One Day in San Francisco Itinerary (From a Local!) (2024)

So, you’re visiting San Francisco and wondering how many fun things you can pack into one day? I’ve lived in San Francisco for over 4 years now and I never get tired of exploring this city.

There is simply SO MUCH to see! But, it’s sort of like a “too many good things” situation. It can be really hard for visitors to pick and choose things to do in San Francisco in a day. That’s where I come in!

I took up the challenge of going out into the city and experiencing it as a tourist to see exactly what I could fit into a perfect day in San Francisco. I feel pretty good about this guide if you’re visiting and are looking for the perfect day in San Francisco exploring this foggy city.

Keep on reading for my One Day in San Francisco Itinerary (an hour-by-hour guide guaranteed for great memories!)

>> Got questions about San Francisco you need to be answered fast? DM me on Instagram @thewhimsysoul and I’ll help you out!

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What You’ll Need For 24 Hours in San Francisco

First, let’s go over what you’re going to need as you’re out exploring the city all day. This San Francisco one day tour itinerary doesn’t have any breaks back at your hotel until it’s time to go to bed.

Keep in mind this is a tech city and everything is done with phones, so you’ll want to bring a portable charger and probably also your phone charger, just in case!

The weather is also very odd here. You can read my post about what to wear in San Francisco depending on which month you’re visiting for the full breakdown, but it’s a good idea to wear layers. Some parts of the city may be cold and foggy while the other parts are sunny!

Lastly, you’ll want to wear comfy shoes as this is a self-guided WALKING tour! I’m assuming you’ll be doing one day in San Francisco without a car.

You’ll be taking a few Ubers and/or buses here and there, but you’ll also be walking a lot! Make sure to download the MUNI app so you can buy your bus/train tickets on your phone vs. trying to pay in cash.

Make sure to have Uber or Lyft downloaded so you can easily use ride shares, which you’ll also need to do. This city doesn’t have the best public transportation system (we’re not London or New York City!)

It can literally take over 2 hours and multiple transfers to get to some parts of the city on the bus... or just a 15-minute car ride.

Because you are short on time and don’t want to spend your vacation crammed on a train, I’m recommending when you should use a ride share. Luckily, Uber Pool is pretty cheap and sometimes cheaper than using the bus!

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Here’s what to put into your travel purse for the day:

  • fully charged external battery charger (I love this one!)
  • your normal phone charger
  • a sweater and/or jacket
  • umbrella if it’s the later fall or winter
  • hand sanitizer
  • comfy shoes
  • facial sunscreen
  • Hair tie (it can get windy here!)
  • Camera
  • CityPASS (optional but saves you a sh*t ton of $$ on tickets)

Looking for a great travel purse? I wrote a whole roundup of my favorite purses to bring on trips, each field-tested for security (aka anti-theft) and also style. Check it out here.

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One Day in San Francisco Itinerary 2021

Alright, let’s get started on this San Francisco one day trip guide! This post contains an itinerary for the best day in the city along with a map of all the places I talk about.

>> Read this: 17 free things to do in San Francisco

7am – Golden Gate Bridge

How to get there: take an Uber to the parking lot from your hotel, it’ll probably cost between $5-8. If you are staying in the Marina, you can take the 28 bus (ask to make sure your bus is heading towards the bridge before you pay. I’ve watched countless tourists take the bus going the wrong way by mistake.)

To kick off your 1 day in San Francisco, start at the Golden Gate Bridge. There’s a few reasons for this. First, there’s free parking at the lot until 8am, so if you drove into the city, you should visit before you have to pay $$ to park your car.

Second, the bridge gets very crowded over the course of the day. Like, walking shoulder to shoulder type of crowded. It’s chaos. I love visiting early in the morning because there’s a good chance you’ll have the whole bridge to yourself.

It’s a much nicer way to take in the views and the awesomeness of this bridge. It’ll also be easier to take a really great photo without people getting in the day!

Tourists love to walk across the bridge, but I don’t think you need to do that. It’s 1.7 miles long! That’s 3.4 miles round trip for a view that doesn’t change. Instead, I recommend you walk to about the 1st tower and then you can turn back.

