Area Codes The area code for San Francisco is 415; for Oakland, Berkeley, and much of the East Bay, 510; for south of the city in the peninsula 650; for San Jose and Santa Clara 408; Napa and Sonoma 707. There's no need to dial the area code if if you're within that city’s limits.

Banking Hours Most banks are open Monday through Friday 9am to 5pm as well as Saturday morning. Many banks have ATMs for 24-hour banking access.

Shopping Hours Most stores are open Monday through Saturday from 10 or 11am to at least 6pm, with shorter hours on Sunday. But there are exceptions: Stores in Chinatown, Ghirardelli Square, and PIER 39 stay open much later during the tourist season, and large department stores, including Macy's and Nordstrom, keep late hours.

Pharmacies Walgreens pharmacies are located all over town. The closest to Union Square is at 135 Powell St. (415-391-4433), which is open Monday through Friday 7am to midnight; Saturday and Sunday 8am to midnight; the pharmacy is open Monday through Friday 8am to 9pm, Saturday 9am to 5pm; closed on Sunday. The branch on Divisadero Street at Lombard (415-931-6415) has a 24-hour pharmacy.

Earthquakes   Most of the region’s earthquakes you will never notice. But in the rare case of a significant earthquake, there are a few basic precautionary actions to take. If you are inside a building, don’t run outside. Stand in doorway or against a wall, and away from windows. If you exit a building after a strong quake, use the stairs, not elevators. If you are driving, pull over to the side of the road, stop and stay in the car -- but first get away from bridges and overpasses, telephone poles, and power lines. If you're outside, stay away from trees, power lines, and the sides of buildings. If you are in an area with tall buildings, take cover in a doorway.

Emergencies  Dial 911 on any telephone for police, ambulance, or the fire department.

Internet Access   Many hotels have wireless access, as do many cafes. Check www.wifi411.com for a list of wi-fi hotspots – which include Starbucks locations, Kinko's, and McDonald's

Laundry Most hotels offer laundry service. Or ask at your hotel for the nearest Laundromat or dry cleaners.

Liquor Laws Liquor stores and grocery stores, as well as some drugstores, sell packaged alcoholic between 6am and 2am daily. Most restaurants, nightclubs, and bars are licensed to serve alcoholic beverages during the same hours. The legal age for purchase and consumption of alcohol is 21; proof of age required.

Post Office Dozens of post offices are located around the city. The closest to Union Square is inside the Macy's store at 170 O'Farrell St. on the lower level behind house wares. Check www.usps.gov for more information. You can have mail sent to you marked "General Delivery" by addressing it to yourself at Civic Center Post Office Box Unit, "General Delivery," San Francisco, CA 94142-9991 (tel. 800/275-8777 or 415/563-7284). The street address of the post office is 101 Hyde Street.

Safety San Francisco has its share of crime, but just be careful and attentive. Use extra caution, particularly at night, and navigate carefully in areas off the main paths for visitors, including Tenderloin, the Western Addition and the lower Fillmore area (south of Japantown), the Mission District (especially around 16th and Mission Streets, around lower Haight Street, and around the Civic Center. And there are a large number of homeless people throughout the city, with concentrations in and around Union Square and the theater district west of Union Square, the Tenderloin, and Haight Street. Don’t be alarmed if you're approached for spare change, but aggressive panhandling is illegal, so use your own judgment and common sense.

Smoking  Smoking laws in San Francisco are very strict. Smoking is prohibited in restaurants, bars, stores, theaters, and most indoor areas. Ask your hotel before you book if they have smoking rooms and what their policy is.

Taxes An 8.5% sales tax is added to all goods and services purchased in San Francisco. The city hotel and parking lot taxes are 14%.