San Francisco is famous for the Golden Gate Bridge, but there is a lot more to see in the City by the Bay. From seals in the bay, beautiful beaches, a prison island to the best irish coffee in the world, San Francisco really has a lot to offer. It’s not one of those cities you can easily explore by walking, but you can take the cable car which is really fun.
You might have seen pictures before where the city is covered in fog. This actually happens quite often, especially in June. Locals have even given it a nickname – Karl. The fog is a meteorological phenomenon. When the hot air from the city rises away it creates a low-pressure zone. The zone sucks in the cold air from the ocean, which brings moisture into the climate. This flow from the high to the low pressure zone pulls the fog into the Bay. This is why you need to bring some clothes that keep you warm, even in July. It’s always windy in the city, so I would recommend you to bring a jacket, no matter if it’s sunny or cloudy.
„If you’re alive, you can’t be bored in San Francisco. If you’re not alive, San Francisco will bring you to life.”
– William Saroyan
12 things to see in San Francisco
Cable Cars
One of the most fun things to do is to take the cable car. One ride is usually about 8 USD. There are 4 different cable cars that will bring you right to Fisherman’s wharf. I took the Powell-Hyde cable car (the green line) that also stops by Lombard Street. It’s a really fun way to see the city! It’s like a city tour that doesn’t cost you much. A taxi in San Francisco is way more expensive and less fun.
The best spot in the cable car is at the back. If you ask really friendly they might let you stand there. From here you get a 180° view of the city. It’s especially nice, because San Francisco is so hilly, so it feels a bit like riding a roller coaster.
Fisherman’s wharf
Fisherman’s wharf is popular for Pier 39, seafood restaurants, live music, street performers and much more. The main reason why people go to Pier 39 is that you can see seals there. They are very close to the pier and are not scared of people. The seals have literally turned Pier 39 into a tourist attraction. You will find many shops, restaurants and bars at Pier 39. The buildings are really colorful and will make you feel like you’re in DisneyLand.
Buena Vista Cafe
After looking at the seals you should have breakfast at Buena Vista and try their irish coffee. In fact they are the ones who invented irish coffee and are famous for making the best irish coffee in the world. Apart from the Irish coffee, this is a great place to have breakfast. The portions are huge, so it’s more like eating brunch, but it’s so delicious. I got breakfast with hash browns, french toast, scrambled eggs and avocado – it was a feast! I actually ended up going back to Buena Vista on my last day in San Francisco, because the irish coffee is really tasty.
Ghirardelli Square
Next to Buena Vista you will find Ghirardelli Square. Ghirardelli used to be a chocolate factory and its history spans over more than a century. It is seen as the first successful reuse project in the county featuring a fine dining restaurant, shops, a cafe, a brewery and more. When you visit the old Chocolate factory you should get a hot chocolate at the cafe, it’s so tasty!
Full House was a sitcom that started in 1987 and played in San Francisco. The house at Broderick street in San Francisco has been used to film the opening credits, but the interior has been filmed somewhere else. If you have watched the show you might want to see the house, if not I would recommend you to walk around the neighborhood. There are so many beautiful buildings that you will really enjoy a little walk here.
The Painted Ladies
The Painted Ladies count to the most popular sights of San Francisco. They consist of 7 Victorian and Edwardian houses that are painted in pastel colors, starting in the 1960s. The colors are supposed to enhance their architectural details.
Alcatraz Island
Alcatraz is a small island in front of San Francisco and used to be a prison where they sent the most dangerous criminals, like Al Capone. The island is about 1.2 miles offshore and the currents in the water between Alcatraz and San Francisco are very strong, which made it hard for prisoners to escape. In the history only two people escaped from Alactraz and they were never seen again. Some people think they survived, some think that they didn’t survive swimming through the cold water with strong currents.
The prisoners at Alcatraz used to get different cells, depending on their behavior. Those who behaved well got things like cigarettes, instruments and paint. Those who didn’t behave well ended up in empty cells with no daylight.
Lombard Street
Lombard street is popular, because it’s a really curvy street in San Francisco. The only thing is that you won’t be able to see the curves very well when you are standing right in front of them. The view from a drone would be a lot better (if you have one). Unfortunately there are no buildings you can visit to get a better view of it. I actually liked the street in front of Lombard street a lot more, because the view of the city is fantastic.
Baker Beach
Baker beach is one of the best beaches in San Francisco! Even though it’s close to the city, it’s quite natural and offers amazing views of the Golden Gate Bridge, Pacific Ocean and Marin Headlands. It’s a fantastic spot to take photos with the Golden Gate Bridge, surrounded by nature.
Golden Gate Bridge
Of course, one thing you have to see is the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. The bridge is 1 mile (1.6 km) long and attracts more than 10 million visitors a year. The Golden Gate Bridge is known as one of the world’s most beautiful bridges, because it is unique in many ways. The 746 foot (227 meter) tall towers, sweeping cables, great span and orange color is an architectural masterpiece. The bridge first opened in 1937 and was the longest and tallest suspension bridge in the world at that time. You can drive, cycle or walk over the bridge, but be prepared for strong winds!
