Get ready for an adventure in the city by the Bay, San Fran-freakin’-cisco! The Golden City offers a plethora of must-see landmarks, mouth-watering seafood, and picturesque views that’ll blow your mind. From the Golden Gate Bridge to Alcatraz Island to the historic cable cars, there’s no shortage of things to do and see in this bustling metropolis.
San Francisco is one of the top cities in the USA, not just for the techies but also for tourists. It has something for everyone, from historic sites to fun hikes to picturesque beaches. Save this guide to explore the city’s hottest neighborhoods, attractions, and activities you can cover in 4 days.
We visited San Francisco in 2022. It was my first time in SFO, and I wanted to cover all the top spots within the city and some popular day trip destinations like Yosemite National Park and Sonoma Valley. It was challenging to fit so much in these little days, but we made it work with our optimized itinerary and had a wonderful time!
Best hotel location in San Francisco
I’m a budget traveler, but I also love a good view. However, getting both is a bit difficult but not impossible. We found one such property in San Francisco that was within our budget, had all the amenities, was located near public transit, and offered a decent view of the Golden Gate Bridge.
We stayed in Coventry Motor Inn on Lombard St., one of the most prominent neighborhoods in the city. Getting around using public transit was easy. Plus, there were a ton of great restaurants nearby. Our room was spacious, and the bed was comfortable. It had everything we needed for a relaxing stay.
Before we jump into the itinerary, I wanted to highlight that San Francisco is an expensive city to travel and the public transportation is not too great. Therefore, I’m sharing our exact day-wise itinerary and expenses for a better understanding of the budget.
Day 1
Alcatraz Island
Our San Francisco adventures began at one of the most famous prisons in the world, Alcatraz, a.k.a, the Rock. Once a military fort, the island served as a federal prison between 1933 and 1963. It was home to many infamous inmates, including Al Capone and George “Machine Gun” Kelly. Visitors can tour the island and learn about its history through self-guided audio tours.
We took the Alcatraz Island cruise from Pier 33 and pre-booked our tickets through the City Experiences website to avoid any last-minute availability issues. The ferry ride was short and gave us a nice view of the skyline and the surrounding islands.
Upon reaching, we used the self-guided audio tour to explore the cells and common areas. The tour shared insight into the daily lives of the prisoners and the three inmates who escaped this high-security prison. You can watch the movie “Escape from Alcatraz” a 1979 thriller that shares details about the escape.
Ticket: $45.25 per person (round trip)
Timings: Daily, 8:40 AM to 1:35 PM (Nov to Mar) | 8:40 AM – 3:50 PM (Mar to Nov)
You can also club your visit to Alcatraz with a half day tour of the city. Here’s what I recommend:
Official Alcatraz Tour with 90-minute San Francisco City Tour – $139 per person (this includes Alcatraz admission ticket)
Pier 39
Next, we headed to Pier 39, nestled in the Fisherman’s Wharf. This bustling waterfront destination offers a quintessential San Francisco experience, from quirky shops to fun eateries to thrilling rides, all in one place!
We had lunch at the iconic Bubba Gump Shrimp Co., featured in the superhit movie Forrest Gump. The restaurant had a lively and relaxed atmosphere. The decor was straight out of the film- it’s a shrimp lover’s dream come true! If you love this movie, don’t miss out on this unique dining experience!
Post lunch, we browsed through the shops and caught a few street performers in action. But the real highlight of our visit was watching the sea lions basking in the sun and barking up a storm. We also spotted a few brown pelicans flying over the San Francisco Bay. The bird enthusiast within me was delighted.
Food for two: $30-50
Timings: Fri to Sun, 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM | Mon to Thu, 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Tour recommendation: Craft Beer Walking Tour in Fisherman’s Wharf and North Beach – $109 (includes food & drinks)
Batteries to Bluffs Trail
After all that food, a hike was a must! We headed to Batteries to Bluffs Trail in Presidio, a popular hike offering a spectacular view of the bay and the iconic Golden Gate Bridge. It was a moderately difficult hike with steep inclines.
