A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America San Francisco vs. Juneau for Attractions, Food, Hiking, and Families

Should you visit San Francisco or Juneau?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

If you're trying to decide where to visit between San Francisco or Juneau, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

San Francisco

San Francisco is a beautiful, outdoorsy, and quirky coastal city. With plenty of activities and things to do, it's a huge city that draws plenty of visitors. You'll find world class beauty here as well. And you can't forget about the nightlife, live music, and food.

Juneau

Juneau is a historic, scenic, and breathtaking city. Many visitors also come because of it's amazing beauty. It's also popular because of the museums, food, and hiking.

San Francisco and Juneau: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in San Francisco or Juneau?

Tourists will generally find more to do in San Francisco. Although San Francisco and Juneau are both popular with visitors, San Francisco has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. San Francisco is more touristy than Juneau and is popular for its striking bayfront setting, stunning urban hikes, quirky personality, and reputation within the tech industry. It is also home to The Golden Gate Bridge. Juneau is popular for its wildlife, natural beauty, and Gold Rush in 1880.

How is San Francisco different from Juneau?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Juneau and San Francisco. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in San Francisco or Juneau?

San Francisco is an amazing coastal city to visit for its sights and museums. Also, Juneau is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its museums and history.

The museums, monuments, and landmarks in San Francisco are among the most recognizable in the world. The city's landmarks are as diverse as the people who live there. The most recognizable landmark is the famous Golden Gate Bridge, but visitors also enjoy seeing Alcatraz Island, the Legion of Honor, the Palace of Fine Arts, as well as the small but fascinating Cable Car Museum.

Many visitors head to Juneau specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. Many museums focus on the history in the area, including the Gold Rush and the mining industry. You can visit several historic mines as well as the Last Chance Mining Museum. Other museums around town include the Juneau-Douglas City Museum, the Walter Soboleff Building, and the Alaska State Museum.

Is San Francisco or Juneau Better for Theater?

San Francisco is a popular place for its theatre productions. However, Juneau is not a theatre destination.

San Francisco offers a number of shows and performances. The city has around a dozen theaters where you can enjoy musicals or plays.

Juneau is not a theatre destination.

Is the Food Better in San Francisco or Juneau? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

San Francisco is an amazing coastal city to visit for its local cuisine and restaurants. Also, Juneau is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its restaurants.

For foodies, San Francisco is an obvious choice, as it is one of the food capitals of the world. There are local dives as well as five star restaurants, with everything in between. Popular local dining experiences include sourdough bread bowls and Dungeness crab at Fisherman's Wharf, and dim sum in Chinatown. Head away from the touristy neighborhoods if you want to sample some of the more local restaurants around town.

Juneau has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. The seafood is superb and visitors will regret if they miss out on the salmon, halibut, and crab. There are many local restaurants and local chefs serving up the freshest caught fish. For the best seafood, head to the waterfront, and if you're looking for something other than seafood, the downtown is where you'll want to be.

Is San Francisco or Juneau Better for Nightlife?

San Francisco is a popular place for nightlife and partying. However, Juneau is not a good city for its evening party scene.

There's a variety of activities in the evening in San Francisco. It has a great nightlife with many local bars and trendy clubs. For the best nightlife away from the tourists, head to Valencia Street or Polk Street. If you want to be in a more touristy area, check out Union Square. Popular clubs in the city include Temple San Francisco, Monarch, and Audio Nightclub.

Those looking for nightlife will find a few places to hang out in Juneau. There are a couple of bars and breweries, but most people relax in the evening.

Is San Francisco or Juneau Better for Music?

San Francisco is a popular place for its live music scene. However, Juneau is not a live music destination.

The music scene in San Francisco is active and vibrant. Well known music venues include the Great American Music Hall, Slim's, and The Chapel.

Juneau is not a live music destination.

Is San Francisco or Juneau Better for Beaches?

San Francisco is a well-known place for the beache. However, Juneau is not a beach destination.

San Francisco is considered a top beach destination. Whether you're interested in surfing or simply taking in the dramatic views, the beaches of San Francisco will take your breath away. Some of the best beaches include Ocean Beach, Baker Beach, and Muir Beach.

Juneau is not a beach destination.

Is San Francisco or Juneau Better for Hiking?

San Francisco and Juneau are both places where visitors can find fantastic hiking trails.

