Where to stay in San Francisco
Are you looking for accommodation in San Francisco? We recommend reading our post on where to stay in San Francisco to choose one of the 5 best areas to stay in the city. You'll find the pros and cons of each, recommended hotels, and a super detailed map. We'll also tell you which areas to avoid!
If you want to get straight to the point, you can find all the accommodations in San Francisco here, and we'll leave you with our five favorite hotels in the city for their good value for money:
What are the best things to do in San Francisco in 1 day
Do you only have time to visit San Francisco for 24 hours? We know that ideally you'd want to spend more days, but in this post we're going to suggest you a super-optimized itinerary so you can see the best of the city in a full day. You'll visit all the must-see sights, take the most historic San Francisco's public transportation, and eat typical dishes.
Got more time? Check out this 2-day San Francisco itinerary or these things to do in San Francisco in 3 days.
💡Since you don't have much time, a great option is to take this Full Day Tour in San Francisco + Alcatraz.
It lasts 8 hours and consists of a 4-hour guided tour (by minibus) of the city's main sights. At the end, you'll be dropped off at the pier where the ferries to Alcatraz depart, so you can visit the prison on your own (ferry tickets are included).
If you prefer to know San Francisco by yourself, start your day at Union Square, the city center and one of the best areas to stay in San Francisco. This lively square, known for its heart-shaped sculptures and the Dewey Monument with the Goddess of Victory at the top, is surrounded by shops, department stores such as Macy's, and restaurants.
Walk along the shopping avenues Powell St and Stockton St until you reach Chinatown, one of San Francisco's most characterful neighborhoods. We've visited Chinatowns in several cities across the United States, and this is definitely our favorite: its buildings, the lantern decorations, the Dragon Gate entrance, the street lamps, restaurants serving traditional food... It's so unique!
In Chinatown, specifically on Mason St, you can take the Powell & Mason Cable Car line. Riding this historic mode of transportation is one of the things to do in San Francisco in 1 day that you can't miss! You'll pass through the Little Italy area and end up at the intersection of Taylor St and Bay St, where you can stay and watch the legendary Cable Car turnaround: two men turn manually the funicular 180º to change its direction.
💡Recommended: How to get around San Francisco |Complete transportation guide|
From here, it's a 15-minute walk to Pier 33, where you need to go to in order to visit Alcatraz prison. This feared prison, located on a rocky islet in the middle of the bay, is one of the most iconic places to see in San Francisco.
Since you don't have much time, opt for the standard tour: between the ferry trip and the self-guided tour inside the prison, you'll need around 2.5-3 hours. Remember to book in advance through the official website, as this is the cheapest way to do so. You can know everything you need in our Ultimate Guide to Visit Alcatraz (and don't get scammed).
When you return to Pier 33, you can walk to Fisherman's Wharf, the old part of the harbor and the liveliest and most touristy area of San Francisco. Pass by the SS Jeremiah O'Brien ship, visit the noisy sea lions at Pier 39, and marvel at the USS Pampanito submarine.
🍲 Fisherman's Wharf is the ideal place to eat, especially to try the star dish: Clam Chowder, a clam soup served in bread, which is also typical of other cities such as Seattle. Chowder's is a good place to try it! Another famous restaurant is Bubba Gump, with its battered shrimp and fish and chips.
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If you have enough time, you can walk to Lombard Street (it takes about 20 minutes). This is San Francisco's most popular street due to its zigzagging slope at the junction between Hyde St and Leavenworth St.
Whether you've been to Lombard Street or not, your last stop of the day is the Golden Gate Bridge. There are several buses that will take you to the bridge area, as it's a bit far to walk (otherwise, another option is to take an Uber).
End the day by seeing the world's most maroon (and undoubtedly iconic) bridge in the world! You can admire it from some of the viewpoints in the Presidio area (Golden Gate Beach, Crissy Field, Torpedo Wharf, Golden Gate Bridge Welcome Center, etc.) or venture across it on foot. There's a dedicated lane for pedestrians and bicycles on the bridge, and on the other side, other equally impressive viewpoints await you.
To make it even more epic, if you stay in the area until sunset, you'll be treated to a unique view!
Map of San Francisco in 1 day
On this map, you can see the entire itinerary we've suggested so that you can easily follow it:
We hope you find this 1-day San Francisco itinerary useful!