We began our hike during the golden hour, and in about 40 minutes, we reached the beach. We had the entire beach to ourselves, so we sat there staring at the gorgeous Golden Gate Bridge and watching sandpipers playing on the beach.
The climb back up was steep and required a few breaks. But overall, it was an incredible hike, and I highly recommend it, especially for the view!
Entry: Free
Chinatown
Lastly, we visited the oldest and most established Chinatown in the U.S. However, we couldn’t explore much as almost every shop, temple, and restaurant was closed.
We walked around the maze-like neighborhood, admiring the architecture, took pictures at the iconic Dragon Gate, marveled at the beautiful graffiti, and explored the open stores. We also found a popular hole-in-the-wall restaurant where we tried authentic Chinese food.
Pro Tip: We recommend visiting Chinatown during the day for more food, activities, and a livelier atmosphere.
Food for two: $20-30
Tour recommendation: Chinatown Culinary Walking Tour ($78 per person, includes lunch)
Day 2
Presidio
On our second day of exploring San Francisco, we started at the Presidio, a historic military fort established by Spanish explorers in 1776. Situated at the northern tip of the San Francisco Peninsula, this place is a hub of rich culture and recreational activities. It’s so spread out that you need days to explore the entire region. However, as we only had half a day, we explored only a few top spots.
Our first stop was Yoda Fountain, a quick stop-and-go place that features the celebrated Star Wars character Yoda. You can skip it if you’re not a fan of Star Wars. From here, we walked up to Crissy Field Marsh to spot some Bay Area birds. We took the San Francisco Bay Trail and walked up to the Golden Gate Beach while stopping at the Crissy Field to learn about its history.
We spent a few hours basking at the Golden Gate Beach while ogling at the beauty of the Golden Gate Bridge. It’s one of the best spots to view the bridge and get perfect Insta-worthy photos.
If you have time, walk up to Fort Point National Historic Site under the Golden Gate Bridge to explore Civil War-era artifacts and enjoy a unique view of the Golden Gate Bridge. Moreover, if you have time, you can also cover the Palace of Fine Arts on the same day.
Entry: Free
Sonoma Valley
We spent the second half of our day exploring one of the best wine regions in California that was barely an hour’s drive from San Francisco. We started our Sonoma expedition at the famous Plaza, unveiling the historic side of it. The state park is a must-visit if you’re a history buff or are interested in knowing the origin story of this beautiful valley. Next, we headed to one of the oldest wineries for a fun wine and vineyard tour.
Check out my latest Sonoma Valley blog post, where I share more details about my trip and a few tips to help you have the best time in this gorgeous wine region.
If you have limited time, I recommend booking a guided tour instead. It will save time and get you around the best spots in the city.
Tour recommendation: Napa & Sonoma County Full Day Tour from San Francisco – $169 per person (includes wine tasting, pick up & guided tour)
Day 3
Yosemite National Park
On the third day, we headed to one of the top national parks in the U.S., known for its towering granite cliffs, pristine valley views, majestic waterfalls, and gigantic sequoia trees. Since we didn’t have our driving license back then, we took a guided tour with Extranomical Tours that showed us the best spots within Yosemite National Park. Read my Yosemite National Park Day Trip blog post to know my itinerary and what we covered.
Tour recommendation: Yosemite National Park and Giant Sequoia Day Tour – $209 per person (including pick up and drop)
Embarcadero
While returning from Yosemite National Park, we decided to take a nighttime stroll through the Financial District (the Embarcadero) to admire some of the historic locations beautifully lit up at night. This neighborhood is located near the waterfront and has been instrumental in building the city of San Francisco during the 1849 Gold Rush.