On a clear day, you can see all the way to the East Bay from atop the bridge. I love watching morning surfers riding waves below and the early morning Alcatraz ferry taking people to the prison. Such good views!

Note: The bridge is over the bay aka it can get hella windy up here. You’ll want to bring a good jacket and pull your hair back for this!

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8am – Breakfast

You should be able to visit the Golden Gate Bridge in about 30 minutes since you won’t be battling crowds. After, it’s breakfast time! Drive or take an Uber to your breakfast spot, pick which one sounds the best to you below! (Yes, it’s like a choose your own adventure style!) Your Uber will be about $4-7.

Zazie in Cole Valley: This is where we went in our video! Zazie is a Cole Valley local’s favorite. They have amazing french cuisine and probably some of the best eggs benedict in the city. There’s indoor and outdoor seating and the whole vibe is very nice. They open at 8am.

Outerlands in Outer Sunset: Another local favorite! Outerlands is very hipstery-chic with very unique rustic-chic interior design. (It reminds me a lot of something you would find near Mendocino in Northern California!) Their savory dutch pancakes are out of this WORLD, like I would wait in a long brunch line just to eat them. They open at 9am so if you are running late on this guide, you can eat here.

Tartine in Sunset: Looking for a San Francisco darling? Tartine sort of has a cult following here in the city and honestly, it’s one of my favorites as well. It’s a bakery but has AMAZING sandwiches, soups and open-faced bread for lunch. And their new Sunset location is uber cute.

Mel’s Drive-In Inner Richmond: There are a few Mel’s Diner across California. It’s like, a thing. Mel’s is a retro 1950’s style diner, complete with the funky decor and milkshakes. Come for menu items like the Lumberjack and a throw-back vibe.

Note: Brunch in San Francisco is like a competitive sport. On the weekends, it’s very common to have to wait 1-2 hours just to be seated. If you are using this itinerary on a weekday, you shouldn’t have any problems, but if you are traveling on a Saturday or Sunday, be prepared for a long line, especially at Zazie or Outerlands.

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9am: Golden Gate Park

How to get there: Depending on where you grabbed brunch, either walk or take an Uber.

Did you know that the Golden Gate Park is bigger than Central Park? Got into a fight with a New Yorker in an Uber once because she didn’t believe me, but look it up.

There are some really crazy things hidden in this park, like bison. That’s right, there are motherf*cking bison in the park! (Yes like the ones you find in Yellowstone!)

There’s also not one but two windmills, a lake, a few sports fields, a giant stone cross, 2 museums, a conservatory, a carousel, tons of gardens and so much more. I wrote all about my favorite hidden gems in the park here for more details.

Because of that, I recommend my favorite spots in the park for you to visit this morning. Museums and nature aren’t everyone’s thing, that’s ok, but you should visit the park if you are here in San Francisco.

BUT, If more than one pique your interest, I recommend coming back the next day and doing a half or full day exploring Golden Gate Park, especially if you wanted to check out the California Academy of Science or DeYoung Museum (don’t try to visit those on your giant one day in San Francisco tour as they are time sucks. Come back for a half day at least!)

>> Pro-tip: Get a CityPASS which covers admission to a cruise, the California Academy of Science, MOMA AND unlimited Muni/cable car rides!! It’s a great deal.

Windmills: Tucked on the edge of the park near Ocean Beach are the two Dutch Windmills. They really look like they were pulled from the Netherlands or something!

I especially love visiting this spot during the late summer / early fall when the tulips are in full bloom all around the base. These windmills were built to help pump water into the park for construction. They aren’t operational anymore but are sure fun to look at!

Conservatory of Flowers: A beautiful white building full of tropical plants and flowers on the inside! The Conservatory is a great stop if it’s raining and you need to escape the weather.

They are open Tuesday – Sundays, 10 a.m, so if you are running late on this guide, you can time the opening. It’s still fun to visit the outside of this cool building if you get here too early. Tickets are $9.

