San Francisco rewards both the planner and the serendipitous wanderer. And 3-days in San Francisco is just enough time to fall head over heels for with its creative and sophisticated soul.
With a well-thought-out itinerary, you’ll get a good taste of San Francisco.
This 3-day San Francisco itinerary is ideal for first-time visitors who want to see the highlights without feeling rushed. If you’re debating whether three days is enough, you can read more about how many days you really need in San Francisco here.
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If you’re visiting San Francisco for 3+ days, you might want to consider San Francisco’s Go City All-Inclusive Pass. It gets you into 30+ attractions and activities for one low price, one of the many suggestions found in my Visit San Francisco on a Budget article.
Day 1: Fisherman’s Wharf, Alcatraz, Coit Tower & North Beach
Before diving into the daily plans, a quick note on transportation: most visitors do not need a rental car in San Francisco, especially for a 3-day visit. I explain when a car makes sense, and when it absolutely doesn’t, in this guide on whether you need a car in San Francisco.
Morning
Begin your San Francisco journey at Fisherman’s Wharf, originally a hub for Italian immigrant fishermen in the mid-19th century.
Some of the neighborhood attractions include Ghirardelli Square, the San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, and Pier 39, where you can shop for souvenirs and snap pictures of the sea lions basking in the sun (you might smell them before you see them).
Don’t miss the Musée Mécanique, home to one of the world’s largest collections of working antique arcade games. Yes you can play them, many for just $0.25-$1.
Take the late morning ferry to Alcatraz. It’s a touristy, totally worth-it excursion that’s not only fascinating but also the island itself has epic views of the Bay, the Golden Gate Bridge, and the San Francisco skyline.
Depending on what time of year you’re visiting, consider booking your ferry ticket & audio tour well in advance.
It’s one of the most popular things to do in San Francisco.
Lunch
Walk along the Embarcadero (San Francisco’s waterfront) to the historic Ferry Building. The popular food hall has 50+ restaurants, cafés, shops, and food stands serving anything from French pastries to oysters and empanadas.
It’s fun to walk around and check them out, but if you’re looking for some time-saving local advice, check out my tips on where to eat and shop in the Ferry Building.
There’s also a farmers’ market here three mornings per week (Tue, Thur, Sat).
Afternoon
I’m all about options and spontaneity when I travel, so for the afternoon, I suggest you pick something that makes you happy.
Also, if you encounter wet weather while in San Francisco (a winter-month mainstay), check out my suggestions for a rainy day in San Francisco.
Option 1: San Francisco has an AMAZING and eclectic array of museums: large and small, quirky and innovative; historic and irreverent. Near the Ferry Building is the science-centric Exploratorium on Pier 15. If you’re traveling to San Francisco with kids, they will love it, as the hands-on exhibits let them touch everything!
Option 2: If you’re into local landmarks, especially literary and counter-culture ones, head to the independent City Lights Bookstore. Founded in 1953 by Beat poet Lawrence Ferlinghetti, it’s a shop, publishing house, and hub for radical ideas, banned books, and Beat Beat Generation culture.
Option 3: Take a taxi up to Coit Tower on Telegraph Hill, where you can check out the murals painted on the inside walls, created by 26 of California’s best artists, and document California life in the 1930s.
The tower is surrounded by Pioneer Park, which has great views of San Francisco. You can also walk up the Filbert Street Stairs to Coit Tower, but beware—there are more than 400 of them. Phew! I’m tired just writing that.
Evening
You’ve earned a hearty meal, so make your way to North Beach, San Francisco’s Little Italy. There’s plenty to nibble on, from pizza pies at Tony’s or Golden Boy to fresh pasta at Original Joe’s and old-school Fior d’Italia (the gnocchi is incredible). If you want to try a San Francisco treat, the Cioppino at Sotto Mare is often rated among the best in the city
Grab a nightcap at one of the neighborhood’s cozy jazz clubs or bars. The Savoy Tivoli was a go-to of mine many moons ago, and it’s still as lively as ever.
Day 2: Cross the Golden Gate Bridge, Visit Sausalito & Explore Golden Gate Park
Morning
Option 1: A Guided Bike Tour across the Golden Gate Bridge to scenic Sausalito is a rite of passage for every first-time visitor. You can go it alone, too, with just a map and a sense of adventure, or even walk across if you prefer.
Option 2: You don’t even have to cross the bridge to be awed by its beauty. Locals love the flat walk along Crissy Field in the Presidio to Hopper’s Hands. The views of the bridge don’t get better.
It’s honestly my favorite walk in the city, and it’s kid and dog-friendly too.
Option 3: If it’s raining or you want to take your sightseeing to SUPER FUN levels, I highly recommend the groovy (yes, I used that word) VW Bus Tour of San Francisco.
You’ll zip around San Francisco in a retro VW Hippie Bus, and hit all the San Francisco highlights, including Golden Gate Bridge, for a perfect peace-love-and-San Francisco photo opp!
Lunch
If you biked the Golden Gate Bridge, grab lunch in Sausalito. The waterfront town is loaded with restaurants and cafes, from casual Mexican to seaside seafood. For tips on where to go, read my guide on How to Visit Sausalito Like a Local.
