How to Spend 3 Days in San Francisco

Last Updated on March 16, 2024 by snaphappytravel

When planning a vacation to San Francisco, the most difficult part isn’t just choosing what to do and where to stay; it’s deciding how long to spend there. 

There’s so much to do in San Francisco, from cycling across the Golden Gate Bridge to touring Alcatraz (aka one of the most renowned prisons of all time) to visiting the city’s most famous filming locations, like the Mrs Doubtfire House (my favorite movie of all time, FYI!). 

It can be hard to fit everything into a few days, so we recommend spending 3 days in San Francisco! It’s just enough time to get a feel for the city and tick a couple of must-visit attractions and tours off your list! 

I’ve done all the research for you and included a mix of things to do below, from exploring the quaint coastal town of Sausalito to climbing the super-steep but colorful Lombard Street! 

I’ve covered everything to help you have the best 3 days in San Francisco!

Is 3 Days Enough for San Francisco?

3 days is the perfect number of days to spend in this quirky, stunning city! It allows enough time to see the top tourist attractions like the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, and Lombard Street. A 3-day San Francisco itinerary also enables you to experience some of the city’s hidden gems, like Coit Tower, which offers incredible city views, and the Exploratorium – one of the most family-friendly things to do in San Fran! 

Day 1: Golden Gate Bridge, Sausalito, Alcatraz & Fisherman’s Wharf

Morning – Golden Gate Bridge

Definitely one of the most famous sights in San Francisco, if not all of California – the Golden Gate Bridge is iconic.

The Golden Gate Bridge is 2.1 miles (3.4 km) in length, and it will take approximately 25 minutes to bike across the Golden Gate Bridge. Some avid cyclists can complete the one-way journey in 10 minutes – it all depends on how fit you are and how often you stop. You can either cycle both ways or return by ferry from Sausalito and drop your bike back off at the rental store when you come off your ferry. The Western footpath of the bridge is for cyclists only, but beware, it is two-way, so cyclists will be coming towards you, too. 

You can rent a bike from Golden Gate Bridge Bike Rentals on 2157 Lombard Street, for as little as $29 USD! They also rent electric bikes if you’re not keen on a workout.

One of the most-booked tours in San Francisco is this Golden Gate Cruise, which gets you up close to the iconic bridge from the water! From the water, you’ll get the best view of the bridge! The cruise is one hour long and costs just $38 USD. You’ll also pass by other iconic sights, such as Alcatraz, Sausalito, the Marin Headlands, and Angel Island State Park. What’s handy, too, is it’s an open ticket, meaning you can pick the departure time that best suits your schedule.

If you would prefer to walk the bridge this will take about 35 minutes each way, the Eastern footpath is for pedestrians only. Again, you can choose to get the ferry back from Sausalito if you prefer. 

Related Read: Check out my surprisingly detailed guide to spending one day in San Francisco here!

Afternoon – Sausalito

Not too far from the end of the Golden Gate Bridge is the lovely town of Sausalito, which is often described as a laid-back town with an almost Mediterranean vibe. It’s one of the best day trips to take from San Francisco.

Travel Tip: If you have more time to spend in San Francisco, i.e., 5 days in San Francisco – then a day trip to further-flung towns like Napa, Carmel-by-the-Sea, and Santa Cruz is a MUST-DO!

Sausalito is small at just over 2.2 square miles and has a population of just over 7,000 people. I’m sure this gorgeous town tops the wish list of ‘places to live if I won the lotto’ for a lot of people.

Imagine a different way of life at the houseboats (over 500 of them) that occupy the waters at the Northern end of the town. Rent a kayak or go on a boat tour to see the best of Sausalito from the water. Or simply browse through the many boutique stores that line Main Street.

Seafood is a must when dining in Sausalito – some must-try seafood restaurants in town include Scoma’s of Sausalito at 588 Bridgeway and Seafood Peddler Restaurant and Fish Market. Non-seafood fans should head to Napa Valley Burger Company and for your coffee fix, try Firehouse Coffee & Tea on Johnson Street.

If you love the stress-free nature of a guided tour (i.e., you don’t want to worry about getting there and back), then this 4.5-hour tour to Sausalito and Muir Woods is a great choice. Not only does it tick off two of the best places outside of San Fran, but it’s a small group tour (making for a more personalized experience!) Plus, it includes hotel pick-up and drop-off, so you don’t need to worry about anything. It costs $79 USD per person, but the entrance fee to Muir Woods National Monument ($15 USD) is extra and must be paid on the day!

Late Afternoon – Alcatraz

One of the most famous prisons in recent history, Alcatraz was once 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 things to do in San Francisco is a guided cruise tour of Alcatraz, like this one!

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. 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.

Evening – Fisherman’s Wharf

Fisherman’s Wharf buzzes with an energy that’s unmistakably San Franciscan. Spend your evening here wandering the piers (especially Pier 39!), looking out for the famous resident sea lions as you go, and, of course, trying out some delicious seafood.

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 $65 USD, which I say is great value!

For dinner this evening – head 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, where you can indulge in delicious burgers. This is an extremely popular place to dine because of the epic views across San Francisco Bay and the Golden Gate Bridge.

Some of the best restaurants at Pier 39 include Fog Harbor Fish House, Crab House 39, and Eagle Cafe.

