• Do a Whirlwind Tour of Iconic Landmarks
• Explore the Napa Valley Wine Country
• Stroll Among the Redwood Giants of Muir Woods
• Seek and Find Waterfalls in Yosemite
• Set Sail from Fisherman’s Wharf
• Break into Alcatraz Island Prison
• Spend a Starlit Evening in North Beach
• Bike across the Golden Gate Bridge to Sausalito
• Stop and Smell the Flowers in Golden Gate Park
• Hug the Pacific Coast Highway to Monterey 
  FAQs

Do a Whirlwind Tour of Iconic Landmarks

The best way for first-timers to get to know San Francisco is with an overview tour. That way you can bounce back to the spots that piqued your interest. A local guide will give you the context and history of the Nob Hill, Northbeach, Chinatown, Mission, and Haight Ashbury neighborhoods. Most city tours allow you to capture selfies from the Golden Gate Bridge, among flowers at the Palace of Fine Arts, and atop Twin Peaks.

Check out our guided San Francisco tour.

Explore the Napa Valley Wine Country

Napa Valley is an hour away from San Francisco but a “must do” if you are even a little bit into wine. We recommend a weekday trip when the wineries will be refreshingly uncrowded. Between friendly toasts of Cabernets and Chardonnays, be prepared to photograph the bright green vines of spring, clusters of purple grapes in summer, or seasonal leaves of crimson and gold in fall. Friends, wine, sunshine…what could go wrong?

Enjoy and leave the driving to us.

Stroll Among the Redwood Giants of Muir Woods

It surprises some that Muir Woods, home to 2,000-year-old towering redwoods, is just a few miles from San Francisco. The park requires reservations and Uber/Lift service is unreliable, so it’s best to take a tour. Ninety minutes is about right to walk the nature trails through dozens of Coast Redwoods, some as tall as 250 feet. Bonus: Most tours make a photo stop during the morning crossing of the foggy Golden Gate Bridge.

Morning and afternoon tours available. 

Seek and Find Waterfalls in Yosemite

Yosemite is a waterfall chaser’s dream. Besides falling water, a Yosemite experience will lead you to the wonders and beauty of this national park like Inspiration Point, El Capitan, Half Dome, Yosemite Falls, the Tuolumne Giant Sequoias, and other jaw-dropping gems. A day trip to Yosemite from San Francisco is a long day and unusually requires a park reservation. A tour will let you relax and arrive ready to explore the jewel of America’s park system.

Join the leading Yosemite National Park tour.

Set Sail from Fisherman’s Wharf

Take the gang to “catch” the sea lions playing on Pier 39! Plus, Fisherman’s Wharf has so much more. Take some spare change to the Musee Mecanique to play vintage arcade games. Check out Umbrella Alley on Beach Street between Larkin and Hyde. Insider tip: From Pier 39, join a sunset sail as evening creeps into San Francisco Bay. Enjoy uniquely lit views of the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz Island, Ferry Building, Coit Tower, and Transamerica Building. 

Limited space. Likely to sell out.

Every Alcatraz visit begins with a 15-minute cruise with incredible views of the Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco Bay, and Angel Island  — have your camera ready! On arrival to Alcatraz Island, pick up the Cellhouse Audio Tour included with your Alcatraz tour package. Hear the voices of inmates describe their actual experiences at Alcatraz in English, Spanish, Japanese, French, Italian, German, Dutch or Mandarin. Tickets are limited and frequently sell out. 

Experience Alcatraz Island with our guided San Francisco city tour.

Spend a Starlit Evening in North Beach

North Beach, known as the Little Italy, is full of fantastic restaurants, theatres and clubs. Kick things off at the Tosca Cafe for drinks then sit down behind a perfect pizza pie at Tony’s Pizza on the edge of Washington Square. If you still have energy, head over to Club Fugazi to see Dear San Francisco, a 90-minute love letter to San Francisco with high flying acrobatics. 

