san francisco day tour from airport

• Flight Status
• Flight Schedules
• Flight Tracker & Air Traffic
• Check In & Security
• Airlines at SFO
• Air Service Updates
• Nonstop Service
• Cargo Airlines
• Private Aircraft
• Lyft/Uber Rides
• Personal Vehicle Sharing
• Public Transit
• Rental Cars
• Hotel Shuttles
• Passenger Pick Up & Drop Off
• Cell Phone Waiting Lot
• Getting Around SFO/AirTrain
• Go SFO Shuttle
• Book Parking
• Long-Term Parking
• Domestic/Hourly Parking
• International/Hourly Parking
• Plug-in Electric Car
• Kiss & Fly
• Payment Options
• Grand Hyatt at SFO
• Kids' Spots
• Interactive Map
• Static Maps
• Travel Planning Resources
• Accessible Parking
• Reasonable Modification Policy
• TSA Precheck
• Global Entry
• Mobile Passport App
• COVID-19 Travel Info
• Pets & Service Animals
• Information Desks
• Concierge Services/Airport Butler
• Travel Agency
• Showers/Freshen Up
• Medical Clinic
• WAG Brigade
• View All Services
• Connections
• Business Travelers
• Military/USO
• Transgender/GNC
• Traveling with Groups
• Traveling with Kids
• Traveling with Pets
• Visitor Information

Day Trips from SFO

• Doing Business at SFO
• Small Business Development
• Upcoming Opportunities
• Current Opportunities
• Construction Opportunities
• Air Services
• uPITCH Program
• Strategic Plan
• Facts & Figures
• Organization Chart
• Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
• Films Shot at SFO
• Building Lighting
• Hold Your Event
• Addressing the Commission
• Public Notices
• Agenda, Minutes & Recordings
• Commissioner Chronology
• City Charter
• Meeting Schedule
• Meeting Accessibility & Access
• Naming Policy/Committee
• Public Hearings/Notices
• Rules of Order
• Clean Vehicle Policy
• Rules & Regulations
• Tarmac Delay & Contingency Plan
• Safety & Security
• Weather Operations
• Economic Impact Reports
• FY 2022-2023 Annual Report
• Competition Plan
• Recovery Act
• Investor Relations
• Completed Projects
• SFO Tomorrow/Future Projects
• Environmental Review
• Action Plans & Reports
• Planning Division
• Food Donation Program
• Belle Air School Garden
• Museum Education Program
• High School Education Curriculum
• Submit a Noise Report
• Aircraft Noise by City
• Aircraft Noise & Flight Tracker
• Aircraft Noise Monitoring Reports
• Fly Quiet Quarterly Reports
• Title 21 Reports
• Airport Director's Report
• Modernizing SFO's Airspace
• Our Initiatives to Tackle Noise
• Noise Abatement Procedures
• Noise Insulation Program
• Buying a Home Near SFO
• Contact the Noise Office
• Glossary of Terms
• Plane Spotting
• Stop Human Trafficking
• Digital Library
• Facts & Statistics
• Press Releases
• Newsletters
• Media Guidelines
• Brand Guidelines
• Airport Terms
• Business and Career Center

Day Trip Ideas from SFO

Have a layover of four hours or more? Consider exploring San Francisco and the Peninsula Bay Area via public transit!

Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) takes visitors from SFO’s International Terminal to the doorstep of top attractions in San Francisco.

To explore the many downtown areas of San Mateo County take BART to the Millbrae Station and transfer to Caltrain rail service. A BART ride from SFO to Millbrae takes about 12 minutes.

San Francisco

San Francisco Travel provides helpful information to plan your trip.

The Mission District Named for Mission Dolores founded in 1776, San Francisco’s oldest neighborhood has some of its hottest new restaurants and galleries.  BART Stations: 16th street and 24th street Travel Time from SFO: 25 minutes

Civic Center The city plaza, museums, government buildings, performing arts and interesting discoveries abound in the Civic Center.  BART Station: Civic Center Travel Time from SFO: 28 minutes

Union Square The biggest names in retail and the ladies who lunch make Union Square anything but square.  BART Station: Powell Street Travel Time from SFO: 29 minutes

Chinatown & North Beach Chinatown is the historic heart of San Francisco. North Beach, rich in Italian heritage, has jazz clubs, galleries, restaurants and gelato parlors in less than a square mile.  BART Station: Powell Street then connect to Chinatown-Rose Pak Station via T Third line Travel Time from SFO: 30 minutes

South of Market & Yerba Buena South of Market, also known as "SOMA," has sleek nightclubs, fashionable restaurants, art hubs and the nation’s most beautiful ballpark.  BART Stations: Embarcadero and Montgomery Street stations Travel Time from SFO: 30 minutes

Embarcadero & Financial District Sea captains and captains of commerce, the old haunts of the Barbary Coast and an island with worldly airs yield a bounty of fun.  BART Station: Embarcadero Travel Time from SFO: 33 minutes

San Mateo County

The San Francisco Peninsula offers helpful resources to plan your visit.

Palo Alto Explore University Avenue, the Stanford University Campus, and Rodin sculptures at the Cantor Arts Center. Caltrain Station: Palo Alto Travel Time from SFO: 45 minutes

Redwood City Home of the San Mateo County History Museum, Redwood City’s downtown features a 20-screen theater, a restored historic courthouse, a beautiful plaza and many restaurants. Caltrain Station: Redwood City Travel Time from SFO: 40 minutes

San Mateo San Mateo is a thriving community with quaint shops and restaurants featuring flavors from around the globe. Caltrain Station: San Mateo Travel Time from SFO: 20 minutes

Burlingame Burlingame’s Broadway and Burlingame Avenues have big city amenities in a small town environment. Caltrain Station: Burlingame Travel Time from SFO: 17 minutes

(0 - 12 years old)

San Francisco Layover Tours

Tailoring each tour to your wishes by locals who love their city

Top 10 layover tours & experiences around the world

From exploring cool neighborhoods to eating with the locals to seeing iconic sites, these are some of our favorite experiences

When in Osaka make sure to try “kushikatsu”!

See the city like you would with a friend who lives there

The best private layover tours & experiences with locals

Do you have a long layover at San Francisco International Airport? You might not think it’s something to get excited about – but San Francisco layover tours with City Unscripted can change that. We’ll pick you up at the airport and take you on a whirlwind experience of SF’s highlights and hidden gems, from Silicon Valley skyscrapers to Gold Rush-era landmarks. When you could get the full picture of this Californian gem in just a few hours, waiting around at the airport would be a crime! Book San Francisco airport layover tours with a local guide for a travel experience you won’t forget (and don’t worry, because we’ll get you back to the airport with time to spare!).

Meet some of our local hosts in San Francisco

Like the people who travel with us, they have different backgrounds and interests – but they’re all so passionate about the place they call home, they choose to spend their free time sharing it with the like-minded travelers matched to them.

A long layover is the perfect excuse to get out and explore California’s coolest city. So why sit around with sad airport snacks and wait for your next flight when you could get out and see San Francisco instead? San Francisco layover tours will transform the dullest part of your travel experience into the best. Let a local guide take you out into the heart of SF to explore its must-see attractions and a few of the secret gems only locals know about. From the museums of SoMa to a bowl of slurpy spaghetti in Little Italy, there are countless ways to spend San Francisco airport layover tours.

On San Francisco airport layover tours, you don’t have to worry about a thing. We understand that making your way around an unfamiliar city can be stressful – especially when there’s a flight you have to get back to. But don’t worry if you don’t know the lay of the land because on San Francisco layover tours, you’ll have a local to guide the way. With a San Franciscan to hold your hand and plan your route, you’re in the best hands. From the moment you step outside the airport to the moment you return, you’ll have someone who knows the city inside and out by your side.

You only have a few hours to spend in the city, so you want to make the most of your time. That’s why on San Francisco layover tours, we won’t waste a minute on the things to see and do that don’t interest you. So, before planning your tour, we’ll find out a little more about your personality and passions. Whether you’re a city slicker, a history buff, an architecture lover, or an insatiable foodie, your San Francisco airport layover tours with City Unscripted will be expertly tailored to you. Just let us know what you want to do, and we’ll plan your perfect walking tour.

San Francisco travel tips and inspiration from our Travel Magazine

Find the best things to do, places to eat, must eat foods and lots of travel tips in San Francisco recommended by our local hosts

Latest reviews from our guests

Der Tag in San Francisco war wunderbar. Unser Guide John war super und sehr bemüht unsere Wünsche zu erfüllen. Ich kann den Guide nur weiterempfehlen. The day in San Francisco was wonderful. Our guide John was great and tried very hard to fulfill our wishes. I can only recommend the guide.

Kathy gave me a fantastic overview of San Francisco. Checked what I was interested in and my preferences. 4 hours flew by, wish I'd booked longer but still covered a lot. China Town, had fantastic food, onto North Beach. Kathy has excellent knowledge of the historic of this amazing City, plus extensive knowledge of hidden gems. Loved every minute

Maria, from City Unscripted, was a fantastic guide and showed us all around the Mission area of San Francisco. She was very warm, friendly and outgoing and passionate about showing us the sights. We only had a short amount of time on our stop over but she helped us cram lots in and shared all her local knowledge. Thanks for an amazing tour Maria!

Maria was a fantastic guide and showed us all around the Mission district of San Francisco. She was very warm, friendly and outgoing and passionate about showing us the sights of an area she obviously knew intimately. We only had a short amount of time on our stop over but she helped us cram lots in and shared all her local knowledge. Thanks for an amazing tour Maria!

Explore famous layover cities

Experiences for all types of travelers

Seattle Food Tours

San Francisco Food Tours

Greenwich Village Food Tours

New York City Night Tours

San Francisco Night Tours

Top Things To Do In New York

Best Private Tours In New York City

Best Private Tours In San Francisco

Private Tour Guides In New York City

Private Tour Guides In San Francisco

Private Tour Guides In Seattle

Walking Tours In New York City

Walking tours in San Francisco

Walking tours in Seattle

Seattle Private Tours

USA Private Tours

New Orleans Private Tours

Los Angeles Private Tours

Washington DC Private Tours

New York City Layover Tours

Seattle Layover Tours

12 things to do on a layover at San Francisco Airport

A layover in an unfamiliar airport doesn’t have to be a waste of time, especially if it’s San Francisco Airport. Voted a top 10 airport in North America in 2017, travellers enjoy the terminals’ ease and the solid options for eating and shopping. Whether you’ve got a quick stop or a long time to kill, here are 12 things to do on a layover at San Francisco Airport.

1. Enjoy a meal

2. Relax in a lounge

4. Take a shower

5. Visit the spa

7. Pet a pup

The airport’s Wag Brigade is a group of 20+ trained dogs who stroll the airport (with their guardians) to help de-stress travellers. You’ll know them thanks to their vests that say “Pet me!” – because they’re dogs!

8. View the art

The airport has many permanent and rotating art exhibits, so see how many you can spot in each terminal. The airport website shows what’s on view while you’re there.

9. Pick up some local history

The Aviation Museum serves up local history around private and commercial flying in the Bay Area, perfect for aviation buffs. It’s also just a nice break from the typical airport vibe. Location: International Terminal, pre-Security. Open daily, 10:30 a.m.- 4:30 p.m.

10. Go sightseeing

Hop on BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit), which departs from the airport station every 10-15 minutes and has you downtown in about 30 minutes. You could opt for a taxi, but these are pricier and can take longer, thanks to notorious Bay Area traffic.

For a whistle-stop tour, swing by Golden Gate Bridge for an iconic photo, walk or ride down Lombard Street , the crookedest street in the world, ride a cable car from Ghirardelli Square , and eye the seals at Fisherman’s Wharf – you may even see Alcatraz Island on a clear day. Do you prefer wandering a neighbourhood or two? The Mission has plenty of cafes, eateries, and bars, and Lower Haight is within walking distance of the famous Victorian homes known as the Painted Ladies , plus the 1960s hotspot of Haight-Ashbury . Check out the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA), the Legion of Honor, and the Conservatory of Flowers at Golden Gate Park for world-class museums. Visit Tripadvisor for more Things to Do in San Francisco .

Keep your eye on the time so you don’t miss your next flight! Leave plenty of time to return to the airport and clear security.

Thanks to free, unlimited WiFi, spend your layover catching up on social media.

These are just a few things to do on a layover at San Francisco Airport. Visit our San Francisco Airport Guide for more information about services and facilities, such as food, WiFi, mobile charging, luggage storage, nearby airport hotels, and much more.

• San Francisco Airport Guide
• San Francisco Airport Lounges
• San Francisco Airport Reviews
• San Francisco Airport Sleep Guide
• Things to do at San Francisco Airport
• San Francisco Airport Photos
• Airport Guides
• Airport Hotels
• Airport Reviews
• Things to do on a Layover
• Airport Layover Sightseeing
• Airport Lounges
• Buy a Lounge Pass
• Airport Lounge Pass FAQ
• Write an Airport Review
• Sleeping in Airports FAQ
• About Sleeping in Airports
• Press & Media
• Privacy Policy
• 2024 Airport Survey
• Write a Review

The Pilot Who Explores

Travel the world like an Airline Pilot.

San Francisco: The Ultimate Overnight Layover Guide & Top 5 Activities

As an airline pilot, I spend a lot of time laying over in cities around the world. Too much time, in fact. But I always look forward to a layover in San Francisco . I’d even dare call it my favorite city in the United States.

After a couple layovers in San Francisco, I’ve developed the ultimate layover setup for when I bring my friends and family along for my work trips. So far, I haven’t disappointed anyone (or at least they haven’t told me!)

On my own, I’ve come up with a couple equally awesome alternatives. San Francisco is the city I could have a layover in any day, even on its worst day.

In This Article: 1) The Must-Do Golden Gate Bike Tour 2) Check Out the Redwood Forests by Bike 3) San Francisco: The Most Walkable City in the US 4) Presidio: History and Beauty 5) Downtown in a hurry: The San Fran Express Hike San Francisco Ferries During COVID-19 Napa Valley: Wine Not? Where to Stay in San Francisco

Explore the San Francisco Bay by Bike!

This is the classic way to see San Francisco, the Embarcadero, Golden Gate Bridge, and more! I recommend renting a bike at Blazing Saddles but you have tons of choice.

Electric bikes are available (for an extra fee) for those who wish to make the journey as easy as possible.

#1) The Classic Golden Gate Bike Tour : a MUST-DO in San Francisco

The classic ride is the Golden Gate Bike Tour , which you can do by yourself or with a guide. There are bike rentals everywhere, so I usually start at the Ferry Building/Pier 1 to see all of the waterfront Embarcadero and San Francisco’s famous Pier 39 . Or, you can make your ride a bit shorter by commencing your bike ride around Fisherman’s Wharf.

Head westbound hugging the coastline, staying on the bike path until you reach the incredibly beautiful San Francisco Palace of Fine Arts . It’s a great place to take a quick break. If you’ve started early, the Presidio offers stunning views, incredible architecture, and fascinating history just around the corner.

As you bike along the water, you’ll make it to the Golden Gate Bridge where you’ll cross over to the other side. Keep in mind that it can get really windy! But hey, just saved yourself from a $16 toll driving. On the other side, you can stop at the Golden Gate View Vista Point for iconic pictures of the bridge and downtown San Fran.

Afterwards, you will continue down Alexander Ave (a huge downhill so you can rest!) down to Sausalito , and reward yourself with amazing food (and local beer) at the Joinery . Renting with Blazing Saddles entitles you to a free drink there.

From Sausalito, you can catch the ferry back to downtown San Fran (Fisherman’s Wharf or Embarcadero). Or, if you haven’t had enough exercise, continue on to Tiburon , about 45 minutes down the road. It’s not as beautiful or exciting of a ride, but Tiburon is a cute seaside town that’s nice to visit. There is a ferry from Tiburon back to downtown, but it currently only runs twice a day; check the schedule ahead of time!

#2) There’s More to San Francisco than the City…

If you wish to keep exploring the wonderful San Francisco Bay area, keep biking north towards Muir Woods , part of the National Redwood Forest. If you want to feel small, don’t worry… You’ll have access to over 240 acres of massive oldgrowth redwood trees.

On the way, make sure to stop at the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. You can head down to the beach, or just marvel at the spectacular views on the coastline, the Golden Gate, and downtown San Francisco.

Walk the Walk, Talk the Talk

San Francisco is a great walking city….. as long as you don’t mind hills! It can get steep. Luckily, you have cable cars to help along the way. Still, pack some good walking shoes .

There are many guided walking tours, or if you’re like me, you can be your own guide!

#3) From Downtown to the Best Sunset Views… with some gorgeous gardens in between

The San Francisco Botanical Garden and the adjoining Golden Gate Park make a great day hike on their own. You can walk all the way from the center of San Francisco to the Botanical Garden and Park by walking on Page Street and through the Panhandle area, avoiding nearly all road traffic on the way. Page Street is one of the many “ slow streets ” in San Francisco – numerous corridors in the city open primarily to pedestrians and cyclists.

Right next to the Botanical Garden is the Fine Arts Museum of San Francisco – just in case you’re looking to spend some time indoors.