Japanese Tea Garden: If you’re craving a trip to Japan but can’t afford the ticket, this tea garden does a pretty good job at making you feel like you were whisked away to Asia. I love this little garden and all it’s pagoda and winding paths.

You can even drink tea here if you want! It’s totally free to enter by 10am on Monday, Wednesday and Fridays (score!) Other days or past 10am tickets are $6.

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Botanical Garden: These gardens are my favorite botanical gardens in the world (that I’ve been to so far at least!) They are simply just so HUGE. San Francisco residents can enter for free ($9 for non-residents) so we frequently walk around the gardens.

You can visit a Redwood forest, a rose garden, tall tropical plants, a little lake and so much more here. I can’t get enough and highly recommend exploring this garden!

Stow Lake: My other favorite go-to spot is Stow Lake since it’s in walking distance from our apartment. This little lake is so dang charming and full of wildlife.

There’s a boathouse you can rent a paddle boat on if that sounds fun (I have done it before and I felt like I was in the Notebook!) Or, walk around Strawberry Hil, the hill in the center of the lake. You can find a waterfall here and also a Chinese pavilion. So much fun!

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11am: Haight Street

How to get there: Depending on which part of the park you chose to explore, you can walk to the start of Haight Street, take an Uber or hop on the #7 bus to get you there.

Haight Street in San Francisco was basically the epicenter for the “Summer of Love” in 1969. I sometimes call it the “hippie street” because here is where you’ll find tons of trippy murals, Tibetan clothing stores, apothecary, pipe places and amazing thrift shops.

It’s really fun to start at the top of Haight at Stanyan (the corner of Golden Gate Park) and walk down.

Make sure to stop in the Decades of Fashion vintage store! This owner collects clothing from all decades of the United States. If you wanted an authentic flapper dress or a 1950’s housewive frock, this is the place!

There are always new stores popping up here, so you can easily find fun, wacky shops to browse. Maybe you’ll take home a souvenir! At the very least, you’ll love this original street and the culture preserved here.

Pro tip: looking for a cool spot from history? Head to 710 Ashbury Street to see the Grateful Dead house! The band members spent some time living in!

Another quick note about Haight Street to keep in mind. This is a popular spot for the homeless population to hang out in and they sometimes throws visitors for a loop but are not dangerous so don’t stress.

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Noon: Hayes Valley

How to get there: #7 bus

After you are done exploring Haight Street, hop on a #7 bus and take it to Geary Street. Get off and walk the 2 blocks to Hayes Valley! I love this little neighborhood in central San Francisco. There’s an adorable plaza full of art sculptures, bars made from shipping containers and dogs (free pets!)

The shops here are high end but fun to walk around, and the buildings are colorful. IT’s usually sunny over here (compared to the Golden Gate Park area which can be foggy) and there are SO MANY great restaurants to eat!

If you are hungry, feel free to stop by for lunch at Souvla, my favorite Greek spot in the city. Or, to Salt and Straw for an ice cream (Try one of their wacky flavors like Olive Oil!) Salt and Straw also has a bathroom if you are needing to go.

If you are running late or aren’t in the mood for food, you can skip Hayes Valley and move directly to Union Square.

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1pm: Union Square + Chinatown

How to get there: #7 bus, or you can walk to Van Ness train station and take any of the MUNI trains to the Powell Street Stop.

My absolute favorite thing to do with visitors is this exact walk I’m about to take you on (virtually that is, wish I could come with you IRL!)

You’re going to start at Market and Powel. There’s a cable car stop here that always has a long line (skip it for now, you can do a cable car ride later today or on another day as the wait can take over an hour!)

Walk up to Union Square. I recommend skip shopping as all the stores here are ones that you can probably find in the mall near your house. Union Square is really pretty. Sometimes they have art shows on the plaza and during the holidays, they put up a big Christmas tree and even have ice skating!

Make sure to stop here for some photos, but keep walking to the North East corner to Stockton Street. Walk up Stockton 2 block and take a right on Bush for one block until you reach the Dragon’s Gate. You can’t miss it – it’s the entrance to Chinatown!!

