How to Spend 24 hours in San Francisco (A Complete 1 Day Itinerary)
Are you passing through San Francisco and want to know how to make the most out of 1 day in San Francisco?
I’ve got you covered! I’ve been to San Francisco twice now, once as a solo traveller, when I was 20 years old and wanted to do ALL of the touristy things like visit Alcatraz and see the Golden Gate Bridge and again last year with Dave, while on a 2 week California road trip, where we enjoyed seeing the natural side of San Fran and finding some epic photography spots. Stay tuned for one of our favourites that gets you above the clouds without even having to hike!
In this post, I have merged the best of each of these visits into an epic 1 Day San Francisco Itinerary so that you can get the very most out of your 24 hours in San Francisco.
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San Francisco in a Snapshot
📍 Where is San Francisco: California
✈ Where to fly into: San Francisco International Airport – FIND FLIGHTS
📆 When to visit: Late Summer or Fall
🛌 Hotels that are so worth it:
Hotel Spero, Vignette Collection by IHG ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 8.0 rating
Marines’ Memorial Club & Hotel Union Square ⭐⭐⭐ 8.6 rating
Club Quarters Hotel Embarcadero, San Francisco – ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 8.2 rating
🚗 Rental Car: Find the best rental car prices
🚐 Rental Campervan: Rent a campervan
⌚ How long do you need for San Fran: 1-3 days
😉 Best San Francisco Half Day Tour: Half Day San Fran Tour
Everything You Need to Know About San Francisco
Before I get into the 1 Day San Francisco Itinerary, I wanted to touch on a few things about San Francisco to help you plan your trip. If you don’t need this extra information, feel free to skip straight to the 1 Day Itinerary.
📍 Where is San Francisco
San Francisco is a city in California that is home to the famous Golden Gate Bridge which you will probably have seen in loads of movies and T.V shows. It is the best place to fly into to get to some of the National Parks like Yosemite National Park and Sequoia National Park.
🚗 How to get from LA to San Francisco
To get from LA to San Francisco or vice versa, you can either drive to fly. It is about a 6 hour drive from LA to San Francisco or 381 miles.
To fly from LA to San Francisco, it takes about 1.5 hours in the air plus all of the airport shenanigans.
🚌 How to get around San Francisco
There are a few different ways to get around San Francisco. When I visited the first time, I didn’t join any tours and just walked around and caught public transport myself, which was exhausting because of the amount of crazy steep hills in Downtown San Fran. If I did it again, I would probably opt for a Hop on Hop off bus tour so that I still had my freedom but with less walking time. 😂
- Walking around and catching public transport yourself.
- A Hop on Hop off Tour
- A half day tour – I would recommend pairing this with a trip to Alcatraz which you can totally do yourself by buying tickets at the door, or you could do this full day tour which includes a trip to Alcatraz in the afternoon so you don’t need to worry about getting there yourself.
You could also rent a car but parking Downtown is a hassle and quite expensive.
📆 When is the best time of the year to go to San Francisco
Late Summer & Fall
The best time of the year weather-wise, to visit San Francisco is late Summer and Fall, however it depends what you are hoping for when you visit. If you are looking to avoid the fog (yes San Francisco gets A LOT of fog), the best time to visit is during the Fall, in particular September or October.
Summer
Summers in San Fran don’t tend to get too hot with temperatures hovering around the 60s to low 70s Fahrenheit (15-23°C). It gets pretty windy during Summer which I can attest to! When we got out of our car at the Battery Spencer viewpoint, we felt like we were almost being blown away! Make sure you hold onto your hats!
Spring
The Spring weather in San Francisco is usually quite mild and less rainy with more clear days than rainy ones. The evenings tend to get a little cooler so you will need to bring some sweaters and coats to keep warm.