You can easily make it from the Golden Gate Park to Point Lobos beach/cliffs area for the BEST sunset instaworthy pictures in San Francisco. Standing hundreds of feet above the water surrounded by pine trees, with views on the Golden Gate bridge, the Bay, Redwood forest mountains and coastline, and miles of Pacific Ocean, you won’t regret the extra walking.

#4) Take the Historic Walk through Presidio

Of course, you can’t miss the Presidio with its impressive views over the Golden Gate, rich naval history, and astounding architecture. Walk up the historic Lyon steps, or if you’re with your partner, perhaps Lovers’ Lane ? There’s also Andy Goldsworthy’s Wood Line right next door, a manmade Eucalyptus grove path.

Right next-door is the Palace of Fine Arts , with enough to see for an entire afternoon. Originally built in 1915 for the Panama-Pacific Exhibition, it honestly feels more fit for somewhere in Spain.

#5) The Express Downtown San Francisco – Get Your Hiking Shoes Ready!

Taking the Cable Car up Powell Street from Union Square (Powell-Hyde) down to Sacramento Street and walk through Chinatown across to the Ferry Building at the waterfront Embarcadero.

Walk along the waterfront and take a left around Pier 19 towards Filbert street, where you’ll take the steep (and lovely) Filbert steps up towards Coit Tower. From here, you’ll have some of the best views on the city – 360 degrees. Plus, you might see some parrots on the way!

Walk all the way up Lombard street until you make it to the famous hairpins. You know the ones I’m talking about. From there, you can walk down through the historic Russian Hill area all the way to the original Ghirardelli’s . Time for some ice cream! After all those hills and steps, you deserve it.

End the day by walking back down to the water, shopping around Pier 39 or just enjoying the (sight and stench of) sea lions lined up around each of the piers. If San Francisco gets one thing right, it’s cuisine. You have plenty of choice – fine dining along the water, authentic Chinese food, excellent Greek and Italian.

San Francisco Layovers During COVID-19

Before we get started, San Francisco has, just like everywhere else in the world, been upended by the pandemic. But luckily, the stay-at-home order has just been lifted as of February 12th! This is great news for the tourism industry – and you!

As of February 14, San Mateo and San Francisco counties are in a “purple” COVID-19 status – the most restrictive .

Ferry service to Sausalito has resumed. This means that you’ll be able to complete the awesome San Francisco bike tour !

Many ticket offices in San Francisco are closed due to COVID-19. Instead:

• Departures are limited due to COVID-19. Currently, there are only 3 ferries per day to Sausalito.
• Angel Island and Alcatraz remain closed (until at least February 26th, 2021).
• There are only 2 trips to/from Tiburon daily, so plan ahead if you want to make it all the way there by bike without getting stranded.

You can check how full the ferries are here .

Wine & Dine

Indoor dining is banned, so dress warmly and embrace eating around a firepit outside. It’s not as bad as you think, especially with San Francisco’s moderate climate.

If you plan a trip up to Napa Valley, make sure to book a private wine tasting ahead of time. Capacity is limited to only 20%, and wine tastings are allowed as long as they’re done outdoors.

Indoor retail stores have re-opened, bringing vital life back to the San Francisco embarcadero and famous pier 39.

Currently, there is a 10PM-5AM curfew.

Where to Stay in San Francisco

My personal preference is to stay in the Union Square area – a truly central area with lots of food options, shopping, and biking rentals. You can hop on a cable car to China Town, bike to the Embarcadero and start your bike cruise !

Share this:

Keep exploring the world, the definitive 3-7+ hour paris-cdg airport layover guide (by a pilot).

London Heathrow Airport: The Ultimate 3-7 Hour LHR Layover Guide (by a pilot)

Athens, Greece (ATH) Airport: A Comprehensive 5 to 9-Hour Layover & Transit Guide

[…] San Francisco: The Ultimate Layover Guide & Top 5 Things to Do […]

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

Discover more from The Pilot Who Explores

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading

One Day in a City

24 Hour Travel Itineraries to Make the Most of a Day in a Destination

One Day in San Francisco: Top Things to Do if Short on Time

June 27, 2023 By Gina Posts on this site may contain affiliate links. Read the full disclosure here .

Ultimate Guide for the Best Things to See and Do in San Francisco in 24 Hours

One of my absolute favorite U.S. cities is San Francisco, California and it’s well worth a visit even if it’s just a day trip to San Francisco — which I did numerous times back when I lived in San Diego. Whether you have a day in San Francisco or longer to explore, you’ll no doubt become infatuated with the city’s gorgeous skyline, historic architecture, harbor and water views, beautiful parks, and a certain famous bridge.

San Francisco is an easy city to fall in love with. But ok, it’s not perfect — those views often come courtesy of thigh-burning hills and the iconic sites mean expensive accommodation and cuisine, so I guess not everything is to love. But still, San Francisco is one city you have to see, and if you’re short on time to do so, fear not, I have you covered with my One Day in San Francisco guide.

Editor’s Note: In recent years, theft in San Francisco has become an ongoing issue. Be careful of pickpocketing or leaving anything of value in cars.

What You’ll Find in This One Day in San Francisco Guide

Time needed:  1 day

Wondering how to best see San Francisco in a day? You’re in the right place. Here’s an overview of what I’ll be covering in my One Day in San Francisco itinerary guide below.

From cable cars to the metro, learn the most efficient way for getting around San Francisco.

Iconic pier with entertainment, shopping, food, and lots of sea lions.

It’s easy to see the bridge, but to really experience it you need to go from one end to the other.

Maximize your day in San Francisco by making sure you properly pack for the weather and hills.

Enjoy some time in nature with incredible views of the Golden Gate Bridge.

The curviest street in the world. Enough said. (But I do have more to say about it below.)

Gorgeous and colorful Victorian houses all in a picturesque row.

A fun neighborhood to walk around, especially for foodies who love Italian cuisine.

My top tips for what and where to eat while in San Francisco.

I’ve included more ideas of what to see and do in San Francisco if you find yourself with extra time or want to do other things per your particular interests.

Find out my top recommendations for where to end your day in San Francisco.

Getting Around During Your One Day in San Francisco

To maximize your day, you need to know how to best get around San Francisco. The city is pretty compact, but it is extremely hilly. Meaning it’s not that fun to walk around unless you like lots of exercise on vacation. 😉 Me, not so much!

Some walking is going to be necessary, but when needing to get from one major site to the next, or if you want to navigate San Francisco in a day in the most efficient way possible, consider taking public transportation.

You have two great options for getting to the things to do in San Francisco in one day that you want to see, and one is even famous.

The first way to get around during a day in San Francisco is on the network of Muni buses and trains, which are operated by the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency and includes routes all over the San Francisco city center as well as beyond it into San Francisco County.

The famous mode of transportation I mentioned? The San Francisco Cable Car! This is technically part of Muni services, but feels different since it’s more of a tourist draw and the popular routes often have long lines waiting to board one (depending when you’re there). You can’t miss spotting these cable cars making their way up and down San Francisco’s hilly streets since they’re charmingly cute and a bright red color.

And one more thing about transportation. If you’re arriving into San Francisco from the airport, it’s easy to get downtown by taking the BART train (Bay Area Rapid Transportation). It takes just 30 minutes from SFO to downtown and a ticket is under $10.

One Day in San Francisco Itinerary Guide

Below are my recommendations for the top sites to see if you have just a day in San Francisco. First, here’s an infographic to give yourself a visual idea of how your day will go before you start reading the itinerary.

Heading to San Francisco Last Minute or Want Some Quick Tips for Planning? These tours and hotel recommendations will help you plan your trip fast!

Top Tours in San Francisco:

• GoCar San Francisco Tour  
• Straight to the Gate Access: Golden Gate Bay Cruise  
• San Francisco Bay Sunset Catamaran Cruise
• Small Group Half Day Muir Woods and Sausalito Morning Tour  
• Skip The Bus: San Francisco By Luxury Van Tour  
• San Francisco CityPASS

Top hotels in San Francisco:

• Travelodge by Wyndham San Francisco Airport North (2-star)  
• Bay Landing Hotel (3-star)  
• Hotel Fusion, a C-Two Hotel (3.5-star)
• Hilton San Francisco Airport Bayfront (4-star) 
• Handlery Union Square Hotel (3.5-star)

Now let’s get to all those things to see during your day in San Francisco! Starting with…

Pier 39 at Fisherman’s Wharf: A Fun Place to Start a San Francisco 1-Day Itinerary

Walking around Pier 39 is one of my favorite things to do in San Francisco because it has gorgeous views of the San Francisco Bay and it’s just fun!

Is it touristy? Yes, definitely. But I don’t think you should avoid something just because it caters to tourists – just don’t spend the whole day there.

I like Pier 39 because the whole pier has an upbeat vibe with street entertainers, gift shops, ocean-view restaurants, and even sea lions.

Sea lions are nearly always hanging out on the docks right next to Fisherman’s Wharf. If you go to the edge of the west side of the pier you can get an excellent look at them making their unique barking noises and sometimes splashing about the water.

If you want to learn more about the sea lions, go to the Sea Lion Center on the second level of the pier, which has lots of information about the sea lions and the history of the ones that hang out by Pier 39.

My favorite shop to walk through on Fisherman’s Wharf is the Wyland Gallery. Wyland is an artist who focuses on making sculptures and paintings of sea life. I’ve been to a few Wyland galleries and this one is my favorite. It’s large and the fact that you’re literally over the ocean on a sea pier makes the animals you’re seeing in the artwork even more mesmerizing. Also, fun fact, the mural you can see on one side of Pier 39 of a whale was painted by Wyland.

Pier 39 at Fisherman’s Wharf Quick Tips Where: Along the Embarcadero between the cross streets of Stockton and Grant. What: A fun, busy pier with shops, restaurants, and neighboring sea lions. Parking: Paid lots and metered street parking are located around the area. Public Transportation: Take the MUNI to the Embarcadero & Stockton Street stop.

Golden Gate Bridge: A One Day in San Francisco MUST-SEE

You can’t miss seeing the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco – literally since it’s right there over the bay. But as lovely as the Golden Gate Bridge looks from afar, to really experience it you need to go from one end to the other.

You can do this in two ways: a car or walking.

Tip: Explore the most famous landmarks (included Golden Gate Bridge) via this Big Bus San Francisco Hop-on Hop-off Open Top Tour .

If short on time, driving makes the most sense if you have a car since it will save you ample time. If driving a car across the Golden Gate Bridge, keep in mind that you’ll have to pay a toll on the way back into the city. But it’s worth it to journey across the bridge and see the thick red towers crisscrossing above you, without wind whipping in your face.

Yes, the wind is something you will probably have to battle if you walk across the Golden Gate Bridge (unless you happen to be there on one of San Francisco’s rare sunny, hot days) along its cordoned off pedestrian path along the edge of the bridge.

Things to know about walking across the bridge: It’s four miles from one end to the other and back. If you’re too short on time to tackle such a walk, just walk to the first tower and back.

Golden Gate Bridge Quick Tips Where: North of San Francisco’s Presidio area along the 101 highway. It’s hard to miss. 😉 What: A famous red bridge over the San Francisco Bay. Parking: Paid lots and metered street parking are located around the area, but you’ll probably have to walk far. There is one parking lot that is adjacent to the southeast Golden Gate Bridge visitor center, but spots are limited. Public Transportation: A bus is your best bet — hop on one of the Golden Gate Transit buses, which are routes 30, 70, and 101, (and sometimes other routes depending on where you’re coming from and what day of the week it is). Get off at the southbound Toll Plaza bus top.

Don’t Forget to Pack These Items!

Quick break from the itinerary to call out a few things you should pack for a day in San Francisco. Here are some items you won’t want to forget.

• San Francisco is known for high winds cutting chillingly around all those skyscrapers. Be prepared!
• There are so many hills in San Francisco. Do not think flip-flops or high heels will suffice. You want a pair of walking shoes if you’re going to see as much of this city as possible in one day.
• Love this brand.
• You’ll be glad you have one if you want to swim in the ocean. The water can feel cold even in the summer months.
• Don’t just stick in any old pair of sunglasses. You’ll be by water a lot during your time in San Francisco and polarized ones will help you to better focus on your surroundings without squinting.

A Day in San Francisco’s Parks and Beaches

If you have a car, I recommend going to Fort Baker in Golden Gate Park after driving across the bridge. It has a stunning view of the bridge and city skyline across the harbor.

If no car, then once you’ve completed your bridge walk, head down the Battery to Bluffs Trail to the southwest side of the bridge to walk along Marshall’s Beach for some Golden Gate photo ops. It’s about a 15- to 20-minute walk. This beach sometimes attracts nudists, so keep that in mind, particularly if traveling with children.

You can take public transportation a bit farther down the bay to Baker Beach for similar views. Both Marshall’s Beach and Baker’s Beach are located in Presidio National Park.

All these views are spectacular so if you have extra time you may want to visit both Golden Gate Park and Marshall’s Park.

Golden Gate Park Quick Tips Where: Exit Alexander Avenue after driving across the Golden Gate Bridge. What: An old fort with an incredible view of the San Francisco skyline, bay, and Golden Gate Bridge. Parking: There is a parking area near the Fort Baker lookout point by Horseshoe Cove along the waterfront and the trailhead by Drown Road.

Marshall’s Beach Quick Tips Where:  Southwest of Golden Gate Bridge What: Small, rugged beach with gorgeous views of the Golden Gate Bridge. Parking: If you decide to drive and not walk, there is parking along Lincoln Boulevard next to the trail sign for Battery to Bluffs Trail.

Note: Baker’s Beach, located a bit farther south along the bay, is more popular, but usually also more crowded and takes longer to walk to from Golden Gate Bridge if you don’t have a car.

—> You also may enjoy reading: Top 10 Small Cities in California to Visit

The Curves of San Francisco’s Lombard Street

Lombard Street is famous for being the curviest street in the world. It’s a bit silly, sure, but still fun to see. And in addition to being a novelty, it’s located in a pretty area of San Francisco that showcases some of the gorgeous architecture and hilly geography that makes the city of San Francisco one of the most beautiful in the world.

Lombard Street is quite fun to drive down if you have a car while there. If not, go to the cross street of Lombard and Hyde Street where you’ll have an excellent view of the street from the bottom up.

Lombard Street Quick Tips: Where: Lombard Street at the cross section of Hyde Street (at the top) and Leavenworth Street (at the bottom). What: The curviest street in the world (supposedly). Parking: Don’t do the hassle of parking, just drive down Lombard Street if you have a car and snap a pic from the window looking up once you’re at the bottom (safely, while stopped, of course). Public Transportation: Get off at the MUNI stop for Fisherman’s Wharf (Beach & Mason) and from there it’s about a 10-15 minute walk to the curvy portion of Lombard Street.

Painted Ladies of San Francisco

The Painted Ladies are colorful Victorian row homes located across from a grassy square and walking by them is one of the top thing to do in San Francisco in one day due to their history and beauty.

The homes were built in the 19 th and early 20 th century and have been beautifully maintained in their original style. Get to the Painted Ladies early if you want to enjoy a view of these gorgeous buildings without tons of crowds.

That being said, if you don’t mind crowds, sunset is a gorgeous time to be there, especially for a photo op, as the setting sun casts a rosy glow on the Painted Ladies.

Painted Ladies Quick Tips: Where: At the crossroads of Hayes Street and Steiner Street What: A grassy square with a row of famous Victorian homes on one side. Parking: Street parking is available around the square. Public Transportation: Muni Line #21 toward Inner Richmond (if coming from downtown). Get off at the Hayes Street and Steiner Street stop.

Tour Tip: Explore the Painted Ladies and other San Francisco’s top destinations by restored VW bus with this cool Painted Ladies San Francisco City Tour .

North Beach: San Francisco’s Little Italy

I personally really like this area of San Francisco, which is why it’s making it onto my list of what to do in San Francisco in one day. The North Beach neighborhood of San Francisco is lively and fun to walk around plus it’s a great area to get dinner so I recommend ending your 1 day in San Francisco here.

North Beach Quick Tips Where: Located in the area just south of Pier 39. What:  San Francisco’s Little Italy neighborhood with lots of restaurants (especially Italian), bars, and shops. Parking: Paid lots and metered street parking are located around the area. Public Transportation: Take the MUNI to the Stockton & Beach stop or the Embarcadero & Bay Street stop.

Tour Tip: Explore North Beach with this 3-hour walking tour . It’s the perfect amount of time to get a good feel for the area while leaving plenty of time for other attractions…and eating!

Which Brings Me To…

Where to eat during your one day in san francisco.

The Stinking Rose: This restaurant is famous due to the amount of garlic they put on everything. I love this restaurant, especially the curtain booths. Try the roasted garlic clove appetizer to spread on your bread – soooo good!

The Italian Homemade Company: Located in North Beach, this is a good choice for a laidback atmosphere and homemade Italian cuisine.

Mister Jiu’s: Get some of the best Asian cuisines in San Francisco’s Chinatown at Mister Jiu’s, which serves up high-end ingredients in a hip setting.

Crab House : If you want to eat on Pier 39, I had a great lunch at this restaurant during a day trip to San Francisco. A bit kitschy, but the views are great and the crab is aplenty.

