Is the Castro area in San Francisco Safe?
Is the Castro safe? Absolutely. In fact, due to its strong sense of community, it's one of the safest in San Francisco. During your visit, you will immediately see the fun nature of the community all the way down to the names of some of the bars, restaurants and shops.
Is the Castro a nice neighborhood?
The Castro District is one of San Francisco's historic and most interesting neighborhoods. It's also one of the most fun and exciting places to visit in the city! If there's one thing the Castro District is widely known for, it's being a welcoming gay neighborhood.
What's it like to live in Castro?
Living in Castro Valley offers residents a dense suburban feel and most residents own their homes. In Castro Valley there are a lot of coffee shops and parks. Many families and young professionals live in Castro Valley and residents tend to lean liberal.
Where is the Castro area in San Francisco?
Eureka ValleyAmong the many neighborhoods in San Francisco, The Castro is one of the most famous. You'll find it in Eureka Valley, overlooked by the Twin Peaks' Eureka Peak and sandwiched between the trendy Haight-Ashbury neighborhood (of Painted Ladies fame) and the multicultural Mission District.
Why is Castro so famous?
The longest-serving non-royal head of state in the 20th and 21st centuries, Castro polarized opinion throughout the world. His supporters view him as a champion of socialism and anti-imperialism whose revolutionary government advanced economic and social justice while securing Cuba's independence from U.S. hegemony.
What is the Castro known for?
Fidel Castro, in full Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz, (born August 13, 1926, near Birán, Cuba—died November 25, 2016, Cuba), political leader of Cuba (1959–2008) who transformed his country into the first communist state in the Western Hemisphere. Castro became a symbol of communist revolution in Latin America.
Is Castro Valley wealthy?
According to C2ER (the Council for Community and Economic Research), the cost of living in Castro Valley is estimated to be 154.7% of the national average making it one of the most expensive cities in the US.
Is Castro Valley expensive?
Castro Valley's housing expenses are 124% higher than the national average and the utility prices are 31% higher than the national average. Transportation expenses like bus fares and gas prices are 40% higher than the national average. Castro Valley has grocery prices that are 28% higher than the national average.
Does Castro Valley have a downtown?
Castro Valley Now This is also a get-out-and-do-it community, making the most of its many parks and trails, and also congregating as a community for special occasions in the newly redesigned downtown. Home to one of the area's premier school districts, Castro Valley heavily supports education and the arts.
How far is Castro from Fishermans Wharf?
The distance between Castro and Fishermans Wharf is 4 miles.
Why is it called the Castro district?
The Castro was named after the 19th-century politician José Castro, who was once the commanding general of Alta California, the northern part of California.
Where do most Latinos live in San Francisco?
Mission District is center of San Francisco's Latino community.
What is the nicest neighborhood in Oakland?
Best Neighborhoods in OaklandCrocker Highland. ... Upper Rockridge. ... Trestle Glen. ... Piedmont Pines. ... Montclair. ... Shepherd Canyon. Jobs 10, Affordability 4, Safety 8, Amenities 5. ... Merriwood. Jobs 10, Affordability 4, Safety 8, Amenities 6. ... Piedmont. Jobs 9.5, Affordability 3, Safety 8, Amenities 9.More items...
Is Castro Valley rich?
The per capita income in Castro Valley in 2018 was $49,004, which is upper middle income relative to California, and wealthy relative to the rest of the US. This equates to an annual income of $196,016 for a family of four.
Is Castro Valley expensive?
Castro Valley's housing expenses are 124% higher than the national average and the utility prices are 31% higher than the national average. Transportation expenses like bus fares and gas prices are 40% higher than the national average. Castro Valley has grocery prices that are 28% higher than the national average.
Is Castro communist or socialist?
Fidel Castro proclaimed himself to be "a socialist, and Marxist–Leninist". As a Marxist–Leninist, Castro believed strongly in converting Cuba, and the wider world, from a capitalist system in which individuals own the means of production into a socialist system in which the means of production are owned by the workers.
What is the Castro district?
The Castro district in San Francisco has been a vital part of the city’s identity for decades. From Harvey Milk’s campaign for social change in the 1970s to today’s efforts to minimize the impact of gentrification on the community, the neighborhood is an integral part of the city’s magic.
Where is the Castro community?
Situated in the Eureka Valley, it was a once sparsely populated valley surrounded by steep hills and home to Irish, German and Scandinavian immigrants in ...
What is Milk's role in the Castro community?
The Castro community faced a crisis as HIV/Aids began to take hold in 1981; in three years the number of Aids cases reported rose from a handful to more than 800.
When did the Castro crisis start?
The Castro community faced a crisis as HIV/Aids began to take hold in 1981; in three years the number of Aids cases reported rose from a handful to more than 800. Rising numbers continued to appear among the gay communities, mostly in New York and San Francisco.
Who owned the rainbow adorned Castro?
Once owned by Mexican land barons, the rainbow-adorned Castro, which sits between Ashbury Heights and Mission, has transformed itself from a meeting spot for dairy farmers to what is now dubbed the gay capital of the USA. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, Castro played an integral role in the LGBTQ-rights movement.
Best Things to Do in the Castro
Ok, so maybe we're a little biased here, but we do think that you should take a walking tour of the neighborhood! We offer free walking tours of the Castro on a regular basis. And if you want to take a tour on your own time with our GPS enabled audio tour.
