From beatniks to start-ups to LGBTQ rights, San Francisco has played host to some of America’s most important cultural revolutions. Change-maker energy is still palpable as you walk through this pedestrian-friendly city. There’s so much to do and see in SF (as the locals call it), but thanks to its compact size, you can cover a lot of ground in a short amount of time.
By all means, take in iconic landmarks like the Golden Gate Bridge and Postcard Row. But the beating heart of San Francisco is best felt exploring its eclectic neighborhoods. From the hip Mission to the hippie Haight-Ashbury, this itinerary provides a whirlwind tour.
As always, check for travel restrictions and closures before planning your trip.
Friday: Visit the Icons
If it’s your first trip to San Francisco, start by exploring some of the city’s most iconic sights. A good place to begin is the 1.7-mile stroll across the Golden Gate Bridge. Be sure to end at the Welcome Center on the southern side to get a better understanding of why the bridge is a piece of engineering art.
The city’s famous for its coffee, so head over to Fisherman’s Wharf. Right on the waterfront, it’s one of the most lively areas of the city, marked by bobbing docks and souvenir shops. With java in hand, spend some time browsing the shops, watching street performers and snapping photos.
Look out for the sea lions sunning (and barking) at Pier 39 and, if you’ve got it, flaunt your vintage arcade game prowess at Musée Mécanique.
Next up is Alcatraz Island. The notorious former prison is 1.5 miles across the bay, and you’ll need to book tickets in advance to secure your spot on the Alcatraz City Cruises ferry. Once on the island, you’ll be able to see the Guardhouse, the Officers’ Row Gardens, Warden’s House, Main Cellhouse, and the cell of the prison’s most well-known escapee, Frank Morris.
The history is fascinating — but the views of the imposing San Francisco skyline and the “international orange” cables of the Golden Gate Bridge from the island are worth the trip alone.
Wrap up your day dining in Chinatown (for dessert pop into the Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory) before walking to neighboring North Beach for after-dinner drinks. Tony Nik’s, an old-school bar with an impressive cocktail program, and Specs’ Twelve Adler Museum Café, a divey bar with historic mugshots and postcards papering the walls, are favorites.
Saturday: Climb a Tower and Hit the Mission
Start your second day with a little cardio and climb Coit Tower on the summit of Telegraph Hill in the northeastern corner of the city. The 88-year-old structure was originally built to beautify the city and features 27 fresco murals by various painters. Each work depicts life in San Francisco during the Great Depression. At 210 feet, the views of the city are fabulous.
Hop in the car (or aboard the No. 12 bus) and head roughly 3 miles south to the Mission. The historically Latinx neighborhood is full of exceptional restaurants and hip boutiques. Order an “el gigante” Mission burrito from the no-frills El Faro and cruise over to Mission Dolores Park.
San Francisco embraces weird and wonderful individuality. This is on permanent display in the park, where yogis, Frisbee players and drum circles make for excellent people-watching.
Afterward, pop over to Misión San Francisco de Asís, the oldest surviving structure in the city. Then get your art on and visit two of the Mission’s mural projects. Off of 17th Street, Clarion Alley Mural Project focuses on social justice with large-format art dedicated to global warming and Black Lives Matter. Balmy Alley, off 24th, features an ever-changing display of vibrant, colorful works.
In the afternoon, get a better understanding of the Castro, San Francisco’s famed LGBTQ neighborhood. Internationally regarded as one of the most important areas for LGBTQ rights, you’ll find the home of Harvey Milk, the AIDS Memorial Quilt Building and rainbow-colored crosswalks.
Alongside cultural relevance, the Castro also features some of the city’s best nightlife. Stop in at least one of the myriad bars. Try Twin Peaks Tavern (believed to be the first gay bar in the country with windows open to the street), Last Rites (a plane-crash-themed bar) or Hi Tops (a gay sports bar that serves a Haterade cocktail in an athletic-style bottle).
For dinner, visit Anchor Oyster Bar for green-lip mussels and Dungeness crab.
Sunday: Choose Your Own Adventure
In the summer of 1967, aka the “Summer of Love,” hippies descended on Haight-Ashbury, just east of Golden Gate Park. As such, it’s considered the birthplace of America’s counterculture movement. It’s fairly gentrified now, but it’s still a nice place to visit.
Here you’ll find postcard-perfect, candy-colored Victorians, as well as trendy coffee shops, fashion-forward boutiques and sustainable restaurants. If you want to get a better idea of the neighborhood’s far-out history, the Flower Power Walking Tour is informative and entertaining.
Head toward the bay to replenish your energy at the Ferry Building Marketplace. Outside are a slew of food stands (and a farmers market on weekends) and inside are hip eateries, as well as specialty vendors like cheesemongers, butchers and wine shops.
In the afternoon, it’s time to visit one of the many museums in town. You may be interested in the Cable Car Museum, the Beat Museum, SFMOMA, the Museum of the African Diaspora or the California Academy of Sciences.
Alternatively, you could check out the de Young Museum in Golden Gate Park, then continue across the bridge and drive an hour north (depending on traffic) to Muir Woods National Monument, the closest place to San Francisco where it’s possible to see massive redwood trees.
When night falls, bop around SoMa (South of Market). Bordering the bay, the warehouses of this former industrial district now house trendy restaurants and bars. Some favorites include Cellarmaker Brewing Company, which has great brews and Detroit-style pizzas; Bloodhound, a hunting lodge-inspired cocktail bar; and Alchemist Bar & Lounge, a steampunk speakeasy.
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