Zero Zero: I enjoyed some delicious, gourmet, wood-fired pizza here with an assortment of toppings. I especially liked that they had fried egg as a pizza topping! Zero Zero is located in the SOMA District of San Francisco.

More Than 1 Day in San Francisco: Things to Do with Extra Time

Have more than 24 Hours in San Francisco? Here are a few other things to do:

Alcatraz: San Franciso’s Iconic Prison

Alcatraz is pretty cool to see, but it is a bit of a journey to get there and takes some time to walk around. It’s a former prison famous for being inescapable. It is located on a tiny island in the middle of the San Francisco Bay, so it’s easy to see why it was nearly impossible to escape from. Therefore, if you have only 24 hours to spend in San Francisco your first time there, I don’t recommend it in my one day itinerary for San Francisco.

But if you have another day (or you’re just really fascinated by old prisons) it’s worth adding to your sightseeing repertoire.

To get to Alcatraz you’ll arrange for a tour that begins on land. You’ll board a ferry and once you arrive in Alcatraz you’ll be given some background information on the prison and then you’ll get free time to wander around it and explore before catching the ferry back to the city. A bonus of the ferry ride is that it has great views of the city skyline and Golden Gate Bridge.

Read More: Best Day Trips from San Francisco

Museums Worth Visiting in San Francisco

San Francisco has many museums to choose from. Some top choices include the Walt Disney Museum, SOMA, and Exploratorium.

Shopping in San Francisco

If you love to shop, you’ll love heading to Union Square while in San Francisco. It has blocks of shopping malls and popular luxury goods stores.

One Night in San Francisco: Where to Sleep

With a friend? Haha, not really, but San Francisco is unfortunately an expensive place to stay and I luckily have a couple good friends who live in the area so I’ve always stayed with them when visiting.

But I asked around and scoured Internet reviews to do the research for you and save you time, so I could recommend a few excellent options for accommodations in San Fran, including a budget option, where you can happily rest your head after you’ve completed all those things to do in San Francisco in one day that I recommended. 🙂

The Scarlet Huntington: Luxurious and historic hotel in the ritzy Nob Hill neighborhood with a beautiful indoor pool and rooms decorated in romantic reds – great option for a couples getaway.

• Click here for pictures and prices of the Scarlet Huntington.

Omni San Francisco: Swanky rooms with a central downtown location that is good for business travelers who also want an easy jumping off point for exploring during down time.

• Click here for pictures and prices of Omni San Francisco.

Green Tortoise Hostel: Those looking for fun, convenience, and cheap digs (well, relatively speaking for San Francisco!) will enjoy a stay at Green Tortoise Hostel while exploring San Francisco.

• Click here for pictures and prices of the Green Tortoise Hostel.

Hotel Triton: A boutique hotel with affordable pricing, funky and artsy vibe, and a terrific location for sightseeing.

• Click here for pictures and prices of Hotel Triton.

Noe’s Nest: Stay in a luxurious Bed and Breakfast in a fabulously decorated Victorian home.

• Click here for pictures and prices of Noe’s Nest.

Hostels in San Francisco : If you’re on a super tight budget, you may also want to consider booking a hostel. Find the most comfortable one for you here .

So there you have it! The top things to do if you have just one day in San Francisco plus where to sleep if you’re there overnight. What sights do you most want to see in San Francisco?

Also, if you’re exploring other areas of California, you may enjoy these One Day Itinerary articles:

Ultimate Guide to San Diego One Day in Santa Barbara

Found this post helpful? Pin it to read again later! 

I'm a former travel agency marketing director turned freelance travel writer. My editorial and copywriting work has been published on and in USA TODAY, Travel + Leisure, the Travel Channel Cities app, TripSavvy, and many more online and print publications. I especially love sharing my knowledge of traveling with limited vacation time, making the most of cruise ports of call, and vacationing with kids. I also enjoy sharing my favorite travel gear and products to make traveling easier!

Search for a Destination…

THE 10 BEST San Francisco Tours & Excursions

San francisco tours.

• Sightseeing Tours
• Historical & Heritage Tours
• Up to 1 hour
• 1 to 4 hours
• 4 hours to 1 day
• 5.0 of 5 bubbles
• 4.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• 3.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• 2.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• Likely to Sell Out
• Special Offers
• The ranking of tours, activities, and experiences available on Tripadvisor is determined by several factors including the revenue generated by Tripadvisor from these bookings, the frequency of user clicks, and the volume and quality of customer reviews. Occasionally, newly listed offerings may be prioritized and appear higher in the list. The specific placement of these new listings may vary.

1. Small Group Yosemite and Giant Sequoias Day Trip from San Francisco

2. Small-Group Tour: SF, Muir Woods, Sausalito w/ Optional Alcatraz

3. Big Bus San Francisco: Hop-on Hop-off Sightseeing Tour

4. Official Alcatraz Island Prison Tour and San Francisco Bay Cruise

5. Muir Woods & Sausalito Half-Day Tour (Return by Bus or Ferry from Sausalito)

6. Napa and Sonoma Wine Country Full-Day Tour from San Francisco

7. Muir Woods, Golden Gate Bridge + Sausalito with Optional Alcatraz

8. San Francisco: Yosemite National Park and Giant Sequoia Day Tour

9. San Francisco Love Tour

10. San Francisco Private City Tour (Walking, Private Bus, Shuttle)

11. Straight to the Gate Access: Golden Gate Bay Cruise

12. Straight to the Gate Access: San Francisco Bay Sunset Cruise

13. Monterey, Carmel and 17-Mile Drive: Full Day Tour from SF

14. Small-Group Wine Country Tour from San Francisco with Tastings

15. Chinatown and North Beach Walking Tour

16. Painted Ladies San Francisco City Tour

17. San Francisco Walking Food Tour With Secret Food Tours

18. San Francisco Bay Sunset Catamaran Cruise

19. Small Group: Ultimate Napa & Sonoma Wine Tour from San Francisco

20. Muir Woods with Napa & Sonoma Wine Tour

21. Alcatraz Sausalito Express: 2 Hours in Sausalito with Food Option

22. Muir Woods and Sausalito Small-Group Tour

23. San Francisco Bay Sailing Cruise

24. San Francisco Super Saver: Muir Woods & Wine Country w/ optional Gourmet Lunch

25. Skip The Bus: San Francisco By Luxury Van Tour

26. Alcatraz Island Tour Package

27. 2-Hour Sunset Sail on the San Francisco Bay

28. 2-Day Yosemite National Park Tour from San Francisco

29. Little Italy and North Beach Walking Tour in San Francisco

30. Inside Alcatraz and Golden Gate Bridge Bay Cruise

What travelers are saying.

Things to Do on a Layover in San Francisco Airport (SFO)

By: Author Ginny Vail

Posted on Published: 9 Jun 2023  - Last updated: 2 Jan 2024

What can you do on a layover in San Francisco? There are surprising things to do at the airport, and, for longer layovers, you can trek into San Francisco to see a sight or two. We have suggestions.

San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is one of the busiest in America with over 42 million passengers a year. Many arriving passengers are in SFO to catch another flight, and SFO was one of the first airports in the world to add features and enhancements to make airport layovers more interesting and enjoyable.

If you are connecting to another flight in SFO and have extra time there are interesting things to do and see in the airport. If your layover is long enough, you can even trek into San Francisco and see a sight or two. We have suggestions and details for both options.

There’s an abundance of art around the airport and some interesting places to visit. There are also lots of places shop and nearly 80 places to eat and drink. In April 2023, Food and Wine Magazine named SFO the “Best Airport for Food in America.”

In this article:

• Things to do in San Francisco International Airport (SFO): Art Exhibits , Aviation Museum , Sky Terrace , and Wag Brigade
• Places you could go in San Francisco on a long layover
• Services at SFO (wifi, bag storage, travel agency, freshen up)
• Getting to San Francisco on a BART train

Things to do in San Francisco Airport

Each of SFO’s four terminals have places to eat, drink, and shop, but SFO also has:

• an accredited museum with artwork in several locations
• an Aviation Museum and Library
• a 4th floor observation deck called Sky Terrace
• one or more Kids Spots in terminals 1, 2, and 3
• a Wag Brigade

SFO is more than an airport; it’s also an accredited museum. The SFO Airport Commission includes a division called SFO Museum , which collaborates with San Francisco’s Fine Arts Museums and has about 25 sites scattered around the airport.

Some of the art sites are outside the security perimeter and are open to anyone visiting the airport. Others are inside the secure areas. Some of the exhibits are permanent and some periodically rotate. Check out the museum’s list of current exhibitions and download their terminal map , which shows each exhibit’s location.

Aviation Museum and Library

The Aviation Museum has several model airplanes, a couple of old engines, propellers, items for meal and beverage service, uniforms, posters, and memorabilia. The second floor has a huge library dedicated to aviation and is available by appointment. The museum is free and open to anyone.

There are two large model airplanes suspended from the ceiling. The Southern Cross is a model of the plane Sir Charles Kingsford Smith flew in 1928 on what became the Southern Cross Route. It’s the route taken by passenger flights between Australasia and Europe via the western hemisphere. ( Source )

The Aviation Museum and Library is located on the departure level (level 3) in the International Terminal main hall. It’s behind an escalator on the left side of the security checkpoint entrance for Boarding Area A. The museum is free and it’s open daily (except holidays) from 10:00 AM to 4:30 PM.

Sky Terrace

Sky Terrace is an observation deck with nice seating and a 180° view of the airfield. It’s free and open to anyone, and it’s outside the security perimeter, so you don’t go through security or need a boarding pass. The attendant will look into any bags you bring in and may ask for an ID.

The entry area has an interesting exhibit with lots of photos and descriptive signage telling the history and evolution of San Francisco Airport.

The Terrace is located on the 4 th  floor in Terminal 2 (Near the D Gates). In Terminal 2, just follow the arrows on the overhead signs. The arrows for Sky Terrace direct you to an elevator; take it to Level 4. The Terrace is open Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays from 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Terminals 1, 2, 3 each have one or more Kids Spots featuring artworks and interactive displays for children. All of the Kids Spots are post-security. Check the SFO Kids Spot page for locations and brief descriptions.

The Wag Brigade

Anyone reading this article has likely traveled enough to know it can be stressful. There are lots of places where problems can crop up: check-in, baggage, security, on-time planes, and making connections. SFO has a very creative way to help relieve some of the stress; it has a Wag Brigade .

The Wag Brigade is a collaboration between the airport and San Francisco SPCA. Handlers take specially trained animals around the airport terminals. People are delighted to see them and it certainly lightens the mood. There are several dogs, a rabbit named Alex, a pig named Lilou, and a cat named Duke. ( Source )

Things of do in San Francisco on a Long Layover at SFO

If you have a long enough layover at SFO, consider venturing into San Francisco. How long is long enough? Personally, I would want at least 5-hours because my quest for adventure does not include missing my flight.

Here’s a list of things that you might like to see/do that are located near six of San Francisco’s BART Stations, which makes them fairly easy to get to and from:

Embarcadero BART Station

The Embarcadero Station is on Market Street just a couple of blocks from the Ferry Building and San Francisco Bay waterfront. The historic Ferry Building is a marketplace with restaurants, lots of artisan food shops, and a variety of local shops. I love walking through the Ferry Building: it smells like coffee, chocolate, and fresh baked pastries. Get something to eat and drink and/or take a stroll along the waterfront. Of course, while you are there, taking a San Francisco ferry ride is always a good idea.

Montgomery BART Station

The Montgomery Station is on Market Street near Yerba Buena Gardens , San Francisco Museum of Modern Art , the Contemporary Jewish Museum , and the Museum of the African Diaspora . They are all in the vicinity of Third and Mission Streets on the east side of Montgomery Station.

Montgomery Station is a short walk to the SalesForce Transit Center, which has an amazing 5.4-acre park on its roof. Montgomery Station is also next to the historic Palace Hotel where breakfast and lunch are served in the gorgeous 110-year-old glass domed Garden Court .

Powell Street BART Station

The Powell Station is on Market Street at the Powell Street cable car turnaround. Union Square, shopping, and my favorite Irish Pub, Johnny Foley’s Irish House are a couple of blocks west of Powell Station.

Civic Center BART Station

The Civic Center Station is on Market Street near to the Asian Art Museum and San Francisco’s impressive City Hall.

16 th  Street BART Station:

The 16th Street Station is located in the Mission District, this station is a short walk from Mission San Francisco de Asís (also called Mission Delores). The Mission was built in 1776 and is the oldest surviving building in San Francisco.

24 th  Street BART Station

The 24th Street Station is also located in the Mission District. This area has restaurants (especially Mexican) and a huge variety of street art . My favorite murals are in Balmy Alley (off 24th Street) and on the Women’s Building (on 18 th  Street). My favorite Mexican food in the area is at San Jalisco Restaurant on 20 th  Street.

Getting from San Francisco Airport to Downtown

It’s only 13-miles (21 km), so a car could get you there in 15-20 minutes — unless the freeway turns into a parking lot. By train it’s 30-minutes plus time to get to the station and wait for a train. Once you return to the airport, there’s the little detail about getting to your terminal and through security and to the gate, so make sure you have time.

If you have time, you can take a taxi or service like Lyft or Uber or you can take the BART Train . BART is my favorite way for three reasons:

• Convenient:  The SFO BART Station is connected to the International Terminal. It’s a very short walk between the station and International Terminal G, and it’s a quick and easy AirTrain ride to/from all of the other terminals.
• Fast:  BART runs on a dedicated track and doesn’t have to deal with heavy freeway traffic. The trains take 30-minutes from SFO to downtown San Francisco and they run frequently (about every 15 minutes).
• Cheap:  The fare (one way) is $10.55. Okay, it’s cheap for one person, but maybe not for a family. Kids 4 and under ride free.

How to Take BART to San Francisco

Getting to the SFO BART Station:  the station entrance is in International Terminal G. If you’re in the International Terminal, it’s an easy walk. If you’re in terminals 1, 2, or 3, walk or take the AirTrain to Terminal G. Look for the signs to AirTrain and/or BART.

How to pay the fare:  get either the Clipper App or a Clipper Card:

• Clipper App: Download the app to your smartphone and follow the instructions. You’ll need to connect the app to Apple Pay or Google Pay
• Clipper Card: Purchase the Clipper card from a machine in the BART Station. The plastic card is $3; add money to the card either with a credit/debit card or insert cash.

Tip: Both the Yellow Line and Red Line BART trains go through San Francisco and stop at SFO. You can take either line in either direction.

For more information about using public transit in San Francisco (like fares, ways to pay, and transit apps), visit our related post: Sightseeing San Francisco using public transit .

Services at SFO

• Free no-limit WiFi
• Places to plugin and charge your devices
• Baggage storage, business services, and freshen up facilities are available at the Airport Travel Agency (located in International Terminal G near boarding Area A)

If you have a relatively short layover at San Francisco International Airport, say less than 5 hours, there’s enough to do to keep you occupied. There’s an abundance of places to eat, drink, and shop, and you can spend time in the Aviation Museum and the Sky Terrace. You can also checkout some of the art exhibits, and while wandering around the airport, you might even encounter the Wag Brigade.

If you have a relatively long layover, say 5 hours or more, you could take a quick trip into San Francisco and visit one of the museums or parks, or shop or have a special meal. Just be sure you head back to the airport a couple of hours before your flight. If you have a really long layover, here are more things to see and do in San Francisco:

• Popular Must-see Attractions in San Francisco
• 15 Best Museums in San Francisco
• Best Parks and Gardens in San Francisco
• Unique San Francisco Neighborhoods to Visit

About the Author

Ginny Vail is a travel writer who loves travel planning, sightseeing, photography, and videography. She’s visited all 50 states and traveled around the world. Her articles focus on discovering places to go, sights to see, and details about when and how to visit them.

If you liked Things to do in San Francisco Airport, you might enjoy...

Hiking in San Francisco — 8 Great Urban Hiking Trails

San Francisco's Lands End Hike

Best Views in San Francisco on the Golden Gate Promenade

Barbary Coast Trail, a self-guided walking tour of San Francisco

Planning the Perfect Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip

Grand Views and Gorgeous Mosaic Stairs in San Francisco

A Great Walk in Golden Gate Park from JFK Promenade to the Ocean

Mt. Davidson San Francisco: Scenic Trails and Sweeping Views

Awesome, you're subscribed!

Thanks for subscribing! Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon!

The best things in life are free.

Sign up for our email to enjoy your city without spending a thing (as well as some options when you’re feeling flush).

Déjà vu! We already have this email. Try another?

By entering your email address you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receive emails from Time Out about news, events, offers and partner promotions.

Love the mag?

Our newsletter hand-delivers the best bits to your inbox. Sign up to unlock our digital magazines and also receive the latest news, events, offers and partner promotions.

• Things to Do
• Restaurants
• Music & Nightlife
• Neighborhoods
• Shopping & Style
• Los Angeles

Get us in your inbox

🙌 Awesome, you're subscribed!

