country; and the Sierra Nevada Mountains.

Bay Area Resources
Both the Guardian and SF Gate have comprehensive listings of events around San Francisco and the larger Bay Area. For reviews of local restaurants, clubs and bars, try Citysearch. Information on the local weather can be found at the national weather service website.

Housing
The Housing Office maintains an online housing resources website that lists privately owned off-campus rentals including apartments, flats, houses, rooms, and shared arrangements. Listings are available on-line at the Housing Options web site. The Housing Office does not investigate, endorse, or guarantee the accommodations listed. Students, especially those with families, are encouraged to allow ample time for locating suitable housing prior to the start of the quarter.

Other housing options include roommate referral services, rental listing agencies, word-of-mouth, walking through neighborhoods looking for "RENT" signs, looking at bulletin boards, real estate offices/property managers, and reading the paper.

Websites: Craig's list is an indispensable site for finding listings or used furniture, cars, equipment, etc. http://www.craigslist.org

Newspapers: The San Francisco Chronicle or Examiner has some listings that you might also want to consider. You can also access their housing listings on their website. http://www.sfgate.com

Real estate agencies and property managers perform similar services. Find them in the Yellow Pages.

Popular Neighborhoods
THE SUNSET: Some of the cheaper rents around, lots of pastel stucco, somewhat foggy, and replete with good restaurants. Good transportation on the N-Judah, and generally within walking/biking distance from campus. A big plus: near the beach and the park.

COLE VALLEY: Beautiful homes, close to UCSF, a little sunnier. Near the Haight.

THE RICHMOND: Fairly inexpensive, mostly (but not totally) lacking in architectural splendor, some fog, ethnically diverse, and amazing Asian restaurants. Well-served by the 38-Geary bus, and a short bike ride to UCSF (through the park -- generally safe). Near Baker Beach and the Presidio.

THE HAIGHT: Forget the '60s. Today, the Haight is filled with trendy boutiques and tourists by day (the Gap is on the corner of Haight and Ashbury); homeless folks and their dogs reliving the Summer of Love by night. Well-served by the N-Judah and various bus lines.

FILLMORE/WESTERN ADDITION/NORTH OF PANHANDLE: Affordable housing is available here, but isn't always easy to find. Served by the 43-Masonic bus line. Looks a lot like the Haight, but with fewer shops and crowds
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NOE VALLEY: Pretty Victorians, sunny, lots of families and young couples.

CASTRO: Super-lively neighborhood, traditionally the gay district of SF. Attractive homes.

THE MISSION: Sunny! A largely Latino neighborhood which is still cheap, and wonderful food. Close to SFGH and Mission Bay.

Transportation
On Campus
Campus Shuttle buses operate every weekday (UC holidays excepted) linking the main Parnassus Avenue campus with most UCSF satellite facilities located throughout the city. There is also a night shuttle which will transport students to their homes within a one-mile radius of campus. For information about schedules and fees, see the UCSF Parking and Transportation website .

On Foot
Walking is the best way to travel in San Francisco. The city is organized into self-contained neighborhoods, so you can do all your shopping locally. Travel by foot is slow enough that you can enjoy the charm of North Beach, the energy of the financial district, and the funkiness of Haight-Ashbury. Guided tours are listed weekly in the Events section of the Sunday Chronicle's Datebook (pink) section , and in the local free papers.

On Two Wheels
Bicycling is another great way to see the City. Hills, parks, and vistas make San Francisco a bicyclist's paradise. A fine bike map of the Bay Area can be downloaded from UCSF Campus Life Services.
Bike Map

For a few dollars you can get a key to the bicycle cages on the first floor of Millberry Garage. Go to the parking office, MU garage level G (476-2566).

Bicycles can be rented throughout the city. Bikes are for rent at Lincoln Cyclery at 772 Stanyan between Carl & Waller, and at other shops in the immediate area. Staff are extremely helpful with route suggestions, small repairs, and answering all sorts of questions. Wear a helmet! Use lights and reflective tape at night. Drivers are better here than in most large cities, but exercise caution nonetheless.

Rollerskating/Rollerblading: There are a number of places from which you can rent skates. Certain sections of Golden Gate Park are closed to cars on Sundays so you can enjoy safe skating in the Park. On Sundays between 10 am-5 pm, John F. Kennedy Drive between Stanyan and 19th Ave. is one such section. Rentals are available from Skates on Haight (752-8375) Tuesday through Sunday.

On Four Wheels
City-issued "J" stickers are required to park on the streets around the Parnassus campus. They can be obtained BY NEIGHBORHOOD RESIDENTS at the SF parking office, 330 Grove St. at Franklin (554-5000), $23 for 1 year. Bring your vehicle registration and proof of address. Without a J sticker, Inner Sunset parking is limited to 2 hours on weekdays from 8-6. DPT officers act swiftly, and with a vengeance, to issue tickets to cars parked illegally. Some local streets and areas of the park do not have time-restricted parking; alas, these spots tend to go quickly.
Permit parking is available at Mission Bay.