I love walking down Chinatown, this one is the oldest Chinatown in the United States! There’s so many cool shops to pop into and you can even find amazing places to eat here (like $6 all you can eat dumplings!)

If you didn’t yet have lunch, I recommend visiting the famous Golden Gate Bakery for amazing food (savory and sweet!) I recommend you fill up a box of goodies and then head to the park in North Beach to eat them.

But first, I want to point out some cool spots in Chinatown to visit before picking up your food. You also have to check out Grant Avenue, which is one of the oldest streets in Chinatown.

Dragon Mural: Find this cool dragon mural (pictured below) at Grant and Vincent Court. This alley used to also have colorful steps that someone painted over grey (um, not fun – life is better with rainbows people!) But at least this gem of a mural is at the very end of the alley.

Red Lanterns: In the middle of Chinatown on Grant you’ll find a few blocks of red lanterns hanging. A clear indication you’re in Chinatown!

I love this street so much as it really fulfills that China vibe. Make sure to take a photo here. Some of the side streets also have lanterns if you wanted a photo without cars in them, it may be easier to tuck a block off the main street.

Fortune Cookie Factory: Located on 56 Ross Alley, the famous fortune cookie factory is here and offers free tours! I have never been myself but visitors tell me they always have fun popping in here. This factory makes up to 10,000 fortune cookies a day and has been around since the 1960’s.

Once you feel like you saw your fill of Chinatown, grab those goodies from the Golden Gate Bakery and keep walking North down Grant Ave. You’ll hit Broadway and suddenly the vibe will totally change. You are now in North Beach!

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2:30pm – North Beach

North Beach is one of my favorite neighborhoods in the city. It’s basically a Little Italy! If you are spending more time in San Francisco, I highly recommend coming back to North Beach for a huge Italian dinner one night (Orignal Joes and Tony’s are great spots!)

Today though, take your lunch to Washington Square Park, find a bench and enjoy the amazing view of the church and sunshine while you eat (and probably some fun dog watching, too!)

North Beach is very unique. Since it’s near the Bay, there used to be the center of the Barbary Coast era (dance halls, concert saloons, bars, jazz clubs, variety shows, and brothels, to name a few.)

Some buildings have underground tunnels that were used to sneak bootlegged products out to ships (or vice versa.) If you can, this guided walking tour of North Beach is really fun.

Make sure to stop at the corner of Columbus Avenue and Pacific for one of my favorite photos ops in the city (pictured below)

From this corner, you get that perfect view of the Transamerica Buildings and the historic 100-year-old San Francisco The Flatiron Building (that cool thin green building!) I always stop for a photo here, it’s such a unique view.

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3pm: Lombard Street

How to get there: Walking! Take Columbus Ave to Lombard Street

After your lunch, it’s time to walk up a really big hill to Lombard Street, aka the most crooked Street in America! This is a must see in San Francisco as you can’t find anything like it (that I know of) in the world.

Lombard Street is a short street that winds back and forth. From the bottom of the hill, you can look up and see the “waves” of the road.

It’s a really popular spot and by 7am it’ll already start filling up with tourists. I heard on the news they are going to start issuing permits to drive down the street, which is a good thing because tourists like to also drive down this winding street and as you can imagine, combined with 100+ people taking photos on it, it’s always a major clusterf*ck.

I love the view from the top of this hill as you can see the Bay Bridge and Coit Tower. It’s one of the best views in the city in my opinion! Stop at the bottom of the street to take a photo with the “waves” view and then another from the top to catch the city skyline.

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4pm: Ghirardelli square + Fisherman’s Wharf

How to get there: just walk down the hill from Lombard

Everyone spending a day in San Francisco wants to go see Fisherman’s Wharf. I can’t help but make my disclaimer about this neighborhood: it’s touristy AF. Locals don’t ever come here as it’s kind of one big tourist trap. That being said, on the flip side, it is fun to kill a couple of hours here on a nice day.

