I put together a guide of how to spend a full day in San Francisco. Since I have been there a few times just for a day trip, I understand the importance of being prepared, so you can see as much as you can. If you’re not organised it can be a stressful day.
I lived in Northern California for 8 years. It will always have a piece of my heart. We still lived 4 hours from San Francisco, but in 8 years I did go a few times and there was always something different to see and experience in this quirky City.
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Most people will spend 2-3 days in San Francisco, especially if your goal is to see as much of this city as you can.
However, I have only done day trips, and it’s surprising how much you can fit in one day, and how enjoyable it is.
I know that everyone has their preferences, for example, I have no interest in seeing Alcatraz. But others won’t want to miss it!
Therefore, I am adding more attractions and places than you would have time for in one day so that you can pick and choose to make the trip personalised for you! This way you can be prepared!
San Francisco is in the top 5 of the most visited cities in the US, and totally worth a full day to explore!
Here are my recommendations of how to spend a full day in San Francisco!
A few TIPS before we get started:
Tip #1 Plan your day
If you just have one day you will want to plan your day really well to make sure you fit everything in stress free!
My favourite days in San Francisco were when we went without a plan, but honestly we didn’t see that much of the City and it would have been a disappointment if that was the only day I would ever spend there. Another time we mapped out the day to the hour as we had a friend from Germany come and visit and we knew it would probably be there first and last time visiting San Francisco so we planned it all out and still had an amazing time and saw so much!
TIP #2 Go on a Sunday
If you have the opportunity and flexibility to choose what day to spend in San Francisco, I would highly recommend going in on a Sunday.
Parking meters operate from Monday through Saturday. Free parking is available on Sundays when meters are suspended. *Note that meters are not suspended in the Fisherman’s Wharf and Embarcadero zones.
If you were to come on a weekday or saturday, the parking meters only allow 2-4 hours parking so depending on how long you are planning on staying you will have to move your car at least twice.
Every time we went to San Francisco we went on a Sunday and parked for 8-10 hours in the same spot for free and could walk most places, or we used public transport which was very easy.
San Francisco is not like many Countries in Europe where things are closed on Sundays. Everything (except business offices, but why would you want to go there?) are open on Sundays so you will still get the full experience!
TIP #3 Plan your toilet trip
Many toilets in public or shared spaces in San Francisco are designated for use by all genders, denoted by a triangle. All-gender toilets usually have stalls instead of open urinals. Busier areas of town will have public restrooms, which are often used as a shelter by members of the city’s homeless community. Accept the fact that you may need to buy coffee or a drink in a cafe so you can use a customers-only toilet.
TIP #4 Make Reservations
Make reservations for restaurants and Attractions like Alcatras. You can totally have a very successful day by being spontaneous, but if there are specific attractions or restaurants that are on your bucket list for this trip you will need to book, and maybe quite far in advance. Remember, if you go on a Sunday for example, parking will be free, it will be less busy but some restaurants and attractions will be closed, or booked out for weeks in advance.
WHEN TO VISIT? September to November is definitely the best time to visit if you prefer warmer temperatures but also fewer crowds than in the summer. Spring is also a good time due to the lack of rain. Winter will be less busy but because of where San Francisco is located it most likely will be a very cloudy and rainy day. But of course it depends on what you want to do, and what kind of weather you like!
BREAKFAST Recommendations:
COFFEE Recommendations:
Casual Lunch/Dinner Recommendations:
–Freekah -Middle Eastern
–Ben Thai Cafe – Thai
–Sotto Mare – Italian
–CA Fish Market Restaurant – American
–Bottega – Italian
Nicer DINNER Recommendations:
San Francisco has long held a reputation as being one of the world’s fine dining hotspots, and for very, very good reason.
–Atelier Crenn – French
–Benu – Asian Fusion
–Quince – Italian/French
–Acquerello – Italian
–Californios – Mexican
–Campton Place – Cal-Indian
DESSERT Recommendations:
–The Trifecta at Bi-Rits Creamery
–Green Chile Apple Pie from Chile Pie’s Baking Co.
–Cannoli at Stella Pastry
DRINK Recommendations:
TOURISTY things to do:
–Rent bikes and ride over the Golden Gate Bridge
–Go shopping at Haight and Ashbury
Other FREE Activities:
I hope that if you do decide to spend a day in San Francisco, that this list helps you in some way. It is a beautiful City and there is so much to see. I hope you really enjoy it!
If you like this post, you might also like:
-‘10 Best things to do in Newcastle, Australia – from my local Bestie!‘
-‘6 Castles in Germany that you can actually stay in‘
-‘What I learnt from living in the US for 8 yrs as an Aussie‘
Thank you!!!
