Three days is the right amount of time for a first visit to San Francisco: enough for the famous sights, a few neighborhoods and an afternoon by the ocean, without rushing.

Day one: the hills and the waterfront

Follow the one-day plan: cable car to Nob Hill, down through Chinatown to North Beach, up to Coit Tower, along the Embarcadero to Pier 39 and Fisherman's Wharf. Finish with dinner in North Beach.

Day two: Alcatraz, the Mission and the Castro

Take a morning ferry to Alcatraz, booked weeks ahead. Back on the mainland, eat at the Ferry Building, then take BART to the Mission. Walk the murals of Balmy Alley, visit Mission Dolores, eat a burrito, and spend the late afternoon in Dolores Park. Walk on to the Castro for the evening.

Day three: the parks and the coast

Start in the Haight, then walk into Golden Gate Park: the Conservatory of Flowers, the Japanese Tea Garden, and one of the museums. Take the bus to the coast, walk the Lands End Trail past the Sutro Baths, and finish at the Golden Gate Bridge: walk out onto it, then down to Crissy Field for sunset.

Swaps

  • Rainy day: the Exploratorium, SFMOMA or the California Academy of Sciences.
  • With children: see San Francisco with kids.
  • A fourth day: go north to Muir Woods and Sausalito.

Where you stay shapes the trip; see where to stay in San Francisco.

Day one in detail

Begin with coffee near Union Square and ride the California Street cable car up Nob Hill. Look into Grace Cathedral, then walk down through Chinatown, along Grant Avenue and Stockton Street. Lunch in North Beach, then climb Telegraph Hill to Coit Tower. Walk down the Filbert Steps to the Embarcadero, north to Pier 39 and Fisherman's Wharf, and end the afternoon at Aquatic Park. Dinner in North Beach or a cable car ride back over the hills.

Day two in detail

Catch the earliest Alcatraz ferry you could book. Back at Pier 33 by late morning, walk to the Ferry Building for lunch from the market hall. Take BART to 24th Street, walk Balmy Alley and 24th Street, then head north up Valencia Street to Mission Dolores and Dolores Park for the afternoon sun. Finish in the Castro for dinner.

Day three in detail

Take a bus to the Haight for breakfast and the Victorian houses. Walk into Golden Gate Park: the Conservatory of Flowers, the Japanese Tea Garden and either the de Young or the California Academy of Sciences. Take the bus to Lands End and walk the coastal trail to Eagle's Point. Then head to the Golden Gate Bridge, walk out to the first tower, and finish at Crissy Field as the sun sets.

Booking checklist

  • Alcatraz ferry tickets, weeks ahead.
  • Muni passes on your phone.
  • Timed tickets for any museum special exhibition.
  • A dinner reservation for one special meal.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a car for this plan?

No. Every stop is reachable by transit, on foot or by short rides.

What if it rains?

Swap in the Exploratorium, SFMOMA or the Academy of Sciences, and save the coast for a dry day.

What if I have four days?

Add a day trip north to Muir Woods and Sausalito, or a wine-country day.