There are so many things to do in San Francisco that you could easily spend a month or more exploring the City by the Bay. But what if you only have time for a weekend trip? Don’t worry: a weekend in San Francisco is a perfect amount of time to see the top sights without feeling rushed.
Whether you’re in search of nature, history, or art and culture, San Francisco is the perfect weekend destination for families, couples, and solo travelers.
But to ensure you don’t miss out, it’s important to have a plan: Some of San Francisco’s top attractions require tickets or reservations in advance.
Here’s how to spend an action-packed weekend in San Francisco, with three itineraries to follow for a 1-day, 2-day, and 3-day trip.
- What is the number one attraction in San Francisco?
- What to pack for a weekend trip to San Francisco?
- Do you need a car in San Francisco?
- Is 1 day enough to see San Francisco?
- Is 2 Days Enough to Visit San Francisco?
- Is 3 days in San Francisco enough?
What is the number one attraction in San Francisco?
The number one attraction in San Francisco is the Golden Gate Bridge. The location and architecture of this iconic landmark is simply spectacular, and most tours of San Francisco include it on their itinerary. While you can get great pictures of the bridge from several vantage points, biking or walking across the bridge is an even more impressive experience.
If you have time to see more than one attraction, Alcatraz Island and Muir Woods are runners-up for the number one attraction in San Francisco.
What to pack for a weekend trip to San Francisco?
The most important thing to pack for a weekend in San Francisco is layers. While the Bay Area has a mild climate, it’s known for its foggy weather and cool ocean breeze. Each neighborhood has its own “microclimate”, and you can experience several kinds of weather in just one day, any time of year.
Bring a waterproof jacket that you can take on and off as necessary, and comfortable shoes for walking up San Francisco’s many hills.
Do you need a car in San Francisco?
You don’t need a car in San Francisco, and most visitors are better off without one. The city is compact and walkable, especially if you stay in one of the best areas of San Francisco, close to the attractions you want to visit. Parking can be expensive, and San Francisco’s public transportation is fast and efficient. You can always book a tour or rideshare to more far-flung destinations.
When you arrive at the airport, simply hop on the airtrain and then Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) straight into the city. Once there, a combo of walking, biking, rideshares, and cable car rides can get you everywhere easily.
Is 1 day enough to see San Francisco?
One day in San Francisco isn’t enough to see everything, but you can make it to a lot of the top attractions if you plan ahead. Here’s our handy checklist if you only have 24 hours in San Francisco:
- Golden Gate Bridge
- Golden Gate Park
- Chinatown
- Cable Car
- Lombard Street
- Fisherman’s Wharf and Pier 39
Many of these attractions are close together, so you can see them all in just one day. You may even have time to visit more places, especially if you don’t spend a lot of time at each individual site. If you want to linger at the Golden Gate Bridge or Golden Gate Park, you may be limited to just this list.
San Francisco 1-Day Itinerary with 1/2-day Tour
One way to see San Francisco in a day is to take a guided tour in the morning and spend the afternoon on your own. For those who want to see as much as possible, start with this Morning Guided City Tour of San Francisco.
Our local guides will give you an excellent overview of San Francisco in just four hours. You’ll check off two of the must-see attractions on our list, and stop at locations that would otherwise be difficult to get to on your own.
At the end of your tour, choose the Fisherman’s Wharf drop off location and grab some lunch along the waterfront. One option is to get sourdough bread bowls filled with chowder from Boudin Bakery. Wander the tourist area and see what there is to see before heading on to your next destination.
Morning Guided San Francisco Sightseeing Tour
Most complete and entertaining San Francisco city tour available. Stops to explore Golden Gate Bridge, Palace of Fine Arts, Land’s End, and Twin Peaks.
Monterey and Carmel One Day Tour from San Francisco
This day tour hugs the scenic Pacific Coast, then offers free time to explore the Monterey’s Cannery Row and Old Fisherman’s Wharf. Relax along the 17-mile Drive to Pebble Beach and charming Carmel.