Our first stop was the famous Ferry Building, an iconic landmark used primarily as a ferry terminal to travel across the bay. The building also hosts a Farmer’s market three times a week featuring local produce & artisanal food. Next, we rode the historic F-line streetcar that runs along Market Street to the Embarcadero. It was a short ride that gave us a peek at some stunning architecture, from the Asian Art Museum to The San Francisco Opera and Ballet to the hilltop gem, Coit Tower. I must say, it was fun to see the city so quiet and the views so stunning. And that’s how we rounded off Day 3 of our SFO adventures!
Day 4
On the last day of our trip, we only had a few hours to explore. Therefore, we decided to skip the Painted Ladies, as it wasn’t a major draw for us. Let me know if it’s worth visiting on our next visit. Instead, we visited the Palace of Art (you can cover this while exploring Presidio), Lombard Street (only worth it if you have a car), and Coit Tower (an underrated gem).
Palace of Art
The Palace of Fine Arts was the first stop of the day. Its captivating architecture, with marble colonnades and an idyllic lagoon, transported us straight to Rome. Moreover, it is absolutely free and a tranquil place to relax amidst the city’s energy. We wished we had visited this place sooner. I’m definitely visiting this place on my next visit to San Francisco.
Entry: Free
Coit Tower
Next, we visited Coit Tower, a 210-foot white concrete tower resting on top of Telegraph Hill. This Art Deco building was designed as a tribute to firefighters. We got a stunning aerial view of the city from this iconic landmark and a glimpse into the Depression era through the fascinating murals. The ticket to the observation deck was $10 for non-residents and served as the perfect spot for capturing scenic photos of the skyline.
Entry: $10 per adult
Lombard Street
Famously known as “the Crookedest Street in the World”, Lombard Street is a fun visit for those who love some great driving challenges. However, those traveling on foot might not get the true experience of this place. It is a major tourist attraction and is visited by about two million people annually. The twisty section is located along the eastern segment of the Russian Hill neighborhood, a one-way downhill street paved with red bricks. It was built in 1922 to lessen the street’s natural grade and makes a popular stop to walk down the switchbacks.
Last but not least, here are some Frequently Asked Questions about San Francisco that will help you plan your trip to the Golden City.
Best time to visit San Francisco
Best: Spring is a great time to visit San Francisco as the weather is mild, there are fewer crowds, and you may even find some wildflowers in bloom. However, there may be some rain and fog during this season.
Good: Winter is the least crowded season and the most affordable time to visit San Francisco. However, do expect some light showers and wind. I would recommend avoiding this time if you don’t like the cold. We visited SFO in January, and the weather was pleasantly cold with a bit of fog (14 to 20 Fahrenheit).
Avoid: Summer is the peak travel season, as the weather is perfect for outdoor activities and city stuff. But it also means crowded streets, long wait times at restaurants, and expensive flights and hotels.
Overhyped spots that you can skip in San Francisco
The city has a lot to offer, but not every spot is worth the visit. Here’s a list of places we felt were overhyped or have lost their charm over the years.
- Ghirardelli Square: Once a famous chocolate factory, it is now a collection of expensive shops and restaurants. You can still visit the chocolate shop, offering a good collection of Ghirardelli chocolates. But you can find them anywhere around the city.
- Fisherman’s Wharf: This personally felt like a tourist trap as it was crowded, overpriced, and full of kitschy shops and restaurants. The only part worth visiting here was the Sea lion colony. Therefore, I’d recommend heading to the Ferry Building for dining instead.
- The Painted Ladies – is a row of Victorian houses known for their vibrant colors. It is the most photographed spot in SFO. However, the park remains busy, and there’s no way to avoid photobombing somebody’s picture.
Traveling within San Francisco
One thing I liked about San Francisco is that it’s very walkable, and many popular tourist spots were in downtown, making it easy to get around on foot. We also bought a Muni card for a day, allowing us to hop buses, streetcars, cable cars, and the Muni Metro light rail system.
Lyft offered us the best pricing and availability among the various ride-sharing apps. We used them to travel to places that were not connected well by public transportation.
If you love biking, I recommend hiring one, and you’ll be sorted for the day. San Francisco is a bike-friendly city, and several bike rental companies are operating in the city.