Day 2: Lombard Street, Coit Tower, Castro & Chinatown

Morning – 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. The center sections of the street are filled with bright and colorful flowers, making the street uber-photogenic, especially in summer and spring.

So, how did Lombard Street come to be – 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%.

 The easiest way to get to Lombard Street is to hop on the Powell/Hyde cable car that begins at Fisherman’s Wharf.

This 3-hour walking tour includes a tour of Lombard Street and a climb to the top of Coit Tower (my next suggested stop), as well as off-the-beaten-track sights in downtown San Francisco like Russian Hill, Telegraph Hill, and North Beach. And you’ll even visit a hidden gem of a park where icons Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio snapped some wedding photos after tying the knot at San Francisco City Hall. Prices cost from $54 USD per adult (a bargain!).

Top Tip: If you’re going to rent a car in San Francisco we highly recommend Discover Cars. We tend to always book our rental car 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.

Mid-Morning – Coit Tower

Coit Tower is 210-foot tower that offers fabulous views of downtown San Francisco. It was built back in 1933 in an attempt to make the city’s skyline more beautiful. The viewing platform at the top of the tower can be reached by elevator from the Gift Shop – tickets for this cost $9 per adult.

Many people believe Coit Tower was built to resemble a fireman’s hose because Lillie Hitchcock Coit, whom the tower is named after, was a patron of the San Francisco Fire Brigade. However, this is just a coincidence.

There are many beautiful murals on display inside the tower; they were painted by a group of local artists in 1934.

Early Afternoon – Mrs Doubtfire House

One of my favorite places to visit in San Francisco is the ‘Mrs Doubtfire House‘, I’m a huge fan of the 1993 movie and Robin Williams. The house is located at 2640 Steiner Street, near Pacific Heights. A 12-minute drive from Coit Tower or a 50-minute walk. You can easily get here via public bus too.

It looks a little different to the movie, what you’d expect after almost 30 years but it’s still a must-see for any movie fans. In fact, the house was recently sold for $4.5 million.

If you’re a movie buff (like me!), then this 3-hour Movie Sights City Tour is perfect for you. It visits around 55 filming locations in the city, including Mrs Doubtfire, San Andreas, The Princess Diary, and the popular TV series Full House. It starts from Fisherman’s Wharf and costs $67 USD per person. I have to admit, it’s one of my favorite tours I’ve done in San Francisco!

Late Afternoon – Castro

If you’re in San Francisco to party – then look no further than Castro, San Francisco’s gay neighborhood and home to the best bars and nightclubs in the city, which are gay and straight-friendly.

Twin Peaks Tavern on Castro Street with its floor-to-ceiling windows is one of the originals, it opened in 1972. Catch a show at the Castro Theatre and pay a visit to the GLBT Historic Museum on 18th Street. It is the first stand-alone gay museum in the U.S. It celebrates San Francisco’s renowned gay culture past with exciting exhibitions and workshops.

Castro is also one of the best parts of San Francisco to go thrift shopping, with a plethora of second-hand stores; some even stock designer pieces at very cheap prices. One of the best is Siu Generis on Market Street.

Evening – 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 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.

Foodies will love Chinatown because it has some of the best places to eat in the whole city. 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.

Did you know – San Francisco’s Chinatown, specifically Ross Alley, has been featured in several recent movies, including Dead Pool and Godzilla?

Day 3: Haight-Asbury, Golden Gate Park & Bakers Beach

Morning – 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. Which has changed the vibe a little, but it’s still an awesome neighborhood to visit.

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.

Afternoon – Golden Gate Park

This is the 3rd most-visited Park in the U.S. (behind Central Park in NY and National Memorial Park in Washington D.C). Golden Gate Park 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.

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.

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!

Late Afternoon – Exploratorium

Characterized as “a mad scientist’s penny arcade, a scientific funhouse, and an experimental laboratory all rolled into one. The Exploratorium is more than a museum – it’s a gateway to exploring science, art, and human perception. Let your curiosity roam free through hundreds of exhibits across 6 galleries.

The Exploratorium is one of the most family-friendly things to do in San Francisco. It’s located at Pier 15, entrance fee costs from $39.95 per adult. It’s closed on Mondays. I recommend allowing between 1.5-2 hours here, you can book your tickets to the Exploratorium here!

Evening – Bakers Beach

On a clear day, one of the best places to go is Bakers Beach, near the Presidio district. This mile-long beach has one of the best photo opportunities in all of San Francisco, 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 land fishing. There are also many picnic benches here, so pack a picnic and take in the breathtaking views. From Bakers Beach, you can access a few awesome walking trails, including the 3-mile Lands End Trail.

Related Read: Not too far from Bakers Beach, you’ll find the colorful Lincoln Park Steps. If you plan to visit them, be sure to read my guide on how to find the Lincoln Park Steps!

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!

Thanks for Reading!

I hope you enjoyed reading my guide to 3 days in San Francisco! 3 days is just enough time to scratch the surface of this incredible city – there really is SO much to do here!

While you’re here, why not check out my other North America blog posts – some of my favorites include:

15 Best Things to Do in Seattle

First-timers guide to Seattle

Moving to New York – these are the best towns to visit from your new home!