How to Spend One Day in San Francisco (for First-Timers)
Looking for the best way to spend a day in San Francisco? I’ve got you covered!
San Francisco, or SF or just “City” as we locals like to call it, is a vibrant city known for its iconic landmarks and diverse culture. It’s the bustling heart of Northern California and is very special to me.
Having spent most of my adult life living in the suburbs of San Francisco, I know the city and have visited countless times. I have worked in the San Francisco financial district for a few years. And let me tell you, my love for this place has only grown over the years. It’s not just a destination; it’s my home.
San Francisco has something for everyone. There’s no shortage of sights and activities, from the famous Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz Island to the lively Pier 39 and Fisherman’s Wharf. Not to forget the historic cable cars, the crooked Lombard Street, or the unique neighborhoods like Haight-Ashbury and Chinatown. You won’t run out of things to do here!
San Francisco is also a food lover’s paradise, offering a diverse culinary scene influenced by its multicultural population. Here, you can indulge in delicious seafood at the Ferry Building Marketplace, savor authentic dim sum in Chinatown, or enjoy Italian cuisine at North Beach.
Although one day in San Francisco is certainly not enough to see it all, the city is quite compact, and you can definitely see the best things in San Francisco by following this itinerary.
Let’s get into the details of how you can spend a perfect day in San Francisco that includes all the top attractions and experiences.
San Francisco in a day: Quick Overview
Below is my recommendation for a one day itinerary to explore San Francisco:
- Morning – Golden Gate Bridge and Sausalito (or take a 3-hour bike tour from Golden Gate Bridge to Sausalito)
- Afternoon – Explore the tourist-centric Fisherman’s Wharf area and Pier 39, take a bay cruise
- Evening – Walk along Union Square, Chinatown, and North Beach, ending at the Ferry Building.
My number one recommendation for anyone who has less time to experience the city is to take a Hop-On Hop-Off bus tour. This will allow you to see all the popular places without wasting time trying to figure out public transport, as honestly, it’s complicated.
➡️Read here about my experience taking the Hop-on hop-off bus in San Francisco.
One day in San Francisco Itinerary
This San Francisco one day itinerary is packed with the most popular sights and activities and is certainly doable in a day. But feel free to tailor this itinerary as per your preference as its totally OK to just explore one neighborhood deeply on your trip.
Remember to start your day early, around 7 AM, so that you can make the most of it. Also, wear your best walking shoes as there will be some walking involved. San Francisco streets are notoriously hilly!
If walking is not your thing, either use the Hop-On Hop-Off bus or make sure you have some rideshare app like Uber or Lyft on your phone, as those are abundantly available in San Francisco. The driverless Waymo cars are also a big hit here.
This itinerary assumes you are not using a rental car, as with just a day in San Francisco, a rental car will slow you down as parking can be hard to find in the city and expensive. Also, San Francisco roads can be quite steep and challenging to navigate. If you have a rental car, leave it at the hotel and explore on foot, or use Uber or Hop-On Hop-Off bus.
Morning: Golden Gate Bridge, Sausalito
In the morning, start by visiting the Golden Gate Bridge, the most popular attraction in San Francisco. Then, explore the charming coastal town of Sausalito just north of the bridge.
Golden Gate Bridge
Start your day early and make your way to the Golden Gate Bridge, one of San Francisco’s most iconic landmarks. You can take a taxi or call a rideshare like Uber or Lyft from your hotel.
Apart from admiring the scenic views, you can choose to walk across the bridge and fully appreciate its grandeur.
But with just one day, I wouldn’t advise walking the entire bridge as it’s 1.7 miles one way and can take a couple of hours. Instead, you can just walk to the first pillar for the experience and head back.
From the bridge, you can marvel at the stunning views of the city skyline and the Pacific Ocean.
If you are up for it, consider biking across the Golden Gate Bridge to the nearby charming town of Sausalito. This is a very popular thing to do here, and take the electric bike as it is a lot of effort to use a regular bike on the hilly streets!
