3 Day Itinerary - San Francisco - Written By A Local
Are you visiting California and trying to decide what to do? San Francisco should be at the top of your list with its beautiful architecture, diverse neighborhoods, and iconic sights.
We’ve lived in San Francisco for over 10 years and to help you out, we've put together a perfect 3 Day San Francisco itinerary just for you! :)
There are so many things to do in San Francisco - the hard part will be trying to pick what to do!
Also, check out our guide to the best hotels in San Francisco!
Battery Godfrey
Most people park at the Golden Gate Welcome Center and walk over from there, but a local secret is to park at Battery Godfrey. From here, you can get a unique and stunning view of the Golden Gate Bridge that most tourists don’t ever get to see. From here, you can walk across the Golden Gate and back. It’s one of the many free things to do in San Francisco.
Bring layers and comfy shoes - the Golden Gate Bridge is known to be quite windy!
Optional: Once you walk across the bridge, you can walk up Conzelman Road to Battery Spencer for what I consider to be the best view of Golden Gate Bridge, hands down. Find out more here.
Battery Spencer
A great way to visit many of San Francisco’s top attractions is with the CityPass! You’ll save up to 45% off the entrance fees.
Don’t know where to stay? Check out our guide to best hotels in San Francisco!
For another unique view of the Golden Gate Bridge, locals often head to Baker Beach or Marshall Beach. You’ll be able to walk next to the crashing waves of the Pacific Ocean with amazing views of the bridge.
Marshall Beach
One of my favorite things to do is bring a picnic blanket, some snacks, and good company for a nice weekend hangout on the beach.
Another option is to walk along the Batteries to Bluff trail, which also has sweeping views! (who would have guessed?)
Nothing is more recognizable than the iconic Cable Cars of San Francisco. Many people hop on at Powell St & Market St station to take the ride to Fishermans Wharf.
For the best overall views of the city, take the Powell Hyde Line from the Powell & Market stop. It goes through Russian Hill, past Lombard Street, with the final descent opening to a grand view of the Bay. My preferred view is hanging off the side of the cable car, but be careful - passing cable cars barely have any clearance!
California Cable Car Route
The other route with fantastic views is the California route since it goes up and over Nob Hill. The ride up to Nob Hill is especially scenic since the road slopes all the way down with a view of the Bay Bridge. You’ll board on any of the stops on California Street but I like to board near California and Jones. In addition, you’ll see way more locals on this cable car since it doesn’t go to Fisherman’s Wharf.
Bonus: If you want that perfect photo of you on a cable car, there are usually many empty cable cars parked at Francisco & Taylor (near Fisherman’s Wharf). You can hop on for free and get the shot from as many angles as you’d like!
Riding a cable car is the perfect thing to do if you’re on a layover in San Francisco too!
Although it’s regarded by many locals as a tourist trap - there are some great places here that even many locals like myself visit frequently.
Sea Lions - who can resist these sun-bathing cuties? Watch as they jump in and out of the water and perform playful antics with each other.
Mirror Maze - bring the inner child out in you with this trippy mirror maze complete with UV lights, fun music, and a fun maze!
Musee Mécanique - this amazing collection of old-school arcade games is a fun way to spend an hour or two!
In-n-Out - the only In-n-Out located in San Francisco, this is a must for anyone who’s never had their amazing burgers! Get the Double Double Animal Style with Extra Tomatoes and Lettuce! Trust me.
Aquatic Cove - Another local favorite, you’ll see brave souls swimming in the cove and others taking a quiet lunch on the Aquatic Park Bleachers.
I've written an extensive Fisherman's Wharf guide here.
A great way to get around the city while sightseeing is via the Hop on Hop off bus! You can easily get on and off as you explore the city without worrying about parking or calling an Uber. It’s also open air on top, so you can have excellent views while riding around.
The scene of many movies and TV shows, this architectural beauty is a great place for a stroll or a picnic lunch. It’s also a romantic spot for couples or a great place to read a book.
If you stand in the middle of the dome and speak upwards - it’ll echo magnificently. (The kid in me speaking)
One of the best outdoor hikes in San Francisco, Lands End is a corner of the city full of trails along rocky, windswept cliffs. Along the hike, you’ll get magnificent views of the Golden Gate Bridge, Marin, and the Pacific Ocean. The rock labyrinth is a local secret and worth checking out.
Labyrinth
At the other end of Lands End is the Sutro Bath Ruins. It’s an interesting place to walk around and spectacular during sunset.
If you keep going, you’ll reach Ocean Beach which is a sprawling beach covering a large portion of the west part of San Francisco.
View of Ocean Beach from Cliff House
Between Sutro Bath and Ocean Beach, there is a beautiful terrace with an interesting Camera Obscura. It has unmatched views of the whole area along with a lovely ambiance and delicious food. Highly recommended.
One of the largest green spaces and best parks in San Francisco - Golden Gate Park is where many locals go to get away from the city and be closer to nature.
Dutch Windmill - an actual working windmill - this unusually placed structure is especially beautiful in the spring when flowers are blooming everywhere around it.
Japanese Garden - this lovely garden is full of authentic Japanese pagodas, koi fish, and has a lovely tea shop on site. The curved bridge in the middle is a real treat!
DeYoung Tower - free to enter, this 360 degree panoramic viewpoint is great for seeing all of Golden Gate Park and beyond. Make sure to enter an hour before closing, usually around 4 pm.
This is one of the largest and oldest Chinatowns in the world. While not much has changed in the past 40 years, some things are starting to modernize here.
