I love San Francisco! If you’ve clicked around my website, you’ll know that ‘the Golden City’ is one of my favorites in the U.S. and that’s not me being biased because I was born here. It’s because this hipster-filled, quirky city is jam-packed with world-famous sights like the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, and Fisherman’s Wharf.
And I bet you’re wary of what you can fit into two days in San Francisco. I know I was when I visited family here recently. But honestly, I was surprised by how much I squeezed into two days! San Francisco is a very walkable city due to its compact size (it’s smaller than Brooklyn, NYC). So, you’ll cover a lot of ground each day.
San Fran is among the top 5 most visited cities in the U.S. and spending 48 hours in San Francisco is a popular amount of time to spend in the city. If you follow my suggested itinerary below, you’ll get to see the city’s most famous attractions like Bakers Beach, the Golden Gate Bridge, and Lombard Street. As well as visit the city’s best neighborhoods like Chinatown, Castro, and Haight-Ashbury.
You can check out my favorite places to visit in San Francisco on the below map. I created it using Stippl (you can follow me on Stippl here) –
Day 1: Golden Gate Bridge, Sausalito, Lombard Street, Chinatown, Bakers Beach, Castro
Morning: Cycle across the Golden Gate Bridge
The Golden Gate Bridge is a San Francisco icon so, cycling (or walking) across this engineering masterpiece is the perfect way to start your two days in San Francisco.
The bridge is 2.1 miles (3.4 km) long, and it should take you around 25 minutes one way to cycle across it. You can either cycle both ways or return by ferry from Sausalito. The Western footpath of the bridge is for cyclists only, but beware, it is two-way, so cyclists will be coming towards you, too.
I recommend renting a bike from Golden Gate Bridge Bike Rentals on 2157 Lombard Street, that’s what we did and it cost us only $29 USD! You can also rent electric bikes from them.
Before you come back, be sure to spend some time in Sausalito the town at the other end of the Golden Gate and one of the cutest towns near San Francisco in my opinion. This small, coastal town is picture-perfect (it looks like a movie set) and is renowned for the houseboat community at the Northern end of town.
Spend an hour or two here checking out the lovely boutiques and grabbing coffee or lunch. For coffee, we love Firehouse Coffee & Tea while if you’re hungry – Scoma’s of Sausalito is a favorite of ours!
Related Read: If you have 3 days to spend in San Francisco I recommend taking a day trip from the city to somewhere like Muir Woods or Tiburon.
Afternoon – Lombard Street & Chinatown
Lombard Street
Known as the most crooked street in the world because of its 8 hairpin bends, Lombard Street is definitely a must-visit in San Francisco CBD. In fact, it’s one of the most photographed streets in the world.
At busy times, drivers need to wait up to 30 minutes to drive down this narrow winding street. Personally, I’m not a confident enough driver to drive the world’s most crooked street, so instead of hopping in my rental car, I prefer to walk around it and take lots of photos.
So, how did Lombard Street come about? Well, if you’ve visited San Francisco previously, you’ll know the city is full of hills. Well, in the 1920s when cars were becoming popular, the idea to turn some of San Francisco’s streets into curved streets to make it easier to drive down was formed. As a result, Lombard Street went from a steepness of 27% to 16%.
Chinatown
Would you believe San Francisco’s Chinatown is the biggest in the U.S.? Yep, it’s roughly half a mile by a quarter of a mile. And it has a population of approximately 40,000. Mostly Chinese immigrants.
The entrance to Chinatown, called Dragon Gate is one of the most photographed spots in San Francisco. It can be found on Grant Street. The Sing Chong and Sing Fat buildings also on Grant Street are typical Chinese structures and were some of the first buildings in Chinatown, having been constructed in 1906.
If you’re a movie buff, make a beeline for Ross Alley, which has been featured in several movies, including Dead Pool and Godzilla!
Foodies will love Chinatown because it has some of the best places to eat in the whole city. So, this is where we recommend having dinner on your first evening in San Fran.
Dim Sum is, of course, extraordinarily popular, and the best place to try this is at Delicious Dim Sum on 752 Jackson Street. Or Good Mong Kok Bakery at 1039 Stockton Street. As well as excellent Chinese restaurants, there are teahouses, bars, and souvenir stalls. The famous Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Company, where you can watch fortune cookies being made, is located on Ross Alley.
