If you know me, you’ll know San Francisco is one of my favorite places in California. I’ve published a lot of San Francisco itineraries on the California Wayfaring blog, and today I want to pull them all together in one convenient place. My blog post will show you the best of this famous coastal city in the Bay Area, from the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz to fun places to eat and neighborhoods locals love.
San Francisco Itineraries
Right on the bay, San Francisco is not only my favorite place to soak up views and ride cable cars, but also one of my top picks for a place that blends all things urban and nature. I’ve lived here, worked here, and traveled here all throughout my life, and I keep coming back for more.
I’ve published itineraries for everything from day trips to longer visits to SF, and I’ve shared about my top experiences here on the blog. From the Ferry Plaza Farmers’ Market to Haight Street, the Painted Ladies, Lands End, and Golden Gate Park, I’ve covered a lot of the city.
I plan to bring you a lot more San Francisco itineraries in the future, and I’ll add them to this blog post as I publish them. If you want to bookmark it or pin it on Pinterest, you can use this as an easy reference for finding all my past, present, and future SF travel guides.
Tips for Visiting San Francisco
Before you look through my San Francisco itineraries, it’s worth taking some time to familiarize yourself with top tips for visiting the City by the Bay.
First, don’t make the common mistake of thinking that San Francisco has good weather year-round. Many first-time visitors assume that because it’s on the California coast, SF is going to be sunny and warm in the summer.
The reality is that summer in San Francisco can mean lots of fog and cold weather (for at least part of the day). If you want the best chance of sunshine, come in September or October (but still bring layers). The good news is that even if it’s foggy in SF, a short drive inland will usually take you to much warmer weather. It’s a great excuse for a day trip.
Second, make sure to keep in mind that San Francisco can be expensive compared to many other cites around the world. Booking things like accommodation, rental cars, sell-out activities like Alcatraz, and day tours well in advance can help you find better rates and stay within your travel budget. If you’re wondering where to stay, my guide to choosing the best area can help.
Third, as with many cities, San Francisco’s beauty is in the details. Don’t forget to look up, admire the stunning Victorian houses SF is known for, and take in the views.
Exploring on foot is my favorite way to see the city (and burn off all the food calories while walking up the hills!). If you have time, you can use my free self-guided San Francisco walking tours to discover local areas and take in all the beautiful details while you’re visiting.
1. One Day in San Francisco Itinerary
I’ll start my list of San Francisco itineraries with a classic first-time visitor’s guide to the City by the Bay. It’s a great one if you’ve never been to SF before and you want to get an overview of the most famous things the city has to offer. It’s also perfect if you have a limited amount of time to travel here.
My itinerary for 1 day in San Francisco covers highlights like the Embarcadero waterfront, Fisherman’s Wharf, an optional bay cruise or trip to Alcatraz, Ghirardelli Square, a cable car ride, Lombard Street, Union Square, Chinatown, North Beach, and the Golden Gate Bridge. It also includes delicious places to eat along the way.
If experiencing some of the best of SF sounds good to you, you can see the full itinerary and map here. It’s one of my favorite ways to spend a day in San Francisco, and it will show you some of the best places in the city.
2. Two Days in San Francisco Itinerary
The next of my San Francisco itineraries is great if you have a bit more time in the City by the Bay. It’s a fun one if you want to see the big sights and discover a few local places here. It will show you a wide range of things to do in a relatively short amount of time.
My itinerary for 2 days in San Francisco includes everything on my 1-day guide plus the Presidio, a hop-on hop-off bus tour, the famous Painted Ladies in Alamo Square, Hayes Valley or Haight-Ashbury, and local areas like the Mission. It also includes ideas for nightlife and a popular evening show.
If experiencing a range of things to do in San Francisco sounds like your kind of vacation, you can see the full itinerary and map here. As with the previous itinerary, this one is ideal for first-time visitors.
3. Three Days in San Francisco Itinerary
The next of my San Francisco itineraries is ideal if you have a bit more time and you want to discover both the big sightseeing attractions and the local areas of the City by the Bay.
My itinerary for 3 days in San Francisco includes everything from my 2-day guide plus Golden Gate Park, Lands End, an optional trip to the Legion of Honor museum, and Ocean Beach. It also includes a range of good options for dinner and nightlife.
If experiencing some of the best sightseeing, natural beauty, food, and local areas in San Francisco sounds like your kind of vacation, you can see the full itinerary and map here. It’s a fun one if you have a few days in the city and you want a mix of all things legendary and local.
4. Four Days in San Francisco Itinerary
The next of my San Francisco itineraries will show you the highlights of the city and a destination of your choice in the Bay Area. It’s ideal if you have several days here and you want to see a bit more of Northern California than just the City by the Bay.
My itinerary for 4 days includes everything from my 3-day guide plus a day trip from San Francisco. I outlined a range of choices, so something’s sure to appeal no matter your travel style, interests, and preferences.
Options include a day trip to Napa or Sonoma, famous outdoor areas like Muir Woods and the Marin Headlands, cities like Oakland and Berkeley, beach towns like Santa Cruz, coastal gems like Sausalito and Tiburon, tech hubs like Silicon Valley, and hikes like Cataract Falls. I also included day tours for those visiting San Francisco without a car.
If spending 4 days experiencing the best of what the San Francisco Bay Area has to offer appeals to you, you can see the full itinerary and map here. It’s perfect if you like a mix of city sightseeing and venturing further afield.
5. Five Days in San Francisco Itinerary
The next of my San Francisco itineraries is perfect if you have a bit more time to spend in San Francisco and the surrounding area. It’s a great one if you want to get a more in-depth feel for the City by the Bay and see additional parts of Northern California.
My itinerary for 5 days includes everything from my 4-day guide plus local areas like the Marina, the Palace of Fine Arts, Crissy Field, Tunnel Tops park and the Presidio, the Lyon Street Steps, Cow Hollow, and other areas of the city. You can do my free self-guided Marina walking tour if you have time, too.
If that sounds like your kind of California vacation, you can see the full itinerary and map here. It’s a fun one if you enjoy getting to know a city and seeing some of the surrounding area while you’re in town.
San Francisco Itineraries
I hope my San Francisco itineraries have inspired you to spend some time visiting this part of Northern California. There’s so much to do in the City by the Bay, whether you want to see the big sights or get into the local scene.
I’d love it if my itineraries inspire you to discover Northern California beyond SF, too. Happy travels!
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