2 days in San Francisco

Day by day

1. Day 1: Golden Gate Bridge and Presidio and Crissy Field

   Golden Gate Bridge, Presidio and Crissy Field, Alcatraz Island and Cable cars and the Cable Car Museum, then Exploratorium in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Golden Gate Bridge

      You can walk or cycle across on the sidewalks to the Marin side; the classic viewpoints are Battery Spencer in the Marin Headlands to the north and Fort Point and Crissy Field on the city side.

   2. Late morning

      Presidio and Crissy Field

      Below, Crissy Field's restored marsh and beach path lead to Fort Point under the bridge.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Mission burrito

      Taquerias along Mission Street and 24th Street in the Mission District.

   4. Afternoon

      Alcatraz Island

      The cellhouse audio tour, narrated in part by former guards and inmates, is the highlight, and the island also has gardens, seabird colonies and views back to the city. Ferries leave from Pier 33.

   5. Late afternoon

      Cable cars and the Cable Car Museum

      The Powell-Hyde line has the most dramatic hills and bay views, ending near Ghirardelli Square, while the free Cable Car Museum on Mason Street shows the giant winding wheels that pull the cables under the streets.

   6. Evening

      Exploratorium

      Book the Tactile Dome in advance; it is a separate ticket and slots are limited.

2. Day 2: Pier 39 and the sea lions and Musée Mécanique

   Pier 39 and the sea lions, Musée Mécanique, Lombard Street and Painted Ladies and Alamo Square, then Twin Peaks in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Pier 39 and the sea lions

      Aquarium of the Bay is at the pier's entrance.

   2. Late morning

      Musée Mécanique

      Entry is free; you pay coins to play.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Sourdough bread

      Boudin at Fisherman's Wharf, plus artisan bakeries in the Mission and at the Ferry Building.

   4. Afternoon

      Lombard Street

      Walk down the stairs on either side for the best views; the Powell-Hyde cable car stops at the top.

   5. Late afternoon

      Painted Ladies and Alamo Square

      The park's hilltop lawns make a pleasant picnic stop between Hayes Valley and the Haight.

   6. Evening

      Twin Peaks

      Go on a clear evening for sunset and the city lights; it gets cold and windy, so bring a jacket.

Before you go

• Alcatraz Island: Tickets from the official ferry concessioner sell out days or weeks ahead in summer; book as early as you can.

If it rains

• Swap in California Academy of Sciences (Golden Gate Park): Go to the rainforest dome first, then up to the living roof for a view across the park; adults-only NightLife evenings run on Thursdays.
• Swap in de Young Museum (Golden Gate Park): Even without a museum ticket, ride up the free observation tower for a 360-degree view over the park and the Pacific.
• Swap in SFMOMA (SoMa): The ground-floor galleries are free; Yerba Buena Gardens across Third Street is a good spot for a break.

Where to stay for this itinerary

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 15–21 hours of visiting over 2 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 9.6 hours in December to 14.8 hours in June, so in winter start early and keep museums for the afternoon.

Getting between stops: Cable car. Three cable-car lines run from Powell and Market and from California and Market over Nob Hill and Russian Hill to Fisherman's Wharf and Van Ness Avenue.

More or fewer days

• One day in San Francisco
• 3 days in San Francisco
• 4 days in San Francisco
• 5 days in San Francisco
• 7 days in San Francisco

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