Can you give me a great 3 Day San Francisco itinerary?

IMPORTANT NOTE

Despite what you may or may not have heard about SF, serious crime in SF is actually fairly low and walking around is generally safe — avoid the Tenderloin, mid-Market in South of Market (SoMA), 16th & Mission Street — and just be smart. Petty theft like rental car break-ins, however, is an unfortunate but serious problem.

Do NOT leave anything visible in your car (literally anything), especially in known tourist spots and if you have non-California plates. If you have important or valuable items, bring them with you, put it at a luggage locker/hotel, or park your car outside of San Francisco at a BART station or otherwise. I would hate to see your visit ruined because of this. Read more on this here.

FUN ANNOUNCEMENT: WAYMO IS NOW OPEN TO ALL IN SF NOW IF YOU WANT TO TRY IT OUT! —

Day 1: Ferry & Embarcadero

• Go the Ferry Building: Do you need some coffee to get you going? I know I do. Get your Philz Coffee Mint Mojito fix right before heading into the Ferry Building. Don’t worry, there isn’t actually any alcohol in the Mint Mojito, but this drink is still creamy, minty, and delightful. You can also go to Red Bay Coffee if you prefer third-wave coffee (or are a true coffee snob).
• Take a ferry! You have plenty of options to enjoy beautiful views of the city, as the ferry goes to Larkspur, Sausalito, Tiburon, Angel Island, Alemeda, and Treasure Island. I would suggest going to Angel Island, but all are great places to go to. You can even use your Clipper Card to conveniently pay for your journey (except for Treasure Island). Are you confused about the public transit options in San Francisco? Check out my article about this here.
• When you come back, feel free to nibble on some of the lunch options here, such as Hog Island or Gott’s Roadside, Reem’s California, Senor Sisig, or the new Lunette. I haven’t had the opportunity to try Lunette quite yet, but the Cambodian chef’s previous project, Nyum Bai, was amazing. If it’s Saturday, you should walk around the Farmers Market and get the Roli Roti porchetta sandwich (just look for the long line in the front) or get chilaquiles from Primavera. Primavera is the sister restaurant to El Molino Central, which is one of my favorite restaurants up in Sonoma. There’s also Humphrey Slocoombe for delicious ice cream, and Dandelion Chocolates for their rich but delicious European drinking chocolate.
• Take the F line “streetcar” up to Pier 39 to visit the sea lions. While this is touristy, the sea lions are just so goofy it’s kind of fun. Check out Musee Mecanique for an old school arcade with Zoltair and the nearby aquatic cove, where people actually swim. I would also suggest enjoying a sundae at Ghirardelli Square. Yes, this is another touristy thing but it’s actually very tasty and Ghirardelli chocolate is from San Francisco! Head to The Buena Vista for an Irish coffee. This one is alcoholic and is well-worth the try.
• Keep walking along the water to the Wave Organ, which is an acoustic structure meant to amplify the sound of the waves if you are quiet and listen. If nothing else, it is a serene overlook and quite unique. There is a nearby Equator Coffee if you need more joe. Yes, I know I’m obsessed with coffee.
• Keep going until you get to the Palace of Fine Arts. The Palace of Fine Arts is a stunning remnant of the World’s Fair in San Francisco and is gorgeous at all times of the day. If you still have energy, you should explore the nearby Presidio. Presidio is where you will find an awesome Yoda Statue because of the Lucasfilm offices, the eucalyptus tree-lined Lover’s Lane, and the relatively new Tunnel Tops Park for great views. Tunnel Tops Park was actually created by the same group as the High Line in New York City.
• For dinner, there are plenty of delicious options in Marina and Cow Hollow – Wildseed (vegan), Roma Antica (Italian), Hinoya Curry (Japanese Curry), Illcha (Korean), Souvla (casual greek), Causwells (burgers) are some that come to mind. Otherwise, some more classic Italian SF restaurants I enjoy are in North Beach — Mario’s Bohemian Cafe (the eggplant parm is so good), Sotto Mare (cioppino), Tony’s (pizza pizza!).

Day 2: Land’s End and Mission Bernal

• Go to Land’s End: this trail offers breathtaking views of the Golden Gate Bridge and the rugged coastline. Don’t miss the lookout by Mile Rock Beach or the ruins of the Sutro Baths and the hidden cove nearby. They’re a photographer’s dream and where plenty of people get wedding or engagement shots! I like to start the Land’s End trail near the Legion of Honor, but the Lincoln Park Steps are another great option. Lincoln Park Steps feature a tile pattern on the steps, which make for great Instagram shots. The Legion of Honor is a beautiful museum modeled off of a the Hotel de Siam in Paris with a Rodin Thinker sculpture in front of it. If there is an exhibit that interests you, you should totally check it out. Keep in mind that the Legion of Honor is a sister museum to the de Young Museum.
• Mission / Dolores Park hang: Swing over the Mission and stop by Bi Rite Market to get picnic supplies and go sit in Dolores Park. It’s a very San Francisco thing to sit in a park, and Dolores Park is the top spot to see and be seen during Pride weekend. Tartine Bakery is nearby and plenty of the city’s best bars and restaurants. If you are looking for a fun activity, The Story of Ramen and 18 reasons offer cooking classes, Endgames (improv), and Magic Patio (magic show) are nearby.
• <OR> Bernal Heights Park and Bernal Mission neighborhood: If a picnic is not your style, instead go to this small but elevated park for a relatively short but moderately steep climb for a beautiful view of the city. Cortland Street is the main street nearby, and there are many cute little shops for you to browse around in. Holy Water is a fabulous spot for beer and cocktails, and the cheeky religious theme is on point. There are plenty of dinner options around here, especially towards an area called Mission Bernal. I enjoy going to Cellarmaker Pizza for solid California-inspired Detroit style pizza with some of the best beers in San Francisco, Bac Lieu for Vietnamese, Cuisine of Nepal for Nepalese, The Front Porch for Southern fare, Emmy’s Spaghetti Shack for homey Italian, The Rabbit Hole for Taiwanese. If you are looking for a fun activity, Story of Ramen and 18 reasons offer cooking classes, Endgames (improv), and Magic Patio (magic show) are nearby.