Known for its hiking, San Francisco draws a crowd to experience the nature and the trails. The city's hikes take in the dramatic views of the bay and city. Just outside of town there are also countless hikes through the Redwoods and along the coastline. Popular hikes in the area include Lands End, Tomales Point Trail at Point Reyes National Seashore, and Muir Woods.

Around Juneau visitors will find world-class hiking trails. You'll find more than 250 miles of hiking trails in the area, and this really is the best way to experience Alaska. The area is known for its wildlife, but there are also glacier hikes, meadows, mountains, and more. In downtown Juneau there's the Perseverance Trail, the Granite Creek Trail, and the Mount Roberts Trail. From the Mendenhall Visitor Center there's the East Glacier Loop Trail, the West Glacier Trail, and the Nugget Falls Trail. There are also trails on Douglas Island and many options just outside of town.

Is the Shopping Better in San Francisco or Juneau?

San Francisco is an amazing coastal city to visit for its shopping opportunities. Also, Juneau is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its shopping areas.

The abundance of shops in San Francisco make it a world-class shopping destination. The city has excellent shopping from local vendors to recognizable brands. Union Square, Embarcadero, Fillmore Street and Haight Street are some of the best neighborhoods for shopping.

Many visitors explore the shopping areas in Juneau. There's a mix of contemporary art and traditional artisan crafts. You'll find gift shops and art galleries around, particularly downtown and in the Mendenhall Valley business district. Visitors often enjoy buying art, wood carvings, jewelry, pottery, quilts, or dolls.

Is San Francisco or Juneau Better for Families?

San Francisco is an amazing coastal city to visit for its family-friendly activities. Also, Juneau is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its kid-friendly activities.

As it has a large number of activities for kids, San Francisco is a very family-friendly destination. With its many outdoor parks, hiking trails, beaches, and kid-friendly museums, this city makes a great family-friendly destination. There are also many amazing playgrounds with stunning views of the bay and city. Head to Chinatown for some unique and kid-friendly food, or down to Pier 39 for fun activities that the whole family can enjoy.

You'll find plenty of family-friendly things to do in Juneau. Its is filled with adventure that the whole family will enjoy. There's whale watching, dog sled tours, helicopter rides, hiking, and the Goldbelt Mount Roberts Tramway. This bucket-list destination will have an impact on kids and adults alike.

Is San Francisco or Juneau Better for Couples?

Juneau is an amazing city to visit for couples. Also, San Francisco is not as popular, but is still a nice coastal city for romance.

Juneau has so much to offer for a romantic couple's vacation. Couples who enjoy exploring and adventuring will be in awe of this destination. Glacier trekking, superb gardens, and romantic helicopter rides will leave you feeling like a contestant on "The Bachelor". There are also opportunities for romantic evenings out and cozy hotels where you can stay in.

San Francisco is a very popular place to visit for couples. Couples enjoy the romantic backdrop of this beautiful city. There are world-class restaurants and plenty of spas that couples can enjoy during a honeymoon or romantic getaway. There are also many scenic walks and breathtaking views that couples can appreciate.

Is San Francisco or Juneau Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

For backpackers, both San Francisco and Juneau are very good places to visit.

Plenty of budget travelers and backpackers visit San Francisco. The city is one of the more backpacker friendly cities in the United States. There are a handful of hostels throughout, many concentrated in the popular Union Square and Downtown neighborhoods of the city.

Backpackers come from all over to visit Juneau. It's a popular destination with budget hotels and even a hostel or two.

Is San Francisco or Juneau Better for Students?

San Francisco is a well-known place for students. However, Juneau is not popular with students.

San Francisco is a very popular coastal city for students and younger travelers. As a large and dynamic city, the area is popular with international students who want to experience this unique side of the United States. Major universities in the area include University of San Francisco, San Francisco State University, and nearby, the University of California, Berkeley.

Juneau is not popular with students.

Is San Francisco or Juneau Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

San Francisco is an amazing coastal city to visit for its public transit. However, Juneau is not a good city for times when you don't have a car.

Public transit in San Francisco is top-notch. The transit network includes a subway (the BART), trams, cable cars, ferries, and buses.

Public transit is mostly limited in Juneau. You can only reach Juneau by boat or plane and there are three bus routes through town.

Is San Francisco or Juneau a more walkable city?

San Francisco and Juneau are very good when it comes to walkability.

San Francisco is a very walkable destination. It is compact enough to explore on foot, but given the large hills, it's a bit of a challenge, even for the most fit among us.

Juneau is very walkable. The downtown is very walkable and many places can be reached within a reasonable walk.