You can swing by Ghirardelli square to pick up some free chocolate samples (yum!) and then walk down Jefferson Street along the Bay. You’ll pass a San Francisco cable car station here if you want to snap photos.

This area has amazing views of the Bay, Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz. It also has a lot of chain seafood restaurants and touristy shops to get bad Tshirts. But you can also find a historic pier (Hyde’s Pier), stop by In & Out (the only one in the city) and watch sea lions roll around on the docks.

If you are still hungry or didn’t eat lunch, I recommend stopping by Tarantino‘s which has the best clam chowder in the world.

If visitors who think you can’t spend time in SF without coming to Fisherman’s Wharf with me I always make them buy me a clam chowder here as payment for having to come down to the Wharf. Get it in a sourdough bread bowl.

Note: since this is a big tourist trap neighborhood, it’s common to for pickpockets to hang out here. Make sure to eek an eye on our stuff and use one of my go-to anti-theft bags!

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5:30pm -Happy Hour!

After this long day exploring, it’s time to hit up some of San Francisco’s best watering holes. We have a fantastic culinary scene here and that also extends to co*cktail making (plus there’s also some local crafter breweries in the city, so there’s always something good on tap!)

I’m going to suggest a few different places for another “choose your own adventure” round.

Cityscape: Cityscape is one of the fancy AF co*cktail lounges that has AMAZING views of the city. I’m talking 360 views, you can see the whole city from this top-floor bar in the Hilton Hotel.

All of the San Francisco bay to Oakland, too. It’s not cheap, which is why I come here for one happy hour drink then keep drinking somewhere else. But you pay for the view and the view is #IGWorthy for sure. You’ll need to Uber here.

Pier 23: If the weather is really warm and you’re looking for something casual, you can keep walking from Fisherman’s Wharf along the Embarcadero to Pier 23 bar.

They have a lot of outdoor seating next to the water! I love hanging out here on a nice day to soak in the sunshine, especially because prices are pretty average at this bar.

Hard Water: If you’re looking for something extra special, skip Pier 23 and instead walk a bit further up the Embarcadeo to Hard Water, a waterfront whiskey bar. This place is a bit expensive but everyone I know who goes here raves about how nice this place is.

Liquid Gold: If you’re a craft beer lover like we are, head to Liquid Gold in Nob Hill. This industrial-style taproom has so many crazy unique beers I’ve never heard of before. Grab a flight and taste test! You’ll want to take an Uber here.

Whitechapel: If you love craft co*cktails, this is the place to go! Named after the White Chapel neighborhood in London, this bar theme totally plays off that grimy English meets trendy bar feel (if that makes sense. It’s in a good way, I promise!)

co*cktails are pricey here (think easily $15 for a drink but cheaper during happy hours!) but dang, they are some of the best in the whole city. I love taking out of town visitors here as this bar is utterly unique. You’ll want to take an uber here

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6:30pm – Dinner in San Francisco

Time for dinner! There are hundreds and hundreds of amazing places to eat in San Francisco. If you don’t’ pick one of the recommendations, no hard feelings!

That being said, I recommend checking out one of the places below. Some are near where you had happy hour and/or are easy to get to via MUNI or Uber.

Mac Daddy in Potrero Hill: Tucked away in Potrero Hill is a joint called Mac Daddy that only serves mac & cheese. You read that right – they specialize in mac & cheese here! *Mic drop*

It’s my favorite little hidden gem in the city and most tourists don’t visit because it’s not downtown. You’ll need to take an Uber over here but it’s well worth it for the food but also because this neighborhood is really pretty. I recommend the Goat mac & cheese with short ribs added in it omg I’m drooling just thinking about it.

Brenda’s: Right around the corner from White Chapel is Branda’s, the best soul food joint in town! I ate here recently and it totally made me feel like I was back in New Orleans eating in the French Quarter.

The line can sometimes get long but stick with it for the best dang Creole dinner of your life (on the west coast, that is!) Make sure to try their beignet flights for dessert.

El Techo in the Mission: This is one of my favorite places to bring out of towners. El Techo in the Mission is one of the only rooftop restaurants in the city. It’s 100% on a rooftop outdoors (don’t worry, they have heated tents.)