If you decided to stay in the city, head to Japantown, where ramen shops, sushi bars, and grocery stores offer some of the best and most affordable Japanese food in the city. For more on incredible Japantown, I’ve created an in-depth guide.
Afternoon
An afternoon in Golden Gate Park is a thrill for all the senses. It’s also loaded with things to see and do.
You’ll have to pick and choose. You can check out one of the amazing playgrounds, museums, or gardens. If you’re traveling to San Francisco with kids, the Carousel at Koret Children’s Corner will be a highlight.
Things to do in Golden Gate Park
-The de Young Museum for art, international exhibitions, and an observation tower with city views.
–California Academy of Sciences, a favorite for the Steinhart Aquarium, the Morrison Planetarium, and much more.
-The Japanese Tea Garden is a serene spot for finding your moment of Zen.
–Blue Heron Lake, Golden Gate Park’s largest body of water, is a popular spot to rent a pedal boat.
-The Conservatory of Flowers, the oldest public wood-and-glass conservatory in North America, and home to rare plants.
–San Francisco Botanical Garden, 55 acres home to nearly 9,000 different kinds of plants from around the world
Late afternoon/Evening
Near the eastern edge of Golden Gate Park is the Haight-Ashbury, the neighborhood that gave birth to the 1960s counterculture and the Summer of Love. #PeaceOut
Haight Street’s vintage shops are fun to dig through for costumes, bygone era coats, and tie-dye tees.
Before you head back to the hotel, drop by The Alembic for a perfect craft cocktail or mocktail, and some seriously top-notch pub grub—vegan burgers, scotch eggs, flatbread, to name just a few of their delicious bites.
Day 3: Discover Cable Cars, Grace Cathedral & Delicious Neighborhoods
Morning
Book a ticket to ride the California Line Cable Car to the top of Nob Hill. The starting point for this one is at Market and California Streets. The route ends at Van Ness, but you’ll want to get off at California and Taylor, where you’ll see Grace Cathedral, a Nob Hill landmark.
You can visit yourself (it’s free to enter). Last year, I signed up for their behind-the-scenes experience that had us ducking into secret rooms and climbing up into one of the towers.
San Francisco’s famous Fairmont Hotel is just across the park from the cathedral. It’s hosted celebrities, dignitaries, and rock stars, and is where Tony Bennett first crooned, “I Left My Heart in San Francisco.”
If you want, take a free guided tour on Saturdays at 11 a.m. I recently signed up, and it was fantastic!
From Nob Hill, walk down into Chinatown (less than 0.5 miles), where grocery stores, herbal shops, dim sum and dumpling restaurants, tea tasting stops, and a fortune cookie factory are waiting for you.
San Francisco Chinatown is roughly 26 square blocks, and mostly flat (by San Francisco standards). It’s totally easy to walk around on your own, but a Chinatown Culinary Walking Tour is a great way to learn about the historic neighborhood, while tasting a little bit of it too.
Lunch
There are superb places to eat in Chinatown, but I often bring out-of-towners to China Live, a multi-venue marketplace-style dining space. The back counter is where you can watch them make their famous crispy-bottom sheng jian bao (pan-fried pork buns). I also like Great Eastern, an authentic and affordable dim sum spot.
Mid–Afternoon
After lunch, head to the Mission District (aka the Mission) and Mission Dolores, San Francisco’s oldest surviving building and a remnant of the Spanish colonial era. Be sure to check out the mission’s art and visit the garden and cemetery.
The Mission is lively day and night, and fun to walk around, tour, eat, and browse Valencia Street’s vintage shops and boutiques.
You’ll definitely want to check out the inspiring murals along Balmey Alley and Clarion Alley. If you’re interested in knowing more about the murals, a local resident leads tours on Saturdays, bookable through the Precita Eyes Mural Arts and Visitor Center.
Evening
For your farewell dinner, the neighborhood’s Mexican food scene is spicy! Mission-style Burritos are a San Francisco must-try food, and big enough to share. There’s much debate over who makes the best, too.
El Farolito, Taqueria La Cumbre, La Palma Mexicatessen, and Taqueria Cancun often make the cut.
You won’t be disappointed by any of them.
Where to Stay in San Francisco
San Francisco hotels are as varied as the neighborhoods.
In Fisherman’s Wharf, I like the Argonaut Hotel for its nautical themed rooms and the walkable neighborhood.
The Jay Hotel in downtown is urban but still welcoming, with a great vibe and third-floor outdoor patio beneath the skyscrapers.
Japantown is one of my favorite San Francisco neighborhoods (read my comprehensive guide to Japantown), and the Hotel Kabuki has all the trappings of a perfect city hotel: location, fabulous lobby and bar, and an acclaimed restaurant, Nari, on the bottom level.
The Laurel Inn in Presidio Heights is a little removed from downtown, but it’s well connected by public transportation and the neighborhood is great for walking and exploring.
Each is a little different and depends on the vibe you’re after. Luckily, San Francisco is small, so wherever you stay, it’s easy to get around.
You’ve got questions? We’ve got answers!