Day 3: Golden Gate Park + Ocean Beach

• Brave the line up at Arsicault and get what I think is the best croissant in San Francisco. My personal favorite is the ham and cheese croissant. Disagree? Come at me 🙂 Pineapple King Bakery is another solid option if you want Asian pastries instead of French! If you don’t want to wait in line and just want your coffee fix, I would suggest going to the Coffee Movement’s Balboa Street location.
• Walk over to Golden Gate Park: You can easily spend a full day in this expansive park, home to gardens, museums, and outdoor activities. The Conservatory of Flowers and the Japanese Tea Garden are my favorites, but the bison paddock is always fun, and the Botanical Gardens is often very lovely. The de Young Museum and Cal Academy of Sciences are in Golden Gate Park. Pro tip: get beautiful views from the de Young or the roof of the Cal Academy of Sciences. Their tower is free to enter even if you do not wish to go to the museum.
• Get some lunch: Irving Street has a bunch of options. I like Arizmendi for a slice of pizza and San Tung for bomb Chinese-Korean fried chicken. Yuanbao Jiaozi is a casual dumpling option. This is not on Irving Street, but Arguello Market has tasty dutch crunch sub sandwiches. Dutch Crunch is another San Francisco speciality that features a crunchy exterior made from mochi.
• Walk over to Ocean Beach and stroll along the water. This section is called the Great Highway, and it is closed on weekends to pedestrians and cyclists only. Be sure to also check out the Dutch Windmills. Queen Wilhelmina, which is the northern windmill, seasonally has beautiful tulips.
• Get an afternoon coffee at Andytown Coffee and get a Snowy Plover. A Snowy Plover is a whimsical drink made with sparkling water and espresso with a dollop of cream on top — which looks kind of like a snowy plover! The drink is aptly named after the cute little white bird that is a local to Ocean Beach.
• Have some dinner: Palm City is a wonderful wine bar with massive Philadelphia subs. Thanh Long has world-famous roasted crab and garlic noodles (and inspired Kenji Lopez-Alt’s viral San Francisco Garlic Noodles). I also like Hook Fish, which has fresh seafood plates and tacos. If you fancy a beer, Woods Outbound is a great option. Woods is a local brewery that has many locations throughout San Francisco.

Alternate Plans: Swap or Add a Day

Are you here for a week or only 1 or 2 days instead? Feel free to take my 3 Day San Francisco Itinerary and swap a day or add a trip outside of San Francisco.

• Take a day trip to Marin, Berkeley, Santa Cruz, Big Sur, Tahoe, Yosemite, and much more!
• Go on a wine trip up to Sonoma or Napa and enjoy wine country. It’s only about an hour away.

Other Activities

• Is it raining? Check out my suggestions here.
• Take a FREE San Francisco City Guides tour – these tours are a wonderful way to learn about San Francisco and are absolutely free. While you are encouraged to make a $20 donation, you certainly do not have to.
• Go see Dear San Francisco! I have a full review here that tells you all you need to know.
• Enjoy a Giant’s game (seasonal) I think attending a Giant’s game is fun outing for visitors and residents alike. Despite not being very knowledgable about sports myself, it’s often a fun way to socialize with friends and enjoy a beautiful day overlooking the water.
  • Walk along the water by the Cupid’s bow (you can start from the Ferry Building if you like), get a burger and beer at Red’s Java House and/or a drink at Hi Dive Bar. I also like Cafe Okawari for casual Japanese nearby.
  • Pro tip: you can get a bigger selection of beers from 58 Social (formerly Public House) and enter the park from that bar/restaurant.
  • Inside the park, I enjoy getting garlic fries and a Buena Vista Irish coffee. Crazy Crab’z, though I haven’t tried, is supposed to be iconic.
  • Oracle Park has great views of the bay and there’s hardly a bad seat in the house. I like to see in the view box 300s level around the 307 section.
  • For visiting friends and family, it’s nice to take them on a loop around the park to see the catcher’s mitt slide and the cable car on display.
  • The MUNI is a great option to take to/from Oracle Park. The stop is literally right outside the stadium.

So, whether you’re exploring the city’s diverse neighborhoods or soaking up its rich history and culture, San Francisco has something for everyone. Hope you enjoy this 3 Day San Francisco Itinerary and have a great trip!

If I missed something, please let me know in the comments below!