Experiencing the most of San Francisco in 4 days
San Francisco has so much to offer that you will be hard pressed to fit everything into your schedule while here. From endless state parks, to the delicious food scene across the city, to jaw dropping bay views, to the iconic Golden Gate Bridge, you will constantly be torn on how to spend your day. We took a crack at putting together the ultimate itinerary to see and do it all!
San Francisco Itinerary Cliff Notes
- Walk or Bike the Golden Gate Bridge
- Explore Alcatraz Island
- Watch Sea Lions on Pier 39 at Fisherman’s Wharf
- Watch a sunset at Bakers Beach
- Day trip to Napa Valley or Sonoma Valley
- Do an adrenaline activity – Swinging Trapeze or an Aerobatic Flight are our top picks!
Itinerary At-A-Glance
Day 1
Alcatraz
Fisherman’s Wharf – Pier 39 and Ghirardelli Square
San Francisco Trolley Ride
Sunset at Chrissy Field
Day 2
Drive Lombard Street
Painted Ladies
Chinatown
Walk the Presidio
Walk or Bike the Golden Gate Bridge
Bakers Beach
Marshalls Beach
Day 3
Muir Woods
Battery Spencer
Hawks Nest
Visit / Explore Sausalito
Sutro Baths
Dinner in Japantown
Day 4
Choose an option!
Napa Valley Wine Tour
Sonoma Wine Tour
Sonoma Vintage Aircrafts – Scenic or Aerobatic Flight
Golden Gate Bridge Seaplane Adventure
Trapeze Arts Training
Palo Alto / Stanford University
Rent a Tesla and drive Highway 1 to Big Sur
Day 1 (am): Alcatraz Island
If you are an early riser, wake up and walk down to Fort Point inside the Presidio at the base of the Golden Gate Bridge and enjoy a beautiful San Francisco sunrise. If you walk out to the end of the pier, you will get the closest view of the Golden Gate bridge on water without taking a boat tour. (There is ample parking at Fort Point during a sunrise.)
After the sunrise, drive back to your room and enjoy breakfast while getting ready for Alcatraz!
Pre-Book the first ferry ride available to Alcatraz (9am or 10am). You will need to meet at Pier 33 at Fisherman’s Wharf 15 minutes early to board your ferry. The ferry’s stay on schedule, so don’t be late!
What should you expect on Alcatraz Island?
You will have a 15-minute scenic ferry ride to the island with views of the golden gate bridge AND the San Francisco skyline. Beautiful! When you get off the boat, you should immediately begin walking up the pathway to the top to beat some of the ferry crowds.
When you pre-book your ferry tickets, you can purchase the audio tour at the same time which allows you to use your smartphone (and your own headphones) to navigate the grounds of Alcatraz. If you do not want to do this option, you can purchase the audio tour inside the jail at the top.
As you make your way to the top of the island (it is an steady incline, so be prepared!), enjoy the beautiful landscapes and historic ruins of what was once an island that housed some of the United States’ most violent criminals. At the top, you will be able to enter the jail where you will meander through the old jail listening to the history of Alcatraz that includes famous inmates, life in jail, what their jail cell looked like and even escape attempts by inmates!
At the bottom of this blog post, we have included more FAQ’s on visiting Alcatraz.
Day 1 (early pm): Fisherman’s Wharf
After a long morning exploring Alcatraz, you will have certainly worked up an appetite! When you de-board the ferry, walk to the famous Pier 39 (5 minute walk) for lunch and an afternoon exploring Fisherman’s Wharf.
You will immediately find many restaurants ranging across convenience, casual, and upscale. Choose the one that suits you the most and enjoy lunch on the bay!
After lunch, walk to the back-left of the dock where you will find hundreds of sea lions sunbathing on the docks! You will hear them well before you see them as they play with one another and entertain the crowds that they draw on the pier.
After enjoying the sea lions, keep walking (stopping along the way at anything that jumps out at you) down Fisherman’s Wharf until you reach Ghirardelli Square. Treat yourself to a Ghirardelli inspired ice cream sundae by the water!
Day 1 (late pm): Trolley Ride, Chrissy Field Sunset
After Ghirardelli ice cream, it will be nearing late afternoon, and you will be in the perfect location to catch an infamous San Francisco trolley. You can buy tickets for the Powell-Hyde line ($8/pp) near Ghirardelli Square at Aquatic Park. The route will take you into downtown San Francisco to Union Square and back. Pending where you are staying, determine the best place to get off.
Last on the itinerary for today is a sunset at Chrissy Field! Drive or Uber to the beach area where you will find ample parking and enjoy a view of the Golden Gate bridge, sweeping views of the Bay, and many windsurfers practicing their skills.
Day 2 (am): Lombard Street, Painted Ladies, Chinatown
Get an early start this morning as your first two stops are big tourist attractions! Head to Lombard street first and drive the curvy road without the traffic or the tourists. This is something you won’t get to do unless you get there early! Park on the side of the road at the bottom and walk the side of the roads if you want more pictures of this beautiful curvy road known worldwide!