For even more information, also check out Is San Francisco Worth Visiting? and Is Juneau Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Juneau or San Francisco?

How long in San Francisco or Juneau?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both San Francisco and Juneau. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in San Francisco than in Juneau. Usually, 3-7 days is a good amount of time for San Francisco, and 2-3 days is enough time in Juneau.

Families should spend more time in San Francisco than Juneau. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in San Francisco, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in San Francisco than Juneau. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in San Francisco that are great for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in San Francisco than Juneau if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in San Francisco.

One day in San Francisco or Juneau?

San Francisco is a bustling city that offers something for everyone. Hikers are also drawn to this area. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

Many travelers enjoy the museums and food when visiting the breathtaking destination of Juneau. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. Don't miss the hiking, as that's what most people do. Your budget might influence how long you stay. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it.

A weekend in San Francisco or Juneau?

San Francisco is a great place to explore. With so much to do, a weekend is probably not enough time to see everything. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Juneau. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. Don't miss the hiking, as that's what most people do. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. A weekend is usually enough time to experience most activities.

Five days in San Francisco or Juneau?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in San Francisco. For many, it makes a great getaway for five days. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. With all of its activities, you can easily fill five days here. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the breathtaking destination of Juneau. Many travelers plan to spend time hiking while in the area. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Five days is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips.

A week in San Francisco or Juneau?

San Francisco is a bustling city that offers something for everyone. This coastal city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Many travelers plan to spend time hiking while in the area. If you have one week, this is a great place to go. This would be the perfect place to spend one week, as it has just the right amount of activities.

You'll find museums and food around the beautiful city of Juneau. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Wildlife Tours to United States of America, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in United States of America, The Best Historical Tours in United States of America, and The Best 10-Day Tours in United States of America.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between San Francisco and Juneau, we can see that San Francisco is more expensive. And not only is Juneau much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Juneau would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Juneau and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in San Francisco would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in San Francisco than you might in Juneau.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is San Francisco Expensive? and Is Juneau Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, San Francisco or Juneau?

San Francisco has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Juneau. When comparing the sizes of San Francisco and Juneau, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.

When is the best time to visit San Francisco or Juneau?

Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit San Francisco or Juneau in the Summer?

Both Juneau and San Francisco during the summer are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to San Francisco in the summer for the beaches, the hiking, the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences. Also, most visitors come to Juneau for the hiking and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

In July, San Francisco is generally a little warmer than Juneau. Daily temperatures in San Francisco average around 63°F (17°C), and Juneau fluctuates around 56°F (13°C).

Juneau gets a good bit of rain this time of year. San Francisco usually gets less rain in July than Juneau. San Francisco gets 0.1 inches (2 mm) of rain, while Juneau receives 4.2 inches (106 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit San Francisco or Juneau in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both San Francisco and Juneau. Most visitors come to San Francisco for the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area during these months. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Juneau because of the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.

San Francisco is much warmer than Juneau in the autumn. The daily temperature in San Francisco averages around 63°F (17°C) in October, and Juneau fluctuates around 42°F (6°C).

Juneau receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, San Francisco usually receives less rain than Juneau. San Francisco gets 1.3 inches (33 mm) of rain, while Juneau receives 7.8 inches (199 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit San Francisco or Juneau in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to San Francisco as well as Juneau. The winter months attract visitors to San Francisco because of the museums, the shopping scene, the theater shows, and the cuisine. Also, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Juneau this time of year.

It's quite cold in Juneau in the winter. In the winter, San Francisco is much warmer than Juneau. Typically, the winter temperatures in San Francisco in January average around 50°F (10°C), and Juneau averages at about 24°F (-4°C).

It's quite rainy in Juneau. San Francisco usually gets less rain in January than Juneau. San Francisco gets 3.8 inches (96 mm) of rain, while Juneau receives 4.6 inches (116 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit San Francisco or Juneau in the Spring?

Both Juneau and San Francisco are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The beaches, the activities around the city, and the natural beauty are the main draw to San Francisco this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Juneau for the natural beauty.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Juneau. In April, San Francisco is generally much warmer than Juneau. Daily temperatures in San Francisco average around 58°F (14°C), and Juneau fluctuates around 40°F (4°C).

In April, San Francisco usually receives less rain than Juneau. San Francisco gets 1.2 inches (31 mm) of rain, while Juneau receives 2.7 inches (68 mm) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Juneau and San Francisco