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San Francisco rewards both the planner and the wanderer, and three days isn’t nearly enough to soak up its sassy, serious, silly soul. The good news, however, is that with a well-thought-out itinerary, you can get a good heaping spoonful of it.
I’ve created this itinerary that includes a few world-famous landmarks, suggestions for where to stay in San Francisco’s eclectic and historic neighborhoods, and ideas for how to inspire your first visit to the City by the Bay.
Check out my 18 Amazing Things to do In San Francisco list to customize it to your taste.
Day 1: Take on the Classics
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.
Take the late morning ferry to Alcatraz. It’s a touristy and totally worth it excursion, with self-guided audio tours narrated by former inmates and guards. It’s not only fascinating, but the island itself has epic views of the Bay, Golden Gate Bridge, and San Francisco skyline.
Book tickets well in advance. Visiting Alcatraz is one of the most popular things to do in San Francisco.
Lunch
I recommend a walk along the Embarcadero (San Francisco’s waterfront) to the historic Ferry Building, a popular food hall with restaurants. It used to be the city’s main transportation hub, and it’s still where you’ll catch boats to Tiburon, Sausalito, and Larkspur.
The historic transport hub is also home to around 50 artisanal shops and restaurants serving everything from homemade bread, chocolate, oysters, and cakes to empanadas, burgers, coffee, and Cambodian food.
There’s also a farmers’ market here three times per week (Tue,Thur,Sat).
Afternoon
Check out a San Francisco Museum. The city offers an eclectic array of large and small spots that showcase the city’s curious, innovative, historic, and irreverent personality.
Near the Ferry Building is the science-centric Exploratorium on Pier 15. If you’re traveling with kids, they will love it since the hands-on exhibits let them touch everything!
Or, take a taxi up to Coit Tower on Telegraph Hill, where you can check out the murals painted on the inside walls. Its surrounding Pioneer Park has great views. You can also walk up the Filbert Street Stairs, but beware—there are more than 400 stairs!
Good to Know: The Filbert Street steps are a quirky, garden-lined wooden staircase, one of many in San Francisco. Keep your eyes peeled for a glimpse of the neighborhood’s wild green parrots.
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 Il Casaro to fresh pasta at Original Joe’s and old-school Fior d’Italia (the gnocchi is incredible). I adore the
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: Golden Gate Bridge & Golden Gate Park
Morning
Dress to sweat and book a bike tour for a pedal across the Golden Gate Bridge to scenic Sausalito. You can go it alone with just a map and a sense of adventure. The distance is about 8 miles and takes about 2 hours, with time built in for snapping pix and water breaks.
If you prefer two feet to two wheels? The flat walk along Crissy Field in the Presidio to Hopper’s Hands and Fort Point is my favorite walk in the city, and has the best view of the bridge
If you want more of a hike than a walk, head into the Presidio and hike the Batteries to Bluffs Trail down to the beach, where you’ll still be rewarded with views of the Pacific Ocean and Golden Gate Bridge from a different angle. There are more than 400 stairs down, and you know what they say about what goes down?!
If you’re short on time and traveling with a group, I highly recommend the groovy (yes, I used that word) 2-hour San Francisco Love Tour.
You’ll zip around San Francisco in a hand-painted VW Hippie bus, complete with panoramic sunroof, shag carpet, and a beaded curtain. They’ll park near the bridge too, for the perfect peace-love-San Francisco vacation snap.
Lunch
If you biked the Golden Gate Bridge, grab lunch in Sausalito. The waterfront town is loaded with restaurants and cafes, from Mexican and Italian to burgers and seafood.
(read my guide to visiting Sausalito like a local)
If you stayed in the city, take a driverless Waymo to the Presidio and the Presidio Tunnel Tops (near the Main Post), where food trucks offer quick bites in a historic setting. Vendors change every day, but there’s always a good mix.
Nearby is Fillmore Street, lined with casual cafes and restaurants, including Woodhouse Fish Co., serving San Francisco classics including Cioppino and Dungeness Crab (when in season).
Afternoon
Golden Gate Park is larger than New York’s Central Park (booya), so it’s no surprise there is a ton to see and do here. You’ll have to pick and choose, but if the weather’s nice, bring a picnic and spread out in one of the many meadows.
Golden Gate Park Highlights
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 and a popular spot for strolling, picnicking, and pedal boats.
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 Haight-Ashbury, the neighborhood that gave birth to the 1960s counterculture and the Summer of Love.
Haight Street’s vintage shops are fun to dig through for costumes, bygone era treasures, and tie-dye. Try this self-guided audio tour of the area if you want a more structured meander.
Before you go, 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 delights).
Day 3: Cable Cars, Grace Cathedral, Chinatown & the Mission
Morning
Ride the California Line Cable Car to the top of Nob Hill. The starting point for this one is Market and California Streets. There’s usually a long line, similar to the other starting points, so consider hopping on mid-route to avoid crowds.
The route ends at Van Ness. Get off at California and Taylor. Grace Cathedral, a Nob Hill landmark, offers a behind-the-scenes tour that takes you into secret rooms, to the upper galleries, and into one of the towers. You can also visit the cathedral on your own.
San Francisco’s famous Fairmont Hotel is just across the park from the cathedral. It’s hosted celebrities, dignitaries, rock stars, and is where Tony Bennett first crooned “I Left My Heart in San Francisco”. Or take a guided tour on Saturdays!
From Nob Hill, walk down into Chinatown, where grocery stores, herbal shops, dim sum and dumpling restaurants, a temple, tea tasting shops, and a fortune cookie factory are waiting for you.
Lunch
There are a ton of places to eat in Chinatown, but I often bring out-of-towners to China Live, a multi-venue ‘marketplace’ style dining space. Head to the back counter, where you can watch the crispy-bottom sheng jian bao (pan-fried pork buns) being made by hand. Yum!
Afternoon
Hop in a taxi and head to the Mission District (aka the Mission). A good place to start is Mission Dolores, San Francisco’s oldest 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 Valencia Street is where to go for vintage shops and botiques. You can take a chocolate factory tour or learn to make truffles at Dandelion Chocolate.
Check out the colorful and inspiring murals along Balmey Alley and Clarion Alley. The Precita Eyes Mural Arts and Visitor Center offers tours that illuminate the cultural and historical significance of this public art.
Evening
For your farewell dinner, the neighborhood’s Mexican food is a must. Mission-style Burritos are a San Francisco tradition and big enough to share. There’s much debate over who make 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. Personally, I like the Argonaut Hotel in Fisherman’s Wharf, the Jay Hotel in downtown, Hotel Kabuki in Japantown, and the Laurel Inn in Presidio Heights.
Each is a little different and depends on the vibe you’re after. Luckily, the city is small, so wherever you stay, it’s easy to get around.
Check out my Cool Hotels in San Francisco list for ideas.