Picture/Video Advice – Hold your video camera outside the car window or sunroof the entire drive for a cool perspective!
From here, drive 12 minutes to see the famous Painted Ladies. This iconic row of houses symbolizes the typical San Francisco homes and is where the 1990’s hit TV show Full House’s opening was filmed.
After snapping a few photos here, grab a bite to eat and drive to the heart of downtown San Francisco to Chinatown. Chinatown in San Francisco is the largest (and oldest) Chinatown in the United States. The streets come to life as they are full of Chinese history, culture, and food. The shops and restaurants open around 10am and close at sundown.
When finished walking the streets, drive or catch an Uber to the Presidio for an afternoon filled with walking and the grandest views of the Golden Gate Bridge! There is plenty of parking around the Presidio grounds, so parking should not be an issue.
Day 2 (pm): Bike or Walk the Golden Gate Bridge, Presidio
At the Presidio, you will find numerous walking trails that yield the best views of the Golden Gate Bridge, and a trail that leads you right to the bridge itself! We recommend starting your time in the Presidio walking or biking across the Golden Gate Bridge.
The Golden Gate bridge is 1.7mi long and has bike lanes and pedestrian lanes to safely get across. The bridge has a tall fence, but an adult can see over the fence.
If you decide to rent bikes, plan to rent from Sports Basement on the Presidio property. You can rent a bike for 3hrs ($24), a full day ($32) or multiple days ($32 + $16 for each additional day). Upon rental, you can ride directly to (and across) the Golden Gate Bridge. Just make sure you read the signs and follow the rules when you get to the entrance of the bridge – certain lanes are open to bikers each day.
After walking or cycling the bridge, enjoy the many trails around The Presidio park. Explore views of the bridge at all elevations from the base of the Golden Gate Bridge at Fort Point all the way up to eye level as you walk on the back side of the bridge towards Marshall Beach and Bakers Beach.
Day 2 (Sunset): Bakers Beach
At this point, it will be nearing sunset, so we recommend that you walk to either Marshalls Beach or Bakers Beach on the Presidio to watch the sky light up around the Golden Gate Bridge.
If you choose Marshall’s Beach, beware of the 15min hike down to the beach. This smaller beach (vs Bakers Beach) is known for the many black rocks with mussels attached that lie on the beach’s sand. For the best views, keep walking all the way down the beach to enjoy the closest beach views you can get of the Golden Gate Bridge.
If you choose Bakers Beach, there is ample parking in the parking lot at the beach entrance. Take the short walk down to the beach where you find a large, spread out beach with beautiful views of the Golden Gate Bridge. There are large rocks that you can climb on the right side of the beach. We highly recommend climbing the rocks to get an elevated view of the ocean and the Golden Gate Bridge as sunset nears.
Day 3 (am): Muir Woods, Battery Spencer, Hawks Nest, Sausalito
This morning you will enjoy San Francisco from the other side of the bridge. Get an early start and drive across the Golden Gate Bridge to Muir Woods when they open at 8am. You will need to pre-book your reservation for parking before arriving ($15 per car for parking and $15/pp to enter). This 15min drive from San Francisco takes you to a remote state park that has some of the oldest and tallest redwood trees in the United States. We recommend you spend 2-3 hours at Muir Woods exploring all of the trails they have to offer.
After leaving Muir Woods, drive to Battery Spencer for an iconic photo opportunity of the Golden Gate Bridge with the San Francisco skyline as the backdrop (30 minute drive). If you want to enjoy a view even higher up, drive to Hawks Nest near Battery Spencer. Beware that these two photo spots are highly trafficked so parking will be scarce!
For lunch, drive 15 minutes to the town of Sausalito, an adorable seaside town across the bay facing downtown San Francisco. You will fall in love with this little community by the sea!
Day 3 (pm): Sutro Baths, Japan Town
After you enjoy your lunch in Sausalito, drive back over the bridge to the Sutro Baths. The Sutro Baths were built in 1894 as a recreational swimming facility for residents and guests of San Francisco. Unfortunately, in 1966 a fire demolished the baths and nothing has been built on the grounds since. You will find these old ruins to be exciting to walk through and explore as the Pacific Ocean crashes into the banks and cliffs. There are hiking trails all around the park and even a cave to walk through.
Enjoy the rest of the afternoon at your hotel until it nears sunset. If you have not had a chance to see a sunset at Chrissy Field, tonight is your night! Catch the Golden Gate Bridge during golden hour at one of the most popular beaches in the area. You will enjoy the kite surfers in the bay as well! For dinner, check out a restaurant in Japantown or down by Fisherman’s Wharf.
Day 4: Your Choice! Napa Valley, Aerobatic Flight, Palo Alto, Big Sur
So much to do, so little time! We have several options below to enjoy on your fourth day in San Francisco. You can add any combination of these activities to round out a stellar San Francisco vacation! Below you will find our top recommendations for the wine lovers, the adventure seekers, and the explorers.