On a clear day, you can see the San Francisco skyline and it’s so dang pretty! Plus, their food is amazing. Get a pitcher of margaritas and tapas for one hell of a tasty dinner with views.

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8:30pm: Sunset On A Hill

You can only do this if it’s the summertime, as the sun sets really late here in the summer (well past 9pm.) If you’re up for one last adventure of the day, Head to Twin Peaks or Bernal Heights (depending on where you had dinner) to catch the sunset over the city. (See photos below.)

Only do this if the weather is nice otherwise you may not be able to see past the fog.

I love coming to these tall hills for sunsets. It makes the city look so small because when you’re running around it, it feels big. It’s actually just 7×7 miles and from the top of a hill, you can actually take it all in.

You’re allowed to drink in the parks, so feel free to bring a bottle of wine or a 6 pack of beer to the top of the hills, sit down and enjoy the show.

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One Day in San Francisco Itinerary (From a Local!) (30)

So, that’s your giant mega huge one day in San Francisco blog post! I tried hard to make sure you saw tons of sides of this city. So many visitors never venture to the Golden Gate Park, for instance, because they get “stuck” downtown and never leave.

Remember, this sounds like too much to do in one day but I did it myself and it’s fine! It’s busy, sure, but you get to see so much and it’s probably one of my favorite days of life. So much fun, so many memories my husband and I made together in our city!

I’m assuming you’ll be in San Francisco longer than just one day, so check out my full city travel guide here or at least my top 19 things to do in the city here.

Below are some other fun activities I highly recommend you do while exploring San Francisco! if you are super adamant about bus tours or guided walking tours, I recommend THIS bus tour.But I still think it’s more fun to explore on your own!

Pro-tip: Get a cityPASS which covers admission to a cruise, the California Academy of Science, MOMA AND unlimited Muni/cable car rides!! It’s a great deal.

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One Day in San Francisco Itinerary (From a Local!) (32)

Other Fun Activities in San Francisco

Red and White Fleet Cruise: Robin and I went on a sunset cruise around the Bay and holy moly, that’s now something I recommend to everyone visiting. It’s about $50 (though a cruise is covered in your CityPASS) and you should do a sunset cruise which is timed to catch all the beautiful colors over the Bay.

This cruise has alcohol for sale and I think it’s fun sitting on top and sipping a beer while you’re sailing under the Golden Gate Bridge. Make sure to bring a warm jacket!

Land’s End Hike: Did you know there’s a secret labyrinth in San Francisco? Because it’s at the end of the city, most tourists never even learn about Sutro Baths + Land’s End, but it’s my favorite place to hike in the city.

MOMA: The Museum of Modern Art is really cool. It’s 4 floors tall and packed with stunning art, so it’s at least a day trip activity. If art museums are your thing, you can’t miss this! Don’t forget to use your CityPASS to enter this for free.

Palace of Fine Arts: A cool building in the Marina that looks just like Rome!

Ferry Building: I love the Ferry Building in San Francisco. Sitting on the edge of Market Street, this white building is just too dang cute. Inside you’ll find tons of artisan stores. On Tuesdays, Thursday and Saturdays they have a bustling farmer’s market that’s fun to visit. Learn more in this post.

Alcatraz: I get asked all the time if Alcatraz is worth it and 100% yes! Maybe it’s because I’m a true crime nerd, but I love the Alcatraz tour, I’ve been twice so far and would happily go again. You usually have to buy tickets in advance as they can sell out quickly. Some companies claim they are Alcaztraz tour companies but they just sail you around the island without letting you off. THIS is the only company that takes you to the island for a proper tour!

I love this tour so much because it’s self-guided. You get a headphone set and a very well produced audio tour so you can explore on your own. On a nice day, you can see the Golden Gate Bridge, the downtown city skyline, the Bay Bridge and more. It sounds strange to say, but this prison is stunning. Oh, and it’s also kind of like a free cruise because you take a boat out there!

