San Francisco Itinerary: How To Spend 3 To 7 Days in the City & Beyond

Most people will say you only need two days in San Francisco, but I found myself in the city for 10 days. Although 10 days was a bit long, it gave me time to explore at a slower pace, go back to my favourite areas, and discover some less travelled ones .

I think there’s a sweet spot in staying somewhere between 3 and 7 days in San Francisco. In three days you can see all the main attractions. And any extra days gives you more time to explore the surrounding area and hidden gems in the city. so this is my ultimate San Francisco itinerary for up to 7 days in the city!

Psst! This blog post contains affiliate links in it which sends me a bit of extra money if you use them… at no extra cost to you!

Full San Francisco Itinerary Day by Day

Here’s my San Fransisco itinerary for up to 7 days in the city. If you have a more limited time to explore, all the main attractions are in your first three days in San Francisco. Then if you have extra time in the city, there are four more San Francisco day itineraries with hidden gems and day trips.

For easier trip planning, you might be interested in my printable travel guide for San Francisco.

San Francisco Itinerary 3 days (main attractions):

• Day 1: Fisherman’s Wharf
• Day 2: Alcatraz & More
• Day 3: The Presidio of San Francisco

Extra San Francisco itineraries

• Day 4: Spend A Day on the Cable Cars
• Day 5: Haight & Ashbury, & Golden Gate Park
• Day 6: Golden Gate Bridge, Muir Woods & Sausalito
• Day 7: The Mission District & More

Day 1: Fisherman’s Wharf

Take it easy your first day in San Francisco and explore Fisherman’s Wharf. This is the ultra tourist spot in the city, but nonetheless still a must do for any first time visitor.

Walk along Jefferson street from San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park to the Embarcadero. You’ll be able to catch a first glimpse of the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park. If you’re interested, you can also pick up a treat from Ghirardelli Square. And while you’re here, watch the Hyde Street cable car turnaround.

Along the way, stop at Musee Mechanique, a museum of old arcade games, and Boudin Bakery. Boudin Bakery is the original bakery for San Francisco sourdough bread, making it the perfect spot for lunch or a mid day snack. Fun fact: If you love The Princess Diaries, a scene from the movie was filmed in Musee Mechanique!

If you continue walking, you’ll reach the famous Pier 39, a tourist hub built on a wooden pier. Shop for all your essential San Francisco souvenirs, enjoy some local sea food, see the honking sea lions, and watch the ferries head for Alcatraz. If you’re traveling with kids, there’s a mini amusement park and even an aquarium. They also host a myriad of shows on a mini stage for everyone to enjoy. And don’t forget to walk up to the second level for a view from above, and even more shops!

I’ll admit, the food scene isn’t outstanding on Pier 39, but I had a more than delicious meal at Pier Market Seafood Restaurant. On top of that, I loved the view from here, on a clear day you can see the Golden Gate Bridge.

What to do at Fisherman’s Wharf at night: There isn’t all that much to do in Fisherman’s Wharf at night. There aren’t any bars for an after dinner hang out. I went to Buena Vista, which is known for their Irish Coffee. It’s packed during the day and often has a line outside, so it’s a good place to come at night if you want to try it!

Vegetarian foodie tip: Clam Chowder in a bread bowl is a top thing to eat in San Francisco, but if you don’t eat clams, like myself, Boudin Bakery serves a delicious roasted tomato soup in a bread bowl. I was happy to share in the same bread bowl experience!

Where to stay tonight? To make the most of your time in Fisherman’s Wharf, I recommend staying the night in the area. This way you don’t have to stay out all day, you can go back to your hotel in the afternoon to change and rest before dinner. And it makes the following days of touring easier as well because they can both start here. I stayed at the Courtyard by Marriott Fisherman’s Wharf and would recommend it. It was both convenient and clean!

