San Francisco International Airport
San Francisco, United States
San Francisco International Airport
Northern California's primary international gateway on San Francisco Bay.
- ›SFO opened in 1927 as Mills Field Municipal Airport of San Francisco.
- ›The airport houses an accredited on-site museum with rotating art and history exhibitions.
- ›SFO was one of the first major U.S. airports to achieve LEED certification for its Terminal 2 building.
- ›The International Terminal, opened in 2000, is the largest in the Western Hemisphere by square footage.
- ›SFO handled approximately 51 million passengers in 2019, its record year before the COVID-19 pandemic.
San Francisco International Airport, located 13 miles south of downtown San Francisco near Millbrae, California, has served as a major West Coast hub since its opening in 1927. Known for its striking Harvey Milk Terminal 1 and world-class art installations, SFO blends cultural identity with international connectivity. It ranks among the busiest airports in the United States, handling tens of millions of passengers annually on routes spanning the Americas, Asia, Europe, and the Pacific.
- Terminal 1 (Harvey Milk Terminal) — Fully modernized domestic terminal named in honor of San Francisco's pioneering civil rights leader, featuring contemporary design and sustainability features.
- Terminal 2 — Boutique-style domestic terminal praised for its local dining and retail offerings, serving American Airlines and select other carriers.
- Terminal 3 — Domestic terminal primarily used by United Airlines, connected to the International Terminal via the AirTrain system.
- International Terminal (Boarding Areas A & G) — The largest international terminal on the West Coast, housing dozens of international carriers with extensive duty-free shopping and dining.
- BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) — direct rail link to downtown San Francisco, Oakland, and East Bay
- SamTrans bus service connecting to Caltrain and Peninsula communities
- Taxi and rideshare pickup zones on the Arrivals level of each terminal
- Rental car center accessible via the AirTrain Blue Line
- Airport Express shuttle buses to Millbrae Caltrain and BART station
- Hotel and off-airport parking shuttles from designated curbside areas
- Hyatt Regency San Francisco Airport (Burlingame)
- Marriott San Francisco Airport Waterfront
- Hilton San Francisco Airport Bayfront
- Grand Hyatt at SFO (on-airport connector hotel)
- Holiday Inn Express Millbrae
SFO is widely regarded as one of the best airport dining experiences in the US, with local San Francisco staples such as Nopa, Mourad, and Farmhouse Kitchen represented alongside national brands across all terminals. The International Terminal in particular offers a curated mix of California cuisine, sushi, and international flavors reflecting the Bay Area's diverse food culture. Outside the airport, the nearby cities of Millbrae and Burlingame offer a range of authentic Asian restaurants, diners, and cafes within a short taxi ride.
- Use BART for the fastest and most cost-effective trip to downtown San Francisco — the journey takes roughly 30 minutes.
- SFO's AirTrain is free and loops all terminals and the BART station, so factor in extra time when transferring between terminals.
- Fog and low visibility frequently cause delays at SFO, especially in summer mornings — always check your flight status before heading to the airport.
- The SFO Museum installations throughout the terminals are free to visit and genuinely worth exploring if you have a long layover.
AI-assisted overview, verified against public sources.
Route map (104 destinations)
Airlines serving this airport
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Stay, Eat & Explore: San Francisco
Fog, hills and golden gates
- •Golden Gate Bridge — Walk or cycle the Art-Deco span to Marin's headlands.
- •Alcatraz Island — The infamous island prison — book ferries well ahead.
- •Fisherman's Wharf & Pier 39 — Sea lions, sourdough and bay cruises.
- •Cable Cars & Lombard Street — Ride the 1873 system to the world's crookedest street.
- •Golden Gate Park — Museums, gardens and bison paddocks bigger than Central Park.
Getting around: BART links SFO and the East Bay; Muni buses, streetcars and cable cars cover the city. Ferries reach Sausalito and Alameda.
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San Francisco International Airport is the primary international airport serving the San Francisco Bay Area in the U.S. state of California. Owned and operated by the City and County of San Francisco, the airport has a San Francisco mailing address and ZIP Code, although it is situated in an unincorporated area of neighboring San Mateo County, approximately 12 miles southeast of San Francisco.
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