This audio tour plays automatically as you are led to the historic locales, favorite local restaurants, and hidden gems of North Beach.

Bike across the Golden Gate Bridge to Sausalito

If you like the idea of seeing a lot, but having a little more independence, why not rent bicycles for the day? Ride at your own pace along the waterfront and across the Golden Gate Bridge. Once across the bridge, make your way to Sausalito and explore this charming little beach town. Once you have had your fill, roll your bikes right onto the ferry for a relaxing boat ride back to San Francisco. 

Bikes can get sold out…book one here.

Stop and Smell the Flowers in Golden Gate Park

Find flowers any time of year in Golden Gate Park. In very early spring, head to the San Francisco Botanical Gardens for the magnolias. On the western edge of Golden Gate Park you’ll find tulips in Queen Wilhelmina Garden. Spring is also the time for cherry blossoms in the Japanese Tea Garden. May to June is the season to wander the Rose Garden and the Shakespeare Garden to find beautiful and fragrant flowers. 

This Gold Rush to Golden Gate self guided audio tour takes you at your own pace to Golden Gate Park as you learn the colorful history of San Francisco’s top attractions.

Hug the Pacific Coast Highway to Monterey 

Monterey is an entertaining mix of wildlife, stunning coastline, and colorful history. Grab photos of the stunning coastline, perhaps with sea otters playing in Monterey Bay. During your free time visit the world-famous Monterey Bay Aquarium or take the time to stroll out to Lovers’ Point. After getting your fill of photos on the stunning 17-Mile Drive, your Pacific Coast experience will arrive in charming Carmel-by-the-Sea in time to check out the quaint shops or get some white Pacific sand between your toes.

Check out our 1-day tour to both Monterey and Carmel

FAQs

What is the number one attraction in San Francisco?
The number one attraction in San Francisco is the Golden Gate Bridge. The architecture and setting of this iconic landmark is simply spectacular. Even if you are on a tight schedule, getting a great view and photo of it is an absolute must when visiting San Francisco. 

Do you need a car in San Francisco?
San Francisco is a walkable city with good public transportation options. For a short visit, you probably do not need a car. Of course, if you do have a car, it will be easier to take a day trip out of the city, and cheaper to get to further flung places in the city like Twin Peaks. 

What is the weather like in San Francisco?
San Francisco weather is generally mild. We are known for our microclimates, so if one neighborhood is warm and sunny, another may be blanketed in fog. Expect sunshine and high temperatures in the 60’s to 70s F. Mornings and evenings can be chilly. From December to March, you may experience a few wet days. In summer, you may have experienced our famous fog, which tends to roll in overnight and retreat by late morning. 

What to pack for a trip to San Francisco?
The most important thing to bring with you to San Francisco is layers. This is true at any time of year. With its geography and climate, you can experience every kind of weather in just one day in so be prepared to throw on or off layers. In winter, we recommend a waterproof jacket to keep you dry in the rain or wet fog. 

The City is really best explored on foot, so make sure your shoes are comfy for walking. If you can make them waterproof, even better! If you plan to do any hiking (and you really should!), shoes with good grip will be helpful for any muddy trails.

Is 1 day enough to see San Francisco?
While of course we think everyone should stay as long as they possibly can in the city. But if you only have a day, here is our checklist of the not-to-miss San Francisco sites. 

• Golden Gate Bridge
• Golden Gate Park
• Chinatown
• Cable Car
• Lombard Street
• Fisherman’s Wharf and Pier 39

What can you do in two days in San Francisco?
With two days in San Francisco, you can see the highlights, plus a little more! The main addition in this section is a visit to Alcatraz, and no full weekend itinerary to San Francisco would be complete without it. Here is our checklist for visitors with two full day in the city.

• Golden Gate Bridge
• Golden Gate Park
• Chinatown
• Cable Car
• Lombard Street
• Fisherman’s Wharf and Pier 39
• Alcatraz Island
• Mission District
• Haight Ashbury
• North Beach

Published on: March 27th 2025