The Inner Mission is only about 20 blocks by 10 blocks, and is easily navigated by foot. The Mission is generally safe for walking even though 16th and Mission remains a major drug dealing corner. It's not dangerous, but one should expect a certain amount of urban grittiness at night up and down Mission street near 16th. Valencia Street, just one block over, is much more gentrified and is filled with bars and eateries.
By car: You will find that people attending religious ceremonies at one of the churches dotting the mission will park down the center lane of Valencia. This is not a common practice at any other time and not advised as SFPD will not hesitate to have you towed. A popular dinner destination neighborhood, street parking is difficult to find in the early evenings. There are two cheap parking garages, one at 21st Street and Bartlett between Valencia and Mission and another on 16th and Hoff St also between Valencia and Mission.
By bicycle: You'll see many people using the dedicated bike lanes on Valencia Street, but the entire neighborhood, with the exception of the Dolores Park area, is flat and easy to navigate.
