Jazmin Li
San Francisco International Airport (SFO) offers a wide range of amenities and attractions for travellers with layovers. The airport boasts dozens of shops and restaurants, art exhibitions, yoga rooms, and an Aviation Museum. For those seeking relaxation, SFO features multiple lounges, including some with shower facilities, as well as a spa offering massages and facials. With convenient access to downtown San Francisco and nearby attractions, travellers with longer layovers can explore iconic sites like the Golden Gate Bridge, Lombard Street, and Fisherman's Wharf. SFO also provides easy transportation to nearby parks, museums, and neighbourhoods, offering a variety of dining and shopping options for all tastes and budgets.
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What You'll Learn
Relax in an airport lounge or spa
San Francisco International Airport has a range of lounges and spa facilities to help you relax before your flight.
The Club SFO
The Club SFO is an award-winning airport lounge inspired by California's redwoods and local art. It features a full-service bar, a diverse menu, spa-style showers, light therapy, and a forest-themed kids' room. You can book a visit to the lounge up to six hours before your flight, and infants under two years old can enter for free. It is located airside in Harvey Milk Terminal 1, just before gate B4 on the right.
Cathay Pacific Lounge
The Cathay Pacific Lounge can be found in International Terminal A near Gate A1. Unfortunately, I couldn't find more information on the amenities offered by this lounge.
Air France - KLM Lounge
The Air France - KLM Lounge is located in the International Terminal and offers fruit and snacks, newspapers and magazines, and Wi-Fi access in a relaxing and quiet environment.
XpresSpa
XpresSpa offers relaxing massages and refreshing facials tailored to your schedule. Even if you only have 15 minutes to spare, their expert staff will cater their services to your needs.
Yoga Rooms
San Francisco International Airport also has two yoga rooms available for passengers to use free of charge. One can be found in Terminal E near Gate E6, and the other is in the secure connector between Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. Both rooms are open 24 hours a day.
Freshen Up!
If you're looking for a place to nap and freshen up, head to Freshen Up! in the International Terminal Main Hall, pre-security. They offer nap rooms, shower facilities, toiletries, ironing facilities, and undergarments for a fee.
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Visit the art exhibits and Aviation Museum
San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is renowned for its art installations and exhibitions, as well as its Aviation Museum & Library. The airport incorporates art throughout its terminals, aiming to create an educational and entertaining environment for passengers.
The airport hosts approximately forty exhibitions annually, showcasing diverse artistic talents. SFO's permanent Public Art Collection is certainly worth seeing, featuring over 100 paintings, sculptures, mosaics, and site-specific works. For instance, you can find six light artworks featured in Illuminate SF by artists Ned Kahn, Eric Staller, Vito Acconci, James Carpenter, Keith Sonnier, and Merge Conceptual Design. The Civic Art Collection, curated by the San Francisco Arts Commission, also displays works by top Bay Area artists like Wayne Thiebaud and Roy De Forest, as well as international names such as Arnaldo Pomodoro.
In addition to the permanent collections, SFO showcases temporary exhibitions and installations. For example, Sarah Cain's abstract design, a colourful stained glass artwork, illuminates the walls of the Airport Train Hotel Station with prisms and cascading rainbows. Johanna Grawunder's 'Coding' is another impressive installation, transforming the parking structure elevator tower with colour-changing mirrored windows that spell out "San Francisco" in Morse code.
The Aviation Museum & Library, located in the International Terminal, offers a unique experience. It provides exhibitions, research services, and educational programs within an architectural adaptation of the airport's 1930s passenger lobby. The museum is currently open and will remain so until at least May 3, 2026, with future dates extending until April 11, 2027.
Whether you're an art enthusiast or simply seeking a cultural experience during your travels, San Francisco International Airport offers a rich array of artistic and educational experiences to explore and enjoy.
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Take a yoga class or walk by the sea
San Francisco International Airport is known for its wellness amenities, offering two yoga rooms for passengers. One can be found in Terminal E near Gate E6, and the other is in the secure connector between Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. Both rooms are open 24 hours a day and are free to use. The yoga rooms are a great place to stretch and relax before or after a flight. If you don't have your own yoga mat, simply follow along with one of the yoga videos available on the Sanctifly app.
If you'd prefer to get some fresh air and exercise by the sea, Bayfront Park is less than 2 miles from the airport. You can take a quick taxi or bus ride, or hop on one of the hotel airport shuttles that go directly from the terminal. The BART (Bay Area Rapid Transport) is another option, which connects the airport to San Mateo County, San Francisco, and the East Bay. The BART station is located on the departures level of the International Terminal.