Don’t miss the sea lions on Pier 39.
After visiting the sea lions, take some spare change to the Musee Mecanique on Pier 45 and play a couple of vintage arcade games. Then continue west to Umbrella Alley on Beach Street between Larkin and Hyde to take a photo in front of the “Greetings from San Francisco” mural.
Continue on to Ghiradelli Square for free chocolate samples and an ice cream sundae for dessert. Adults may want to stop into the Buena Vista Cafe for an Irish coffee, especially on a chilly, foggy day.
If you’re up for a steep walk, walk up Hyde Street to Lombard Street. The other option is to take the Powell & Hyde cable car, but the lines at Hyde and Beach can be daunting. If you choose to take the cable car and don’t want to waste an hour in line, try walking up just one stop to beat the crowds.
Take a picture from the top of Lombard Street.
The views of the Bay and Alcatraz Island from the top of Lombard Street are worth the trek. Now you can walk down the stairs then look back up at the “crookedest street in the world.” It’s a fun stop for photos and views, but remember that it is a working road, so be careful of the cars.
When you’re finished admiring Lombard Street, hop on the cable car or take a walk to Union Square. If it’s the holiday season take a moment to admire the decorations and festivity. If you are not a big name brand shopper, continue straight across the square to Grant Street.
At the northern edge of Union Square at Grant Street is the iconic Dragon Gate entrance into Chinatown. San Francisco’s Chinatown is the oldest Chinatown in North America and the largest outside of Asia.
Walk through Chinatown, admiring the colorful lanterns, murals, and countless shops. Hop into the fortune cookie factory in Ross Alley for a fresh sample and a bag of cookies for later.
Continue through Chinatown into North Beach.
Next, wander through the iconic City Lights Bookstore. If you have time before dinner, head to Coit Tower. It’s hard work to climb to the top, but the views of the city are worth it.
North Beach is known as Little Italy and is full of fantastic restaurants. Try the Tosca Cafe for drinks or Tony’s Pizza on the edge of Washington Square for casual pizza. If you have any energy left, head to Dear San Francisco. This is a 90-minute love letter to San Francisco, which tells the history of the city with high flying acrobatics at the Historic Club Fugazi in North Beach.
That’s our whirlwind one-day in San Francisco itinerary for those who want to see it all. Up next is our slightly slower route for those that want to do it on their own, with a little transportation help along the way.
San Francisco 1-Day Itinerary (Self-Guided)
If you don’t want to join a guided tour and want the freedom to set your own pace, make use of the San Francisco hop-on hop-off bus. This is a great way to get to many of the top attractions, but see them on your own terms. It does, however, follow a specific route, so plan your day to avoid unnecessary time on the bus and repeat information.
The Hop-on Hop-off bus leaves daily at 10 am from their Visitor Center along Fisherman’s Wharf, and the last bus pulls into Pier 39 just before 8 pm. Buses run every 15 minutes within that time and you can hop on any of them within 24 hours of your first time boarding, from any location along the way.
If your one day in San Francisco is a Saturday, we recommend starting your day at the Ferry Building. The farmer’s market will be in full swing and the building is full of great places for breakfast and coffee.
When you’re ready to leave, take one of the first couple of buses (10:16, 10:31) on Steuart St. Ride past Union Square and get off at Alamo Square to see the Painted Ladies. You’ll probably only need 15 minutes to snap a photo of the famous houses and hop on the next bus.
Next, hop off and explore the Haight-Ashbury neighborhood a bit. Soak in the hippie era vibes that still resonate here and then hop on the bus for one stop or simply walk over to Golden Gate Park.
Golden Gate Park is bigger than Central Park, so you can’t see it all today. We recommend sticking to the east end for time’s sake (unless you rent bikes so you can explore faster). Walk around Stow Lake, check out the Conservatory of Flowers, or head to the Japanese Tea Garden.
Don’t miss the Hamon Observation tower in the De Young Museum — it’s free and offers a great bird’s-eye view of the park.
Head to the Golden Gate Bridge.