The best day trips from San Francisco

From pristine beaches to exquisite hikes, there’s so much to discover on the best day trips from San Francisco

Okay, there are so many magnificent things to do in San Francisco that leaving might seem strange, but stay with us here. Sometimes, a little excursion out of the city is just what the doctor ordered, and the best day trips from San Francisco are medicine for the soul. When you need a break from the bars, beaches, and restaurants of the Golden City (you might, you never know), hit the road and embrace all that Northern California has to offer. And what an offer it is. Everything from fascinating towns to incredible nature is just a short drive away. You might find your new favorite cafe or a love of wildflowers in the process. San Francisco is one of the world’s great cities, and its surroundings only accentuate the magic.

RECOMMENDED: The best things to do in the Bay Area

An email you’ll actually love

Best day trips from San Francisco

1.  Big Sur

With winding mountainside roads, sweeping beaches, and breathtaking sunsets, is it any wonder the Big Sur is the subject matter of so many songs? (The Thrills and Buckethead, we're looking at you.) Ok, so it is pushing it on the day trip scale from San Fran, but if you head out at the crack of dawn or thereabouts, the drive will be totally worth it. Plus, the high quality of relaxing and eating that can be done there is sure to send you back singing. Make your way in on Highway 1, lap up the crazy beautiful views, and beeline for the beach—Pfeiffer is the stretch of shoreline where you can see the arched rock that forms a stunning light tunnel at sunrise/set. Then wander up to the vantage point at McWay Falls to admire the tropical island-like vibes before swanning off for lunch.

Sierra Mar, the restaurant at  Post Ranch Inn , offers a three-course prix fixe lunch with a view of the Pacific. Or stop in at  Nepenthe  amid the trees for 'The Famous Ambrosiaburger'—a ground steak sandwich served on a French roll with housemade ambrosia sauce. After that, you'll likely want to relax before the hefty drive back, so chill out at  Ventana Inn , a wooden-lodge-style hotel that welcomes day guests at their spa. Don't forget to stop in at the  Henry Miller Memorial Library , where they host a range of events, before heading back up the coast.

Distance from San Francisco:  2 hours 45 mins

2.  Point Reyes and Tomales Bay

With an enormous 71,000 acres of nature preserve on the Pacific Coast, Point Reyes is a dramatic windswept land populated by elephant seals, old-growth Douglas-fir forests, and a 145-year-old lighthouse. Start your trip at the  Bear Valley Visitor Center  to pick up trail maps, then make your way to Chimney Rock, where a five-minute walk from the parking lot takes you to a cliff's-edge vantage point. If visiting between January and April, keep your eyes peeled for the Pacific gray whale migration, which passes just off the coast on the journey between Baja California and feeding grounds in Alaska. At the Tule Elk Reserve, hike or take a ranger-led tour to get a glimpse of these majestic animals (July to September is the rutting season), or visit the historic Pierce Point Ranch at the trailhead. If you want a dip in the water, Heart’s Desire Beach in neighboring Tomales Bay has shallower and warmer waters than the open ocean.

Food options abound in nearby Point Reyes Station, a small rustic town at the mouth of the bay.  Cowgirl Creamery  churns out its award-winning artisanal cheeses on-site—in a restored hay barn—and the Cowgirl Cantina has creamy tomato soups, cheddar toasties, and the classic organic ham and Mount Tam sandwich.  Point Reyes Books  deserves a look-in while you’re here. This winsome little independent bookstore has respectable collections on wildlife and the environment and routinely hosts events involving the local artists’ community. Just up the bay, feast on classic oyster and Dungeness crab delights with a view at  Hog Island Oyster Company 's farm and the  Marshall Store .

Distance from San Francisco:  1 hour 30 mins

3.  Stinson Beach and Bolinas

For friendly, laidback beach vibes, venture north to Stinson Beach and Bolinas. These two points, which bookend Bolinas Bay, boast a rugged coastline, stretches of white sand, and water-based activities. Newbie surfers can book lessons at the  2 Mile Surf Shop , while keen swimmers should look out for Bass Lake, a body of freshwater situated a short drive up Mesa Road followed by a near-three-mile hike (trust us, it is worth it).

Reenergize with some fresh seafood or pop into the hillside  Coast Cafe  for a chunky sandwich at lunch or something more substantial from their dinner menu. And if you're planning to have a swift one before driving back, try out  Smiley’s Schooner Saloon , which is popular with the locals and offers games and live music with your drink.

Distance from San Francisco:  1 hour

4.  Skyline Boulevard (Hwy 35) and Woodside

Escape into the cool blue mountains via Skyline Boulevard in Woodside, which offers nature trails, spectacular ocean and valley views, and wine-tasting without the traffic. When you reach town, you'll see a wooden cabin in a clearing at the intersection; this is  Alice’s Restaurant , the place to stop if you like to have your burgers and BBQ paired with the rumble of Harleys. Popular with bikers and cyclists plying the mountain roads, Alice’s offers breakfast until 2pm, Texas-style BBQ (brisket and pulled pork smoked in-house), and cheesy (literally and figuratively) motorbike-themed burgers. This is still the Bay Area, though, so the burgers are made with hormone- and antibiotic-free beef patties, and there is gluten-free beer on the menu.

After lunch, continue southeast on Skyline. Ten minutes away is  Thomas Fogarty Winery —it is a short drive, so don’t miss the few unmarked vista points along the way—where you can catch panoramic views of the ocean across rolling hills. In the winery's tasting room, try a flight of five signature wines or buy a bottle, borrow some glasses, and sit out in the romantic wooden gazebo. For a different kind of unwinding, visit the  Jikoji Zen Center . Founded by Kobun Chino Otogawa, Steve Jobs’ mentor, the center welcomes visitors to meditate in its  zendos  or wander its tranquil grounds. From the front gate, it is a winding dirt track down to the main building, so make sure your suspension is in place. Ring the aging bronze bell at the entrance to let them know it is your first time.

Distance from San Francisco:  45 mins

5.  Sebastopol

Unlike Healdsburg, Sebastapol is still the authentic, laid-back Sonoma outpost it was a generation ago. Dive right in, beginning at  Aubergine Vintage Emporium , a hangar-like space where you might pick up anything from a broken-in aviator jacket to a Soviet Army-issued canvas belt. Hidden behind the clothing racks are a cavernous live music venue and a bar with an open patio. If you’re of a spiritual rather than spirits bent, wander up to  Many Rivers Books & Tea , a cozy bookshop stacked high with New Age and philosophical tomes and figurines. In the tea shop at the back, pick up a bag of Monk’s Blend, a smooth malty mix of Assam, Darjeeling, Keemun, and Nilgiri. For a light lunch, head to The Barlow, a cluster of restored warehouses once home to an apple processing plant. Sit out on the patio at  Woodfour Brewing Company  and try one of their Belgian farmhouse-style sours, mashed and boiled in the copper-plated tanks right behind the bar. Snack on cheeses from Petaluma, bratwurst, or Miyagi oysters.

Across the street, browse Scandinavian-inspired ceramics at  the Passdoor .  A small detour to nearby Guerneville would be worth your while if only to check out  Guerneville Bank Club , a historic bank building now housing the INIZI wine tasting room, a corner store specializing in handmade crafts, and the Nimble & Finn's ice cream parlor. Grab a cone of Bulleit Bourbon with chocolate-covered pretzels if available. Take in the Russian River Historical Society’s exhibit at the back of the building, cataloging Guerneville’s early days as a logging town. Wrap up your evening with a digestif at the  Hopmonk Tavern , a vast space with a red banquette bar, a concert venue, and a Tuscan-inspired garden strung with lights.

Distance from San Francisco:  1 hour 15 mins

6.  Gold Country (Sierra Nevada Foothills)

The Gold Rush pretty much jolted San Francisco (along with the rest of California) onto the world map, so a list of day trips would be incomplete without a visit to Gold Country. Much of it is further away than you’d want to travel in a day, but head to Columbia for a quick escape into the past. This historical town set in the Sierra Nevada foothills features shops and restaurants preserved to evoke the 1850s Gold Rush era.

Walk into  Parrott’s Blacksmith Shop  and get yourself a memento forged in their coal oven. For lunch, hit up  Columbia Kate’s Teahouse . Sit in a tiny red 1880s-style barn and enjoy rustic fare like chicken pot pie made from scratch or spinach and ricotta quiche. For a taste of old-style candy-making, visit  Nelson’s Columbia Candy Kitchen , which still makes their confections in copper kettles and cools them on 100-year-old marble-topped tables. On the way home, stop at Parrotts Ferry Bridge, under which ferries once carried passengers between mining towns, which offers dramatic views over New Melones Lake and the adjoining hills. 

Distance from San Francisco:  2 hours 30 mins

7.  Santa Cruz

Beyond the surf and boardwalk amusement park rides that Santa Cruz is best known for are mountain ranges,  treetop walks , butterflies, and indie bands. The adventurous should beeline for Mount Hermon, where you'll find all sorts of activities ranging from an ecology tour in the trees to a two-hour zipline, railroad riding, and Bigfoot hunting. Those who prefer to remain on terra firma (and are visiting during the colder months) should try to catch the impressive butterflies residing in the eucalyptus trees at Monarch Grove, in  Natural Bridges State Beach .  Music lovers will be satisfied with a night at  Moe's Alley , where they regularly host local and international bands. 

8.  Pescadero and Half Moon Bay

Pescadero boasts stunning bluffs and sandy beaches next to a small country town with a laid-back main street. Start your day by exploring the  Pescadero Marsh Natural Preserve , a 243-acre wetland habitat popular with hikers and bird watchers. For a short, relaxed stroll, take the Butano Trail up to a picturesque iron bridge over the creek. More intrepid hikers will enjoy the Sequoia Audubon Trail, which winds past coastal scrub and Great Blue Heron nesting sites up to a pretty eucalyptus grove. After your workout, head to Arcangeli Grocery in  Norm’s Market , where you can get made-to-order grilled sandwiches from the deli in the back. For dessert, amble down the street to the James Beard-anointed America’s Classic  Duarte’s Tavern  for a slice of their olallieberry pie. Afterward, head to  Downtown Local  for a cup of Sightglass coffee and browse their eclectic collection of vintage items, including two café racer motorbikes (look out for the 1949 Nimbus in the window).

End your day at  Pescadero State Beach ; park at the northernmost parking lot if you want long sandy beaches, or at the southernmost lot if you’d like to clamber over rocky outcrops, inspect tide pools, and watch the surf from the top of a sandstone bluff. As sunset approaches, join the locals in camping chairs and blankets on the sand. If you’re in the mood for pampering, head up the coast to Navio at the  Ritz-Carlton , score yourself a window table, and watch the sun set beyond the ocean over a glass of pinot noir.

9.  Point Lobos

With miles of hiking trails across cliffs, coves, and forests, plus a rich marine habitat of giant kelp forests and darting sea lions, Point Lobos offers a great day out for photographers, hikers, and scuba divers. Park by Cannery Point and start at the  Whaler’s Cabin , a museum on the site of a former whaling station displaying the personal effects and diaries belonging to the Chinese, Portuguese, and Japanese whalers who once lived here. You'll also see harpoons and learn the grisly process of harvesting blubber. Parts of humpback and gray whale skeletons lie somewhat gruesomely scattered outside.

If you’re oceanically inclined, the neighboring Whaler’s Cove is the place to scuba dive, kayak, or do some stand-up paddle boarding. Otherwise, find your way to Sea Lion Cove, where California sea lions and their pups can be spotted during the springtime pupping season, packing the beach nose to tail. A walk along the Sea Lion Point Trail will show you some of the best views of the reserve, with its characteristic lashing waves and craggy outcrops. Stop at Piney Woods for a picnic lunch with a view. Before you journey home, head to the famed tide pools on what is now called Weston Beach. Large sandstone slabs jut out of the ground, creating an awesome display of colors and patterns, all composed of sand that settled in underwater beds millions of years ago.

10.  Carmel

Carmel’s Ocean Avenue and its environs are a great place to feel the European village vibe the town is famous for. A worthwhile stop is the elegant  Harrison Memorial Library , which occupies a building designed by Bernard Maybeck (École des Beaux-Arts alumnus and architect of San Francisco’s Palace of Fine Arts). The reading room captures the charm of the quintessential small-town library, with heavy tables flanked by tall windows. Outside, the flagstone courtyard is a pleasant place to sit back and people-watch. For a cultural stop and to sample works rooted in this historic artist colony, visit the  Weston Gallery . In addition to a vintage photography collection (including prints by Carmel’s own Edward Weston and Ansel Adams), the gallery also has regular exhibitions of contemporary work.

When hunger strikes, drop into  Casanova , a charming French restaurant with a trellised outdoor patio. The eponymous Ocean Avenue leads directly to the ocean, and Carmel Beach is a lovely spot to kick back with locals on the fine white sand. Dog walkers and couples stop by in the afternoon to enjoy the view from the sheltered cove. History buffs will appreciate a trip to  Carmel Mission , the second founded in Alta California. On the grounds is a shrine to Junípero Serra, a member of the Portolà expedition that brought the first European settlers to the Bay Area.

Distance from San Francisco:  2 hours 15 mins

11.  Los Gatos

With its affluent tone and charming yet eclectic main street, Los Gatos weekends sees well-heeled locals having relaxed brunches or cruising boutique shops, all at the foot of the Santa Cruz Mountains. If Michelin-starred Manresa feels excessive for the day, drop in at  Manresa Bread  and take home a loaf of their signature sourdough levain. For lunch or an early dinner, stop at  Oak & Rye , a popular bistro with a wood-fired oven and a rye- and bourbon-laced cocktail list (best with the bistro's pretzel bread, made from two-year yeast grown in-house).

Bay Area history buffs shouldn’t miss a trip to Quicksilver Country nearby: Mercury was being mined in New Almaden before the Gold Rush, and the New Almaden mines were the most valuable in the state, attracting Cornish, Chinese, and Mexican settlers. The  New Almaden Mining Museum  is housed in the Casa Grande, built in 1854 as the official residence of mining supervisors. If you’re feeling energetic, hike up to English Camp in the County Park next door for an aerial view of the remaining mine buildings.

12.  Berkeley

Almost everyone has heard of Berkeley, even if they've never been there. This legendary university town is set in an incredibly beautiful location, perched on a hilltop with views of the bay looking west. To the east, there are lush green parks, redwood trees, and reservoirs. The campus itself is made up of tasteful, contemporary architecture incorporating the iconic Sather Tower. More commonly known as 'The Campanile' for its resemblance to the Campanile di San Marco in Venice, it stands 307ft tall, features clocks on its four faces, and affords jaw-dropping views of San Francisco Bay from its observation platform.

This university, arguably more than any other, has featured prominently in recent American history. With its Bohemian counterculture, Berkeley gained a worldwide reputation for political activism in the 1960s with the Free Speech Movement, student protests, and rallies against the Vietnam War. Once you've soaked up some important history, wander around and explore the bookstores, quirky shops, and casual eateries that serve all kinds of ethnic cuisine and quick bites.

Distance from San Francisco:  30-minute drive

13.  Tiburon and Angel Island

In Tiburon, you'll get that small-town vacation vibe less than an hour away from the city and with fewer tourists than in Sausalito. Rent a bike from  Demo Sport  and ride a segment of the Paradise Drive Loop (download a map from  marinbike.org ) or let serendipity take you past the town's pretty houses and impressive bay views. Hop on to the  Angel Island-Tiburon Ferry  and visit the museum at the  Angel Island Immigration Station , which documents the experiences of the many immigrants who crossed the Pacific Ocean, stopping first at the "Ellis Island of the West." Look out for poetry scrawled on the walls when the station was used as a detention center.

For lunch, we recommend a picnic at one of the many scenic spots scattered around the island. When you head to Tiburon, stop at  Luna Blu , a waterfront Italian restaurant serving English afternoon tea. Indulge in scones with Devonshire clotted cream and mixed berry jam together with traditional English cucumber sandwiches. Before you head home, take a leisurely stroll through Shoreline Park for a glimpse of the San Francisco lighting up the evening across the bay.

Distance from San Francisco:  40 mins by car, 20 mins by ferry

14.  Gilroy

Unlike the frenzied outlet shopping malls typically plonked near industrial parks and parking garages, Gilroy offers  outlet bargains  in more quaint surrounds. It's also famed for its farmstands and markets, where you can pick up all manner of fresh fruit, vegetables, flowers, juices, and preserves—not to mention the famed Gilroy garlic. Pop over to  Garlic World  on Monterey Road to immerse yourselves in all things vampire-repelling—from seasonings to dips to garlic-flavored almonds.

After all that garlic action, you might want to air it out before heading home. The rambling woodland of  Henry Coe State Park  is a fantastic place to do this; covering 250 miles of land, it's the largest in California.

[image] [title]

Discover Time Out original video

• Press office
• Investor relations
• Work for Time Out
• Editorial guidelines
• Privacy notice
• Do not sell my information
• Cookie policy
• Accessibility statement
• Terms of use
• Copyright agent
• Modern slavery statement
• Manage cookies
• Advertising
• Time Out Market

Time Out products

• Time Out Worldwide

Time Out magazine

One Day in San Francisco Itinerary: The Ultimate Travel Guide

Posted on Published: January 7, 2024  - Last updated: February 16, 2024

Categories Blog , California , City Guides , Travel Guides , United States

Here is the ultimate one day in San Francisco itinerary. If you only have 24 hours in San Francisco (or less!), it’s possible to fill your day with so many wonderful activities and famous attractions. Even though there are so many fun things to do in San Francisco, you can get a good feel for the city in only a day.