Driving over the bridge is a really nice experience. There are several viewpoints from where you can gaze at the bridge. Apart from Baker Beach, I can highly recommend the Battery Spencer Viewpoint.
Battery Spencer Viewpoint
In my opinion, the Battery Spencer viewpoint is the best place to see the Golden Gate Bridge. I first drove to the H. Dana Bowers Rest Area & Vista Point – Northbound, which is the first viewpoint on the right side when crossing the bridge from San Francisco to Sausalito. This viewpoint gives you a nice view of the city skyline of San Francisco, but is also really crowded. It’s probably different early in the morning, but when you get here in the middle of the day it’s not a very fun experience. From here you can drive to the Headlands Parking and hike up to the Battery Spencer Viewpoint or drive directly to the parking lot behind the viewpoint. The hike is a zig zag path that leads up the hill. The view gets better the farther you get up.
Once you get to the Battery Spencer Viewpoint you will see why this is the best spot to see the Golden Gate Bridge. Instead of looking from below, you’re looking at it from a hill. You can see the whole Golden Gate Bridge from here, as well as the skyline of San Francisco and Baker Beach. This viewpoint is also a lot less busy and you will have plenty of space to take beautiful photos.
Sausalito
After visiting the Battery Spencer Viewpoint you can visit Sausalito, which is on the other side of the Golden Gate Bridge as well. Sausalito is part of Marin County and is the perfect place for a leisurely day. You can get here by ferry or by crossing the Golden Gate Bridge. This city has a lot of shops, restaurants, scenic views and picturesque houseboats. The best thing that you can do is to walk along the water and enjoy the seaside.
3 Days in San Francisco Itinerary
Day 1: Fisherman's Wharf
Take the cable car to Fisherman’s wharf
You are starting the day by taking the cable car to Fisherman’s Wharf. If you’re taking the Powell-Hyde Cable Car you can hop off at Lombard street to take a look. From here you can either walk to Fisherman’s wharf or take the cable car for one more station. If you’re taking the Powell-Mason Cable Car you can hop off close to Lombard street and walk from there. The other cable cars don’t stop close to Lombard street, but you can always walk from Fisherman’s wharf.Have breakfast at Buena Vista
Once you get to Fisherman’s wharf you can have breakfast at the Buena Vista Cafe and drink an irish coffee before leaving. As mentioned before, the portions are huge so you will have plenty of energy to explore the city.Explore Ghirardelli Square
Next to Buena Vista you will find Ghirardelli Square, the old Chocolate Factory. Here you can explore the shops and grab a hot chocolate to go.Watch the seals at Pier 39
From Ghirardelli Square you can walk to Pier 39 and watch the seals relaxing in the sun. This is an experience you shouldn’t miss when visiting San Francisco.
Day 2: Alcatraz
Visit Alcatraz
For visiting Alcatraz you should plan about 2-3 hours, because the boat ride to the island takes about 15 minutes and there is a lot to see. If you go to Alcatraz on a sunny day you will have a really nice view of the skyline from San Francisco.
See the “Full House” house
Once you get back from Alcatraz, you can get a taxi or call an Uber to 1709 Broderick Street to see the “Full House” house. This is a really beautiful district of San Francisco with Victorian homes from the 1870s. Even if you haven’t seen the show, you will love Pacific Heights.
Visit the painted ladies
The painted ladies are a 20 minute walk or 5 min taxi ride from the “Full House” house. Right in front of the painted ladies is a beautiful park where you can relax and take in the view.
Day 3: Golden Gate Bridge
See the Golden Gate Bridge from Baker Beach
The best way to start the last day in San Francisco is to visit Baker Beach. It’s one of the best places to see the Golden Gate Bridge and it’s usually not very busy here. If you get the chance to grab a coffee on the way, this is the perfect place to drink it while enjoying the view of the Marin Headlands.
Drive (or cycle) over the Golden Gate Bridge
After visiting Baker Beach you can drive over the Golden Gate Bridge. This is a super fun experience! I personally think the bridge looks a lot bigger when you see it in real life and it’s exciting to see it from close up.
Visit the Battery Spencer Lookout
You will love the view from the Battery Spencer Lookout. You can see the whole Golden Gate Bridge, as well as the skyline of San Francisco and Baker Beach from here.
Explore Sausalito
The best way to end your last day in San Francisco is to explore Sausalito. It’s the perfect place to go for a walk and have lunch or dinner before heading back to San Francisco.
See it on YouTube
Watch my video about San Francisco:
I hope this guide will help you to make the most of your time in San Francisco. It’s a really cool city with lots of things to do. If you have any questions about San Francisco, just put it in the comments down below.
