Itineraries for Your Trip to San Francisco
2 Days in San Francisco for First Timers
I spent several years of my childhood living in the Bay Area, and every time I return, I feel at home—and remember just how much I love it and why. There are its vibrant neighborhoods, including Chinatown and the Mission District, as well as its thriving dining scene. Then, there are its plentiful museums and beautiful Painted Ladies. Finally, I love coming back to its gorgeous parks, bridges, and that incomparable waterfront.
But for all that the City by the Bay offers, you can still squeeze many of its top sights and experiences into a single trip—even if you’re only spending two days in San Francisco. Read on for a time-saving itinerary that checks off most of the highlights.
The weather in San Francisco is often cooler and foggier than many first-time visitors expect—skip the shorts and come prepared with layers.
If you only have time for one thing, make it a bike ride across the Golden Gate Bridge.
One of the best things to do in San Francisco for first-timers? Book a morning hop-on hop-off bus tour to get an overview of the city’s key sights and neighborhoods (and spare your legs its famous hills). Set off from Fisherman’s Wharf, find a perch on the top deck, and look out for highlights from Golden Gate Park and Ghirardelli Square to Alamo Square, Haight-Ashbury, and Lombard Street.
San Francisco is known for its eclectic dining scene—and a lunchtime food tour is the perfect way to explore once you’ve worked up an appetite. If it’s your first time in San Francisco, book a combination tour that visits two of the city’s tastiest neighborhoods: Chinatown (the oldest Chinatown in North America) and neighboring North Beach (known as San Francisco’s Little Italy).
After a busy first day of sightseeing, it’s time to relax—and soak up some of San Francisco’s best views. A cruise of the San Francisco Bay is a special experience at any time of day, but it feels particularly magical at sunset. Bring your camera to capture up-close views of the Golden Gate Bridge, plus panoramas of the city’s skyline all aglow.
No 2-day San Francisco itinerary is complete without the Ferry Building. Not only does the 1898 landmark, located on the Embarcadero, offer beautiful Bay Bridge views—but it’s also home to a legendary farmer’s market. Come prepared with an appetite ahead of a brunch-time tour, and follow a guide to the market’s locals-loved bites and artisan food businesses.
Yesterday, you saw the Golden Gate Bridge from the water—now enjoy an even closer perspective. Once you’re adequately fueled from the farmer’s market, set off on an afternoon bike tour across the bridge and over to scenic Sausalito. Traveling on two wheels is a great way to get active—and a more convenient option for crossing the 1.7-mile (2.7-kilometer) landmark.
After a whirlwind two days in San Francisco, end your getaway on a frighteningly fun note—quite literally. A ghost-themed evening walking tour is an entertaining way to learn more about the city’s history and scope out some of its most notable Victorian–era buildings. That’s especially true when you explore with a costumed, lantern-toting guide who can set a perfectly spooky atmosphere.
