2-Day San Francisco Itinerary

Arrival day

Before Day 1. Keep the first evening open, because the city rewards a slow walk.Details

From the airport: San Francisco International has its own BART station, and the train runs straight into the city and out to the Mission. A taxi or a rideshare also works, but the road in can be slow when the freeway is busy.
Getting around: Walk the flat stretches, ride a bus or a cable car up the big hills, and use a ferry for the water. A steep street looks short on a map and feels long, so leave a little more time than you expect.
What to pack: Bring layers and a windproof jacket. The weather changes from one neighborhood to the next, and fog can roll in over the bridge on a warm day. Comfortable shoes matter more than anything else.
First evening: Stretch your legs with a slow walk along the waterfront and have an early dinner. Day 1 starts at the Ferry Building, so you will already be close.

Day 1. The waterfront and North Beach and downtown and Chinatown

4 stops · 2.0 mi

Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.

1
MorningWorth the time
Ferry Building
A grand old terminal on the bay with a clock tower and a market hall inside. Walk through the stalls, buy something to eat and look out at the water.
Go when Morning, when the market hall is calm and the bay is bright.
Local tip Walk through the hall once without buying, then go back to the stall that smelled best. Step out the back to sit by the water.
Photo: Daniel Lu ( User:dllu ), CC BY-SA 4.0 on Wikimedia Commons
About 15 min walk0.7 mi
2
MiddayWorth the time
Chinatown
One of the oldest Chinatowns in the country, packed into a few blocks of narrow streets, bakeries and shops. Enter through the green gate and walk where it looks busiest.
Go when Late morning, when the streets and bakeries are busy.
Local tip Walk the side lanes as well as the main street. The small bakeries and herb shops are where the neighborhood really lives.
Photo: Christian Mehlführer, Use…, CC BY 3.0 on Wikimedia Commons
Lunch
Dim sum in Chinatown
Small plates of dumplings, buns and rolls, shared around the table. Many dim sum rooms line the streets of Chinatown.
Local tip Order a few plates at a time, since they come out and the table fills.
Photo: LeonardKong, CC BY 2.0 on Wikimedia Commons
About 16 min walk0.8 mi
3
AfternoonWorth the time
Coit Tower
A slim white tower on top of Telegraph Hill, with a wide view over the city and the bay. Walk down the Filbert Steps afterwards, through steep gardens and past houses with no street in front of them.
Go when Afternoon, on a clear day.
Local tip Walk up from the north side of the hill and come back down the Filbert Steps. Listen for the wild parrots in the trees.
Photo: Ryan Schwark, CC0 on Wikimedia Commons
About 10 min walk0.5 mi
4
EveningAn evening stop
Fisherman’s Wharf and Pier 39
The old fishing waterfront, now a lively stretch of piers, street performers and views of the island. Sea lions often rest on the docks beside the pier, a sight in itself.
Go when Early evening, around sunset, when the light turns gold.
Local tip Walk to the end of the pier for the view of the island and the bridge, and stop to watch the sea lions on the docks.
Photo: Charles H. Townsend, Bure… on Wikimedia Commons
Dinner
A bowl of chowder in sourdough
A creamy clam chowder in a hollowed-out sourdough loaf is the classic bite on the wharf. Dungeness crab is a local treat when it is in season.
Local tip Ask what is fresh that day, and eat outside if the wind is calm.
Photo: kansasphoto, CC BY 2.0 on Wikimedia Commons

If it rains. Ferry Building is covered, so keep it. Move Chinatown, Coit Tower and Fisherman’s Wharf and Pier 39 to a dry day if you can.

Day 2. The Presidio and Marina and Golden Gate Park and the west

4 stops · 9.8 mi

Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.

1
MorningBook the boat ahead
Alcatraz Island
A rock in the bay that was a federal prison for decades. A short ferry ride crosses to it, and a walk with an audio guide goes through the cell house. Book the ferry well ahead, because it fills up.
Go when Morning, on one of the first ferries.
Local tip Book the ferry well ahead and check what time it leaves. Wear layers, because the island is windy even on a warm day.
Photo: Chris6d, CC BY-SA 4.0 on Wikimedia Commons
About 21 min by car or transit5.3 mi
2
AfternoonWorth the time
Golden Gate Park
A long green park that runs from the middle of the city to the ocean, with gardens, lakes and museums along the way. Pick one corner and let it fill the afternoon.
Go when Afternoon, with a corner of the park in mind.
Local tip The park is long, so do not try to see it all. Choose a garden, a lake or a museum and stay.
Photo: Dennis G. Jarvis, CC BY-SA 2.0 on Wikimedia Commons
About 14 min by car or transit3.1 mi
3
AfternoonWorth a short visit
Palace of Fine Arts
A domed pavilion of pale stone beside a lagoon, left over from a fair in 1915. A calm place to sit by the water and watch the swans.
Go when Afternoon, when the light hits the dome.
Local tip Walk all the way around the lagoon. The view of the dome from the far side is the one in the photographs.
Photo: Rhododendrites, CC BY-SA 4.0 on Wikimedia Commons
About 9 min by car or transit1.5 mi
4
EveningWorth the time
Golden Gate Bridge
The red-orange bridge that crosses the mouth of the bay, opened in 1937. Walk out onto it, or stand at the south end and look up at the towers.
Go when Around sunset, when the towers glow.
Local tip Fog can cover the towers, so check the sky and be flexible. If it is thick, try again on another day.
Photo: Frank Schulenburg, CC BY-SA 4.0 on Wikimedia Commons
Dinner
Dinner on Chestnut Street
A busy street of small restaurants in the Marina, with a mix of every cuisine. Walk it until a place looks good.
Local tip Go before the evening rush, or be ready to wait for a table.

If it rains. Alcatraz Island is covered, so keep it. Move Golden Gate Park, Palace of Fine Arts and Golden Gate Bridge to a dry day if you can.

Departure day

After the last day. Fix the way to the airport the night before, and the last morning can be slow.Details

Last morning: If there is time, walk the Embarcadero to the Ferry Building for a coffee and one more look at the bay and the bridge lights going out.
To the airport: BART is the steady way to the airport and does not sit in traffic. A car ride depends on the freeway, so leave early if you are driving.
If you rented a car: If you hired a car for the redwoods, return it in the city the evening before, so the last morning is only a train ride and a suitcase.

Questions people ask

How many days does this plan cover?

It covers 2 days in San Francisco, planned for late September. Each day is built around a small number of stops, with room to rest.

Who is this plan for?

It was planned for most travelers. The pace and the places reflect that, so check it fits how you travel.

Is anything on this plan booked?

No. Places marked "book ahead" need a reservation. Hours, prices and availability change, so confirm before you go.

Can I plan my own days like this?

Yes. Archie drafts a day by day plan for your dates and takes your pace, the weather and who is travelling into account. You can start one from the Archie app.

Can I change this plan?

Yes. It is a starting point you can change to fit your own trip: swap a place, add a day or move the pace.

How much walking is there?

Each day has about 2.0 to 9.8 miles between its stops, and 11.9 miles in all across 2 days. A short hop is a walk and a longer one a ride. Distances are straight-line estimates, so allow extra for the streets.