When I visited the city of San Francisco with my sister, we travelled there on a cruise ship. The cruise docked in San Francisco for a full day, from morning until night (8:00am to 11:00pm). With so many hours in port, we set out early for an exciting and complete day in SF.

Posts may be sponsored. Post contains affiliate links. I may be compensated if you make a purchase using my link.

No matter if you’re visiting San Francisco on a cruise, a road trip of Northern California, or you’re only taking a day trip to San Francisco, you’ll find this travel guide super helpful. This is a great blog post for any first time visitors to San Francisco, too. Even if you have two days in San Francisco, you can take a leisurely approach and slowly check off everything on this list.

Quick Guide to San Francisco

Here are some of the best tours, activities, attractions and lodging in San Francisco. If you’re planning your trip at the last minute and you’re looking for must do activities, look no further!

Best Tours and Activities in San Francisco

• The San Francisco Love Tour
• Alcatraz Island Tour
• GoCar San Francisco Tour
• San Francisco Movie Sights Tour
• San Francisco Bay Sunset Cruise

Best Hotels and Accommodation in San Francisco

• Riu Plaza Fisherman’s Wharf
• Hotel Nikko San Francisco
• Chancellor Hotel on Union Square

While this San Francisco itinerary might seem packed, it is totally doable! I did everything exactly as listed in San Francisco in a day. If you start in the morning and continue through until the evening, you will be able to see and do all of the things listed in this San Francisco travel guide.

Table of Contents

One Day in San Francisco Itinerary: Getting Around

First things first, let’s get to San Francisco. If you’re traveling from afar, I suggest flying to the San Francisco International Airport. Here’s where you’ll find the best prices on flights .

I don’t generally recommend renting a car in SF. Parking can be tricky to find, and it’s best to explore the city by public transportation or on your own two feet. However, if you are starting a road trip of California and would like your own car, here’s where you’ll find the best rates on car rentals in San Francisco.

For first timers, you may wish to experience a tour that will help acquaint you with the city and showcase the highlights. The San Francisco Love Tour does exactly that. You’ll ride in style in a 1970s VW bus on a two-hour sightseeing tour to see the city’s best landmarks and iconic spots.

Another great way to get from attraction to attraction is by taking the Hop On Hop Off Bus . This double-decker sightseeing bus travels between the most famous landmarks in SF. Travel at your own pace, hop off at any of the stops, and hop back on when you’re done.

San Francisco Map

Here’s a listing of the best things to do in San Francisco in a day. You’ll find all of them plotted out rather nicely on this map. Go on your own self guided walking tour of San Francisco.

How to use this map: Click on each icon to learn more about each location. To reference this map at a later date, click the star next to the map’s title. It will save the map to your Google Maps account. Then, open Google Maps and go to “Your places” in the menu to see this map.

One Day in San Francisco Itinerary: Pier 39

We started our day at Pier 39 in San Francisco because we wanted to visit the local sea lions . California sea lions are loud and hilarious creatures. You’ll witness them piled up together on the docks, playing with each other and barking away. In fact, you’ll probably hear them before you see them as they’re quite noisy!

How did a bunch of sea lions end up at Pier 39? After the Loma Prieta earthquake in October 1989, a few California sea lions began to gather on Pier 39’s K-Dock. K-Dock was completely swarmed by sea lions a couple of months later.

The marina staff reached out to The Marine Mammal Center (an organization that rescues and rehabilitates marine mammals), and they recommended that the sea lions stay at Pier 39. While the number of sea lions rises and falls with the seasons and food supply, they reached an all-time record of 1701 in November 2009!

If you visit K-Dock on Thursday – Monday from 11:30am to 5:00pm, you can meet with conservation experts from The Marine Mammal Center about the best measures we can take to protect the sea lions and our oceans. In spring 2024, The Marine Mammal Center’s Sea Lion Spot will open behind the sea lion viewing area at K-Dock, featuring an informative and educational exhibit and retail space.

One Day in San Francisco: Fisherman’s Wharf

After you’ve seen the California sea lions, continue walking around Fisherman’s Wharf. Fisherman’s Wharf is the area between Pier 39 and Ghirardelli Square. This is a very touristy area with expensive souvenir shops and crowds of people, though it’s an iconic place you should see when you spend one day in San Francisco.

Even if you don’t spend much time here, simply go for a wander around Fisherman’s Wharf and take in the sights and sounds. I have to admit that we only spent a short amount of time walking around here, though we did love the waterfront views.

At Fisherman’s Wharf, we hopped aboard the cable car, which I’ll explain in more detail in the next section. As we walked down the street, we even spotted some old decommissioned cable cars, including a TTC cable car from Toronto! We weren’t expecting to see a little piece of home in SF.

This is also where boats depart to Alcatraz Island if you’ve decided to take a tour there. Wander over to the ferry building at Pier 33 to find your boat tour to Alcatraz. Make sure you book your Alcatraz tour in advance.

Ride the Cable Car to Lombard Street

Next, we’re going to make our way to Lombard Street. The best way to travel there is by cable car. When you think of San Francisco, this famous mode of transportation may come to mind. It’s one of the best things to do in San Francisco in a day. Plus, San Francisco is so hilly that you’ll save yourself some hill walking in the process.

First, you’ll want to download the MuniMobile app on your smartphone. This is the easiest way to purchase tickets for public transportation, so you won’t have to fumble around looking for exact change. If you think that you’ll ride the historic streetcars, trains or buses more than once in a day, it’s worth getting a day pass.

A day pass guarantees unlimited rides on all forms of Muni public transportation in San Francisco throughout the day. It’s one low price for the day and you can purchase a day pass through the app just as you would a bus / historic cable car ticket.

Walk to the Friedel Klussmann Memorial Turnaround, the cable car terminus on Hyde Street. It is named for Friedel Klussmann who saved the San Francisco cable car system in the 1940s and 1950s. She also pioneered the San Francisco Beautiful organization in 1947. We boarded the cable car and rode it to Lombard Street.

San Francisco in a Day: Walk Down Lombard Street

Even if you only have one day in San Francisco, you need to check out Lombard Street. It’s one of the most unique, curvy, and crooked streets in the world. Lombard Street covers one city block down a steep hill with eight hairpin turns. Believe it or not, Lombard Street is one of the top tourist attractions in SF.

Lombard Street is flanked by mansions and manicured gardens that will leave you in awe. As it’s so incredibly picturesque and wildly curved, it is one of the most photographed streets in the world. Don’t miss experiencing this zig zag street for yourself.

From the top of Lombard Street looking down, you’ll be able to admire stunning scenery of the city looking out to San Francisco Bay. As the naturally steep grade of the street was too dangerous for cars, the road was adapted to include eight switchback turns. It’s also much safer for pedestrians, too.

Stick to the sidewalks at the side of the road and be mindful of the cars that are slowly driving around the corners. Some of them may accidentally hop the curb at times, so be on the lookout when cars pass by. Make your way down to the bottom of Lombard Street and gaze upwards for a new perspective.

Telegraph Hill and Coit Tower

One of the most recognizable structures when viewing San Francisco’s cityscape is Coit Tower, which sits atop Telegraph Hill. Coit Tower, also known as Coit Memorial Tower, is the main feature at Pioneer Park. It stands at 210 feet tall and it was completed in 1933.

We walked from the bottom of Lombard Street to Telegraph Hill, which is about a 20 to 25 minute walk. On Google Maps, the jaunt looks pretty simple, though there are some uphill climbs that can be expected just about anywhere you go in the city. San Francisco is very hilly!

From the observation deck at this historic building, you can enjoy sweeping panoramic views of the city and the Pacific Ocean. Visiting the tower itself is free. Make sure to take a look at the murals inside the base of the tower. They were painted in 1934 by artists employed by the Public Works of Art Project. They showcase life in California during the Depression.

It is free to check out the tower’s observation deck, as long as you don’t mind taking the stairs to the top. There is a fee to use the 90-year old elevator. You can also pay a small fee for a guided tour of Coit Tower, including more thorough explanations of the intriguing murals that were quite controversial at the time. More details are available on the San Francisco Recreation & Parks website .

Lunch at Wildseed

Wildseed is a vegan restaurant in San Francisco where eating well is not only nutritious, but also delicious. Their lunch menu features small bites, such as spicy cucumbers, smoked white bean hummus and baba ghanoush.

For the main course, you can choose between sharable plates, full plates, salads, bowls and pizza. Whether it’s spicy yellow curry, a plant-based chicken sandwich, or a spicy sausage pizza, you’ll surely discover some tasty and special dishes at this San Francisco plant-based restaurant.

Coffee at Wrecking Ball Coffee Roasters

Wrecking Ball Coffee Roasters is not too far from Wildseed, so you can opt for a coffee either before or after lunch, depending on your schedule. In my case, I went for a coffee after lunch for a little pick-me-up before I continued the rest of my day in San Francisco.

Located in the Cow Hollow neighborhood of San Francisco, Wrecking Ball Coffee offers a full-service cafe with a full menu of espresso drinks, brewed coffee, hand-crafted pour-over coffee, as well as a selection of teas and herbal tisanes. I had to try one of their hand-crafted pour-over coffees, and it was heavenly.

One Day in San Francisco Itinerary: The Painted Ladies

After lunch and coffee, it’s time to embark on the second half of our day in San Francisco. First up, it’s the Painted Ladies, a row of colorful houses made famous from their appearance in the intro for Full House. From Wrecking Ball Coffee Roasters, it’s about a 40 minute walk through town. Although we walked, you could easily take the bus instead.

The Painted Ladies, also known as the Seven Sisters or Postcard Row, is the row of Victorian houses at 710–720 Steiner Street across from Alamo Square Park. When you walk up the hill at Alamo Square Park, you’ll be treated to a view of these brightly painted houses with an impressive city skyline backdrop.

While these are among the most famous “Painted Ladies”, the term refers to any Victorian or Edwardian house (or any historic home, really) painted in three or more colors. These old homes began to be painted in the 1960s during the “Colorist Movement”.

While San Francisco’s Painted Ladies are a bright and cheery location to visit, most people recognize them from the opening credits of Full House . Some tourists even refer to these homes as the Full House houses. It’s even possible to book a tour inside one of the Painted Ladies . The homeowner of the blue home (#712) offers guided tours of the top three floors of their home.

24 Hours in San Francisco: Haight-Ashbury

From the Painted Ladies, we walked to the corner of Haight Street and Ashbury Street, the center of the counterculture movement in the 1960s. As someone who studied English and history at university and even took some courses about countercultures, I was really excited to visit Haight-Ashbury in person.

Back in the day, the community and neighborhood surrounding Haight-Ashbury was a gathering spot for hippies and the center of the hippie subculture and the psychedelic rock movement. The Summer of Love happened during the summer of 1967 when 100,000 young people descended upon Haight-Ashbury.

There were overwhelming messages supporting free love, no war, living communally, and dropping out of society (hence the phrase “turn on, tune in, drop out”). This also involved taking psychedelic drugs and listening to hippie music.

Flower power and the spirit of the Summer of Love are alive and well in The Haight. I loved seeing all of the colorful murals and brightly painted Victorian homes. There are quite a few shops featuring everything from vintage goods to luxury wares. There’s no shortage of tie dye clothing. Pop by Amoeba Music, a famous record store where there are occasionally free live concerts.

Japanese Tea Garden at Golden Gate Park

While Golden Gate Park is a beautiful green space in San Francisco and I highly recommend seeing as much of it as possible, don’t miss visiting the Japanese Tea Garden . This is the oldest operating Japanese Garden in North America where you’ll experience a little slice of Japan in San Francisco.

Visit the traditional Japanese tea house for a cup of tea or a light bite in a serene setting. Wander around the tranquil environment of this botanical garden, surrounded by Japanese maples, flowering azaleas, and cherry trees. Cherry blossom season arrives in March and April, so you can time your visit to San Francisco accordingly.

Some famous landmarks at the Japanese Tea Garden include the Buddha (cast in 1790 in Japan and donated to the garden), the Zen Garden, the Arched Drum Bridge and the Pagoda. You can take a 60-minute guided tour of the garden or explore on your own. I love peaceful gardens and feel this is one of the best places to visit in San Francisco.

Baker Beach at Sunset (Views of Golden Gate Bridge)

Let’s end our perfect day in San Francisco with a bang! From Golden Gate Park, walk to Baker Beach for epic sunset views. It’s about a 30 minute walk or you can take public transportation for a 13 minute ride. Baker Beach offers some of the most amazing views of the iconic Golden Gate Bridge at sunset.

Not only can you witness some of the best views of the Golden Gate Bridge, but the sunset here is magnificent. Watch the sun drop down below the horizon on a long stretch of beach that doesn’t get too busy.

Dinner at Nourish Cafe

After taking in those brilliant sunset views, it’s time for a nourishing meal at Nourish Cafe . They have two locations in San Francisco, so take your pick between their establishment in the Richmond District or Nob Hill.

This is a 100% plant-based cafe that uses organic, whole food and non-GMO ingredients to create healthy and flavorful meals. The menu features bowls, sandwiches, toasts, smoothies, smoothie bowls, a soup of the day and more.

We ordered two hearty and delicious bowls, the Nourish Bowl and the Bap Bowl. These were full of veggies and topped with savory dressings. After a long day out exploring, these meals were both filling and energizing. There’s no shortage of good food in SF, especially when it comes to vegan eats.

Where to Stay in San Francisco

If you’re only spending one day in San Francisco, you’ll want to make sure you are centrally located near all the action. After all, you’ll need as much time as possible to experience the city to its fullest.

For a hotel in the heart of Fisherman’s Wharf (where I begin this one day in San Francisco itinerary), I recommend staying overnight at the Riu Plaza Fisherman’s Wharf . This highly rated, four-star property is only a 10-minute walk from Pier 39. You can also enjoy an outdoor swimming pool, outdoor fire pits, and spacious rooms.

The Hotel Nikko San Francisco is another excellent choice. Situated in the middle of San Francisco near Union Square, Hotel Nikko offers a brilliant location for an amazing day in San Francisco. It’s a five-star hotel with many amenities, like a terrace, an on-site restaurant with plant-based offerings, and city views from your room. This is one of the best luxury hotels in the city that won’t break the bank.

More Accommodations in San Francisco

Here is a really handy map that lists all hotels, apartments and accommodations in San Francisco. Enter your travel dates for more precise information. Click each property to learn more and then you can book your stay.

Want to see more photos of San Francisco?

View all of our travel photography in one place! You can browse and buy any of our pictures in the form of canvas prints, things for the home, and more!

More Blog Posts About California

Looking for more blog posts about planning a trip to California? We’ve got you covered! Here are more articles about places around California to visit.

• 1 Day in Los Angeles Itinerary
• 2 Days in Los Angeles Itinerary
• 1 Day in San Diego Itinerary
• Best Vegan Restaurants in San Diego
• Fun Things to Do in Huntington Beach
• Best Vegan Restaurants in Huntington Beach
• Best Coffee Shops in Huntington Beach
• Fun Things to Do in Buena Park

Need Travel Insurance? You should never leave home without travel insurance! Check out the best rates to make sure you’re covered in case of an emergency or accident.

Lauren is the full-time travel blogger and content creator behind Justin Plus Lauren. She started Justin Plus Lauren in 2013 and has travelled to 50+ countries around the world. Lauren is an expert on vegan travel as one of the very first vegan travel bloggers. She also focuses on outdoor adventure travel, eco and sustainable travel, and creating amazing travel itineraries for cities and small towns.

Alcatraz Day Tour

Dylan’s famous tour with muir woods and alcatraz.

See it all in one day! Explore San Francisco, Muir Woods, and take the official Alcatraz tour with tickets included at the end of your tour with Dylan’s.

  Time & Duration

Tour starts at 8:00 AM Returns approx. 5:30 PM

Adult $189 Child $129 (12 & under)

  Tour Includes

• Explore the top neighborhoods with your local guide and learn the stories, history, and diversity of San Francisco.
• 12 locations, 7 amazing photo stops, including Alcatraz, Golden Gate Bridge, and more!
• Enjoy a relaxing lunch in Sausalito, where you will have time to soak in all the views of the Bay.
• The Official Alcatraz Tour ferry will depart Pier 33 at approximately 3:00 PM during the summer months and 2:00 PM during the winter months.
• Please contact us directly if you are interested in a hotel pickup.
• We offer a 100% refund with at least 4 days notice prior to departure.
• Please note this tour will sell out throughout the year, especially during the spring and summer seasons. We highly recommend booking early to guarantee your spot.
• We offer hotel pick-ups all over the Bay Area to our departure location for $20 per group.

Explore San Francisco, Muir Woods, Sausalito, and Alcatraz All in One Day!

This is not your standard hop-on, hop-off bus tour. Groups stay with the same bus for the entire trip with several breaks and iconic photo stops along the way. Our smaller buses offer an intimate experience without sacrificing personal space or comfort. We make sure every person on our city tour feels seen and accounted for.

After exploring San Francisco, marvel at the redwoods on a walk through Muir Woods National Monument. This is the perfect nature escape just a stone’s throw away from the city. We’ll spend over an hour here, giving you ample time to experience one of the last remaining coastal redwood forests in the world!