Winter
Winter in San Francisco can be really fun and festive during the Christmas period. You will be surrounded by fun festive vibes with an ice rink in Union Square and pop up Christmas bars. The Winters are pretty mild in San Francisco but can be pretty wet. The temperatures usually hover around the mid-50s to mid-60s°F (12–19°C) during the day.
🛌 Where to stay in San Francisco
When I first went to San Francisco by myself, I stayed in a hostel. When I travelled around the USA by myself I stayed in LOADS of HI hostels and they were always really great!
If you would prefer a hotel over a hostel, I haven’t stayed at them but these hotels in San Fran look awesome and are in a perfect location for walking around Downtown!
The best area to stay in if it is your first time in San Francisco is in the centre of Downtown, being Union Square or the Financial District. This is the best area for shopping and restaurants and is where the following hotels are located.
- Marines’ Memorial Club & Hotel Union Square: This hotel is in the heart of Downtown San Francisco so it is easy to walk around and the building is beautiful. Guests have free access to the unique “Living Memorial” museum at the hotel. The entire building is a tribute to veterans who gave their lives while serving in the US Armed Forces.
- Club Quarters Hotel Embarcadero, San Francisco: Located in the Financial District, this hotel offers comfortable accommodation in a private club-like atmosphere. The rooms are modern and decently priced.
- Hotel Spero, Vignette Collection by IHG: A little more upmarket with funky decor and a little more pricey but not overly expensive, this hotel is located in Union Square where all of the good shopping is! It has its own 24 hour gym and restaurant that serves American cuisine, handcrafted cocktails and a selection of locally brewed beers. This hotel is perfect for travelers looking to save time by using the onsite hotel restaurant which could be perfect for those with only 1 day in San Fran.
⌚ Is 1 day in San Francisco enough?
The first time I visited San Francisco, I spent about 3 days there, which I thought was a good amount of time. 1 day will still allow you to see a lot though if you plan your day ahead of time. The best way to get the most out of 1 day in San Francisco would be to join a tour, otherwise you will spend A LOT of your time walking.
San Francisco 1 Day Itinerary
This itinerary is broken down into 3 sections, morning, afternoon and evening, to help you separate your day and plan your meals around each activity.
This is an fully packed 1 day itinerary but you can always cut 1 or 2 of the locations or activities out if you want a bit of a slower day.
Click here to open the map in Google Maps!
Morning: Breakfast, Golden Gate Bridge Viewpoint, Nob Hill and Lombard Street
Make sure you start your day early because it’s going to be a big one!
Breakfast at Roxanne Café or Sears Fine Food
Your 24 hours in San Francisco is going to be fully packed so you’re going to want to make sure you have had a good breakfast to get you started.
The Roxanne Café serves classic American Breakfast with things like French Toast, Omelettes and Eggs Benedict on the menu.
Otherwise you could try Swedish Pancakes at Sears Fine Food with Warm Syrup and Country Fresh Whipped Butter. YUM! 🤤 Sears also serve classic breakfast items like Eggs Benedict and omelettes.
Golden Gate Bridge Viewpoint
After breakfast, start your day with a bang with the most iconic bridge in San Francisco! There are loads of different Golden Gate Bridge Viewpoints to choose from but if it is your first time in San Francisco and due to the fact that you only have 1 day, I recommend visiting Golden Gate Postcard Viewpoint.
To get from Union Square (which is probably where your hotel will be) to the Golden Gate Postcard Viewpoint, you could either get a taxi or catch the bus. A taxi will take around 25-30 minutes and the bus will take you around 45 minutes. You can catch bus #130, 101 or 150 from Mission St & 4th St which will take you to the Golden Gate Bridge Toll Plaza. From there, it is a 2 minute walk to the viewpoint.
Snap a photo at Nob Hill and ride a Cable Car!
If you caught the bus to the Golden Gate Bridge Viewpoint, you can catch it back almost all of the way to Nob Hill but change to one of San Francisco’s famous cable cars before you get there. From the Golden Gate Bridge Toll Plaza, catch bus #101 to Van Ness Ave & Sacramento St where you will need to walk 2 minutes to California St & Van Ness Ave.