How to Get to the Castro
The most iconic way to get to the Castro is to take the historic F Street Car from Union Square. Although it’s slower than other methods the Muni, it’s a way to travel back in time by taking an old fashioned streetcar from various cities around the world.
Where to Eat in the Castro
The Castro District offers a wide and colorful range of eateries, cafes and bars with different specialties all available at various price points. Whether you're out for a snack after looking around the district, going on a brunch with some friends, or just spending the night out, the neighborhood has plenty of places for you to choose from.
About The Author
Britt is a San Francisco Bay Area native, and has spent 25 years in this magical city. He has traveled to over 30 countries, and has never found a place he loves as much as this one! If you come to San Francisco, you might join one of Britt's tours of the city.
What is the Castro district?
Castro District. Originally settled by wealthy Mexicans and European immigrants, today San Francisco’s Castro neighborhood is one of the city’s most vibrant, diverse and stylish – not to mention priciest – districts. Settled in the late 1800’s on the outskirts of San Francisco, what was then called the Eureka Valley became a bona fide part ...
Where is Castro Street in Fisherman's Wharf?
The Castro neighborhood is easily reached from Fisherman’s Wharf via the F Market cable car. It is mostly concentrated along Castro Street, running from Market to 19th Street and is bordered by Church and Eureka Streets.
What is the most comprehensive train system in San Francisco?
Most comprehensive is BART or Bay Area Rapid Transportation. This electric train connects the San Francisco Bay Area; working like a subway system, it allows for travel not just within the city, but also to the airport and to neighbouring cities and suburbs of Oakland and Berkeley.
How much is a 7 day unlimited pass in San Francisco?
To help keep costs down you should get a Muni Passport. These are worth it if you are in the city for a week or longer; a 7-day unlimited pass, for example, is $35. Being set around a bay, you can’t talk about the public transport in San Francisco without mentioning its ferries, some of which are pretty useful indeed.
Is there a ghetto in San Francisco?
Due to the massive gap between rich and poor in San Francisco, there are a few “ghetto-like” areas that you should definitely avoid. While you should always watch out for pickpocketing and petty theft, these areas show an increase in violent crimes and gang activity, so it’s best to stay away. Avoid these areas if possible:
Is San Fran safe to travel to?
In terms of San Fran’s top places to visit, most of these are safe. The second biggest complaint from citizens in 2018 was, surprisingly, human faeces on the street. The city has since set up a “poop patrol” to combat this potential health hazard. Yuk.
Is it safe to drive in San Francisco?
Driving in San Francisco is safe, but it really is not something we would recommend. However, if you really do want to tackle the city on four wheels, then you should be prepared to watch out for cyclists, buses, trams, pedestrians and some very, very steep hills — and a lot of one way streets as well.
Is San Francisco a blast?
San Francisco, like much of California, is a total blast for families — and has been for a long time.
Is San Francisco safe for solo travelers?
San Francisco is absolutely safe for a solo female traveller. While you may think it’s a destination for groups of friends or couples, this city is totally accessible for a solo female traveller – and enjoyable, as well.
What is Castro District?
The San Francisco Castro district is an internationally recognized neighborhood that supports the LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer) community. This progressive and accepting neighborhood was also home to one of the biggest gay rights activists of the 1970s, Harvey Milk. You will find plenty of fun things to do here during ...
Why is the Castro District important?
Many people know that the Castro District is one of the most important areas in all the world for pride in the LGBTQI movement. You might wonder why this is and how this came to be. Here are a few bits of history about how San Francisco has helped people of all sexes and genders feel at home and allowed them to be themselves with pride.
When was the first street fair in San Francisco?
Castro Street Fair. The Castro Street Fair was one of the first street fairs in San Francisco. It is a community-based celebration founded by Harvey Milk in 1974. The celebration is always the first Sunday in October.
How to learn about Castro?
If you want to learn all about the San Francisco Castro, I recommend heading out on a guided tour. All of these are walking tours of the district which will give you an up-close look at all of the places where history was made.
Where are the rainbow crosswalks in Castro?
In addition, they have created colorful Rainbow Crosswalks in all four directions at the corner of Castro and 18th Street.
Where is Mission Dolores Park in San Francisco?
Mission Dolores Park. You will find one of the best parks in San Francisco on the eastern end of the San Francisco Castro district. Mission Dolores Park is a large green space with almost 16 acres of space. On a sunny day in the city, you will find upwards of 10,000 people here enjoying the lovely weather.
When was the Castro Theatre built?
The Castro Theatre is an historic landmark in San Francisco. It was originally built in 1922 . Ownership has changed several times and each owner has added special touches. Inside you will find ornate decorations, a huge (1,400+ seat) auditorium and plush theater seats. It is also one of the only theaters left in the US with a pipe organ player.
Why was the Tripadvisor post removed?
Tripadvisor staff removed this post because it did not meet Tripadvisor's forum guideline limiting each user to a single forums screen name.
Is there a boundary for where the area is OK vs. not?
There aren't defined boundaries of where the area is OK vs. not. And everyone's tolerance for urban grit varies.
Can we remove posts that do not follow our posting guidelines?
We remove posts that do not follow our posting guidelines, and we reserve the right to remove any post for any reason .
Is it okay to walk down Market Street?
If you decide to walk down Market Street toward the Ferry Building, you'll see that it gets gritty as you pass Van Ness. It's fine in the daytime. If you walk with earbuds and sunglasses, no one will bother you. It's easiest to walk on the right side of the street as the left side gets chopped up by cross streets and there are more signals that will slow you down.