After Muir Woods, we will stop in the quaint little town of Sausalito on our way back to San Francisco for a lunch break. You will have numerous choices for lunch in this beautiful bayside town.

In the afternoon, you will board the ferry for the Official Alcatraz Day Tour. This former federal prison was once home to infamous criminals Al Capone and George “Machine Gun” Kelly, and it is a must-do while visiting San Francisco.

Tour Itinerary

7:45 AM — Meet at Fisherman’s Wharf                                        

Plan to arrive by 7:45 AM to the meeting point at 710 Beach St. in San Francisco’s Fisherman’s Wharf neighborhood.

8:00 AM — Depart Fisherman’s Wharf                                        

Our guide meets you at our departure location shortly before 8:00 AM. After a brief roll call, we board the bus and begin our adventure. Our first stops include all the most famous neighborhoods in San Francisco!

8:00 AM–10:00 AM — Explore San Francisco’s BEST neighborhoods!

During this time, you are treated to entertaining stories about the neighborhoods, as well as the history, diversity, and geographical nuances that make San Francisco one of the most unique cities in the world!

We exit the bus several times (10-minute breaks) to soak in the neighborhoods and capture amazing photos! Please see “neighborhoods visited” (below) for details on each neighborhood, as well as where we stop for photos.

10:00 AM–11:15 AM — Explore Muir Woods (75 minutes)

After exploring San Francisco, we head for Muir Woods. Here, you will have over an hour to walk amongst some of the last remaining coastal redwoods in the world! This is an unforgettable photo opportunity. Many of our customers consider Muir Woods the highlight of the entire day!

11:45 AM–12:30 PM — Lunch Break in Sausalito

Enjoy lunch in the beautiful town of Sausalito.

2:00 PM–3:00 PM* — Depart for the Official Alcatraz Tour at Pier 33

After enjoying your city and Muir Woods tour with us, we will drop you off at Pier 33 to depart for Alcatraz. Upon arriving at Alcatraz Island, you will take the official Alcatraz tour and have the opportunity to explore additional exhibits at your convenience.

*winter and summer Alcatraz departure times vary

5:30 PM — Return to Pier 33 You will return by ferry from Alcatraz back to Pier 33 where you are free to enjoy the rest of your evening!

Neighborhoods & Photo Stops

* Photo Stops

Fisherman’s Wharf —One of San Francisco’s most popular destinations. From old shipyards to Boudin’s Bakery and the smell of fresh clam chowder, Fisherman’s Wharf has it all.

North Beach —Voted as one of the USA’s “ten great neighborhoods,” North Beach is best known as the home of Little Italy. From delicious restaurants to authentic sidewalk cafes and bakeries, you will feel the charm of San Francisco as soon as you arrive.

Chinatown —Boasting the largest Chinatown in the United States, this 24-block mecca is bustling with energy, amazing food, and unique and colorful shops that give this area its charm.

Nob Hill — Home to some of our most famous hotels, Nob Hill offers some of the best cocktail lounges and views in the city.

* Pacific Heights —Offering one of the most scenic outlooks in all of Northern California, Pacific Heights is home to Billionaire’s Row, featuring the estates of politicians, tech titans, and other San Francisco celebrities (includes the Mrs. Doubtfire house!).

Presidio —Former military base, now a beautiful park that includes Crissy Field, Fort Point, Lucasfilm’s (George Lucas) headquarters and the Walt Disney Museum.

* Fort Point —Located just beneath the Golden Gate Bridge, Fort Point gives you a front-row seat to the Bay and is a great photo stop. This former military fortification was used during WWII.

* Palace of Fine Arts — Inspired by Roman and Greek architecture, the Palace of Fine Arts was originally constructed to celebrate San Francisco’s recovery from the 1906 earthquake. Surrounded by a peaceful garden, it is great for photos.

* Golden Gate Bridge —Declared “one of the 10 wonders of the modern world,” the Golden Gate Bridge is one of the most recognized symbols of San Francisco. Simply stunning!

** Marin Headlands —Offering a stunning perspective of the Golden Gate Bridge with downtown San Francisco in the background, this awe-inspiring view is the perfect place to capture a memorable photo.

** Only available on private tours .

Customer Reviews

• If you only have 1-day to visit San Francisco take this tour! "Our cruise had 1-day in San Francisco and this was really the best way to see it all. In the morning we covered some of the best-known San Francisco neighborhoods, along with tons of photo stops along the way. Our guide had plenty of fun stories and history along the route, which dropped us right back in Fisherman’s Wharf. My family grabbed a quick lunch and enjoyed Pier 39’s sea lions before our afternoon Alcatraz Tour. My kids loved the Alcatraz ferry and the audio tour; I loved the fact that I didn’t have to worry about any of the logistics - Thank you Dylan’s!” Kate S.
• The most amazing 1-Day tour package, beautiful scenery, perfectly organized! "Everything was exactly as advertised. Our bus was waiting, on time and ready to go. Our tour guide was absolutely awesome. Tons of photo ops. You get to see a lot of the key points in the city, like the bridge, Haight-Ashbury, Little Italy, etc., so much history. After enjoying lunch in Fisherman’s Wharf we explored Lombard Street by foot (as our guide told us the best way to see it), before heading to Alcatraz. No line-ups, no hassle and tickets were ready for us when we arrived. Worth every penny! Total class act!” Moe T.
• Comprehensive and interesting, 5 Stars "We chose this tour because we only had 1 day in San Francisco as part of a honeymoon tour of the USA. It was perfect, great weather, and our guide was so friendly and knowledgeable and made the whole tour very casual. Lunch in Fisherman’s Wharf was excellent per the recommendation of our guide. Alcatraz was also highly enjoyable. Overall a wonderful way to get a feel for the Bay Area and know where to come back to. We also took plenty of memorable photos!” Andrea T.

Tour Specific FAQs

What does the official alcatraz island visit include.

The visit includes round-trip ferry and the 90-minute audio tour of the island. You can also see additional exhibits on the island as well. We find most of our visitors spend 2.5-3 hours during their stay.

What time do we meet for the tour?

Can i just take the alcatraz tour without going on a tour.

Unfortunately not. All companies offering Alcatraz tickets must offer a tour package, per our contract with Alcatraz Cruises.

How far in advance should I book a tour that includes Alcatraz?

During summer season and holidays we recommend booking as soon as you can as these tours will sell-out!

What is Muir Woods?

Muir Woods National Monument is located 20 minutes north of the Golden Gate Bridge and is home to some of the oldest and tallest living trees in the world.

This popular destination is part of the United States National Park Service and is considered to be one of the most peaceful destinations in the Bay Area.

Where does the minibus tour pick-up and drop-off?

Pick-ups: Our minibus tours pick-up in a convenient location in Fisherman’s Wharf, across from 710 Beach Street.

Drop-offs: Depending on your tour we can drop you off in Fisherman’s Wharf, Lombard Street, North Beach, or Chinatown.

Is there a parking garage near the starting point?

Yes, there are several parking garages located near our meeting point.

How does the hotel pick-up work?

Please contact us directly if you are interested in a hotel pickup at [email protected] or call (415) 932-6993 . Please be ready 45-minutes prior to your tour time if you do opt-in for the pick-up option.

What is the value of my Alcatraz ticket?

Can i make changes to my reservation.

There are many websites across the internet where you can book a tour with us. They all have different terms. When possible, we request that you book directly here on our website. This enables us to not only provide you the best pricing available, but it also enables us to provide a much more customized level of service. Please note Alcatraz tours must be changed 4 days in advance due to the booking system with the the official Alcatraz tour provider. 

What is your cancellation policy?

Payments: Please note our site is secure and offers SSL security on all credit card purchases.

Cancellations: We offer a 100% refund with at least 4 days notice prior to departure. For tours with at least 24 hours but less than 4 days notice, we offer a 100% refund less the cost of the Alcatraz ticket ($60).

Important Tour Details

• Duration: 9+  hours 
• Meeting Time: 7:45 AM
• Departure Time: 8:00  AM
• Return Time: 5:30  PM
• Additional Muir Woods Entrance Fee: $15/person (16yrs+)
• Departure Location: Fisherman’s Wharf, 710 Beach Street
• Tour ends at Pier 33, Alcatraz Landing
• Adult (13 yrs+) $189
• Child (0-12 yrs old) $129
• We offer a 100% refund with at least 4 days notice prior to departure. For tours with at least 24 hours but less than 4 days notice, we offer a 100% refund less the cost of the Alcatraz ticket ($60).
• Tour price includes Alcatraz entrance fee. Anyone over 18 must have a government-issued ID for ferry.

How We're Different

We are not a big bus company! It’s very common to see large hop-on, hop-off buses around San Francisco, but we take a much more personal approach. Our guides not only have intimate knowledge and unmatched enthusiasm for the Bay City, but we also use specialized minibuses which are built specifically for city tours. We can literally take you where the big buses can’t go.

Our minibuses have large windows for full view of the city as we conduct the tour and are climate controlled with plenty of room for everyone. We stop several times and provide many photo opportunities. 

Try changing your search query or try one of the suggestions below!

Free and up-to-date :), things to do around san francisco airport, san francisco citypass®: save 46% at 4 top attractions.

Experience 4 must-see attractions, handpicked and packaged together at a 45% savings, with San Francisco CityPASS® tickets that are valid for 9 consecutive days including the first day of use.

San Francisco: Flyer Theater, 7D Ride & Laser Maze Combo

Enjoy 3 fun attractions on San Francisco's PIER 39 that the whole family can enjoy. Take flight on The Flyer, buckle up for a 7D game and ride combo, and test your skills in the Lazer Maze.

San Francisco: Inside Alcatraz Tour with Bay Cruise

Enjoy two essential San Francisco experiences in one with an Alcatraz entry ticket and a sightseeing cruise on San Francisco Bay. Enjoy round-trip ferry transportation to Alcatraz and an audio guide.

San Francisco: California Sunset Boat Cruise

Enjoy spectacular views in a casual and fun atmosphere. Sail past Alcatraz, around Angel Island, along Tiburon and Sausalito, and under the Golden Gate Bridge.

San Francisco: Golden Gate Bay Cruise

Sail along San Francisco's waterfront, under the majestic Golden Gate Bridge, and around notorious Alcatraz Island. Discover San Francisco's history via audio commentary, available in 16 languages.

San Francisco: Airplane Private Night Bay Tour

Fly over the San Francisco Bay area at night during a romantic and unforgettable experience crafted by your pilot. Marvel at key sights, such as The Bay Lights, the Golden Gate Bridge, and more.

Tours and transport

San francisco: muir woods and sausalito small-group tour.

Join this guided scenic drive from San Francisco across the Golden Gate Bridge. Explore the beauty of the giant coastal Redwoods and enjoy great views from Sausalito's picturesque waterfront.

San Francisco: Small-Group City Tour by Vintage VW Bus

Climb aboard a fully restored vintage Volkswagen bus and take a guided tour through the heart of San Francisco. Explore historic neighborhoods and stop for photos at the Golden Gate Bridge.

San Francisco: Marvel at Movie Filming Locations by Bus

Experience the city of San Francisco on a family-friendly bus tour combining clips from over 55 of the most famous movies filmed in San Francisco. Match the clips to the sights outside the bus.

Have you visited San Francisco Airport lately? Be the first to write an airport review about San Francisco Airport. Provide other airport travellers with essential airport information and tell us about your airport experience.

Write a review

Protect Your Trip »

Best day trips from san francisco.

San Francisco offers so much to do, travelers could easily spend a week in the city and never get bored. However, some of the Bay Area's best offerings don't necessarily lie within city limits. The good news? You can experience the best of these places in just a day. To decide the Best Day Trips from San Francisco, U.S. News took into account a variety of factors including sights, culture, adventure, traveler sentiment and expert insight. Want to put in your two cents? Vote below to influence next year's list. 

Napa Valley

Carmel-by-the-sea, muir woods national monument.

Sausalito is an easy hop, skip and jump across the Golden Gate Strait from San Francisco, making it one of the easiest excursions the Bay Area has to offer. The Sausalito Ferry will take you to base of this waterfront town, where you'll be greeted by leafy hillsides, scenic, bayfront pathways and plenty of nautical charm. Start by exploring the amenity-packed Bridgeway Promenade and then end at Cavallo Point for prime Golden Gate views. 

About two hours south of San Francisco, Monterey features one of California's dreamiest stretches of coastline. Whether it's the dramatic, rocky cliffs along the scenic 17-Mile Drive or the seemingly endless beaches of Fort Ord Dunes State Park, there's bound to be something that'll take your breath away. While here, visit the famous Monterey Bay Aquarium and local favorites like Point Lobos and Carmel-By-The-Sea.

If one city embodies the cool, laid-back lifestyle often associated with California, it's Santa Cruz. Located about 75 miles south of San Francisco, Santa Cruz is as chill as can be, with its beautiful outdoor offerings bolstering the take-it-slow-and-enjoy-the-atmosphere vibe. Be sure to check out the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk for thrills and Natural Bridges State Beach for some peaceful rest and relaxation.

Having Napa, considered the country's premier wine destination, so close to the city is an absolute treat for San Francisco visitors. About 50 miles north, the area grants travelers access to 400-plus wineries and a bevy of Michelin-starred establishments. Those with little time to spare will enjoy the Napa Valley Wine Train, which travels to nearby St. Helena and back, snaking through scenic hills and vineyards along the way.

If you're heading south to Monterey from San Francisco for a day trip, a stop at Carmel Beach is a must. Part of the charming town of Carmel-by-the-Sea, Carmel Beach is considered one of the best beaches in the area. The beach features vibrant blue waters and white sand as well as a scenic pathway, appropriately titled Scenic Road, that takes you to the nearby, equally beautiful Carmel River State Beach.

Sonoma has always been lauded as a more affordable alternative to Napa Valley. About 45 miles north of San Francisco, Sonoma features plenty of the same perks as Napa, including more than 400 wineries and plenty of top-notch eateries. Where it differs from Napa is with its family-friendliness, thanks to Safari Park West and the beaches and trails at nearby Sonoma Coast State Park.

If you're traveling with kids, the most family-friendly day trip from San Francisco is to San Jose. Not only is it less than two hours south by car, but it also offers attractions that will thrill the little ones, including California's Great America theme park, the Children's Discovery Museum and the Winchester Mystery House. Meanwhile, adults will enjoy shopping haven Santana Row and the Tech Museum of Innovation.

Those with an interest in California history will no doubt delight in a trip to Sacramento, the capital of California. Visitors can explore Capitol Park, home to the state's Capitol and a variety of monuments, as well as Old Sacramento, a National Historic Landmark District that pays homage to California's past. The city also features loads of cultural hot spots worth visiting, including the Crocker Art Museum and the bustling Midtown neighborhood.

Muir Woods National Monument is the perfect day trip for those wanting to get outdoors and become one with nature. Situated across the Golden Gate Bridge, Muir Woods National Monument features miles of trails that take you through its famous redwood trees and along the coast. The Golden Gate National Recreation Area also sits right next to the site, offering even more chances to behold Northern California's beautiful scenery.

Vote to Add these Destinations to the Rankings

Pfeiffer Beach

You May Be Interested In

Best Places to Visit in California for 2024

Best California Beaches for 2024

Best Places to Visit in the USA for 2023

Best u.s. national parks for 2024.

Best Weekend Getaways

If you make a purchase from our site, we may earn a commission. This does not affect the quality or independence of our editorial content.

Recommended

The 28 Best Water Parks in the U.S. for 2024

Holly Johnson|Timothy J. Forster May 8, 2024

The 18 Best Napa Valley Wineries to Visit in 2024

Lyn Mettler|Sharael Kolberg April 23, 2024

The 25 Best Beaches on the East Coast for 2024

Timothy J. Forster|Sharael Kolberg April 19, 2024

The 50 Best Hotels in the USA 2024

Christina Maggitas February 6, 2024

The 32 Most Famous Landmarks in the World

Gwen Pratesi|Timothy J. Forster February 1, 2024

9 Top All-Inclusive Resorts in Florida for 2024

Gwen Pratesi|Amanda Norcross January 5, 2024

24 Top All-Inclusive Resorts in the U.S. for 2024

Erin Evans January 4, 2024

26 Top Adults-Only All-Inclusive Resorts for 2024

Zach Watson December 28, 2023

Solo Vacations: The 36 Best Places to Travel Alone in 2024

Lyn Mettler|Erin Vasta December 22, 2023

26 Cheap Beach Vacations for Travelers on a Budget

Kyle McCarthy|Sharael Kolberg December 4, 2023

The Perfect 2, 3 or 4 Days in San Francisco Itinerary

Last Updated on February 29, 2024

by Audrey Webster

Disclaimer: This article contains affiliate links. That means if you click a link and make a purchase, we may make a small commission. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. For more information, see our privacy policy.

San Francisco is one of the most famous cities in the United States. It boasts iconic landmarks like the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz, as well as some hidden gems. Whether you have time for a 2, 3, or 4 days in San Francisco itinerary, this guide includes everything you should prioritize seeing during your visit.

No trip to San Francisco is complete without hitting the highlights and spending some time wandering through the city’s unique neighborhoods, taking in everything this incredible metropolis has to offer. Here is everything to check out while visiting the Bay Area. 

