San Francisco is one of those bucket-list cities. Iconic landmarks, an incredible history, and an in-built soundtrack – ‘If you’re going to San Francisco / Be sure to wear some flowers in your hair…’. If the icons of San Francisco aren’t enough, you can also find out-of-this-world food, great shopping, and beautiful day-trips nearby. My husband and I eloped to San Francisco, so it definitely holds a special place in my heart. It is easy to spend weeks in this vibrant city, but here are my itinerary ideas for your first 4 days in San Francisco.
Arriving in San Francisco
San Francisco Airport
Coming in from San Francisco Airport is very easy. Just follow the signs for the BART train, which goes right into the city, as well as routes over the bay. The ticket machine works by price, so look at the chart to see how much your stop will cost you to reach. The ticket machines take both cards and cash. Keep your ticket to ensure you can get out the gates at the other end.
Arriving in San Francisco by bus
If you are arriving off the Coast Starlight Amtrak service or by Greyhound, you may end up at the Transbay Transit Centre, which services buses and commuter trains coming into the South of Market area. There are lots of transport connections from this station, but you are in the centre of the city by this stage, so you could also take a taxi easily. We found that due to the hilly nature of San Francisco, and the distance between some stations, that using a taxi or private hire was easier and / or cheaper in some instances for two people travelling.
Where to stay in San Francisco
We always stay around the Union Square area – purely for convenience. All the major transport links are there, and you have an abundance of shops, restaurants, and sights within striking distance. I also like the proximity to Chinatown and SOMA (South of Market). The good news is that there are a good variety of hotels in various price brackets in this area.
For the higher end of the spectrum, try The Donatello (corner of Post and Mason). The concierge service is top class and they have an amazing roof terrace. For something a bit more affordable, try the simple but very respectable Grant Hotel (Bush Street). This no-frills hotel has a simple pastry and coffee breakfast, great wifi, and safes in the rooms.
Things to do in San Francisco : Itinerary Ideas
Day 1: Cable Cars + Piers
Ride a Cable Car
You can’t really visit San Francisco without taking a cable car. It’s also a perfect way to avoid having to walk up those hills. My favourite route is from the bottom of Powell Street (where it meets Market), up over the hill to Fisherman’s Wharf. The queues get pretty huge for the routes that leave from here, so be willing to wait, go on a weekday, or get there early.
Enjoy Union Square while you’re near Powell. There are often markets, artisan showcases, music and more on this buzzing square.
See the iconic Fisherman’s Wharf
You’ll get off the cable car and be three blocks from Fisherman’s Wharf – stroll down Taylor Street and meet the joyful chaos of Fisherman’s Wharf. If you take a left and walk a few blocks you’ll reach the magical Ghirardelli chocolate factory (yum). If you take a right, you’ll be heading towards Pier 39. Fisherman’s Wharf is full of seafood restaurants, so it’s a great place to stop for lunch.
Top Tip: The iconic twisty turny Lombard Street is only 5 blocks from the Fisherman’s Wharf cable car stop, so you may want to hop off early and do that before you head down to the waterfront.
See the sea lions at Pier 39
The sea lions at Pier 39 started to arrive in 1989, and basically took over the marina. Instead of kicking them out, they created pontoons just for them. There is now a viewing area to accommodate all the tourists who want to see these loud and boisterous characters. Be aware that during June and July most of the sea lions will leave to breed.
Have some carnival fun at Pier 39
Pier 39 is like a state fair, but all squeezed onto this one pier. With street performers, souvenir shops, games for the kids and restaurants and boutiques for the adults – it is an experience. After seeing the sea lions, take some time to explore. With multiple levels of shops and food outlets, there is bound to be something for everyone! B e warned, Pier 39 gets VERY busy.
Read more about Pier 39 and where to get the best seafood and sourdough from my friends over at Strangers in the Living Room!
Eat at a food truck
San Francisco is famous for its food trucks. I recommend the beyond delicious filipino tex-mex fusion of Señor Sisig. Often found on Pine Street (there are multiple trucks around the city), get yourself a burrito and enjoy the buzz of the city!
Day 2: Architecture + Hippies
See the ‘Painted Ladies’
There are beautifully painted victorian homes everywhere in San Francisco, but the famous row of them on Steiner Street is the picture postcard shot you’ll be after. Grab yourself a coffee from the truck in Alamo Square Park and enjoy the Painted Ladies and the vista beyond.