➡️ I recommend this guided bike or ebike tour from Golden Gate Bridge to Sausalito
At the southern end of the bridge, Crissy Field and the nearby Golden Gate Beach are great spots for panoramic views of the Golden Gate Bridge and a morning stroll.
Crissy Field Warming Hut Café and Round House Cafe are good spots to grab your morning coffee while soaking in the beautiful views of the Golden Gate Bridge. Presidio Tunnel Tops here is a great new park with a viewing area for the bridge.
At the bridge’s northern end, Battery Spencer on Conzelman Rd is a great overlook for panoramic views of the bridge from a distance.
On a clear day, the views from Battery Spencer or further up on Conzelman Rd are amazing! This is my favorite spot to view the Golden Gate Bridge from!
Plan to spend an hour at the Golden Gate Bridge.
Sausalito
Next, use ride-sharing services to reach Sausalito. If you are biking across the Golden Gate Bridge, you will reach the charming coastal town of Sausalito after crossing the bridge.
Sausalito is a Mediterranean-style coastal town north of Golden Gate Bridge known for its beautiful town lined with cafes, restaurants, art galleries, and souvenir stores. Plan to spend an hour or two at Sausalito.
You can skip Sausalito if you are short on time. I absolutely love the relaxed vibe and picturesque waterfront here, and it is almost customary for me to bring any visiting guests to see the Golden Gate Bridge and Sausalito together.
Stroll along the quaint waterfront on Bridgeway and take in the beautiful views from this side of the bay.
You can eat breakfast here at Lighthouse Cafe or Sausalito Bakery and Cafe. The Lappert’s ice cream shop here has some delicious ice cream!
From Sausalito, you can take a ferry back to San Francisco Pier 41, which is just a block away from Pier 39, our next stop.
Alternate itinerary option – You can also come to Sausalito for dinner at one of the popular waterfront fine dining restaurants like Scoma’s of Sausalito or The Trident, both known for their seafood and bay views.
Afternoon: Fisherman’s Wharf, Pier 39, Bay Cruise
After soaking in the Golden Gate Bridge views to your heart’s content, we will next explore the Fisherman’s Wharf and Pier 39 area, which has a lot of popular attractions like Bay Cruise, Alcatraz Island, famously crooked Lombard Street, iconic Cable Car, and more.
Pier 39
Pier 39 is a popular tourist spot known for its souvenirs and unique shops, street performers, and the famous resident sea lions basking in the sun. Some think it’s very touristy, but I love the fun vibe here. We always bring visiting friends to Pier 39.
Pier 39 offers stunning views of San Francisco Bay and famous landmarks such as the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz Island.
Families will enjoy the carousel and the fun-filled Aquarium of the Bay. You can also occasionally spot a farmer’s market here.
Watching the sea lions lounging on the docks is an attraction in itself here!
Pier 39 has a lot of good restaurants for lunch, like Fog Harbor Fish House, Bubba Gump Shrimp Co., and Boudin Bakery Café.
At Boudin, try their signature Clam Chowder in a Sourdough Bread Bowl, a San Francisco specialty. They also offer a delicious tomato soup version.
Scenic Bay Cruise or Alcatraz Island
To truly experience the beauty of San Francisco Bay, I highly recommend adding a bay cruise to your itinerary. It is the perfect way to soak in the iconic sights of the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz Island, and the breathtaking San Francisco city skyline.
I truly believe that the best views of the city and Golden Gate Bridge are from the water! This is my favorite activity in San Francisco!
➡️ I recommend this San Francisco Bay Sailing Cruise on a stylish catamaran boat that starts from Pier 39.
Alcatraz Island is a famous former prison built on an island in San Francisco Bay. All bay cruises go near the island, giving you a closer look. But if you would like to tour the prison, then you will have to book a separate Alcatraz Island cruise.
The official website to buy the Alcatraz tickets is Alcatraz City Cruises. I highly recommend buying them online ahead of your trip, as they sell out during the summer months. If they are sold out for your date, there are many tour companies that usually hold tickets.
