My first time in San Francisco was for an intern’s picnic at Golden Gate Park, shuttled up from San Jose for the day with a group of fellow interns. I wore a sun dress in July and quickly learned the most important lesson of visiting San Francisco year-round – bring a jacket! San Francisco can be cold + foggy + windy in the morning, and by the afternoon, the fog has burned off, and the day will have turned beautiful. Prepare for the unpredictable weather with layers, and always have a jacket in tow! Also, download the Mr. Chilly app for your trip to see the weather across San Francisco’s microclimates that vary by neighborhood.

What started as a place I fell in love with as a tourist, turned into a place I called home for 2 years in my 20s. After experiencing this city as both a local and a tourist and hosting many visitors, I’ve put together a combination of activities that can help form your perfect day in the city by the bay. 

Also, only the tourists call it “San Fran”, it’s ‘SF’ to the locals.

For more details on specific neighborhoods and favorite spots to eat and drink around the city based on time of day and overall vibe, check out A Perfect Meal in San Francisco.

Arrival Day – Walk the Embarcadero + Pier 39 + Fisherman’s Wharf

• The perfect experience to kick off a SF visit. Start at the Ferry Building  and walk around the indoor hall to explore the food +  wine + shopping stalls.
  • El Porteño for empanadas
  • Humphry Slocombe for ice cream
  • Hog Island Oyster Co. for happy hour
  • Blue Bottle for coffee
  • Gott’s Roadside for hot dogs & hamburgers
  • Mariopsa Baking Company for gluten-free bread and pastries
• Make sure to walk to the backside of the Ferry Building, which is along the San Francisco Bay with beautiful views of the Bay Bridge.
• The Ferry Building also hosts a Farmer’s Market on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, on both sides of the building.
• Head outside and continue down the Embarcadero,  an expansive footpath that  leads all the way down to Pier  39. The walk takes about 45-minutes but with beautiful vistas of the Bay Bridge and Coit Tower.
• Along the way, stop by Exploratorium science museum.
  • On Thursday nights, they host an ‘After Dark’ event for 21+ with bars opened amongst the exhibits.
• End your walk at Pier 39 and Fisherman’s Wharf. Yes, a tourist trap, but yes, also one of the most iconic sights of the city and great to knock out on your first day.
  • Pier 39 for sea lions basking in the sun and fighting each other for a seat on the dock
  • Boudin Bread Factory for clam chowder in a sourdough bread bowl
  • Ghirardelli Square for a hot fudge sundae and free chocolate samples in the store
  • Buena Vista Cafe for an Irish coffee, at its birthplace!
  • In-N-Out for their famous burger, fries and shake spot, only location in the city
• BONUS – Off the Grid @ Fort Mason Park – Friday nights only from 5-10pm
  • Fort Mason park is a short walk from Ghirardelli Square (up-hill, but ~15-20 minute walk, or ~5 minute drive).
  • Visit the weekly Friday night food truck gathering at Fort  Mason Park.
  • After, you can walk into the Marina neighborhood to continue the evening  at their lively nightlife scene – Bus Stop (live music), Blue Light (club-esque bar), and the The Brixton to name a few bar options.
  • Bring a jacket for when the sun  goes down!

Golden Gate Bridge & Sausalito

Although recommended as a day-two activity, it’s completely weather dependent. If Karl The Fog is visiting the city, best to wait until you have a clear + sunny day to best enjoy the vistas of the city and Golden Gate. That being said, the fog dissipates once you get to Sausalito. Always pack a jacket / windbreaker for this type of activity!

• Start your morning with breakfast at Buena Vista Cafe (birthplace of the Irish coffee) in Fisherman’s Wharf area or Mama’s on Washington Square or Park Tavern in the North Beach neighborhood.
• Rent an electric bike from Blazing Saddles in Fisherman’s Wharf and ride along the Embarcadero through Chrissy Fields to the Golden Gate Bridge.
  • Yes, you will want an electric bike for the hill portions of this ride.
• Ride across the Golden Gate Bridge in the bike lane, and stop across the Bridge for photos of the Bridge, San Francisco, and Alcatraz!
• Continue your bike ride into Sausalito, where you can turn in your bikes.
  • It’s easier to return your bikes in Sausalito than managing them on the Ferry journey or attempting to ride back into SF (journey is uphill).
  • By returning in Sausalito, you can head to lunch + explore town and ride the ferry back by foot.
• Enjoy the walk around the small seaside town of Sausalito
• Stop for lunch in Sausalito at waterfront upscale spot Scoma’s or The Trident
• Stop for drinks at Bar Bocce for an outdoor patio along the water
• Grab a ferry back from Sausalito to Fisherman’s Wharf or the Ferry Building (check the schedule!) and enjoy vistas of Angel Island and Alcatraz on the way.
  • If interested in a trip to Alcatraz, this needs to be booked months in advance, especially for the coveted night tour. Tours leave near Pier 39.