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Explore San Francisco's neighbourhoods and parks
San Francisco is a gorgeous city by the bay, with cold summers, thick fog, and beautiful views. If you're staying near the airport, neighbourhoods such as Burlingame, Millbrae, San Bruno, South San Francisco, and San Mateo are within a 15-minute drive or ride-share to SFO. Burlingame, in particular, offers a nice mix of proximity to the airport and walkability, with studios available for under $2000. Millbrae is a classic railcar suburb with transit options, while Redwood Shores has the allure of lagoons.
For those seeking a hotel near the airport, the San Francisco Airport Marriott in Burlingame is approximately 2.5 miles away and offers complimentary shuttles to and from the airport. The hotel features a state-of-the-art fitness centre, a pool, and dining options like the Hanger Steak restaurant and the Flights 101 Club Lounge.
If you're looking to explore beyond the airport and its immediate surroundings, head into the city using BART (Bay Area Rapid Transport), which connects SFO to San Francisco and offers a rapid rail option. Union Square and Embarcadero are recommended areas to stay, with a variety of hotel options available. From there, you can easily access iconic San Francisco destinations such as Fisherman's Wharf, where you can snap pictures of sea lions, sail across the bay, and sample artisanal wines. Don't forget to include a visit to the Golden Gate Bridge for those epic views!
For a relaxing outdoor experience, Bayfront Park is less than 2 miles from the airport. You can take a taxi, bus, or airport shuttle to reach this peaceful spot by the sea.
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Shop at the Rental Car Centre and boutiques
San Francisco International Airport's Rental Car Center is a one-stop shop for all your car rental needs. Located at 780 N. McDonnell Road, the Rental Car Center offers a convenient and central location for travellers to pick up and drop off rental cars, with counters for Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, National, Thrifty, Hertz, and Fox rental companies. The fourth floor is dedicated to Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, National, and Thrifty car rental counters, while Hertz and Fox rental counters can be found on the first floor.
The Rental Car Center provides a seamless experience with its Remote Bag Check service, allowing travellers to check their bags at the centre itself. This service is currently available for domestic flights on select airlines, including Alaska, American, Delta, and United, and is operated by Bags, Inc. The Remote Bag Check at Kiss & Fly is located on Level 1 of the Rental Car Center and is open daily from 4:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
For those who prefer off-airport rental car agencies, the SFO Rental Car Center offers a free shuttle service. This shuttle service operates upon customer request, with shuttles stopping at the south curb of the Rental Car Center. This convenient option ensures that travellers can easily access their preferred rental car agency without any hassle.
In addition to the Rental Car Center, San Francisco International Airport also boasts a variety of boutiques and shops to explore. From renowned brands to local favourites, the airport offers a diverse range of shopping options. Saint Laurent, Gucci, and DFS Duty-Free boutiques invite fashion enthusiasts to indulge in luxury. For those seeking travel essentials or last-minute gifts, North Beach Mercantile and Sunglass Hut provide convenient options. The airport also caters to families with kids, featuring a dedicated Kids' Spot in Terminal 3.
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Frequently asked questions
If you have a long layover at San Francisco Airport, you can visit the Aviation Museum or the Sky Terrace. You can also check out the art exhibits or the Wag Brigade, a group of trained dogs that stroll the airport to help de-stress travellers. If you want to leave the airport, you can take a quick trip into San Francisco and visit museums, parks, shops or restaurants.
There are several good restaurants near San Francisco Airport. Some local favourites include Andale Mexican, Dogpatch Bakehouse, Roasting Plant Coffee, and Napa Farms Market. For a sit-down meal, you can try Lark Creek Grill or SF Uncork'd. There are also popular chains such as Starbucks, Peet's Coffee & Tea, and Pinkberry.
Yes, there are several airport lounges at San Francisco Airport that offer all-inclusive access to unlimited food and drinks, Wi-Fi, news and TV, and comfortable seating. There are also wellness amenities such as XpresSpa, where you can get a massage or facial, and two 24-hour yoga rooms equipped with free yoga mats.
You can take the BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit), which departs from the airport station every 10-15 minutes and takes about 30 minutes to get to downtown San Francisco. You can also take a taxi or Uber, but these options can be more expensive and may take longer due to traffic.
