4 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 and Alcatraz Island, then Exploratorium in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Golden Gate Bridge

      Allow 1–3 hours (free). Bring a windproof layer even in summer, and keep a backup plan: fog can hide the towers for hours, especially from June to August.

   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

      Allow Half a day (mid-priced). Take an early ferry for a quieter cellhouse, or book the night tour for a different atmosphere and city lights on the way back.

   5. Evening

      Exploratorium

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

2. Day 2: Cable cars and the Cable Car Museum and Pier 39 and the sea lions

   Cable cars and the Cable Car Museum, Pier 39 and the sea lions and Musée Mécanique, then Twin Peaks in the evening.

   1. Morning

      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.

   2. Late morning

      Pier 39 and the sea lions

      Allow 1–2 hours (free). See the sea lions early or late to avoid crowds, then walk west along the Wharf to the Musée Mécanique and the historic ships at Hyde Street Pier.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Sourdough bread

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

   4. Afternoon

      Musée Mécanique

      Entry is free; you pay coins to play.

   5. Evening

      Twin Peaks

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

3. Day 3: Lombard Street and Painted Ladies and Alamo Square

   Lombard Street, Painted Ladies and Alamo Square and Golden Gate Park, then Mission District in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Lombard Street

      Allow 30 minutes (free). Visit early in the morning, when the gardens are in soft light and before the queue of cars builds.

   2. Late morning

      Painted Ladies and Alamo Square

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

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Clam chowder in a bread bowl

      Stalls and restaurants along Fisherman's Wharf.

   4. Afternoon

      Golden Gate Park

      Allow Half a day (free). Rent a bike near the eastern end and ride west along the car-free JFK Promenade to the Dutch Windmill and Ocean Beach.

   5. Evening

      Mission District

      Cocktail bars, dive bars and live music along Valencia and Mission Streets.

4. Day 4: Day trip to Muir Woods

   About 40 minutes by car each way. Getting there: Car with a parking reservation, shuttle or tour.

   1. Morning

      Travel to Muir Woods

      About 40 minutes by car (Car with a parking reservation, shuttle or tour); about 20 km.

   2. Day

      Muir Woods

      Old-growth coast redwoods, some more than 75 metres tall and many centuries old, line the boardwalk trails of Muir Woods National Monument at the foot of Mount Tamalpais. Parking or shuttle reservations are required, so book before you go.

   3. Evening

      Back in San Francisco

      Dinner: try Dungeness crab.

Before you go

Reserve timed tickets for Alcatraz Island before you travel; the rest of this plan needs no advance booking.

Where to stay for this itinerary

With 4 nights, Union Square keeps most of this route within easy reach. For a calmer or cheaper base, Fisherman's Wharf ($$$) suits families and first-timers. Compare every area.

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 18–25 hours of visiting over 4 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.

More or fewer days

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

Questions travellers ask