Lower Haight + Haight Ashbury + Golden Gate Park + Lands End

This itinerary is great for when you have a full day as you’ll be wrapping up along the edge of the city where you can catch the most beautiful sunset!

• Start your morning with brunch at Nopa in the Lower Haight neighborhood (book reservation in advance).
• Hop in a short ride or walk to Haight Street for an enjoyable walk down one of San Francisco’s most eclectic and famous streets in the neighborhood made famous during San Francisco’s 1969 Summer of Love.
  • Map to the Ben & Jerry’s, which is right on the corner of Haight St. and Ashbury St!
  • Explore Relic Vintage, Blue Bin Vintage, Retro City Fashion, Held Over, and Buffalo Exchange for vintage shopping.
  • Check out Amoeba Records for the largest collection of vinyls in the city.
  • Walk to the entrance of Golden Gate Park, SF’s largest park that dead-ends into the Pacific Ocean. From the Haight St. entrance to the Pacific Ocean is over a 2-mile walk, so this is a great opportunity to rent bikes, scooters, or hop in a ride to make it to the beach. Along the way, check out these sites:
    • Museums: California Academy of Sciences (science museum), and the de Young (fine art museum)
    • Nature: Conservatory of Flowers, Japanese Tea Garden, Bison Paddock, and the San Francisco Botanical Gardens.
• Make sure to cross the park to Ocean Beach, keep an eye out for the park’s Windmills on the way. Ocean Beach is the edge of San Francisco in the city’s Sunset neighborhood, where yes, you can behold a beautiful sunset.
• Call a ride to Sutro Baths (~5 minute drive) which is the trailhead of the Lands End hike.
  • This hike is non-strenuous with a few uphill / downhill sections and can be done without hiking shoes. You will find folks of all ages along the hike. There is also a paved section that boasts most of the same views that you can enjoy on the hike.
  • This hike has one of the best views of the city – where San Francisco Bay meets the Pacific Ocean – and the Golden Gate Bridge in the distance! Consider this a must-visit!
  • After the hike, grab a ride back into town. You can call a ride either from the Sutro Baths (if you circle back on the hike) or from the opposite trailhead (Lands End Trail Eagles Point), which starts in the Richmond neighborhood.
• If you’d like to continue to enjoy the outdoors, you could grab a ride to China Beach or Baker Beach which have stunning views of the Golden Gate Bridge – two great spots for sunset!
• Grab a ride (~10-minute drive) to Burma Superstar, for one of the most incredible meals in the city, especially after spending the last couple hours outdoors! This restaurant is owned by the same group as Burma Love, in the Mission, with a similar delicious menu. These restaurants are a SF local’s institution!
  • Make sure to order the Tea Leaf Salad, Rainbow Salad, and coconut rice.

Hayes Valley + Painted Ladies + The Mission + Dolores Park

This itinerary works great for your departure day, especially when the departure is a red-eye flight, as you’ll be wrapping up by around dinner time and timing is flexible – no sunset to catch!

• Start your morning with brunch in Hayes Valley at Hazie’s, Chez Maman, Wise Sons Delicatessen
• Walk along Hayes Street and pop into the various shops as you walk in the direction of Alamo Square park to see the iconic Painted Ladies (Full House houses) and panoramic views of the city.
• Hop in a quick Uber over to Valencia street in the Mission neighborhood (~5 minute drive, ~15 minute walk).
• Setup an afternoon picnic at Dolores Park on the hill amongst the locals, in the heart of the Mission and SF – enjoy panoramic views of the city and the best people watching in town!
• For picnic supplies nearby:
  • Bi-Rite market for crackers, cheese, salads, bites
  • Tartine Bakery for baked goods
  • Woods for beers & empanadas
• Grab dinner at Souvla on Valencia St. after the park – best Greek food in SF – fast casual. They also have locations in Hayes Valley, The Marina, and NoPa.