Hillsborough

Understand

Burlingame is found north of San Mateo and south of Millbrae and the San Francisco International Airport (SFO) along US Highway 101. It is home to 11 airport hotels, all within roughly a ten-minute drive from SFO. These hotels often host smaller conferences and conventions. The town's proximity to SFO and the concentration of airport hotels have made the city a frequent airline crew layover location. One doesn't encounter quite the airline crew layover scene like Narita's, but it's present. Three areas within Burlingame will be of greatest interest to visitors.

The Bayshore Area: Hotels and a handful of restaurants along the shore of San Francisco Bay. Broadway: The quaint older section of town. Interesting shops and family owned restaurants. Immediately off of US-101. Burlingame Avenue: The more commercial side of town, with high end shopping and a variety of dining options

Local information Burlingame City Council website

Getting there

By car From US Highway 101 north or south bound exit Broadway Burlingame (Exit 419B). From US101 north bound, exit Anza Boulevard (Exit 419A) for direct access to hotels and amenities on Airport Blvd. From Interstate 280 exit Trousdale Drive (Exit 40).

By bus SamTrans serves travelers visiting Burlingame with their 292 bus line. The 292 connects Burlingame to San Francisco Airport with a stop at the Millbrae BART & Caltrain Stations. Travel time from SFO to Burlingame can vary from 15-25 minutes depending on the time of day and traffic.

By train Caltrain serves two stops: Burlingame and Broadway. Peak service times can offer trains as frequent as every 20 minutes. Off peak hours may be served as infrequently as every hour.

1 Burlingame station, 290 California Drive. Immediately adjacent to downtown-like Burlingame Avenue. (updated Sep 2023) 2 Broadway station, 1190 California Drive. Weekend and holiday service only. (updated Sep 2023) Metered parking spaces for private vehicles are usually available at both stations. Caltrain connects to BART at "Millbrae" station, about three miles (5 km) north of Burlingame.

By air San Francisco International Airport (SFO IATA) is ten minutes north of Burlingame along US-101. Downtown Burlingame (intersection of Burlingame Ave and Lorton Ave) is a 10-minute ($25-35) taxi ride from San Francisco International Airport.

Getting around

Having a car or bicycle is most convenient. Due to Burlingame being bisected by US101, visitors staying in one of the airport hotels may find themselves feeling slightly sequestered from much of the town's offerings. Even so, Burlingame is fairly easily accessed on foot if one takes advantage of the SamTrans 292 bus. Pedestrian–friendly features and good weather for most of the year make getting around safe and easy.

By car Metered and street parking is available throughout most of Burlingame. Most meters allow for credit card payments. Railroad level crossings for the Caltrain line: Drivers should take care as signage and traffic signals are not always clear, and even locals are frequently confused. Motorists can easily find themselves inadvertently stopped on the railroad tracks. The intersection and level crossing at Broadway, California, and Carolan Ave is especially prone to this problem and is considered the most dangerous along the entire Caltrain line. Frequent traffic enforcement operations occur at this location, and motorists can be issued a ticket in excess of $400 for infractions.

By taxi or ride-share Taxis have become less plentiful in Burlingame, although you may be able to find one in-front of bars and restaurants during the evening. Ride-share services such as Uber and Lyft are usually available within a few minutes of request. The self-driving taxi service Waymo also serves Burlingame. Understand that ride-share services charge more for trips to the airport.

By bus SamTrans serves Burlingame with 2 bus lines. Both lines interface with the Millbrae BART and Caltrain Station a mile or two north of Burlingame. During peak weekday hours busses can run as frequently as every 20 minutes. Off-peak, the bus may only run once an hour.

The 292 bus allow for an easy connection of the Marriott, Hyatt, Bay Landing, Holiday Inn Express, Hampton Inn, and Vagabond Hotels along Old Bayshore to the Broadway and Burlingame Ave commercial centers

See

Live Jazz. Live music, especially jazz can be found most nights in Burlingame. Max's restaurant and the Broadway Grill frequently feature music. (updated Sep 2023)

Do

Bay Trail (along the San Francisco Bay). Walking path from the Bay Front Park, at the Millbrae/Burlingame border, to the Coyote Point Recreation Area, at the Burlingame/San Mateo border. (updated Sep 2023) 1 It's - It Ice Cream Factory Shop, 865 Burlway Rd, ☏ +1 800-345-1928. Factory shop of the regional favorite ice cream treat. (updated Sep 2023) 2 Robert E. Woolley State Park, 111 Anza Blvd. Small public park with great San Francisco Bay views adjacent to the Embassy Suites hotel. Good for planespotting. Easily accessible via the Bay Trail walking path. Limited parking. (updated Sep 2023) 3 Bayside Park, 1125 Airport Blvd. Park adjacent to the Bay Trail along Airport Blvd. Softball and soccer fields. Dog park adjacent. Limited parking. (updated Sep 2023) 4 Crystal Springs Regional Trail. Pleasant walk along the upper and lower Crystal Springs Reservoirs. More than 15 miles (24 km) of trails. Access is found at the top of Hillcrest Blvd in Millbrae. (updated Sep 2023) 5 Mills Canyon Park (Ed Taylor Loop Trail), 2938 Adeline Dr. Scenic loop trail in a lush river valley. Limited parking. Free. (updated May 2024)

Buy

Shoppers seeking high-end boutiques and galleries will find plenty along Burlingame Avenue. Of particular use to travelers see below.

1 The Luggage Center, 1200 Burlingame Ave, ☏ +1 650-477-2251. M-Sa 10AM-7PM, Su 10AM-6PM. Full–service luggage and travel–needs shop. (updated Sep 2023) 2 Walgreens, 1160 Broadway (along Old Bayshore & Airport Rd). M-Sa 7AM-10PM, Su 10AM-7PM. Easily accessible from airport hotels. (updated Sep 2023) 3 Burlingame Plaza Shopping Center, Plaza Ln. Shopping center with free parking, two grocery stores, liquor store, UPS store, dry cleaners, banks, hair salons, CVS pharmacy, and Starbucks. (updated Sep 2023) 4 Weimax Wines & Spirits, 1178 Broadway, ☏ +1 650-343-0182. Closed Sundays. Wine shop renowned in California for its selection of old and new world bottles, as well as a carefully curated offering of value wines that punch above their price point. (updated Sep 2023) 5 Burlingame Liquors, 1408 Broadway, ☏ +1 650-376-3210. Liquor store with a large selection of mass-market wines, beers, and spirits. Prices a bit higher than average. Open very late. (updated Sep 2023)

Eat

Bayshore Area 1 Kincaid's Bayhouse, 60 Bay View Pl, ☏ +1 650-342-9844. Offers fish, chops and steak. Nice view of San Francisco Bay and airplanes landing at SFO. Full bar. Pricey corporate-run restaurant. (updated Sep 2023) Gabriel & Daniel's Mexican Gr