On Many Wheels
MUNI, or the municipal railway, offers service to all sections of the city -- car-less students will become familiar with their brightly colored buses, streetcars, and cable cars. http://www.sfmuni.com/home/home50.htm

Cable cars. Impractical but fun. The Hyde-Powell Street and Mason-Powell lines run between Market Street (near Union Square) and Fisherman's Wharf. The California Street line runs between the Hyatt Regency Hotel at the Embarcadero and the top of Nob hill.

Travel Outside of SF
If you travel outside the city limits often you might want to buy a Regional Transit Guide, available from local bookstores.

BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) is a commuter train/subway system that provides service between San Francisco and much of the East Bay. http://www.bart.gov/index.asp

SamTrans connects San Francisco with San Mateo County to the south. http://www.transitinfo.org/providers/providerinfo.asp?cid=SM

Golden Gate Transit operates buses and ferries to Marin County. http://www.transitinfo.org/providers/providerinfo.asp?cid=GG

Caltrain Peninsula Rail railroad operates a line that extends from San Francisco to San Jose. http://www.caltrain.com/

Buspools operate between UCSF and Marin County. Call Transportation Services at 476-1511 for information. UCSF-Sponsored Vanpools run from Marin, the East Bay, and the Peninsula. The cost varies and is paid by the month. Call Transportation services at 476-1511 for information.

AC Transit buses connect San Francisco with the East Bay. The San Francisco terminal is located at 1st and Mission. Call (510) 839-2882 for information. http://www.actransit.org/
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Ferries (Blue and Gold Fleet) are operated by Golden Gate Transit and leave from Pier 43-1/2 at Fisherman's Wharf. Ferries go to Larkspur, Sausalito, Tiburon, Angel Island and Alcatraz. Call 546-2896 for information. http://www.goldengateferry.org/

Amtrak has a station in Oakland (1807 Wood St) which can be reached by BART or a shuttle from the Transbay Terminal located at Mission and 1st Streets. Call 1-800-USA-RAIL for information. http://www.amtrak.com/
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Greyhound Trailways Bus route information can be obtained by calling 558-6789. The station is located on the 3rd floor of the Transbay Terminal (1st and Mission Sts.) http://www.greyhound.com/

The Green Tortoise bus line shuttles 'adventure travelers' up and down the West Coast. 956-7500. http://www.greentortoise.com/

UCSF Resources
UCSF offers a myriad of services designed to assist students with problem-solving and improve quality of life. Listed here are just a few.

Campus Life Services
From transportation, housing, fitness, business support, child care, entertainment, to recreation and more - Campus Life Services touches the lives of everyone, at every campus location. Visit the website to learn about:
-Arts & Events at UCSF. Music. Movies. Art. Special Events. Discounts.
-Childcare services and resources. Childcare facilities at Parnassus, Mission Bay, Laurel Heights, plus Eldercare services and a referral service.
-Fitness and recreation. Graduate students receive free gym membership at both Parnassus and Mission Bay, plus there are separate outdoor recreation and recreational sports services)
-Housing. Valuable resource for both on-campus and off-campus housing needs.
-Retail shops (includes banking services, campus bookstores, technology store, haircuts, flower shop, etc.)
-Food Services. From coffee shops, taqueria, pub food, sandwich shops, Asian cuisine to cafeteria food, UCSF has lots of choices. There are also dozens of restaurants within walking distance, ranging from the basics to haute cuisine.
-Parking and Transportation.

Graduate Student's Association
The Graduate Student's Association (GSA) is made up of UCSF graduate, nursing and physical therapy students. The GSA's mission is to improve the quality of graduate student life, to represent diverse student needs, and to advocate for student rights and interests. Visit the website for more information.

Office of Career and Professional Development
From job search strategies to grant writing skills, the OCPD serves the academic, professional and career development needs of UCSF students and graduate trainees. Visit the website for more information.

Student Health Services
All BMS students receive medical, dental and vision coverage through the graduate program. Student Health Services offers comprehensive health care such as primary care, urgent care, immunizations, referrals to specialists, and mental health services. Visit the Student Health Services website to learn more.

UCSF Library
There are library locations at both the Mission Bay and Parnassus campuses. Website

UCSF Cole Hall Cinema
Movies are shown on campus at Cole Hall on Thursday and Friday nights. Tickets are only $3 for students. More information, including a schedule of upcoming films can be found at http://www.campuslifeservices.ucsf.edu/artsevents/events/cinema/