Table of Contents

How Many Days in San Francisco?

Whether you’re visiting San Francisco as part of a longer California itinerary or as a stop on a drive from Los Angeles , San Diego or even Portland or Seattle , it’s essential to figure out how long you need to spend in the city in order to do it justice.

For most visitors, 3 days is the sweet spot for how many days to spend in San Francisco. If you only have 2 days to explore the city, you can get a rough idea of everything ithas to offer, but it won’t feel like a comprehensive visit.

With 3 days, you can see nearly every part of the city, venturing into the eclectic and historic neighborhoods while seeing the main highlights. You can do all this at a relatively relaxed pace. 

Should you have 4 days, you’re in luck. This grants you plenty of time to see the city with a spare day for a trip beyond it. There are several nearby options for great day trips.

Alternatively, you can spend an additional day exploring the city at your leisure or lounging in one of the many local parks. 

Getting To & Around San Francisco 

Most visitors will arrive in San Francisco by plane. You’ll land at San Francisco Airport (SFO) and can take the BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit), the city’s main public transportation, into downtown. You can also take the bus, call an Uber or organise a transfer .

BART will be a useful tool to get around the city during your visit as well. It reaches most corners of the city and runs relatively often. You can also opt for the buses or streetcars operated by Muni.

Most of the city’s main attractions are clustered together in different parts of the city, so you should pick a different area of San Francisco to explore each day.

Once in these neighborhoods, getting around on foot is the way to go. Many of SF’s best highlights can be found when you set out walking through its unique neighborhoods, Fisherman’s Wharf, and other parts of the city.

Make sure you pack a good pair of walking shoes for wandering museums, parks, and the city itself. 

Renting a car specifically for your trip to San Francisco isn’t entirely necessary as the city itself is both walkable and has great public transportation.

However, if you’re spending 4 days in San Francisco and want to go on a day trip, you may find that having your own car is the best option. You can browse Rentalcars.com to find options as it compares prices across many major companies.

2, 3 or 4-Day San Francisco Itinerary

The perfect trip to San Francisco is loaded with quirky neighborhoods, great food, and many opportunities to learn. Here is everything you should consider adding to your plan for visiting the city by the bay. 

Day 1 – Fisherman’s Wharf, Alcatraz & Chinatown

Embarcadero and fisherman’s wharf.

San Francisco’s Embarcadero is the main street that runs along the waterfront from the Bay Bridge to Fisherman’s Wharf and Pier 39. This is probably one of the most popular areas in the city.

Here, you can perch to watch the sunset or admire the view on a sunny day. Each pier offers a little something unique for its visitors, from exploratory museums to funky cafes.  You can rent bikes to explore further.

One of the highlights of the Embarcadero is Fisherman’s Wharf. The name comes from the mid-1800s when the wharf was used as a port by Italian immigrant fishermen who sold fish to the city’s booming population due to the gold rush. Here, you’ll find some of the best seafood in the city.

There are museums scattered across the piers, making it a great destination for families. Make sure to stop in to see the sea lion colony that took up residence near Pier 39. 

If you only have 2 days in San Francisco, Alcatraz is a must-visit. This infamous prison was once home to some of the country’s most notorious criminals, including Al Capone.

Alternatively referred to as “The Rock”, Alcatraz was the world’s most secure prison: located on an island in San Francisco Bay. You should take the audio tour of the island.

You’ll walk through cell blocks, mess halls, and other parts of the prison while listening to the stories of those who passed through as well as the history of Alcatraz itself. You’ll head to Alcatraz Island from Pier 33 along the Embarcadero. 

You can pre-book tickets here that includes transport or organise a half-day tour here that combines Alcatraz with a short bay cruise.

Lombard Street

Once you’re back in San Francisco proper after visiting Alcatraz, pay a quick visit to Lombard Street. This steep zig-zagging street curves down a slope lined with homes and flower beds.

San Francisco is a city filled with steep streets. City planners spent a lot of time trying to figure out how to plot a city on such terrain. In 1922, the people living on Lombard Street deemed it too steep to drive safely. They set out to make it more drivable.

The result was a curvy road with eight hairpin turns and one of the most famous landmarks. The best view is from the bottom. If you’re brave enough to drive the street, you have to start from the top. It was made a one-way street in 1939.  

Ride the Cable Cars

Riding the cable cars in San Francisco is an experience too unique to pass by. The routes are clustered around Lombard Street and Fisherman’s Wharf, making it easy to hop a ride in between destinations.

There are three routes, so navigating them is easy. You can prepay for your tickets online or buy tickets at the cable car stops. 

San Francisco is home to the largest Chinatown outside Asia. It’s located near Lombard Street and a great place to round out your first day in San Francisco.

Before visiting this neighborhood, it’s important to note that it’s massive. Chinatown spans 24 city blocks and is one of the most densely-populated neighborhoods in the city.

Grant Avenue is the most picturesque street, and where most tourists spend their time. It’s worth your time to venture off this main thoroughfare. You’ll find the best Chinese food in the city—probably some of the best in the country. You can also go on a food & walking tour to learn more and taste some dishes.

Visit the local bakeries, shops, and try a tea sampling at Vital Tea Leaf. 

Day 2 – Golden Gate Bridge, Presidio & Golden Gate Park

Golden gate bridge.

Your first day on your trip to San Francisco was filled with some of the major highlights in the city. Day two is a little slower. There is perhaps no other landmark in San Francisco more characteristic of the city than the Golden Gate Bridge.

This bright red suspension bridge dominates the skyline and has been named one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World. If you have time, you should take a walk across the bridge. It stretches about 1.7 miles, so it should take around 40 minutes to walk each way.

Upon construction in 1937, it was the longest bridge in the world. Between its striking color and huge towers, it’s no surprise this is one of the most beautiful bridges in the world. 

If you want to get a great view of the Golden Gate Bridge, you can get this from Marin Headlands after crossing the bridge – it’s easiest to reach this by car, however, you can definitely walk, as well.

Presidio of San Francisco

The Presidio is located where the Golden Gate Bridge starts. It originated as a military outpost for the Spanish who arrived in the Bay Area in 1776. Over the years, it maintained its military post status and became one of the most beautiful outlooks in the city.

The National Park Service took control of the Presidio in 1994. Today, this sprawling green space is filled with trails, forests, fun architecture, and unbeatable views. 

Golden Gate Park

Despite its name, Golden Gate Park is not directly next to the bridge, but it’s well within walking distance from the Presidio. Continue your time in San Francisco’s green spaces by visiting the largest public park in the city.

You can spend an afternoon in the park visiting museums and gardens, like California Academy of Sciences, the Conservatory of Flowers, the Japanese Tea Garden, or the de Young Museum. Alternatively, you can have a picnic or wander around the park.

A visit to Golden Gate Park is the best way to slow down and enjoy the city.

Day 3 – Haight-Ashbury, The Mission District & Twin Peaks

Haight-ashbury.

When experiencing San Francisco in 3 days, you should spend one day dedicated to the different neighborhoods. San Francisco is a city full of eclectic neighborhoods, none more iconic than Haight-Ashbury.

It became famous for being one of the centers of the counterculture movement in the 1960s. The Haight was where the Beats met and where the Summer of Love happened.

Haight-Ashbury is best experienced by spending a couple hours strolling around the neighborhood. You can also take the San Francisco Love Tour to learn more about the history.

Keep an eye out for the quirky shops, psychedelic murals, and beautiful Victorian architecture. You never know what you’ll come across in Haight Ashbury.

The Painted Ladies

The Painted Ladies are the postcard-perfect row of Victorian homes in the city. They sit on the eastern side of Alamo Square Park and are set against the backdrop of the city’s modern downtown skyscrapers.

They are known for their pastel colors and near identical architecture, making them one of the most photographed landmarks in the city. You’ll notice similar-looking homes throughout the city.

The name “Painted Ladies” doesn’t necessarily refer to these homes in particular, but rather the style in which they’ve been built. 

Mission Dolores Park 

Mission Dolores Park is at the heart of another one of San Francisco’s best neighborhoods: The Mission District. The park itself sits on nearly 26 acres and is one of the most popular parks in San Francisco.

If you visit during a sunny weekend afternoon, don’t be surprised to see the park entirely packed with people. These comfortable green lawns are surrounded by tall palm trees with a view of the city’s skyline.

The Mission District is known for its food scene. Grab a burrito and take a walk through the city to admire the towering murals. Mission Street is the main road that is filled with restaurants and shops. 

Seated at 922 feet above sea level, Twin Peaks offers arguably the best view of the city. It’s a great way to round out your 3 days in San Francisco. Many visitors take a tourist bus to the top, but you can also walk or bike.

Here you can find a snapshot of the local flora and fauna. No matter what time of day you visit, be prepared for high winds. San Francisco is already a city known for being windy, but here that’s elevated.

Bring a jacket, sturdy walking shoes, and be prepared to be a little cold.

Those who aren’t interested in this stop may also like to venture back into the city center and instead take the time to explore the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. 

Day 4 – Muir Woods or Napa Valley

If you’re lucky enough to see San Francisco in 4 days, you should consider taking a day trip beyond the city. The Muir Woods National Monument is the perfect day trip. The woods are located about 16 miles from the city, which is about a 40-minute drive without traffic.

Muir Woods is filled with walking trails and historic redwood trees. Driving yourself is the best way to visit Muir Woods from San Francisco. You’ll take curvy roads up a mountainside, so drive slowly, especially if you get carsick easily.

Before visiting Muir Woods, make sure to reserve a parking space. If you show up without a reservation, you will be turned away.

If you don’t have a car, you can either organise a bus transfer here or take a guided tour that includes time to explore along with lunch in Sausalito.

Napa and Sonoma Valleys

Any lover of great wine will want to add a day trip to Napa and Sonoma Valleys to their San Francisco itinerary. Here you’ll find some of the most famous wines in the world, and for good reasons. The wine regions are about an hour outside of San Francisco.

If you want to spend a day wine tasting in either Napa or Sonoma (or both), you will want to rent a car.

There are also guided tours available such as this full-day tour that goes to both Napa and Sonoma or this full-day tour that combines wine country with a visit to Muir Woods. However, you will have more freedom to see the area at your leisure if you can drive yourself.

Where to Stay in San Francisco

Orchard Hotel – This boutique hotel located in downtown San Francisco is an excellent choice for exploring this Californian city. They are located within walking distance of Union Square and have a restaurant and bar on site. There is also parking and a great breakfast included.

Axiom Hotel – If you’re looking for a luxury stay in San Francisco, then this chic hotel is a great option. It is located right off Union Square, and has incredible modern facilities and amenities along with a larger number of rooms to choose from.

Green Tortoise Hostel – Those trying to stick to a tight budget when visiting this notoriously expensive city will love this highly-rated hostel. There are a number of dorm beds and some private rooms to choose from, common areas to meet other travellers and a free breakfast daily to help you save even more!

Not quite what you’re looking for? Click here to browse other hotels in San Francisco!

A few days in San Francisco is the perfect amount of time to catch the city’s main highlights, immerse yourself in day-to-day life, and take a day trip outside the city. Use these itinerary recommendations to help guide your own trip planning and enjoy your time in San Francisco. 

Are you planning to visit San Francisco? Have any questions about this itinerary? Let us know in the comments!

Related Posts:

The Perfect 1 to 2 Days in Redwood National Park Itinerary

The Ultimate Seattle to Los Angeles Road Trip Itinerary

10 Best Stops on a San Francisco to Lake Tahoe Road Trip

About Audrey Webster

Audrey Webster is a writer for The World Was Here First. She is an Oregon native who has visited countries across the globe and currently spends her weekends exploring the Pacific Northwest and surrounding states. Her approach to traveling combines exploring famous tourist sites and wandering off the beaten path to discover new destinations.

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

5 Coastal Drives and Mountain Escapes from San Francisco

O ne of the best ways to discover the beauty of California is to drive around from San Francisco city to scenic coastal and mountain escape views. San Francisco Airport serves as the best starting point for immersing yourself in a captivating landscape. Take your SIXT Car Rental and explore the breathtaking coastal highways and breathtaking valleys and mountains from the airport. Below are just some of the places you might consider driving around. 

Mount Tamalpais State Park 

 This spot is 27 miles from the airport. It will take you roughly around 45-60 minutes to get there. This is located in Marin County. If you are bringing your rented car, there are free parking lots around the park. If you plan to have a picnic, there are two picnic spots you can choose from: The Bootjack Picnic Area and the East Peak Picnic Area. These locations have clean water, comfort rooms, and picnic tables. The Mountain Theater is another great spot to have a picnic. If you wish to reach this place, you can hike from the Rock Springs parking lot or the Pantoll. This state park also has plenty of gorgeous waterfalls you can visit. The three trails you can take for the best spots of these waterfalls are the Cataract Trails, Steep Ravine, and Troop 80. There are also other trails you can take, each of which offers different difficulty levels and lengths. If you wish to see some wildflower views, take the Dipsea Hike,  West Peak Loop Hike, and Dias Ridge Trail Hike. If you are eager to conquer some difficult and strenuous hikes, take the Boot Jack, Matt Davis, Redwood Creek Loop, and Dias Ridge. The hike is worth the effort once you see the beauty of nature at the top. 

Point Reyes National Seashore

This is a longer drive from the airport as compared to Mount Tamalpais. The trip will take you more than an hour to get there using your car rental at San Francisco airport. This spot is about 60 miles away from the airport.  Before visiting Point Reyes National Seashore, make sure to plan your trip first and visit their website. There are instances where some roads leading to the shore are closed due to the presence of elephant seals.  This is where you hear the waves roaring against the huge rocks and expansive views of the coastline. If you’re lucky you can also see some migrating Gray Whales passing through Point Reyes. They are often seen from the Lighthouse and Chimney Rock. The best times to see them are around May up to December. You can also check out Alamere Falls which is a 13-mile round-trip hike.  If you are bringing your furry friends with you, there are only selected spots within the Point Reyes where dogs are allowed. Also, they must be on a leash at all times while exploring some trails. 

Highway 101: Redwood Highway

If you are not a fan of long drives, this one’s for you. Just 30 minutes from the airport and you’ll get to Redwood Highway. Some people consider the Washington stretch as one of the most scenic parts of this road. There are plenty of things you can do at Redwood Coast. Visit some of the oldest Redwood trees which have been standing for more than 100 years already. Reconnect with nature, clear your mind, and find your peace as you hike the rugged terrains of Lost Coast. You can also immerse yourself in some of the beautiful panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean as you climb the Astoria Column. The Northern part of Highway 101 is where you can find the Hoh Rainforest, it has its magical charm. 

Sonoma and Napa Valleys

The Sonoma and Napa Valleys are about 80 minutes drive from the airport which is about 65 miles away. You won’t mind the long drive as you get to enjoy the scenic view of the mountain ridges, vineyards, and rolling hillsides. Not to mention that at the end of your trip, you get to savor different kinds of wine aged for years. Driving through the wine country should be part of your checklist when visiting San Francisco. Sampling world-class wines is an experience worth taking. After the long drive, treat yourself to some of the sumptuous cuisines that Michelin-starred restaurants have to offer. 

Pacific Coast Highway (Highway 1) 

This will take you more than an hour to get to this place. It’s about 40-60 miles away from San Francisco airport. Start your trip from Half Moon Bay where you get to see the stunning cliffs and coastal towns. You can also stop over a quaint beach city named Carmel-by-the-sea. Talk to some locals and learn more about the place. There are plenty of boutique shops and art galleries you can visit here. When taking the Pacific Coast Highway, make sure to also check out the Big Sur and the Bixby Creek Bridge. 

These are just some of the scenic drives you can take to indulge yourself with the most spectacular views of nature. There are still plenty of roads to take and trails to conquer. So, rent a car and start your journey along the coastal drives and mountain views of California. 

The post 5 Coastal Drives and Mountain Escapes from San Francisco appeared first on Mom and More .

Oakland airport fires back at San Francisco, filing counterclaim over name change

The ink wasn't dry Thursday on the ordinance approved by the Oakland Board of Port Commissioners that changed the name of Metropolitan Oakland International Airport to San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport before Oakland took a shot at San Francisco.

OAKLAND, Calif. - The ink wasn't dry Thursday on the ordinance approved by the Oakland Board of Port Commissioners that changed the name of Metropolitan Oakland International Airport to San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport before Oakland took a shot at San Francisco.

The background is that San Francisco sued Oakland on April 18, asserting that the new name infringed on trademarks that San Francisco held on the name San Francisco International Airport.

On Thursday, the same day the port panel gave final approval of the name change, Oakland answered the complaint, denying any trademark violation and asserting a counterclaim.

The counterclaim requested a U.S. District Court judge to enter a declaratory judgment that would determine that the airport's new name does not infringe San Francisco's trademarks. 

According to Mary Richardson, attorney for the Port of Oakland that oversees the airport, "The San Francisco's City Attorney's decision to pursue litigation is an attempt to stop consumer education, prevent expanded air travel options for Bay Area residents and visitors, and is a misguided use of San Francisco taxpayer dollars."

In Richardson's opinion, "SFO's lawsuit is a disappointing and anticompetitive effort to discourage competition and choice, and we are confident the Court will agree."