Our next stop is the Golden Gate Bridge! Enjoy the drive over the iconic bridge, and then get off at the North Vista Point viewing area. If you want to walk out onto the bridge, head out towards the first tower. We don’t think you need to go further than that to get the full experience, but it’s up to you.
Make your way back onto a bus and to the Palace of Fine Arts at the edge of the Presidio in the Marina District. This is a fascinating stop that will make you feel like you have been transported to Europe. It’s cool to wander through and take photos, but it doesn’t take most people long.
The next stop is Lombard Street. This is another quick visit, but the views are impressive, and the zig zag street is one-of-a-kind. From here we recommend either walking or catching a cable car down Hyde Street to Beach.
Near the end of the cable car line you will find Ghirardelli Square. Grab some free chocolate samples, and maybe an ice cream sundae. Then walk east on Beach and along the waterfront to Pier 39. Check out the sea lions and grab a mid-afternoon bread bowl of chowder from Boudin Bakery.
Take the bus from Pier 39 (or the visitor center) to Chinatown/North Beach. The other option is to remain on the bus for another 20 minutes to get off at Union Square and walk to Chinatown from there. This is only necessary if you’re a fan of big name brand shopping or if it’s the holiday season.
Wander through Chinatown, admiring the neighborhood’s color and flavor. End in North Beach, also known as Little Italy. Stop into the City Lights Bookstore, and head to Coit Tower for a great view if you have time.
Stay in North Beach for dinner and maybe even a show. Dear San Francisco at Club Fugazi is a great way to end a full day in San Francisco.
Is 2 Days Enough to Visit San Francisco?
If one day in San Francisco is a rush to see it all, two days in San Francisco gives you a little more breathing room. With two days in San Francisco, you can see the highlights, plus a little more!
The main addition in this section is a visit to Alcatraz, and no full weekend itinerary to San Francisco would be complete without it.
Alcatraz Island sits just offshore from San Francisco, in the middle of the Bay. You can get to Alcatraz via a ferry ride, take a fascinating audio guide tour of the prison, and explore the rest of the island on your own.
While you could fit a tour of Alcatraz Island into a single day in San Francisco (especially if you take a night tour), we think the time commitment fits more comfortably within a 2-day San Francisco itinerary. Either way, you’ll need to book tickets to Alcatraz in advance to ensure they don’t sell out.
The rest of your time can be used to further explore some of San Francisco’s iconic neighborhoods and parks.
Checklist for 2 Days in San Francisco:
- Golden Gate Bridge
- Golden Gate Park
- Chinatown
- Cable Car
- Lombard Street
- Fisherman’s Wharf and Pier 39
- Alcatraz
- Mission
- Haight Ashbury
- North Beach
2-Day San Francisco Weekend Itinerary with Tour
The best tour to do if you have a two-day weekend to spend in San Francisco is this Alcatraz Island and Guided San Francisco City Tour. The morning tour is the same as the one mentioned above, followed by a short break to grab a bowl of chowder on Pier 39, then an afternoon trip to Alcatraz. This packs a lot of sightseeing into the day and still leaves the evening free.
You’ll disembark from the Alcatraz ferry at Pier 33. North Beach is a short skip away, so we recommend heading there for the evening. If you have time, circle up into Chinatown and then explore North Beach before grabbing some dinner and hitting Dear San Francisco at Club Fugazi for your evening entertainment.
Your second day itinerary is a bit more free form. The only must-do we recommend is taking a cable car to or from Lombard Street. From there you can hit Ghirardelli Square and Umbrella Alley for chocolate and photos. If you feel your time was rushed along Your second day in San Francisco is a bit more flexible. The only must-do we recommend is taking a cable car to or from Lombard Street. From there you can hit Ghirardelli Square for chocolate and photos.
Wharf the previous day, take more time there now.
You can spend the rest of the day revisiting any of the neighborhoods you enjoyed your tour the day before. Head back to the Mission for burritos at Taqueria La Cumbre, or go vintage shopping in the Haight.