From here you can jump on a cable car to get the rest of the way to Nob Hill which is only a few more minutes.
Nob Hill is one of San Francisco’s poshest neighbourhoods and is full of loads of nice restaurants, home to the cable car museum and is a great spot for photos. The best photo spot of Nob Hill is from California Street, looking up or West towards the Golden Gate Bridge.
Visit the Crooked Street: Lombard Street
From Nob Hill, you can either jump back on a Cable Car to get to Lombard Street, or you can walk 20 minutes. Lombard Street is a popular tourist spot because of it’s crazy shape. I have to say 20 year Kerry was impressed which is saying something.
Once you reach Lombard Street, you can walk up it or just enjoy the view from the bottom of the street. Spoilers though – the view from the top is pretty great! Or so my super grainy photo from 2013 says!
Afternoon: Lunch, Fisherman’s Wharf, Pier 39 & Alcatraz Tour
Lunch at Bistro Boudin or
Bistro Boudin is an upmarket restaurant which is home to the original sourdough bread using a recipe that has been used and improved since 1849.
If you are looking for something more affordable, you could go to The Codmother Fish & Chips, which is a food truck with outdoor seating.
See the Sealions at Pier 39
Walk by Pier 39 to see the sunbaking sealions! This is something I missed when I was in San Francisco and I’m still kicking myself! Don’t be me and regret not seeing them. Just go see the sealions. It’ll probably only take you 5 minutes and is totally free to do!
Go on an Alcatraz Tour
Pier 39 is only a few minutes walk from Pier 33 where you will board a ferry to get over to Alcatraz Island. I recommend booking a ticket to Alcatraz in advance so that you don’t miss out.
Apart from seeing the Golden Gate Bridge, visiting Alcatraz was my favourite part of San Francisco. The tour was amazing because I got to learn about the insane history or the prison and about how some of the prisoners escaped back in 1962. The crazy thing about the escape is that Alcatraz is no normal prison. It is located on an island 1.25 miles / 2km away from the nearest shoreline so the prisoners would have to have swam to safety.
Alcatraz Opening Hours
- Sunday and Monday: 9:00 AM–6:30 PM
- Tuesday-Saturday: 9:00 AM–9:30 PM
Evening: Sunset Cruise, Dinner and Cocktails
There’s no better way to end your day in San Francisco than with a sunset cruise around the harbour where you will get amazing views of the Golden Gate Bridge. Depending on your budget, you could do a dinner cruise or just a sunset cruise without food which is much more adorable at only USD60 per person. The dinner cruise is more like USD130 and lasts 2.5 hours. Either option would be incredible though!
If you do want to do a sunset cruise, you should definitely book well in advance because they are super popular and tend to book out quickly.
If you choose to have dinner back in San Francisco, you could head back to Union Square to be closer to your hotel. Some good options are:
- Last Drop Tavern: This place is a super cosy English style pub with a great vibe serving things like burgers, fish and chips, shepherds pie and steak and chips.
- Delarosa: An authentic Italian restaurant serving pizzas, pastas and more!
Got more than 1 day in San Francisco? Here are some more places that I recommend checking out!
Watch the sunset at Mount Tamalpais
Mount Tamalpais is about a 1 hour drive from San Francisco and you will need a rental car to get there but it is so worth it if you have the time and love gorgeous sunsets and photography like we do!
Go for a walk in the Muir Woods
The Muir Woods is one of San Francisco’s few remaining groves of old growth Redwood trees and the largest ones nearby. Coast Redwoods are the tallest trees in the world! The Muir Woods is actually not that far from Mount Tamalpais. You can drive here yourself or join a day tour from San Francisco.