Day 2: Alcatraz & More

Start your second day in Fisherman’s Wharf with a delicious breakfast. There also aren’t a ton of early morning options, but thankfully you only need one, and that’s Cafe de Casa. It was so good that I came back a second day! They have great filter coffee options, açai protein bowls, and egg sandwich options. I also recommend picking up a light snack to-go as well for your next activity: Alcatraz (because there’s limited food options).

All Alcatraz Cruises leave from Pier 33, which is walking distance from Fisherman’s Wharf. Reserve your tickets for Alcatraz in advance because they do sell out. Your ticket includes the ferry, and an audio tour for Alcatraz cell house. You’ll spend about two to three hours on the island (including the ferry rides there and back). P.S. See more of my tips for visiting Alcatraz.

Expect Alcatraz to be about half your day. But leave your afternoon open so you aren’t rushed off the Island either. Once you’re back on the mainland, you can explore anything you may have missed beyond Fisherman’s Wharf. For example, if you’re only in San Francisco for three days, this is the perfect time to ride the cable car to Chinatown. You’ll pass by the famous Lombard street on the way too (the crookedest street in the world). If you haven’t already, head to Ghirardelli Square or Buena Vista. You can also walk up the Larkin Street Stairs for a view.

Where to stay the night: Staying in Fisherman’s Wharf is once again very convenient to stay in because day three starts from here as well. As I mentioned, I highly recommend the Courtyard by Marriott Fisherman’s Wharf.

Alcatraz Combination Tours: If you’re interested in multiple activities around Fisherman’s Wharf, you might want to look into booking a combination tours that includes Alcatraz. This combination tour includes Alcatraz tickets, with either a bike rental, hop on hop off bus tour, or a sunset cruise on the bay. Or this combination full day tour includes Alcatraz and the Muir Woods, and Sausalito.

Day 3: The Presidio of San Francisco (The Golden Gate Bridge)

This was by far my favourite day in San Francisco. It’s all outside, it’s very active, and you get amazing iconic San Francisco views.

The Presidio of San Francisco is a large park with beaches, a golf club, a Disney Museum and the Golden Gate Bridge. Todays itinerary is all about seeing the Golden Gate Bridge from every angle possible, and even walking across it (if you dare!).

You have a lot of options for how to go about today’s San Francisco itinerary (depending on how much walking you want to do!). Essentially, you want to get from Fisherman’s Wharf to Fort Mason National Historic Site. You can walk the entire way, but it’s long, about an hour and 15 minutes. And once you’re in the park, there’s an entire second hike you can do! I walked it one way and took a Waymo back (a self driving car – which is a top thing to do in San Francisco either way!). You can also rent a bike or a Lime Scooter to make the trip a bit easier.

You’re going to walk along the San Francisco Bay Trail from Fort Mason Park to Fort Mason National Historic Site. You’ll catch glimpses of the Golden Gate Bridge until you’re literally underneath it! The walk is beautiful along the water, through the Marina Green and Crissy Field.

P.S. Before arriving at Crissy Field, cross the street to reach the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco. It’s a large dome that takes you back in time and it’s absolutely breathtaking to walk through. Although it looks like it’s from the Roman empire, it was built for the Panama-Pacific International Exposition in 1915 to celebrate the reconstruction of the city after the 1906 earthquake. It was supposed to be demolished along with the rest of the buildings, but no one could ever take it down!

Once you’ve made it to Fort Mason National Historic Site, walk up to get to the entrance of the Golden Gate Bridge. If you’re up for it, walk out a bit across the Golden Gate Bridge (there’s a separated sidewalk from the cars). You’ll get a view of Alcatraz and the San Francisco Bay area.

This is also good point if you need food or a drink, pick something up at the Equator Coffee at the top (although expect a line!). If you are interested in continuing on part two of the hike, I recommend also picking up some food to go. You may want a snack later when you reach your final destination, and there isn’s anything where you’re going.