Related Read: For me, 5 days is the perfect amount of time to spend in San Francisco as you’ll get a true feel for the city!
Evening – Bakers Beach
Bakers Beach is known as one of the best sunset-watching spots in San Francisco! Just imagine the bay illuminated in shades of pink! The perfect way to end your first day in San Francisco!
This mile-long beach is one of the most Instagram-worthy spots in the whole city, with the Golden Gate Bridge right next to you. You’ll also be treated to views of the Marin Headlands and Lands End!
It’s a popular spot for photographers and, anyone into land fishing. From Bakers Beach, you can access a few awesome walking trails, including the 3-mile Lands End Trail.
Late evening – Party in Castro!
If you’re keen to party during your 2 days in San Francisco – then look no further than Castro. Aka, San Francisco’s gay neighborhood and home to the best bars and nightclubs in the city. FYI, they are all both gay and straight-friendly.
Twin Peaks Tavern on Castro Street is one of our favorite spots to socialize with a drink and we also love catching a show at the Castro Theatre nearby.
Toad Hall and Midnight Mix are other super-popular party spots in Castro.
Day 2: Alcatraz, Fisherman’s Wharf, Golden Gate Park, Haight-Ashbury
Morning: Alcatraz
Start your second day in San Francisco on a somewhat spooky note with a visit to Alcatraz, aka one of the most famous prisons in the world.
Notorious for being home to the infamous gangster Al Capone. Alcatraz closed in the 1970s and started welcoming visitors not long after in 1973. It’s no surprise then that one of the most popular (and one of my favorite) things to do in San Francisco is a guided cruise tour of Alcatraz, like this one! And this is the tour I highly recommend doing this morning!
The tour of Alcatraz prison on this particular tour is via a self-guided audio tour, which I found to be really informative. I loved seeing the inside of the prison cells and hearing the fascinating (and sometimes scary!) stories of the prison’s former inmates. Alcatraz is, FYI, known as one of the top dark tourism destinations in the world.
While you’re here, you can check out the historical gardens of Alcatraz, which boast stunning views of San Francisco Bay. You’ll also get to enjoy a boat cruise under the Golden Gate Bridge as part of this experience.
Allow around 5 hours for this well-rated tour, which costs from $148 USD.
Lunch: Fisherman’s Wharf
Fisherman’s Wharf buzzes with an energy that’s unmistakably San Franciscan. Spend your afternoon here wandering the piers (especially Pier 39!), looking out for the famous resident sea lions as you go, and, of course, try out some delicious seafood.
For lunch, we recommend heading to Pier 39 in Fisherman’s Wharf which is known to have some of the freshest and best seafood in San Francisco. There are 12 restaurants here, most specializing in seafood. But there is a Hard Rock Cafe here, too, which boasts epic views across San Francisco Bay and the Golden Gate Bridge.
Some of my other favorite restaurants at Pier 39 include Fog Harbor Fish House, Crab House 39, and Eagle Cafe.
My Tour Suggestion: If you’re a guided tour guy or gal, then this San Francisco City Tour will be right up your street. It’s one of the best-rated tours in San Francisco, and it includes visits to Fisherman’s Wharf, Golden Gate Park, the Golden Gate Bridge, and neighborhoods like Haight-Ashbury. You’ll really pack a whole lot in! It lasts for 4-5 hours and costs as little as $69 USD, which I say is great value!
Afternoon – Golden Gate Park
Golden Gate Park is the 3rd most-visited Park in the U.S. It is a whopping 1,017 acres and home to Bison Paddock, where you can spot a herd of bison grazing, unusual for this part of the country, and the Conservatory of Flowers, which is the oldest building in the Park. Here, there are over 1,700 species of plants, many of them rare.
The Japanese Tea Garden is the oldest such garden in the country and was constructed in 1894. The Garden is 3.5 acres and filled with Japanese maple, cherry trees, and more. Cherry blossom season is an especially popular time here, this is from March to April. I love visiting the park at this time of year – it’s so photogenic!
