Last Updated on March 16, 2024 by snaphappytravel
Having just one day in San Francisco means you’ll only be able to scratch the surface of what this quirky city has to offer. San Fran, as the locals call it, is chock-a-block with world-famous sights like the Golden Gate Bridge, Fisherman’s Wharf, and the super-steep Lombard Street. And I bet you’re wary of what you can fit into one day but you’d be surprized at what you can accomplish in a day in a small, walkable city like San Francisco.
Now, I love a challenge, but I have to admit it was no mean feat trying to squeeze the best of San Francisco into just one day. And I’m a local – yep, I was born in San Francisco! FYI, if you can, I recommend spending at least 3 days in San Francisco.
I’ve done the research so you don’t have to and included a mix of super-popular sights and awesome tours so that your one day in San Francisco will be one you’ll remember forever!
Is One Day in San Francisco Enough?
Surprisingly, you’ll be able to see a lot of San Francisco in one day. But you’ll need to be efficient with your time. What’s on your side is the size of the city – San Francisco is just 47 square miles, which means it’s smaller than Brooklyn, New York. Therefore, you’ll be able to cover a lot of ground in one day!
San Francisco is in the top 5 most-visited cities in the U.S., so, as you can probably guess, there’s so much to do in this quirky city, as well as a plethora of excellent Cafes, restaurants, and hotels. That’s why deciding what to see in just 24 hours can feel like a monumental task!
But that’s where I come in. In one day in San Francisco, you’ll get to see the city’s most famous attractions like the Golden Gate Bridge and Lombard Street. And if you manage your time right, you’ll also be able to squeeze in a visit to Chinatown and Haight-Ashbury.
Morning – Golden Gate Bridge & Fisherman’s Wharf
Early Morning – Cycle over the 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 (one of the cutest towns near San Francisco), 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.
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!
Late Morning – Fisherman’s Wharf
Fisherman’s Wharf buzzes with an energy that’s unmistakably San Franciscan. Spend your morning 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!
If you’re hungry and fancy an early lunch. 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.
Afternoon – Lombard Street & Chinatown
Early Afternoon – 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.
Related Read: If you have time this afternoon, it’s well worth checking out the iconic Mrs Doubtfires House in Pacific Heights. It’s a must-visit for movie lovers!
Late Afternoon – 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.
Foodies will love Chinatown because it has some of the best places to eat in the whole city. So, if you haven’t had lunch yet – this is a great spot to have it!
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?
Evening – Bakers Beach & Dinner in Haight-Ashbury
Early Evening – Bakers Beach
On a clear evening, one of the best places to go in the city is Bakers Beach, near the Presidio district, which is renowned 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 day in San Fran!
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, families visiting San Francisco, and, anyone into land fishing. From Bakers Beach, you can access a few awesome walking trails, including the 3-mile Lands End Trail, which you likely won’t have time for today but if you have longer in the city – i.e. 3 days in San Francisco then be sure to make the time to hike this scenic 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!
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. Today, 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 offering, yep you guessed right, thai food.
Where to stay in San Francisco
The Westin St Francis – conveniently located at Union Square. All rooms have great city views, and there are 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 for luxury, and many of the hotel 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!
Taking a trip back to where I was born brought back a whole lot of memories. We managed to squeeze the very best of San Francisco into 24 hours into this blog post, and I hope you loved reading it as much as I loved writing it. I’m a proud San Fran gal at heart!
While you’re here, why not check out my other North American blog posts? Some of my favorites include:
15 Best Things to Do in Seattle
How to Spend One Day in Seattle
Moving to New York – these are the best towns to visit from your new home!