For the wine lovers:
Napa Valley or Sonoma Valley Wine Tour – Right outside of San Francisco is home to some of the most well-known wineries & wines in the world. Don’t pass up an opportunity to drive (or get chauffeured) 60-90 minutes outside of the San Francisco bay area to see some of the worlds most beautiful wineries and taste true California wine! You can get an incredible experience in either Napa Valley or Sonoma Valley. Book here with the highest rated company offering service from San Francisco!
For the adventure seekers:
Aerobatic Flight with Vintage Aircraft Company – Hands down, must do! Knock off an item on your bucket list in Sonoma (1 hour drive) from San Francisco with Vintage Aircraft Company. They offer 20- and 40-minute aerobatic flight options that will be sure to get your heart racing! The aerobatics portion of the flight will include barrel rolls, loops, figure eights – all in an open cockpit! It is the thrill of a lifetime!
- The 20-minute flight includes a quick fly over of the nearby wine country and then about 10 minutes of aerobatics.
- The 40-minute flight includes a flight to the coast for beautiful water and coastline views and then 10 minutes of aerobatics!
Click here to visit their website & learn more!
Scenic Flight with Vintage Aircraft Company – If flying in a remodeled World War 2 bi-plane doesn’t excite you, I don’t know what will. The Vintage Aircraft Company has an entire fleet of beautiful vintage airplanes that will take you on a scenic flight to the Pacific Coast, Sausalito or Napa Valley. Click here to look at options or book!
Golden Gate Bridge Seaplane Flight – If you have not enjoyed enough views of the Golden Gate Bridge, book a seaplane flight through Seaplane Adventures here to see the view the birds enjoy. This one-hour flight gives you an opportunity to take off and land on water as well as fly over one of the world’s most iconic bridges.
Trapeze Arts Private Lesson – San Francisco is home to more acrobatic gyms than anywhere in the United States! While here, why not try something new? The Trapeze Arts gym in Oakland, CA (30min from San Francisco) is our top recommendation to learn swinging trapeze. Send an email to set up a 30 or 60 minute private lesson with a staff member. You won’t believe what all you will learn in an hour! Click here to check out their website and learn more!
For the explorers:
Highway 1 Drive to Big Sur: Big Sur is 2.5hrs from San Francisco and one of the most beautiful coastline drives in the world. Highway 1 stretches from all the way down the Pacific Coast with the portion between San Francisco and Los Angeles being the most famous. If you want a taste of the beautiful drive, enjoy this day trip and check out our Big Sur blog post here to learn more about the incredible stops + views along the way!
Palo Alto – Home to Stanford University, Silicon Valley, and Tesla Headquarters, spend an afternoon driving through San Francisco’s backyard!
Where to stay in San Francisco...
Golden Gate Bridge: The Lodge at the Presidio
Our #1 lodging recommendation in San Francisco is The Lodge at the Presidio. This hotel is perfectly located near the Golden Gate Bridge in The Presidio park with quick driving access to the other side of the bridge’s tourist attractions. This lodge is tucked away from the hustle and bustle of the city and has easy access to the bay, piers, bike paths, walking paths, and all the views of the Golden Gate Bridge you want!
The Lodge is a beautiful, historic hotel full of incredible hospitality to give you an amazing stay while in San Francisco. They serve complimentary breakfast and have afternoon wine/cheese to enjoy anywhere on the grounds. See photos of this very nice touch!
The lodge also offers a complimentary shuttle service through the Presidio State Park that runs daily so that you can easily get to any part of the park if you want. We were easily able to walk down to Chrissy Field for both sunrises and sunsets each day making this the perfect place for us!
Fisherman’s Wharf: Argonaut Hotel
If you desire to stay near Fisherman’s Wharf to enjoy lots of clam chowder, sweeping views of the bay, and Alcatraz Island Ferry, then we recommend the Argonaut Hotel. This boutique hotel is filled with history and great views while located within walking distance to many of San Francisco’s top tourist attractions. Click here to check availability.
Downtown San Francisco: Grant Hyatt San Francisco
If water views are not important to you, but shopping, high rise buildings, walking distance to delicious restaurants, and some of United State’s most iconic hotel chains, then the Grand Hyatt in Union Square is your spot! Click here to check availability.
Alcatraz Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is there parking at Alcatraz?
Yes, there is parking that ranges from $20-$40. It is recommended by the Alcatraz Ferry company (and us) to uber to the wharf. It will cost you the same regardless.
- Option 1: Parking lot across from Pier 29 that is $20 for two hours and $40 for all day. You will have to choose the all-day to be safe!
- Option 2: Pier 27 parking lot that is $20. It has been closed during CoVid19 so do not bank on this one without checking it out first.
How long will I spend on Alcatraz Island?
- A fast paced tourist (that is not a history buff) will spend 60-90min.
- Most people will spend 2-3 hours to explore the grounds + listen to the audio tour.
- If you want to see the entire property and listen to every single audio tour section, you will spend 3+ hours.
How many ferries run back and forth to Alcatraz?
- There are many ferries each day that go back and forth to Alcatraz Island. Friday – Sunday offer the most ferries options.
- The ferries come on average about one per hour and two per hour on busy days.
- There are signs posted at the wharf pier + on the island with all available return ferries so that you will not miss it!