Most of the roads in Golden Gate Park are now car-free, and it’s very popular with locals exercising and families playing and picnicking in one of the many green areas. It’s a very fun place to visit if you’re visiting San Francisco with kids.
This Golden Gate Park Bike Tour is a great way to see the park with a knowledgeable local guide, and because you’re cycling you’ll cover a lot of ground in the 2-hour time slot. Expect to pass by the Bison Paddock, Japanese Tea Garden, Academy of Sciences, and the Dutch Windmill. It costs $59.75 USD!
Dinner – Haight-Ashbury
Once the beating heart of the hippie movement in the 1960s. Today, Haight-Ashbury is famous for its brightly colored Victorian houses, cool restaurants, and quirky boutiques. Once a working-class neighborhood. Now, many of the homes have been bought by tech-types. This has changed the vibe a little, but it’s still an awesome neighborhood to visit on your only evening in San Fran.
Downhill on Haight Street still retains the alternative vibe the area was known for, with alt-bars, consignment shops, and music shops selling vinyl records.
The former grateful dead house at 710 Ashbury St. is a must-see, as well as the former Jefferson Airplane house at 2400 Fulton St.
As for the best restaurants in Haight-Ashbury, I love Cha Cha Cha which serves up Caribbean tapas in a fun environment. And Hippie Thai Street Food, a casual eatery with incredible Thai food.
Evening – Ghost Tour
One of the most fun tours I’ve done in San Francisco was a ghost tour, I won’t give too much away. But on our tour – The Hollywood Horrors Tour (which lasted around 2.5 hours) we got to explore a haunted luxury hotel where we learned about a murdered street worker who overflows bathtubs and leaves lipstick stains on guests’ pillows!! And we learned about the Wandering Bride ghost who’s regularly spotted in her wedding dress in the hallways of the hotel. The tour we did cost $75 USD and our guide was so knowledgeable. We definitely left the tour feeling a little freaked out!
There are loads of other ghost tours on their website, just pick the one that will scare you the most!
Where to Stay in San Francisco
- The Westin St Francis – conveniently located at Union Square, all rooms have great city views and there’s a number of on-site dining options as well as a fitness center.
- Fairmont San Francisco – a 5-star hotel located at the top of Nob Hill, the Fairmont is renowned with luxury and many of the hotels rooms offer views of Coit Tower and the Golden Gate Bridge. The on-site restaurant is famous, the Tonga Room & Hurricane Bar serves Polynesian food and has live entertainment nightly.
- Hotel Zephyr – is located just 300 meters from Fishermans Wharf plus the rooms are all nautically themed! There’s an on-site mini-mart as well as a shared lounge and a games room.
- Phoenix Hotel – this 1950s motor lodge has had a stylish makeover recently. This is one of the only affordable, indie boutique hotels in San Francisco!
Getting to San Francisco
San Francisco International Airport is around a 30-minute drive from downtown, this huge airport welcomes flights from all over the world. To get to downtown from the airport you can choose to get a cab or Uber which will cost around $45-$65 USD depending on where in the city you’re staying. Or you could do as we always do and book a welcome pick-up. This service is so convenient as the driver will meet you in arrivals and walk you to his/ her car. And the best part is it’s the same price as a cab!
If you’re planning to get here from elsewhere in California then the Amtrak train will be a good shout. Trains from San Diego, Los Angeles, and Sacramento offer a direct service to the city.
Another alternative if you plan to explore other towns near San Francisco is to rent a car. We always rent our cars through Discover Cars when we’re traveling. It is a search engine for rental cars and allows you to filter by price if you’re on a budget or by vehicle type if there’s a specific car you’re after.
Final thoughts on two days in San Francisco!
I hope I’ve given you some major wanderlust and you’re looking forward to spending two days in San Francisco. As you’ve read there’s something for everyone in San Fran, from the family-friendly Golden Gate Park to cycling across the iconic Golden Gate Bridge (a must-do for outdoor enthusiasts). Happy exploring!
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You may also enjoy reading my other San Francisco blog posts, like –
How to find Mrs Doubtfire’s House in San Francisco
How to find the Lincoln Park Steps in San Francisco
Best Stops on the Pacific Coast Highway (& How to Do it Cheaply)
Last Updated on December 12, 2024 by snaphappytravel