One of the most picturesque street corners is at Eastern Bakery (Grant and Commercial St) with the combination of red street lanterns, beautiful street signs, and Chinese temples pagoda lining the street.
For some delicious, authentic Sichuan food, make sure to check out Spicy King - it’s one of our favorite restaurants in town!
For Michelin recommended Dim Sum, Lai Hong Lounge is another favorite of ours.
The Coffee Movement, run by Australians, has some of the best coffee in the city.
Golden Gate Bakery has some of the best Hong Kong style egg custard tarts in America, but unfortunately, it’s a coin flip if the shop will be open when you swing by as the ladies who run it are always ‘on vacation’.
Adjacent to Chinatown is North Beach, otherwise known as Little Italy. This little part of San Francisco has the most ‘European’ feel to it with its quaint shops and Italian-themed cafes along Columbus Avenue.
Make the short hike up to Coit Tower for fantastic views of the whole city.
Stella Cafe is one of our favorite bakeries in town with one of the best cakes called the Sacrapantina. Their tiramisu and cheesecake are also quite amazing!
Tony’s Pizza is a great place for Neopolitan-style pizza. Get it by the slice and hang out in Washington Square or sit down at the restaurant for a whole pie.
Italian Homemade is another favorite of ours for freshly made Italian pasta dishes. The whole staff is mostly Italian here, so you know it’s authentic!
Vesuvio Cafe
There are a slew of fantastic bars on Grant Ave and Columbus including the famous Vesuvio Cafe where the Beat Generation hung out.
City Lights, one of the most iconic bookstores in America, is next door to Vesuvio. I love stopping by when I’m in the neighborhood to flip through a few of the magazines and see what’s the latest literary scoop.
The famous crooked Lombard Street is also nearby. If you're here during May/June the flowers should be in full bloom.
For a more in depth guide of North Beach, read our guide here.
One of the coolest neighborhoods in the city, the Mission is a place full of contrasts due to the concentration of younger techies gentrifying the area mixed in with the original Latin American culture.
It’s also considered the neighborhood for checking out the latest mixology bars, hottest restaurants, or hanging out with friends at a park. They also have some of the best Mexican food in the whole city.
Lazy Bear
La Taqueria
Mexican Food - you can’t come to the Mission and not try one of the excellent taquerias in the neighborhood. La Taqueria was crowned as the best burrito in America by Five Thirty Eight and I can’t disagree! Get the Carne Asada Super Burrito Crispy (Pan Fried) - they simply the best burrito in town!
Pancho Villa is a good alternative with delicious & cheap tacos, quesadillas, and burritos. Los Coyotes is my favorite place for breakfast burritos and the best Pico De Gallo in town.
Mission Dolores Park is the city’s meeting point whenever the sun is out. For the best viewpoint go to the southwest corner.
For some of San Francisco’s best ice cream make sure to check out Garden Creamery, Bi-Rite, or Humphry Slocumbe.
Garden Creamery
Tartine Bakery
Two of the best bakeries in town - Tartine Bakery and Craftman & Wolves are here.
Lazy Bear is a very popular Michelin-starred restaurant worth checking out - make sure to call ahead for reservations.
Foreign Cinema
Other recommendations for restaurants are Foreign Cinema, Pizzeria Delfina, Ramen Izakaya Goku, and Gracias Madre.
Drinking options - the Mission is famous for its bars, and the ones I’d recommend are ABV, Trick Dog, Wildhawk, Bond Bar, and Beretta. Any of these bars would be great for a wild Friday or Saturday night!
Trick Dog
For some local color, check out the street art on Clarion Alley.
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Another one of San Francisco’s most famous attractions - the Painted Ladies are a line of photogenic Victorian houses with downtown San Francisco right behind them. The best time to get a shot of them is at sunset, when the sun is casting a lovely golden light on them.
There are also some lovely examples of Victorian architecture in the area, so make sure to walk around the whole of Alamo Square.
When I’m in Alamo Square, I also love bringing a blanket, cheese, and wine for a lovely picnic. In fact, San Francisco is full of good picnic spots!
Famous for being the birthplace of the hippie culture movement in the ’60s, it’s still a magnet for eccentricity and worth checking out. There are many interesting record shops, vintage stores, and hippie-focused shops on Main Street.
The Four Seasons Houses are also in this neighborhood and in my opinion, are prettier than the famous Painted Ladies.
Another up-and-coming neighborhood with a wide selection of eateries, cafes, and shops - a popular place to hang out is Patricia’s Green. There is usually a large piece of art from Burning Man placed here with plenty of seating.
Recommendations for places to eat include Wise Sons (Bagels/Jewish Food), Salt & Straw (excellent ice cream), Petit Crenn (from Michelin starred chef), Chez Maman, and Blue Bottle Coffee.
Full of great eateries and old-time ambiance, this fully functioning ferry building is a local favorite for amazing food and hanging out with friends.
Some of my favorite places to grab food are Acme Bread for their freshly baked artisanal bread, Humphry Slocumbe for their delicious ice cream (try the breakfast surprise), The Slanted Door for their world-famous Vietnamese cuisine, Miette for their lavender shortcakes cookies, and Hog Island for their delicious oysters.
Slanted Door
Acme bread and blue bottle
On Saturday mornings, the whole area is alive with a bustling farmers market full of local produce and delicious eats.
SF MOMA
San Francisco has a wide variety of excellent museums to cater to any taste.
Mori Point
San Francisco is blessed with many beautiful hikes both inside the city and within driving distance.
Check out my guide here to the best hikes in the San Francisco Bay Area.