Peninsula city guide

South San Francisco

South San Francisco sits at the northern end of the Peninsula, just south of San Francisco and next to San Francisco International Airport, with a hillside residential core and a rapidly changing bayfront.

At a glance

  • Where it is: northern San Mateo County, south of Brisbane and the San Francisco county line.
  • Known for: a large biotechnology and life-sciences employment cluster, and the hillside letters that spell the city's name.
  • The environment: established residential neighborhoods on the hills, with newer commercial and residential development near the bay.

Housing character

  • Post-war single-family homes on compact lots across the established neighborhoods.
  • Newer condominium and townhome development near the bay, transit, and the employment corridor.

Places within South San Francisco

Sunshine Gardens
Established residential streets on the west side near the Caltrain corridor.
Buri Buri
Post-war neighborhood on the western hills near Interstate 280.
Paradise Valley / Terrabay
Hillside neighborhoods on the slopes of San Bruno Mountain.
Downtown / Grand Avenue
Older housing near the city's walkable commercial street.
Oyster Point
Bayfront area with newer development and a marina.

Around town

  • Grand Avenue downtown with independent restaurants, bakeries, and a weekly farmers market.
  • Oyster Point Marina, the Bay Trail, and ferry service across the bay.
  • Sign Hill Park and San Bruno Mountain State & County Park for hiking and views.
  • Orange Memorial Park and the city's community and aquatic centers.

Getting around

  • South San Francisco BART station on the west side of the city.
  • Caltrain station near the bay, close to the employment corridor.
  • US-101 and Interstate 280 both run through the city.
  • San Francisco International Airport is to the south.
  • Ferry service from Oyster Point to Alameda and Oakland.

What to check

  • Aircraft noise varies significantly by neighborhood — worth checking at the specific address.
  • Fog and wind are frequent, more so than on the mid-Peninsula.
  • Industrial and commercial uses sit adjacent to some residential streets.
  • Hillside streets are steep in parts of the city, which affects driveways, parking, and drainage.
  • Verify current transportation service, school assignment, permit requirements, hazard information, and total housing costs for the specific address.

Nearby guides

San BrunoBART and Caltrain access next to SFO, with established mid-century neighborhoods and ongoing downtown redevelopment.MillbraeSmall northern Peninsula city where BART and Caltrain meet in a single station, with a walkable Broadway district.PacificaCoastal city just south of San Francisco, made up of several distinct beach and valley neighborhoods.BurlingameTree-lined mid-Peninsula city with two Caltrain stations, a walkable Burlingame Avenue downtown, and older housing stock.