If you’re interested in part two of the hike, you’re going to “cross the highway”. There’s a safe underground tunnel to do cross, so no need to risk it. You have a few trail options here, the most direct will be the California Coast trail. I (by accident) diverted onto the Battery to Bluff Trail. It might be more scenic, it’s probably more challenging and off roading trail, and you pass by some old war batteries. Whichever trail you choose, be sure to check behind you for views of the Golden Gate Bridge. Your destination now is Baker Beach where you’ll be able to relax for a bit on the sand with the best view of the bridge.

As I said, when you’re ready to head back to Fisherman’s Wharf, you can walk the back the same way you came. Or if you’re too tired (and there’s no shame in that!), take an Uber or a Waymo.

Where to eat? You want to be a bit more prepared with food for today’s itinerary because there aren’t a lot of options. There’s a small gift shop with snacks and hot drinks at the bottom of the hill (near Fort Mason National Historic Site). At the top of the hill, you’ll have more drink and food options (actual sandwiches) at Equator Coffee. I recommend either bringing food from the Wharf area, or making a pit stop at Equator Coffee for lunch.

Where to stay the night? Depending on how many nights you have left in San Francisco, you can either stay one more night in Fisherman’s Wharf, or you can move to Union Square. I would only move hotels if you have at least of two more nights in the city, otherwise it’s not worth the hassle. Union Square doesn’t feel as touristy, and you’ll have better restaurant options. I recommend booking the Beacon Grand hotel, and staying here for the rest of your time in San Francisco.

Day 4: Spend A Day on the Cable Cars

My day four San Francisco itinerary is all about exploring the most out of the San Francisco cable cars. These are the historic mode of transportation after all, so take an entire day just riding the three lines around the city.

I have an entire day mapped out on the cables cars you can follow. It takes you to main attractions all the way from Fisherman’s Wharf to Union Square. You pass by Polk Street in Russian Hill, Nob Hill, and Chinatown on the way. And your day will end in the Financial District where you can visit the Ferry Buiding.

See my full cable car one day itinerary, and I’ve also included it in my San Francisco travel guide that you can print out and take with you on the go!

Day 5: Haight & Ashbury, & Golden Gate Park

Spend day five exploring new areas that are a bit farther from the typical touristy areas of San Francisco. Haight & Ashbury is a neighbourhood known for being the hub of the hippie movement and the Summer of Love in the 60s.

There are tons of points of interest along the street you’ll want to see that takes you back in time. For example, Jimi Hendrix Red House, Janis Joplin’s Pink House, the Grateful Dead House, and That’s so Raven House (p.s. I have the exact addresses in my top things to do in San Francisco post). And don’t forget to pick up some tie die at the Summer of Love shop on the street corner.

Then spend the afternoon in Golden Gate Park. There are a few museums in the park, but for me, the main attraction was the Japanese Tea Garden. The gardens themselves are lovely and peaceful to walk through, with quite the unique bridges (if you dare walk over them!). But you have to make a point to take some time out of your day for a tea at the Tea House (order it with some sweets on the side too!).

If you have more time, you can also visit the California Academy of Sciences or the De Yonge Museum. Or head to the opposite end of the park to the Queen Wilhelmina Garden, where you’ll see an old time windmill. If you don’t have a car, there is a free shuttle to take you around the park.

Optional stop on the way: If you’re interested in seeing the Painted Ladies of San Francisco, this is a good day to see them. The Painted Ladies are Victorian homes that were the sole survivors of the 1906 earthquake. But they’ve grown in fame over the years for being featured in Hollywood TV shows and films. Most notably, the opening credits for Full House. They are near Haight & Ashbury and you can stop at them on your way to the neighbourhood. But I would only recommend a stop here if you’re a huge Full House fan, or if you have a car. Otherwise, I would say that this stop isn’t all that worth it.

