I usually spend my time on the north side of Market street while visiting. On my next trip, I will be at the IC on Howard and 5th and I need some help.

1) Will there be a problem walking down 5th from Market to the hotel during late evening hours?

2) How about walking down to Brannan from the hotel along 5th during daylight hours? Both REI and Performance Bike should be an easy hike. From Google Earth, the neighborhood appears to be truly diverse..lots of parking lots (probably sitting on the site of long demolished buildings) and older warehouse type structures. Will walking with my wife be ill-advised?

Thanks

IIRC, 5th and 6th Sts. from Market S. to Mission are fairly seedy, even during the day. Actually, the walk on 5th from Howard S. to Brannan is much more tame. You can have a better experience walking to the hotel from N. of Market by walking Market to 4th, S. to Howard, and W. to the IC.

but 5th St in the daytime is not too bad. the area around REI itself is just...kinda desolate and the entrance in a weird spot but for daytime you should be fine. To be xtra safe take 4th st as recommended above.

I've never had a problem walking down 5th St to and from Market at night. I used to play Tuesday night bar trivia at 5th & Howard and had to walk back to Market Street to get to the underground.

I would avoid the same stretch of 6th Street, however, at all costs.

Positively 4th Street

Tnx to everyone for the advice

I'll report back if something interesting happens

Last I saw 6th Street between Market & Mission it was the definition of Skid Row.

Sorry to hijack this thread but I'm staying at the Holiday Inn Civic Center on 8th Street in October (going to Oracle OpenWorld) and was planning on walking to/from the Moscone Center where the conference is taking place.

Looking at some websites it seems the area I am staying is viewed as a bit dodgy.

Is this the case or would I be ok walking to/from the hotel early morning/early evening.

There are shuttle buses to/from the conference and hotel but when I go to a new city I like to walk about a bit. In fact, I'll often walk miles in one direction with no plans to see anything in particular.

Any tips appreciated.

Although the walk down Market isn't very interesting until you get to SF Center, it isn't unsafe. You'll see some "interesting" characters, but in all the years I've lived here and walked that stretch, I've never been bothered, except for the occasional request for spare change. You can also walk down to Mission or Howard and then over to Moscone.

If that's the worst I can expect then it sounds no worse than I have put up with in Glasgow. A lot of the reviews mentioned homeless people but I can live with that. I see that all the time in London, Edinburgh and Glasgow. None of the reviews ever mentioned anyone getting assaulted so I expect it's no worse than any other big city. I can live with that. Could have got a hotel further out but then I would have had to use some sort of transport instead of my feet to get to/from the hotel.

I think you should sing this song as you walk down 6th St. and see what happens.

As somebody who walks past this hotel each evening, my opinion is it's generally safe around those times. After dark though, even I try to avoid it - although common sense often goes a long way to avoiding undesireable situations (such as not stopping to pull out a map to find directions).

As sketchy as the area can be overnight, most folks arn't looking for trouble, and it usually occurs if the opportunity presents itsself - such as when people leave laptops computers in their locked cars, then are suprised the next morning when their window has been smashed and computer stolen.

You will also be steps away from MUNI/Bart, so if you want to use public transportation, it is very close. You'll be one stop away from your exit at Powell St.

Or take the historic F-line streetcar on Market from 8th to 4th -- just $2 and a fun experience!

I walk down 5th between Market and Mission five times a week, and I've only had a problem once (and that was in broad daylight -- crazy homeless guy got in my face a few weeks ago and tried to punch me, so that was fun). By all means take 4th if you prefer, but 5th is fine; still, walk on the east side (by the mall) to be safer.

xdh

I've walked Howard Street often during the day and always felt happy although it can be quiet with few people about until you start to get towards the Moscone Center I'm not sure that I would walk it in the evening or at night though.
I would stay away from the cross streets 7,6 and +/-5 even during the day and the streets running parallel between Market and Howard unless you had a reason to go that way.
If you are in The City for some days a multiday Muni pass is very good value and as erdehoff said means you could take the F line which is a fun experience.

Fleet week is also on that weekend with practice on the Thursday and Friday and the full display over the weekend, lot's of information on the web and you can visit the ships if you have the time. I've always enjoyed it on the 3 times I've been.

DMF

Thanks Didar56

Telegraph Hill is always crowded so I prefer the viewing platform in Jack Early Park at Grant and Pfeiffer, it's not as high up as Telegraph Hill but is closer to the action.
I also like getting down to the bayside with the crowds to soak up the atmosphere and the next time I'm thinking about trying to be on Alcatraz for a different perspective.
We stay at the Mandarin Oriental when in The City and the view from our 05 room is also very good if not as close to the action and we had a lovely picnic on the Sunday of our last stay watching the show.
The first time we were there for Fleet Week the Blue Angels aircraft doing the individual runs were flying past the Mandarin at the level of the skybridges between the towers at ?hundreds of knots which was very exciting, the last time they seemed to be staying higher above the city and away from the buildings when repositioning during their show.

Looking forward to a return visit as soon as I can

DMF