➡️I recommend this combo tour of Alcatraz Island Prison Tour and San Francisco Bay Cruise
Keep in mind that an Alcatraz Island prison tour, along with the boat ride, will take around 3-4 hours. So, if that is a priority for your one day in the city, you might not have time to explore some of the other attractions and neighborhoods.
Fisherman’s Wharf
After the bay cruise, immerse yourself in the lively atmosphere of Fisherman’s Wharf, a waterfront tourist hotspot brimming with souvenir shops, seafood restaurants, and delightful street performances. It’s just a short walk from Pier 39.
Make sure to carve out time to visit the iconic Ghirardelli Square and treat yourself to their delicious ice cream treats and decadent chocolate. The widely famous In-N-Out Burger Restaurant is also worth trying here.
Musée Mécanique at Pier 45 is an antique coin-operated arcade worth checking out if you love vintage arcade games.
As you continue your walk, explore the scenic Aquatic Park and Aquatic Park Pier, where you’ll be rewarded with stunning views of Ghirardelli Square and the beautiful San Francisco Bay.
San Francisco Cable Car
From Fisherman’s Wharf walk over to Hyde and Beach St, which is the Cable Car boarding station. This is one of the two cable car boarding stations in the Fisherman’s Wharf area, and the other is at Bay St and Taylor St.
I recommend boarding at Hyde and Beach St. so that you can get down at Hyde and Lombard St Intersection to visit the famously crooked Lombard St.
Ride the historic cable car and get down at the Hyde and Lombard Street stop. From here you can see the famous Lombard Street. Or you can continue to the last stop at Powell and Market Street to explore Union Square.
Sit on one of the outside seats for the best views of the steep hills, even if that means waiting for the next car! But this is not advisable for young kids as there are no seat belts. If you are feeling brave, you can ride standing as well, holding on to the pillar, or at least click a picture that way!
Lombard Street
If you board the cable car at Hyde and Beach St., you can get down at Hyde and Lombard St Intersection to visit the famously crooked Lombard St. Lombard Street is famously known as the “most crooked street in the world.”
The steep, winding road has eight hairpin turns and beautifully landscaped gardens. It is truly a man-made wonder to marvel at.
You can walk down the sidewalk or watch the spectacle from the top. You can even get a view from below the street at the intersection of Leavenworth Street and Lombard Street.
Evening: Union Square, China Town, Ferry Building
In the evening, explore Union Square, which is the shopping hub in San Francisco. The cable car ends at Powell and Market St, and Union Square is only a couple blocks from there. Later, make your way to the Ferry Building, located along the Embarcadero.
Union Square
Union Square serves as the city’s main shopping hub, featuring a mix of high-end stores and souvenir shops that surround the iconic Union Square.
Within this area, you’ll find a selection of luxury hotels such as The Westin St. Francis San Francisco and Hotel Fairmont Union Square.
As you wander through Union Square, you’ll encounter the renowned Dewey Memorial, a tribute to the American hero, Admiral George Dewey.
There are plenty of shopping destinations to explore, including Macy’s, The Westfield Center, and Crocker Galleria. You’ll also find high-end stores like Saks Fifth Avenue and Tiffany & Co.
Once a prime shopping destination, Union Square has lost some of its glory in recent years. I wouldn’t spend too much time here on a one-day itinerary, as North Beach and the Ferry Building area have much more to explore.
If you’re looking for a place to dine, popular options include the rooftop Cheesecake Factory, which offers stunning views of Union Square from above, and Barlett Hall, a restaurant with a sports bar theme.
During the holiday season, Union Square gets a makeover with an ice skating rink and a huge Christmas tree!
I love visiting Union Square during the holidays to admire the panoramic views of the decorated square from the rooftop of Cheesecake Factory.
China Town
Just a few blocks from Union Square is the historic Chinatown District, which is one of the oldest and largest Chinatown neighborhoods in the United States.