Oakland airport changing name to 'San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport'

Oakland port officials voted unanimously on Thursday to rename the city's airport to San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport.

The Counterclaim

Oakland's counterclaim provides a history of its airport and discusses at length its geographic position on the San Francisco Bay. It says that the name change is intended to provide the accurate geographic location for the airport, not usurp San Francisco's trademarks. 

In the counterclaim, Oakland took square aim at San Francisco's central argument that the name change will cause confusion among travelers. 

Oakland denies that any confusion will occur and says that in the world of airports, it is not unusual for more than one airport to use the same geographic name. The counterclaim offered five examples.

London, England has six airports with "London" in their names. 

Paris, France and Beijing, China each have two. 

However, because the three examples are all outside of the U.S. and not subject to American trademark law, their applicability to the current issues may be limited.

In terms of domestic airports, Oakland offered two examples:    -Dallas has two airports with names beginning with "Dallas": Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) and Dallas Love Field (DAL)    -Chicago has three airports with names that begin with "Chicago": Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW); Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD); and Chicago Rockford International Airport (RFD)

The history behind Dallas' multiple names is complicated and involves a federal law passed to limit air service from Love Field to protect the new and larger DFW where all the carriers from Love were moving. However, the newly started Southwest located itself at Love Field and then fought legal battles for decades over the limitations on Love. 

The Chicago situation would appear a closer analogy, but Oakland's counterclaim does not discuss whether the Chicago airports maintain federal trademarks on their names and, if so, whether there has been controversy and/or confusion about their names. 

In the larger context, U.S. trademark law focuses on the use of the trademarked name, the potential it causes for consumer confusion, and whether the proposed use would impair a mark owner's investment in the goodwill associated with the trademark. Cases are decided based on the specific circumstances in a given case.    

Coming Attraction

But even if the counterclaim's invocation of the Dallas and Chicago situations is of limited import, Oakland's filing is still significant, though for a different reason.

By answering the complaint and filing a counterclaim, Oakland suggests that it is anxious for the court to get to the central issue in the case, and is signaling that Oakland won't try to stretch things out through preliminary legal maneuvering.

In that respect, Oakland's approach seems consistent with San Francisco's. 

Jen Kwart, a spokesperson for San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu, said Thursday that San Francisco will be filing a motion for a preliminary injunction.   

A preliminary injunction is a court order that directs a party not to take action that may violate the rights of the other party during the pendency of a court case. It is called preliminary because it is an interim ruling, designed to remain in place -- and preserve the status quo -- only until a full-scale trial can be held.

Preliminary injunction hearings frequently occur in the early days of a lawsuit and are given expedited scheduling.

San Francisco had not filed its motion for preliminary relief as of Friday morning, but assuming that it is filed in the next few days, it would not be surprising if the parties were in court within the next few weeks, depending on the schedule of the court and availability of witnesses.

The formality of trials is not fully observed at a preliminary injunction hearing, and judges often use  case management techniques to allow the matter to be presented succinctly, for example, including witness testimony by way of affidavit rather than direct examination. 

In a preliminary injunction proceeding, the plaintiff has the burden of convincing the court that preliminary relief is necessary. Federal courts look at four main factors, including whether the plaintiffs have a significant likelihood of winning on the merits when the case is fully tried. 

Another key factor is whether the plaintiff will suffer "irreparable" harm if no injunction is entered. Generally, if money damages can cure the problem, a court will not enter an injunction on the thought that an award of damages at the end of the litigation will make the party whole.

A third factor involves balancing the "equities" of the parties. Here a court will determine if the harm of denying the injunction to the applicant outweighs the harm the other party will suffer if it is granted.

Last, in cases of public importance, the court will consider if an injunction is in the interest of the public.

None of the four factors are dispositive and the court must weigh them together and decide on whether the party seeking the injunction has carried the "heavy burden" of showing that preliminary relief is appropriate.

Because of demands that preliminary injunction proceedings place on the parties and the court at the very beginning of a case, it is not unusual that settlement negotiations occur at this stage.    

Travel | Travelers gearing up for Memorial Day road…

Share this:.

• Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
• Click to print (Opens in new window)
• Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)

Today's e-Edition

Things To Do

• Food & Drink
• Celebrities
• Pets & Animals
• Event Calendar

Breaking News

Travel | sf giants’ jung hoo lee to undergo season-ending surgery, travel | travelers gearing up for memorial day road trips will have plenty of company, as many as 80 % of california travelers will take a road trip this holiday.

If you are one of the millions of Californians loading up the car and hitting the highway on Memorial Day weekend, be prepared for lots of company.

AAA says more people will travel for the holiday weekend than in nearly two decades. They’ll flock to sunny vineyards in the Napa Valley, rollicking theme parks in Southern California and busy entertainment venues in Las Vegas and New York, according to the auto association.

“Ever since COVID restrictions were lifted, we’ve seen record after record travel numbers,’’ said AAA spokesperson John Treanor. “There’s been a real hunger for many Americans to get out and take the trips they weren’t able to take before. This year, in particular, we are seeing amusement parks at the top of the destination list.”

AAA says 2024 will finish narrowly behind 2005 as the busiest Memorial Day travel weekend since the company began keeping track in 2000. An estimated 5.6 million Californians will head out for the holiday, with about 80% of those folks taking a trip by car.

In the South Bay, California’s Great America is offering entrance to its South Bay Shores waterpark in addition to the rides and rollercoasters, and there will be fireworks on Sunday night as the holiday weekend comes to a close. Disneyland too has some special promotions and packages for the holiday weekend.

Dave Kallal, who lives on the Central California coast, will be one of those hitting the road for the long holiday weekend, making a trip in his Glampervan. The Oakland-based company sells vans equipped with a queen size bed, kitchen, roof deck and plenty of room for storage.

“We basically travel every weekend and surf and camp, and we’ll be going to Hobson Beach Park in Ventura for Memorial Day,” he said.

He said he’s not worried about traffic because he’s riding in style.

“The drive down there is easy and beautiful,’’ Kallal said. At the beach “you basically open up the back doors of the van, and you can lay in bed and look at the ocean drinking your coffee in the morning.”

Those traveling by car will see some relief at the pump for the holiday as the wholesale price of gasoline is just fractions away from falling to its lowest point since February, said Patrick De Haan, head petroleum analyst for GasBuddy, in a social media post.

“With gas prices now nearing a 10-cent drop to the high we saw a few weeks ago, the future looks good as we get closer to Memorial Day,” De Haan said in a statement on GasBuddy, which uses crowdsourcing to track gas prices.

In California, where gas prices are the highest in the nation, regular gas was sitting at $5.22 a gallon Friday. Last year at this time, drivers paid an average of $4.79 a gallon for regular gasoline.

AAA says Interstate-80 between San Francisco and Napa will be the busiest Bay Area route as people head out of town Friday morning, but there are plenty of other places to visit in California in any direction.

Visit California says a drive down historic Highway 1 is a top pick for travelers yearning to see dramatic cliffs, towering redwoods and breathtaking water views. Part of the highway near the Rocky Creek Bridge that was closed since late March reopened Friday.

The tourism group also recommends taking Highway 49 to the Sierra Foothills for a combination of scenery, history, outdoor adventure and the Strawberry Music Festival in Grass Valley.

Those looking for a high-energy weekend can check out Palm Springs for desert hiking, Los Angeles for urban nightlife and Santa Barbara and Santa Ynez for some Pinot Noir tasting and lounging at sun-glazed Refugio State Beach.

But before you hit the road, Chris Pyle, a long-time car mechanic and current automotive specialist with San Francisco-based Just Answer, has some advice.

“All too often a car owner forgets to look at everything about the car. People get in a habit of only looking at things in the driver’s seat,” Pyle said. “For someone who is going out of town, they need to look outside the box and check every single thing on a car checklist.”

That means checking the lights, seatbelts, tire pressure, fluids and brakes and making certain the car’s spare tire is inflated and in good working order, Pyle said. And once they hit the road, Pyle also suggests slowing down for better gas mileage. Sixty-two miles per hour is the sweet spot, he said.

Those opting to fly out of town for the holiday weekend should also take extra precautions and arrive at the airport at least two hours in advance for domestic flights and three hours early for international trips.

AAA expects this will be the most crowded Memorial Day weekend at the nation’s airports since 2005 with 3.51 million air travelers, an increase of nearly 5% over last year.

The newly-minted San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport expects more than 130,000 passengers during the long weekend. That’s roughly the same number as last year but still more than 30,000 fewer passengers than pre-pandemic. And San Francisco International Airport says it expects 147,000 passengers to come through the airport between Friday and Monday. That’s about 33,000 fewer passengers than before the pandemic.

San José Mineta International Airport didn’t provide forecasts for the number of passengers expected to pass through the airport during the long holiday weekend but said airlines will have roughly 188,000 seats available during the time period.

Residents of the Golden State won’t be alone on the roads and in the sky.

AAA says more than 43.8 million Americans are projected to travel over the Memorial Day holiday weekend. That’s 4% higher than last year and comes close to matching 2005’s record of 44 million Memorial Day travelers.

“We’re expecting Memorial Day weekend numbers like we haven’t seen in almost 20 years,” said Brian Ng, senior vice president of Membership and Travel Marketing for AAA Northern California, in a statement. “It’s not just a return to pre-pandemic levels but also foreshadows the robust summer travel season ahead.”

• Report an error
• Policies and Standards

More in Travel

Entertainment | 30+ festivals, fairs and things to do in the Bay Area this summer

Restaurants, Food and Drink | Michelin Guide awards stars to 18 restaurants in Mexico, including 1 with a California tie

Transportation | Highway 1 to Big Sur opens to around-the-clock travel as slide repair advances

Music | Review: Dead & Company opens Sphere Las Vegas residency in epic fashion

• Find & Reserve
• Special Offers
• Meetings & Events
• Our Credit Cards
• About Marriott Bonvoy
• Careers at Marriott

Courtyard San Francisco Airport Burlingame

• Experiences

Welcome to Courtyard San Francisco Airport Burlingame

Find comfort at our family-friendly hotel in san francisco.

The Bayshore Hotel San Francisco Airport Burlingame is conveniently located near the Bay Trail, Bayfront Park, San Francisco International Airport (SFO), and the lovely shops and restaurants in downtown Burlingame. We’re surrounded by outdoor recreation options and beautiful scenery. For those heading to downtown San Francisco, we’re located 16 miles away with convenient US-101 Highway access. With 132 generously sized guest rooms, we offer soft, plush, and inviting bedding for you to spread out, relax, and make yourself at home. Surround yourself with the vibrant ambiance of the Bay Area.

Rooms & Suites

Rates vary by date & room type

FEATURED AMENITIES ON-SITE

Hotel information.

Check-in: 4:00 pm

Check-out: 11:00 am

Minimum Age to Check In: 21

Smoke Free Property

Pets Not Allowed

On-Site Parking

Daily: $20.00

GETTING HERE

765 Airport Boulevard, Burlingame, California, USA, 94010

Taxi; fee: 25.00 USD (one way) ;on request

Subway Station:

Train Station:

Property Details

Accepts: Cash, Credit Cards

Property has elevators

For more information about the physical features of our accessible rooms, common areas or special services relating to a specific disability please call +1 650-347-7800

Accessible on-site parking

Service Animals are Welcome

Van Accessible on-site parking

Entrance to On-Site Business Center is Accessible

Entrance to On-Site Fitness Center is Accessible

Main Entrance is Accessible

Meeting Spaces are Accessible

On-Site Restaurants are Accessible

Room and Suites Access through the Interior Corridor

Accessible Vanities

Adjustable Height Hand-Held Shower Wand

Alarm Clock Telephone Ringers

Bathtub Grab Rails

Bathtub Seat

Closed Caption TV

Deadbolts on Guest Room and Suites Doors

Electronic Room Key

Flashing Door Knockers

Guest Room and Suites Doors Self-Closing

Hearing Accessible Rooms and/or Kits

Lever Handles on Guest Room Doors

Lowered Deadbolts on Guest Room Doors

Lowered Electrical Outlets

Lowered Night Guards on Guest Room Doors

Lowered Viewports in Guest Room Doors

Mobility accessible rooms

Non-slip Grab Rails in the Bathroom

Roll-in Shower

Room Windows Open

Secondary Locks on Room Windows

TTY/TTD Compatible

Toilet Seat at Wheelchair Height - Toilet for Disabled

Transfer Showers in Guest Rooms

Viewports in Guest Room and Suites Doors

Frequently Asked Questions

The check-in time at Courtyard San Francisco Airport Burlingame is 4:00 pm and the check-out time is 11:00 am.

The pet policy at Courtyard San Francisco Airport Burlingame is:

The parking options at Courtyard San Francisco Airport Burlingame are:

On-Site Parking: Daily: $20.00

The property amenities at Courtyard San Francisco Airport Burlingame are:

Yes, Courtyard San Francisco Airport Burlingame has free Wi-Fi available to hotel guests.

Unlock your stay with the Marriott Bonvoy™ App

THE BAYSHORE HOTEL SAN FRANCISCO AIRPORT - BURLINGAME

765 Airport Boulevard,

Burlingame, California, USA, 94010

Fax: +1 650-347-4898

Top Destinations

Our company.

© 1996 – 2024 Marriott International, Inc. All rights reserved. Marriott Proprietary Information

Please select your preferred language

The americas, asia and oceania.

• Bahasa Indonesia

INTERNATIONAL

• Watch ABC7 newscasts on demand Full Story
• ABC7 Bay Area 24/7 live stream Watch Now

Florida woman charged after ammo allegedly found in bag during Mother's Day trip to Turks and Caicos

She is the fifth American to be charged under Turks and Caicos' gun laws this year.

TURKS AND CAICOS -- Police in Turks and Caicos have charged an American woman with ammunition possession -- a crime that carries a minimum penalty of 12 years -- after airport officials alleged they found illegal ammunition in her luggage.

Sharitta Shinise Grier, 45, of Orlando, was visiting Turks and Caicos with her daughter for Mother's Day when, during a routine search at the Howard Hamilton International Airport Monday, officials claim to have found two rounds of ammunition in her bag, police said.

Grier and her daughter were both arrested, though the daughter was later released.

Officials confirmed Wednesday the mother had been charged. She is expected in court on Thursday, officials said. Attorney information for the defendant wasn't immediately available.

Two years ago, the Turks and Caicos government tightened their gun laws and prohibited civilian firearms or ammunition. If convicted, offenders are sentenced to a minimum of 12 years in prison.

It is illegal to transport firearms or ammunition to or from any of the Caribbean countries without a license, according to U.S. laws.

She is the fifth American to be charged under Turks and Caicos' gun laws this year.

RELATED: 4 Americans charged in Turks and Caicos, accused of bringing live ammo to the islands

Grier's arrest and charging comes as several U.S. governors released a letter asking the Caribbean island's governor to release three men who have been jailed for weeks over similar charges.

Ryan and Valerie Watson of Oklahoma were arrested on April 24 after hunting ammunition was found in Ryan Watson's carry-on bag before they flew home. Valerie Watson's charges were dropped, and she was allowed to fly back to the U.S.

Her husband was released on $15,000 bond but remains on the island as his court case continues.

Ryan Watson told ABC News he didn't know the ammunition was in the bag.

Bryan Hagerich, of Pennsylvania, is awaiting sentencing on the island after pleading guilty to possession of 20 rounds of ammunition.

ALSO SEE: Pennsylvania man describes 'nightmare' after ammunition found in luggage in Turks and Caicos

Hagerich, who was arrested in February, told ABC News he forgot hunting ammunition was in his bag while he was traveling.

"I'm a man of character, integrity. I did not have intent in this," Hagerich previously said.

Michael Lee Evans, 72, of Texas, also pleaded guilty to possession of seven 9mm rounds of ammunition in his luggage and is awaiting sentencing.

Tyler Scott Wenrich, 31, was charged on April 23 when officials found illegal ammunition during a checkpoint on Turks and Caicos while he was traveling on a cruise, investigators said.

RELATED: American jailed in Turks & Caicos after cruise security found ammunition in his luggage speaks out

The incidents have sparked calls from the defendants' families and U.S. officials who allege the island's laws and penalties are too strict.

On Wednesday, Governors Kevin Stitt of Oklahoma, Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania and Glenn Youngkin of Virginia sent a joint letter to Turks and Caicos Gov. Dileeni Daniel-Selvaratnam to release Watson, Hagerich and Wenrich.

"This action will create the necessary recognition of your laws that will impact the future actions of travelers and continue our mutual interest in justice and goodwill between our jurisdictions," the letter read.

Related Topics

Top stories.

Mayor's plans to bring pandas to SF Zoo hits roadblock

• 5 minutes ago

State Department issues travel alert for LGBTQ people, events abroad

• 2 hours ago

Diddy seen kicking, dragging Cassie in surveillance video: Report

• 3 hours ago

Actor Dabney Coleman, known as sexist boss in '9 to 5,' dies at 92

Man sentenced to 30 years for attacking Nancy Pelosi's husband in SF

Bay to Breakers 2024: SF road closures, route

California's water tunnel to cost $20 billion, officials say

Police: Officer dragged trying to stop Scottie Scheffler's car