Explore Haight-Ashbury
Made famous in the 1960s for the hippy communes and weed shops which sprang up after house-prices fell (due to a proposed freeway running through – which never happened). Haight-Ashbury became the place for Vietnam war protesters, musicians like Janis Joplin, and was the epicentre of the Summer of Love in San Francisco.
These days, whilst another generation of hippies keep the vibe pretty eclectic, gone are the boarding houses and psychedelia (well, perhaps not)! We did find that eating out here was way cheaper than in the city centre. Try 1428 Haight, a diner with a great terrace out the back, and good hearty portions of food!
Take in a baseball game
AT&T Park in San Francisco must have the very best view of any baseball stadium in the world. If you get a seat behind the home plate (either side) and about half-way up or above, you will get treated to the most spectacular sunset over the harbour. Yes, fair enough, you’ll see less of the infield, and more of the outfield and harbour, but it’ll be worth it. To be fair, I don’t think there’s a bad seat at AT&T Park.
Day 3: Wine + Diversity
Go on a wine tour to Napa
This one is for the adults. Get yourself over to Napa and Sonoma for some wine-tasting. We took the Green Dream Tours Napa and Sonoma day trip and it was simply wonderful. I don’t usually do tours, but for a wine tasting there is definitely an advantage to having a sober driver / tour guide on hand!
Green Dream tours do small group tours to boutique wineries, so it really is a lovely intimate experience. You’re never rushed and it is a great way to sample some of the famous Napa and Sonoma wines if you aren’t in the area for long. A bonus on this tour is that you get a pitstop at the Golden Gate Bridge lookout on your way.
Chinatown
San Francisco has the biggest and most authentic Chinatown in North America. Packed full of amazing shops and restaurants, a wander through Chinatown will surprise and delight. Tuck into Szechuan classics at Z & Y Restaurant on Jackson Street – you will have to wait as it gets very busy, but it’s worth it.
Day 4: Ferries + Prisons
Take a ferry to Sausalito
This artists enclave is a wonderful spot for a morning trip. You can either hire a bike and cycle over the Golden Gate Bridge (and take the ferry back), or catch a ferry both ways. Sausalito has cute little boutiques, galleries and restaurants.
Once famous for being the centre of rum-running during the prohibition, and then in the 60s for its house boat wars (houseboats settled there but the rich people up the hill didn’t want to look at them), Sausalito is now just renowned for its quaint artistic atmosphere. Catch the ferry to Sausalito from behind the Ferry Building at Embarcadero.
Alcatraz
One of the most popular attractions in San Francisco is, of course, Alcatraz. It’s not often you voluntarily head to a prison island, but this is one not to miss. Maintained by the National Park Service, this former prison is now a museum and attraction, where you can see the cells and what life was like as an inmate. The audio-tour is exceptional and includes the voiceovers from some of the inmates and guards! But be sure to get your tickets to Alcatraz early, as it books up months in advance.
TIP: If you don’t have the time to do the wine tour which takes you over to the Golden Gate Bridge, you could either take an open top bus tour to see more sights, or take a 1-hour harbour cruise to see the Golden Gate Bridge from the water. These leave from near Fisherman’s Wharf.
Itinerary : 4 Days in San Francisco
4 days in San Francisco isn’t enough. But it does allow you to get a taste of the delights of this vibrant city. If you only have time for a short visit, hopefully this guide will help you hit the ground running. We could gladly spend a month in San Francisco, digging deeper into the history of the Beat Generation and the 1906 earthquake; visiting the wealth of museums and galleries, and trying a new cuisine every night.
For me, it is the diversity of the city that makes it magical. Like any true melting pot, there are frictions sometimes, but San Francisco is alive with difference, dynamics, and the cultural output of those factors. Now, if only I could afford the real estate!
Want to experience this amazing city? Contact me for help with your planning and itinerary.
If you are planning your elopement to San Francisco, myself and photographer, Rachel Levine, can help you out!
NOTE: Don’t be alarmed, but San Francisco has a very high rate of homelessness. It is really sad to see so many people living on the streets, and I do hope that the county finds a healthy and caring solution soon. But, as a note to visitors, just be prepared for the level of homelessness – it can be confronting. See this list of charities that assist the homeless in San Francisco to donate or assist.