Check out Sausalito
Sausalito is a little suburb located across the water from San Francisco. Dave and I spent some time there the last time we were in San Francisco. We had drinks at Bar Bocce with views of the water and even saw a seal! It was the perfect way to relax and end our adventurous road trip through California. The Raspberry Bellini was absolutely delicious! 😉
Hike the Lands End Trail
The Lands End Trail is 3.4 miles / 5.5km and will take you around 1.5 hours to complete. The trail takes you along the coastline and offers you great views of the Golden Gate Bridge and the Pacific Ocean. You will also pass by the historic Sutro Baths.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I see San Francisco in one day?
Yes! You can see a lot of San Francisco in one day using this itinerary. You will visit some of the most iconic streets, see sealions at Pier 39, learn about the crazy history of Alcatraz and even enjoy some shopping.
How do I get around San Francisco? Do I need a car?
There are a few different ways to get around San Francisco. You could walk and catch public transport or buy tickets for the hop on hop off bus. You could also rent a car but parking Downtown is a bit of a hassle and quite expensive so personally I would recommend public transport or a hop on hop off bus tour.
You could also join a day tour which would help you see a lot of the most iconic spots in San Fran.
Is San Francisco dangerous?
San Francisco is a beautiful city, no matter what people tell you about the dark side of it. Yes, you need to be careful and keep your wits about you, but you should be doing this anyway anywhere you go in my opinion.
Sadly, the crime rate in San Francisco has gone up over the years, especially in the touristy spots like at the Golden Gate Bridge viewpoints. When we were at the Golden Gate Overlook, a Tesla right next to us had its window smashed in. Make sure you do not leave anything of value (or anything at all) in your car in plain site while you are parked at the Golden Gate Bridge viewpoints.
Is Alcatraz worth it?
I visited Alcatraz a few years ago and I found it super interesting so I would definitely say that it is worth it! It’s amazing to walk around the jail and hear the crazy stories about some of the inmates who escaped from Alcatraz and either swam to freedom or drowned.
What are some non-touristy things to do in San Francisco?
The best non-touristy thing to do in San Francisco is to explore the neighbourhoods and go for a walk along on of the gorgeous beaches. Chinatown is great for food and shopping and there are LOADS of beaches to choose from such as Ocean Beach or Baker Beach and China Beach for views of the Golden Gate Bridge.
Alamo Square is a great spot to chill out in to see the Painted Ladies which is a lane of brightly-painted Edwardians and Victorian townhouses along Hayes and Steiner streets.
How long do you need in San Francisco?
You could easily spend anywhere from 1-4 days in San Francisco. There is a lot to see in Downtown San Francisco and when you have seen everything you want to Downtown, there are places to visit just outside of San Francisco.
Can you go from LA to San Francisco and back in one day?
Personally I would not do a trip from LA to San Francisco in a day if I was driving, but you could definitely do this if you were flying! The flight from LA to San Francisco is only 1.5 hours so you would have plenty of time to explore the city and be back in LA by night-time.
Is San Francisco foggy?
San Francisco is an extremely foggy city! I was surprised to learn that Summer is actually the foggiest time in San Francisco! I definitely assumed it would have been Winter. If you want to avoid the fog in San Francisco, the best time to visit is during Fall in September or October.
Is San Francisco worth it?
In my opinion, yes! I would say San Francisco is worth visiting at least once in your life but I’m sure not everyone would agree with me. Over the years San Francisco’s Crime rate has increased, giving it a bad rep amongst tourists.
What is the number 1 thing to do in San Francisco?
The number 1 thing do see in San Francisco would definitely have to be the Golden Gate Bridge. This bridge has appeared in so many movies and T.V. shows and is truly a masterpiece to see in person. If you are a photographer, you will be blown away by the number of photo opportunities that the Golden Gate Bridge gives you because there are tons of different viewpoints that you can see it from.
Do you have any extra questions about your trip to San Francisco? Ask away in the comments! 😉
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