If you can’t get enough of those Victorian houses, make the side trip to Alamo Square for the famous Painted Ladies. Alamo Square is also a great place for sunset. On the other hand, if you want to see the Golden Gate Bridge again, take some time today to walk out to the first tower and back, or watch the sunset from Crissy Field or Baker Beach for fabulous bridge views.
If you have time, there are more things to do in Golden Gate Park. You can visit the Hamon Observation Tower, spend a peaceful moment in the Japanese Tea Garden, and even row boats across Stow Lake if the weather is nice.
If you end up near the western side of Golden Gate Park around dinner time, check out the Beach Chalet for great food with views of the Pacific.
2-Day San Francisco Weekend Itinerary (Self-Guided)
If the morning tour isn’t for you, you can skip the sightseeing tour and head straight to the Ferry Building for breakfast. Then take the F streetcar north along the Embarcadero to Pier 33 for your Alcatraz tour. Make sure to book these well in advance, as they do sell out!
Once you return from Alcatraz Island, walk along Fisherman’s Wharf. Grab that famous bread bowl chowder from Boudin Bakery for lunch and enjoy the fun of the waterfront. Walk west to Ghirardelli Square for dessert and/or Buena Vista Cafe for Irish coffee.
Then, walk or cable car up to Lombard Street for photos of the famous street and take the cable car up to Union Square. If it isn’t the holidays, walk straight through to Grant Street and the Dragon Gate into Chinatown. Slowly make your way through Chinatown and into North Beach.
Spend the rest of the day in North Beach. Climb Coit Tower, admire the Saints Peter and Paul Church from Washington Square Park, and find a book in the City Lights Bookstore. Find some amazing Italian food and then take in the show at Club Fugazi to end your day.
On your second day, walk on or across the Golden Gate Bridge and spend some time in Golden Gate Park. Do both activities early to avoid crowds. Sunday is a great day to go to Golden Gate Park because the main road through the park is closed to vehicle traffic. Take advantage of this for a car-free stroll or cycle.
In the afternoon, explore some more neighborhoods, like Haight-Ashbury and the Mission District. If you want an incredible view of the city and the weather is clear, try either hiking or getting a ride to the top of Twin Peaks. Spend the sunset here or catch the sun shining its last rays on the Golden Gate Bridge from Baker Beach near the Presidio.
Is 3 days in San Francisco enough?
Three days in San Francisco is enough to see most of the major sights — and take a day trip from San Francisco to Monterey, Muir Woods, or wine country. On this three-day itinerary, you can see all of the classic San Francisco sites, and spend some time in another incredible location in the Bay Area.
If you do want to stay in the city, you can spread out the 2-day itinerary a bit more and spend time in a few museums.
If you’re into art, you can visit the SFMoMA in Union Square or the De Young in Golden Gate Park. If you or your kids love science, the California Academy of Sciences is for you. You could spend hours exploring this one establishment, which has an aquarium, 4-story rainforest, planetarium, and more!
If you’re interested in a day trip close by the city, this Muir Woods Redwood Forest and Sausalito Morning Tour is a great choice. This tour brings you up close and personal to some of the tallest trees on earth and then ends in the charming seaside town of Sausalito across the Bay from the city.
You can return to the city right away, or take your time exploring Sausalito before returning on the included ferry ride back across the bay. The tour is only 5 hours, so you will still have plenty of time in the rest of your day for anything else you wish to fit in or revisit.
Another option is to start in Muir Woods and then go to wine country. This Redwoods and Wine Country Tour is a bigger time commitment (10 hours), but wine-lovers should definitely consider this option. Napa and Sonoma are legendary in the wine scene, and are only an hour’s drive from the city!
If you really want to see it all, consider a tour from San Francisco to Yosemite. While you could spend a whole weekend — or more — in Yosemite Valley, this one-day tour is perfect for those who want to cram everything in!
No matter which of these itineraries you choose, we hope you enjoy your weekend in San Francisco, and come back for another trip soon!