All photos © Hannah Henderson and may not be used without permission (sharing this blog post is fine, though!). Images shot with a Canon DSLR T3i Rebel + Canon EF-S 24 mm f/2.8 STM or Canon EF 35-80mm f/4-5.6 III lens and an iPhoneX.
My favorite part of California! I’ve done much of what you’ve recommended, I especially love chinatown for the food and alcatraz for the history.
I love San Francisco, I was there this time last year. I love it as its probably the best city in the us for healthy food and to do fitness so i managed to do a few cycle rides and running. the worst bit was the tourist trap of fishermans wharf…aggghhhh. but reading this does bring back great memories. i did 7 days and still found that it wasnt enough.
Haha right, Fisherman’s Wharf IS crazy. But there are also some great areas around there and it’s where the tours leave from, so if you have a short time, it’s a necessary bit of crazy 🙂
I’ve always wanted to visit San Francisco, mainly to see the golden gate bridge. I didn’t realise there were so many things to do in San Francisco. Seeing the painted ladies would be high on my list, they look spectacular!
See San Fran’s Chinatown, have some carnival fun at Pier 39 and go on a wine tour … THESE are the ones that really stood out to me 🙂
Cool itinerary! Cool to know that there are a lot of things to see and do aside from visiting the Golden Gate Bridge. The Painted Ladies, for instance, looks amazing and it is seldom seen or mentioned on travel blogs . 🙂 Great photos BTW.. 🙂
You really hit all the major highlights, well done! Haight Street is one of my favorites as is the Mission District.
I lived in San Francisco for 9 years prior to moving to southeast asia. The homeless issue was a shock when I first arrived, but I also worked in a hospital so I had many homeless patients. (free care for them and yet the single working stiff could easily go bankrupt from a hospital stay as many cannot afford health insurance.)
The thing is that (as you noted) there are programs in San francisco and there are shelters. The problem is that one typically must be sober or not using drugs to take advantage of these programs. The personal choice of continuing to use drugs or drink vs cleaning up and getting a fresh start… Many prefer to stay high and sleep in the streets. They will often brag about how much money they make panhandling. And the one’s who are mentally ill cannot be forced to take medications. Or they basically self medicate with drugs and alcohol.
In their defense, once one steps over the line into drug or alcohol addiction they become different people. And they will do anything to get high. Lie to family and friends, steal, turn tricks, etc..
But for the many who are in the streets, there are also many success stories. Cash is the worst thing you can give them btw. But donating to one of the programs is a really great idea.
Thanks for your insight Vanessa. I always make sure not to make judgements on why people are homeless – there are so many reasons. Mental health and addiction are huge players, so I was glad to find some many programs out there helping with those issues. I have lived in major cities all over the world, and found the homelessness in SF very obvious in comparison to other places. Perhaps that’s a good thing, in that it draws attention to it.
I love that you guys eloped to San Francisco! I’m so glad it holds such a special place in your heart. it is a great city and I’d love to return there one day. We visited every place you mentioned in your post except for Sausalito, so I guess we have a great reason to go back!
I love San Francisco! Sausalito is often overlooked, happy to see it here. I loved walking through the houseboat neighborhoods.
It’s so gorgeous, right? We spent the 4th of July in Sausalito and it was great!
I adore San Fran, it has a romantic memory for me as I spent time there on my honeymoon many many moons ago. And I think I did wear flowers in my hair, lol!
You have touched on all the iconic must do activities in San Fran. I remember eating a big bowl of chowder at the Fisherman’s Wharf. After that we jumped on a ferry to head to Alcatraz.
The visit to Alcatraz was a highlight, which I didn’t expect. You are right about getting tickets early, as it is something you don’t want to miss out on.
Have only been to S. F. for work so did not get a chance to do any of these fun activities. will be saving this for when i return as the city captured my heart. thank you for putting together this itinerary!
Love San Francisco. It’s such an amazing city with so much to see and do. Lots of our favourites here, but Alcatraz was a highlight for us. Amazing experience.
Isn’t it so incredible? I had chills!
Great article Hannah! I’ve been to alcatraz a couple of times, and we too enjoyed seeing a baseball game for the first time at at&t park last summer.