Day 6: Golden Gate Bridge, Muir Woods & Sausalito

Six days in the city is quite a bit, so take a day to explore the surrounding area. The most popular day trip from San Francisco is the Muir Woods and Sausalito. The Muir Woods is a National Monument home to thousands of old redwood trees. These trees are immense and you can walk among them along one of the many trails at this park.

To get to the Muir Woods from San Francisco, you have to either rent a car, book an organized tour, or reserve a ferry and shuttle. If you opt to drive, you’ll have the most flexibility, but you do have to reserve parking at the Muir Woods in advance (it’s very limited!). P.S. I always rent my cars on vacation with Enterprise.

If you don’t have a car, you can book an organized tour (this is the one I did and would recommend it for a stress free trip). Or if you’re visiting during high season, you can take a ferry and a shuttle to the Muir Woods. From San Francisco you’ll either take a ferry to Sausalito (week only) or to Larkspur (weekends and holidays). From either ferry terminal, there’s a shuttle bus to the Muir Woods. This shuttle only runs from April until October. Keep in mind, there also isn’t any connection in the Muir Woods. So if you take an Uber or Taxi there, don’t plan on taking one back…

After you’ve hiked in the Muir Woods, head to Sausalito.

Once in Sausalito, take it easy and relax for the afternoon. Walk to the end of the boardwalk to see a view of the San Francisco skyline and the sea lion sculpture. I actually saw a single sea lion right next to the statue for a split second, if you’re wondering why there’s a statue here, it must be a popular destination for them to visit!

Enjoy a coffee or dessert on a patio if the weather is agreeable, or pick up an ice cream to go. Peruse one of the many art galleries, and you can even do a vodka tasting at the Hanson of Sonoma Tasting Room & Gallery! Learn more about the history of the city at the Sausalito Historical Society Museum. And pick up a local book at the Sausalito Books by the Bay.

How to visiting Sausalito on the weekends from the Muir Woods: The Muir Woods Shuttle leaves from Larkspur on the weekends. But you can still visit Sausalito, it just takes an extra step. You’ll have to buy a one way ferry ride from San Francisco to Larkspur with a shuttle to the Muir Woods and back. Once back in Larkspur, you’ll be able to get a taxi or an Uber to Sausalito (about a 25 minute drive). Then you can simply take a ferry back to San Francisco from Sausalito. Just always be sure to check the ferry schedule in advance!

Day 7: The Mission District & More

The Mission District of San Francisco is all the rave as the up and coming trendy neighborhood. I actually didn’t get a chance to visit but if you have an extra day in the city it’s worth checking out. The cable car doesn’t make it this far, so you’ll need to Uber or Waymo if you don’t have a car.

I recommend making a reservation in advance for Dandelion Chocolate tour (I travelled during low season and it was booked even the week in advance!). Visit Clarion Alley for graffiti walls and Tartine Bakery for sourdough bread (the new age competitor to Boudin Bakery). For lunch pick pick up a Mission Burrito from La Taqueria.

If you’re up for a bit of a walk, visit Mission Dolores Park for a different skyline view of the city. For something to do at night, make a reservation at Foreign Cinema to dine and watch a movie. Read this guide from the Wandering Blonde for more of what to do in the Mission District.

If you have more time in the afternoon, there are still more more things to do in San Francisco, see my full list of top 20 things to do. I recommend enjoying a meal or drink at the Garden Court in the Palace Hotel, a walk through Salesforce Park, or learn how to use a gaiwan at the Imperial Tea Court in the Ferry Building.

Planning a Trip to San Francisco: Logistics

Now that you have your San Francisco itinerary planned out, here are a few more logistical things for planning your trip to the Bay Area. You might also be interested in my printable San Francisco travel guide, with checklists for the top things to see and do, what to eat, and a packing guide.