Muir Woods: Do NOT attempt this on the same days as your one day itinerary in San Francisco as this is a half day trip. But if you have extra time, it’s totally worth it to explore this Redwoods forest.

San Francisco in one day map

View on Google Maps here.

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Lastly, if you are still trying to book a hotel in San Francisco, I recommend Hotel Diva near Union Square as they sometimes have flash deals for under $130 a night (which is a steal in the city.) I also like The Fairmont and a new one called Palihotel!

Alrighty, so that’s my one day San Francisco guide! I hope this post helps you figure out what to do in San Francisco in one day or for the rest of your trip.

I love this city so much if you can’t tell. I’ve lived here for over 4 years and still haven’t explored every corner, so I’m sure I’ve missed things here that are hidden gems that you may discover along the way!

If you have any questions or things to add to my San Francisco travel post, leave a comment below! You can also DM me directly @thewhimsysoul and I’ll be happy to help!

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Best Day trips from San Francisco
Why I moved from the Midwest to San Francisco
Visiting Half Dome Village in Yosemite National Park

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One Day In San Francisco VLOG video transcript

For hard of hearing readers!

Speaker 1: Hey. Good morning. The sun has just risen and it’s about 7:20 here in San Francisco. I’m chugging coffees like none other because we are filming our amazing, ultimate, giant San Francisco city tour.

Speaker 1: Basically we’ve been here for three years and we decided it’s finally time to film a video about everything you should see, do, and eat in San Francisco in one day. Grab your jacket, head out with us. Let’s go.

Speaker 1: Off we go.

Speaker 1: We are at Cole Valley right now. We are out to Zazie. San Franciscans love their brunch.

Speaker 1: Our brunch spot is just a hop, skip, and a jump away from the Conservatory of Flowers, so we’re gonna go explore Golden Gate Park now.

Speaker 1: It is sunny out today. We just got ice cream at Salt and Straw. Next we’re gonna go take you down to Union Square. Stay tuned.

Speaker 1: We have to walk up this? We did it. He just made me walk all the way up that gigantic hill to see the crookedest street in the world. Now we’re off to the Fisherman’s Wharf and then probably happy hour somewhere.

Speaker 1: My favorite thing to do while traveling is drinking beer and eating food.

Speaker 1: Hey, it’s next morning. If you can’t tell, we got very tired last night. We had so much fun exploring the city yesterday and I hope you had a fun time watching, as well. If you liked this video, make sure to subscribe. It definitely helps.

Speaker 1: If you have any questions about San Francisco, please leave a comment and I’ll definitely get back to you. You can follow me on Instagram right here. Happy exploring.

Speaker 1: What does it do?

Speaker 2: It soaks up all, soaks up all that alcohol.

Speaker 1: Mac and cheese does?

Speaker 2: Yes. I did that just –

One Day in San Francisco Itinerary (From a Local!) (2024)

FAQs

How do you spend a perfect day in San Francisco? ›

In one day in San Francisco, you'll get to see the city's most famous attractions like the Golden Gate Bridge and Lombard Street. And if you manage your time right, you'll also be able to squeeze in a visit to Chinatown and Haight-Ashbury.

How to spend half day in San Francisco? ›

What can you see on a half-day San Francisco tour?
  1. The world-famous Golden Gate Bridge.
  2. Classic vintage cable cars (Ding-Ding!)
  3. The old and new Fisherman's Wharf, which fed the city for generations.
  4. Pier 39 shopping arcade and gregarious sea lion colony.
  5. Views of Alcatraz Penitentiary.

How many days is enough to see San Francisco? ›

It's clear that 3 days in San Francisco, as a first timer, or repeat customer, is always a great idea! From the fog at the Golden Gate Bridge to the busy piers of Fisherman's Wharf, the historic streets of Chinatown, and the beautiful landscapes of Golden Gate Park, San Francisco has something for everyone.

What is the number one attraction in San Francisco? ›

The most visited destination in San Francisco, PIER 39 offers two levels of dining, entertainment, shopping, and attractions—including Aquarium of the BayOpens in new window—all surrounded by unbeatable views of the city and the bay.