One of the most popular areas for tourists is along Grant Avenue, between Bush Street and Broadway.
A must-see attraction in Chinatown is the Dragon Gate, located at the intersection of Bush Street and Grant Avenue.
Additionally, Grant and California Street are home to the historic Sing Chong and Sing Fat buildings, which showcase traditional Chinese architecture.
While you’re there, take the opportunity to browse the souvenir shops and dine at the local restaurants. For mouthwatering dim sum and delectable baked goods, consider visiting the popular Good Mong Kok Bakery on Stockton Street.
North Beach
If you continue walking on Grant Ave towards Columbus Ave, you will reach North Beach or the Little Italy area of San Francisco. North Beach is a famous San Francisco neighborhood known for its Italian heritage and ties to the Beat Generation.
Here, you can stroll along Columbus Ave, which is lined with cafes, restaurants, and shops, and indulge in delicious Italian cuisine or sip a cappuccino at a local café. Washington Square Park is also a nice green space to rest your feet for a while.
If it’s dinner time or pizza time, I highly recommend eating at Tony’s Pizza Napoletana. It is our favorite restaurant in North Beach. Later, grab an espresso at the historic Caffe Trieste.
North Beach also offers access to Coit Tower on Telegraph Hill, where you can enjoy panoramic city views and the historic murals in the tower building.
Ferry Building
Next, use a rideshare to reach the Ferry Building in the Embarcadero waterfront area.
This historic building, constructed in 1898, has an expansive exterior featuring a historic Clock Tower. Inside, you’ll discover a beautifully restored interior with a curved ceiling that allows abundant natural light to filter in.
Apart from being a working ferry terminal, the Ferry Building is also a vibrant marketplace filled with local vendors, specialty shops, bakeries, and artisanal food stalls.
You’ll find a wide variety of wines, cheeses, baked goods, fresh produce, and picnic fare. If you’re interested, you can join a food tour led by an expert guide to sample unique culinary delights.
When dining at the Ferry Building, popular choices include Gott’s Roadside, Roli Roti, Hog Island Oyster Co., Blue Bottle Coffee, and Humphry Slocombe ice cream. I am sure you will find some excellent dining options at the Ferry building.
After dinner at the Ferry Building, we like to stroll along the Embarcadero waterfront and the Pier 14 boardwalk, located just south of the Ferry Building, and enjoy breathtaking views of the magnificent San Francisco skyline at night and the majestic Bay Bridge.
Where to stay in San Francisco
When choosing accommodations in San Francisco, Fisherman’s Wharf and Union Square are the two areas I recommend. These neighborhoods are safe for tourists and offer a variety of hotels, ranging from well-known brands to more affordable options.
If you are visiting San Francisco for a short time, I suggest staying in Fisherman’s Wharf, as it is close to many popular attractions, such as the Golden Gate Bridge, Pier 39, Lombard Street, Ghirardelli Square, and the Cable Car.
San Francisco Marriott Fisherman’s Wharf: A mid-range hotel within walking distance of Ghirardelli Square and Pier 39. We have stayed here with family once during a staycation in the city.
Hotel Riu Plaza Fisherman’s Wharf – An excellent family-friendly mid-range hotel at a prime location with a pool and complimentary breakfast buffet. I highly recommend this for families.
Hotel Fairmont Heritage Place: A luxury hotel located in Ghirardelli Square with breathtaking ocean views.
Union Square is a convenient area to stay because it is accessible via the BART train system, making airport transfers hassle-free. Simply take the BART train from San Francisco Airport to Powell Station, a couple of blocks from Union Square.
The Westin St. Francis: Located right at Union Square, this luxury historic heritage hotel showcases stunning architecture.
Grand Hyatt San Francisco Union Square: Enjoy excellent views of the Union Square area at this hotel, which belongs to the renowned Hyatt chain. We stayed here once for a wedding anniversary getaway.
The San Francisco Marriott Marquis: Known for its rooftop bar, The View Lounge, offering magnificent city views. The hotel’s location is also excellent.