More San Francisco Travel Guides

See more of my San Francisco travel guides with tips and recommendations to plan your perfect trip:

• Top Things To Do in San Francisco (& What’s Not Worth It)
• How to Ride the San Francisco Cable Cars
• How To Ride The San Francisco Cable Cars In One Day (Map Included)
• How To Visit Alcatraz Island

Do You Need A Car In San Francisco?

I did not have a car for my 10 day trip to San Francisco. This is no issue for the top attractions in the city, they’re all accessible by cable car or by walking.

The more complicated areas to reach are Haigh & Ashbury, Mission District, and the Muir Woods. But you always have other options for transportation to get to these, like an Uber or Waymo (self-driving car). I was traveling solo so I booked the Big Bus tour for two days to get to the farther destinations, but don’t even think it’s necessary. I also booked an organized tour to the Muir Woods, which also brings you to the lookout of the Golden Gate Bridge and Sausalito.

I also used Lime Scooters to get around when I was too tired to walk, and you could also sign up for Bay Wheels (bike sharing). I opted for Lime Scooter over bikes because they were more frequently placed throughout the city, and I felt safer on sidewalks rather than biking on the roads. The biking in the city centre isn’t that safe as most of the time there isn’t a separated bike path. 

Alternatively you can also rent a car for a day at time to reach these limited destinations and have more flexibility, for example to get to the Mission District, and the Muir Woods. Renting a car is a better option if you’d rather be on your own schedule.

What To Pack For San Francisco (The Weather)?

The weather in San Francisco is about the same all year round. Let’s just say I’ve visited San Francisco in both March and July and wore the same thing each time…

It’s not overly warm, but not cold either. The average high ranges from 15°Cto 20°C degrees (59°F to 68°F) and the average low is between 8°C and 13°C (46°F to 55°F). They average between 8 days of rain every month besides the summer months which is a shocking 0 days of rain!

What I did experience is that you should expect it to feel colder than it is in San Francisco, especially in Fisherman’s Wharf and along the water. But if you plan on walking throughout the city, it’s VERY hilly, so you will warm up quickly. With that in mind, packing in layers is key for a trip to San Francisco, no matter the time of year.

The top things I was happy I brought were my light hat, a scarf, and puffer jacket. I brought a lot of jacket options on my second visit in March, and I didn’t regret bringing any of them. Along with my puffer jacket, I had a jean jacket and a lighter bomber jacket. I also loved having my thin cashmere sweater, my merino wool sweater as a base layer for the mornings and evenings, and to stay cozy I packed a polar fleece sweater.

For bottoms, I only packed pants, and I never felt the need for shorts. Jeans are a must to cut the wind and keep you warmer. And I even still brought a merino wool base layer for my legs on those windier and colder days along the bay (they were clutch for visiting Alcatraz too!).

Where To Stay in San Francisco?

Depending on how long you’re in San Francisco, I recommend staying in two locations: Fisherman’s Wharf and Union Square.

I’ve stayed in three hotels in San Francisco and would really only recommend one: the Courtyard Marriott in Fisherman’s Wharf. It’s by no means a luxury hotel but it gets the job done and the location could not have been better (my room actually had a view onto the In & Out Burger offering entertainment all day long!). Aside from the In & Out it was walking distance to everything, from Ghirardelli Square to Pier 39. See room rates and availability on Booking.com.

Another good area to stay in while in San Francisco is Union Square. It’s a safer, less touristy neighbourhood. But it still has a cable car running through it to bring you to Fisherman’s Wharf and all the main attractions. I stayed in both Cornell Hotel de France and the Marine’s Memorial Club Hotel… and wouldn’t recommend either other one besides for being in optimal locations. I regret cancelling my reservation to save some money at the Beacon Grand in the same location! Looking back I think the extra cost was probably worth it. See room rates and availability on Booking.com.

Or see more hotel options in San Francisco.

Read More Related Posts

• Top Things To Do in San Francisco (& What’s Not Worth It)
• How to Ride the San Francisco Cable Cars
• How To Visit Alcatraz Island

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