How should I dress for a day in San Francisco? ›

To blend in and not look like a tourist in San Francisco, opt for a casual yet stylish look. Choose comfortable, layered clothing like jeans, basic tees, cardigans, and a versatile jacket when deciding what to pack for San Francisco. San Franciscans often wear sneakers or practical shoes for the city's hilly terrain.

What time do the Blue Angels start today in San Francisco? ›

The Air Show gets underway at 12:43 p.m. on Friday and starts at 12:18 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. The Blue Angels kick off their portion of the show at 3 p.m. on all three days, beginning with “Fat Albert,” a massive C-130 Super Hercules maintenance and support plane.

How far is the Redwoods from San Francisco? ›

The distance from San Francisco to the redwood forest and natural wonders of Yosemite is about 170 miles each way. That is about 8-10 hours driving round trip.

What to do with 4 hours in SF? ›

Four hours in: San Francisco
  1. 1 - The Ferry Building. San Francisco Ferry Building, Sausalito - San Francisco Ferry Building, San Francisco, CA, United States. ...
  2. 2 - Coit Tower. Coit Tower, San Francisco, CA, United States. ...
  3. 3 - Alcatraz. ...
  4. 4 - Fisherman's Wharf. ...
  5. 5 - Ghirardelli Square.
Feb 27, 2017

Is visiting Alcatraz worth it? ›

Visiting Alcatraz is one of the top things to do in San Francisco. The tour includes the Alcatraz Ferry to the island, the infamous prison audio tour, and more. The island has so much to offer, it's little wonder that visiting Alcatraz is a top San Francisco attraction.

Is Half Moon Bay worth seeing? ›

Half Moon Bay is a must see! We highly recommend Half Moon Bay! It was only a 10 minute drive from Residences at Nonsuch Bay (loved our accomodation there!) The waves are great and the cafe and bar owned by Tippi and Avery has great food and drinks but it's best to make a reservation first.

What is the best way for tourists to see San Francisco? ›

The best ways to get around San Francisco are on foot and by using public transportation. Most of the popular attractions are within walking distance of the city center, and the large municipal transportation system (called the Muni) operates bus and streetcar lines, leaving little need for your own set of wheels.

What is the best area to stay in San Francisco? ›

Best Area to Stay in San Francisco
  • Alamo Square.
  • Hayes Valley.
  • Pacific Heights.
  • Market Street, San Francisco.
  • San Francisco Cable Car.
  • Street Art in North Beach.
  • North Beach, San Francisco.
  • The Embarcadero.
Oct 6, 2022

What is the best way to get around San Francisco? ›

Getting Around San Francisco
  1. Underground BART System. ...
  2. MUNI System. ...
  3. Cable Cars. ...
  4. Streetcars. ...
  5. Bike Share. ...
  6. Taxis and Rideshares. ...
  7. Train. ...
  8. Ferry.

Is $100,000 good in San Francisco? ›

(KRON) — You can earn $100,000 a year and still be considered low-income in the Bay Area, according to a new report released by the California Department of Housing and Community.

How do you spend a perfect day? ›

10 Simple, Sure-fire Ways to Make Today Your Best Day Ever
  1. Be present. ...
  2. Do less. ...
  3. Get one important thing done. ...
  4. Plan your perfect life. ...
  5. Declutter. ...
  6. Go for a walk. ...
  7. Focus on 3 projects. ...
  8. Listen to great music.

How much do you spend a day in San Francisco? ›

The Cost of a Trip to San Francisco. Typically, the daily expenses for a trip to San Francisco for one person fall between $87 and $572, while for two people, it can range from $174 to $1,144. These price ranges are based on the average daily cost of $222 which is calculated from the expenses of previous travelers.

Is downtown San Francisco walkable? ›

Downtown San Francisco excels in walkability, boasting an exceptional walkability score of 98, embodying the epitome of a pedestrian-friendly community within the Bay Area. With access to BART and Muni lines, the neighborhood caters to a range of commuting preferences for tech professionals.

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