Travel Tips for San Francisco
Below are travel tips and answers to frequently asked questions about visiting San Francisco that will help you make the most of your trip!
Best time to visit San Francisco
San Francisco is a great destination all year round, as it does not snow here.
Spring, summer, and fall provide ideal weather for outdoor activities and are considered the best seasons to explore the city. Summer is the busiest time for tourists, but if you prefer fewer crowds, September to November in the fall is a good choice. It can be very windy in the city during the summer months.
Although winter can sometimes be cold, rainy, and windy, it still offers a great experience in San Francisco. The city lights up with the holiday spirit, especially in Union Square, where you can enjoy a magnificent Christmas tree and an ice rink for skating fun.
I recommend visiting San Francisco during the fall months of September and October, as there are fewer crowds than in summer, and the weather is great.
Is one day in San Francisco enough?
While just 1 day in San Francisco is certainly not enough to explore all the iconic landmarks and tourist attractions, it is enough to quickly experience the most noteworthy sights like Golden Gate Bridge, Pier 39, Fisherman’s Wharf, and Alcatraz Island.
To explore more of San Francisco, like the famous neighborhoods of Chinatown, Haight-Ashbury, and Sausalito, you should plan for at least three days or more.
Plan for at least seven days to make some amazing day trips from San Francisco to nearby places like Muir Woods, Napa Valley, and Pacific Coast Highway.
➡️ Check my detailed post here about How many days do you need in San Francisco?
How to get to San Francisco
The easiest way to reach San Francisco is by flying into and out of San Francisco International Airport, which serves a lot of domestic and international destinations.
The other two airports nearby are Oakland International Airport (30 minutes from San Francisco) and San Jose International Airport (45 minutes from San Francisco).
You can use the city’s public transport system, BART, to get to different parts of the city from the airport.
Alternatively, you can take a taxi or use a rideshare service like Uber or Lyft or Waymo (driverless cabs) to get to your hotel.
It’s also worth checking if your hotel offers a shuttle service for transportation.
How to get around San Francisco
When exploring San Francisco, you have multiple options for transportation, such as public transport, taxis, rental cars, and rideshare services like Uber.
Using public transport can be time-consuming, particularly if you have limited time available. I suggest taking the Hop-on Hop-off bus for a convenient way to visit the city’s popular attractions. It stops at all the tourist spots, allowing you to ride all day and get on or off whenever you prefer.
➡️ Check rates and availability for Hop on Hop off day pass
I believe a rental car is not required if you intend to sightsee within the city. Parking can be challenging and expensive at popular attractions in San Francisco. Moreover, the city’s steep roads can be challenging to navigate, especially during peak traffic hours.
Rideshare services like Uber and Lyft are readily available and offer quick response times for convenient transportation within the city.
What to pack for a trip to San Francisco
When packing for a trip to San Francisco, it’s important to include clothing that allows for layering, as it can get windy, especially near the coast. I never go to the city without a jacket and a beanie cap!
Below are my packing suggestions for San Francisco:
Safety in San Francisco
I find San Francisco to be typically safe during the day, and I would not be afraid to explore any of the tourist places mentioned in this article.
If you have a rental car, do not keep anything valuable visible in your car, as car break-ins and petty theft are frequent.
While there is a significant homeless population, they usually keep to themselves. Like any other big city in the US, the usual safety measures apply here. Be aware of your surroundings; do not walk in deserted areas or alone at night.
Final Takeaways: San Francisco in a day
With only one day to explore the city, you might just be scratching the surface of everything that San Francisco has to offer, but I hope you get a good glimpse of the beauty of this city.
Whether you choose to just do couple of the most popular attractions like Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz Island, and Fieserman’s Wharf, or you want to put on your best walking shoes and tackle everything in this itinerary, I am sure you will have a great time.
Here are some of my other San Francisco itineraries for longer durations:
Here are my experiences visiting San Francisco attractions:
⭐ Got questions about your trip?
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