Overview
Pacifica is on the Peninsula in the San Francisco Bay Area of California. Popular for its beaches, Pacifica has a mix of Bay Area hippies and blue-collar folks (especially in the fishing industry). It's the kind of place where you'll find a gun store next to a yoga studio.
2 sights · 6 places to eat · 2 bars & cafés · 2 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Pacifica
Pacifica State Beach
A very popular beach and surfing spot with a well-known beachfront Taco Bell.
Gray Whale Cove State Beach
The two nicknames derive from the fact that 1) gray whales can be seen from the beach and 2) there are steep landslide trails. This is a clothing optional beach.
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Apr–Nov. Summer highs reach about 72°F; winter lows dip to about 45°F. Wettest: Dec and Feb.
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- SFO San Francisco International Airport, San Francisco — 6 mi away (major hub). Directions
- SQL San Carlos Airport, San Carlos — 15 mi away. Directions
Pacifica is approximately 15 minutes south of San Francisco on coastal Route 1.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 1-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Pacifica State Beach
- Lunch High Tide Cafe
- Afternoon Gray Whale Cove State Beach
- Dinner Nick's
- Evening A Grape in the Fog Wine Bar
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Understand
Climate
Get in
By car
Pacifica is approximately 15 minutes south of San Francisco on coastal Route 1.
By transit
Take Samtrans 112 or 118 from Colma BART station, or Samtrans 110 from Daly City BART station. You will get off at Linda Mar Park and Ride, where you will walk down the street to approach the beach.
The price to travel to Pacifica via BART and bus varies depending on the station you board at but you will get a transfer discount once you tag off at BART and tag on, on the bus.
Get around
If you are a solo traveler, once you get off the bus, you can walk to the shopping center near the park and ride and then walk to the beach where the Taco Bell Cantina is. However, to get around in Pacifica, it's suggested to use a ride-share service or drive your own car around, due to the limited frequencies of the buses.
See
Pacifica has numerous public beaches.
Sharp Park Beach is by the fishing pier and fronts Sharp Park Golf Course. It is a black sand beach with a dangerously steep shoreline.
Rockaway Beach is between Linda Mar and Sharp Park and is a small cove and beach in a commercial area with hotels and restaurants. A nice hiking and biking trail connects Linda Mar, Rockaway and Sharp Park and goes over the intervening headlands.
Do
- Pacifica is the only town in San Mateo County where consumer fireworks are legal (you might hear them going off in the middle of the night sometimes), and it has a big Fourth of July celebration.
- There is a Fog Fest the last full weekend of September.
- Mori Point is an excellent low intensity hike, with very good views.
Eat
Eat Breakers
A popular breakfast and lunch joint. The crab cakes and omelettes are particularly praised. Large portions, and plenty of vegetarian choices. Be prepared to wait for a seat on weekends, but the brunches are worth it.
Drink
Drink A Grape in the Fog Wine Bar
Sleep
Stay safe
Be careful when swimming at the beach. The undertow is strong, and once in a while someone drowns.
Exercise caution when driving near the tunnel at "Devil's Slide" near the water to the south of Pacifica. The cliffs are steep and sometimes people drive off the road.
Shelter Cove, in nearby Linda Mar, is a public beach, but has a number of private residences on it. Attempting to walk down the stairs towards Shelter Cove, while legal, will result in a nasty confrontation with locals.
Stay healthy
Check for ticks after hiking in fields in the bay area. There is a high rate of lyme disease transmission in the Bay Area. If a bulls' eye rash develops at the tick bite site, immediately seek medical help and treatment with antibiotics.
Nearby
South San Francisco
City / town · 11 listings · 4 mi away
San Bruno
City / town · 12 listings · 4 mi away
Colma
City / town · 4 listings · 4 mi away
Daly City
City / town · 9 listings · 4 mi away
Millbrae
City / town · 19 listings · 5 mi away
Brisbane
City / town · 4 listings · 5 mi away
Moss Beach
City / town · 4 listings · 7 mi away
Burlingame
City / town · 39 listings · 7 mi away
My experience
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