1 Day in San Francisco: 7 Places You Need to Go
Wondering how to spend 1 day in San Francisco? I’ve got you covered!
San Francisco is one of those iconic cities you just HAVE to get to know.
We’ve all seen it in movies and know a lot of its landmarks right off the top of our heads. It’s a gigantic metro city with amazing weather and dramatic fog and clouds.
And don’t even get me started on how lush the bay area is.
Though San Francisco hasn’t been my favorite city to explore because of crazy traffic, over-tourism, and a certain level of insecurity, it’s still an amazing place to visit.
Plan your Trip with my Favorite Resources:
– Book the best hotels: Boooking.com
– Get a rental car: DiscoverCars
– Find great flight deals: CheapOAir
– Book a tour: Viaator or GeetYourGuide
I do love a good day exploring a city even though I prefer the outdoors. And my favorite city experiences have come from having a local friend give you me a tour.
It happened during my day in Seattle and again when I visited San Diego, which are some of the coolest cities to explore in the US. And, yes, I also got the local tour in San Francisco.
In this 1 day in San Francisco itinerary, I’ll cover all the pros and cons of visiting, as well as exactly what I did during my day there and what I wish I hadn’t missed.
I actually did this itinerary in 4 hours (which is why I missed some key spots), so it’s doable with VERY little time!
Where to Stay in San Francisco
San Francisco has limitless hotel possibilities, from really luxurious ones to great budget hotels.
Now, if you know me, you know I never have the budget to stay in a hotel in a city, which is why I do outdoorsy things and camp for free.
But I really wanted to get to know the Bay Area, so visited – practically for free.
How to Find Free or Cheap Lodging
I stayed in Hercules, California, in a random person’s house for free. I did it as part of Trusted HouseSitters.
It’s how I traveled up the west coast for a whole year without ever paying for a hotel!
I stayed in some of the most amazing houses, met awesome people and had to take care of dogs. It’s not for everyone, but if you like pets, then you’ve got yourself an awesome deal.
You just pay a yearly subscription to be on the platform and you’re good to go!
Some other ideas to find free lodging:
- Couchsurfing was really popular a few years ago, but it’s still a thing. You can stay on people’s couches for free (except for the platform fee). I’ve never done it because I’m too introverted, but maybe someday!
- Call a friend. If you know someone in the Bay Area, they might be more willing to host than you’d think! Just be respectful of their space, make them some meals… you know, be a good person.
And if you have to stay in a hotel, which is definitely the most convenient option, here are some highly rated budget hotels:
Budget Hotels in San Francisco
San Francisco has a lot of hostels, but most are poorly rated or look sketchy. Chapter San Francisco looks amazingly modern and has a TON of great reviews. It’s ridiculously cheap because of the shared spaces, but each bed is it’s own little “box” with a curtain for added privacy – rare for a hostel!
This simple hotel looks modern and elegant, with a lot of wood and a lot of plants. They’ve definitely used the space well, but the rooms are very small. It’s a cool place to stay downtown, 8 minutes (walking) from Union Square.
If you’d like to browse more hotels in San Francisco, check out the map below. I made it to only show hotels under $250 a night so the rest don’t clutter your screen.
1 Day in San Francisco Map
I made a custom Google Map of my 1 day in San Francisco with all the stops, viewpoints, and lodging options in this post.
This interactive map is perfect for visualizing your route through San Francisco. Whether you’re walking across the Golden Gate Bridge, eating fresh food at Fisherman’s Wharf or seeing the world’s biggest waves, it’s all pinned and ready.
👉 Open the full map in Google Maps or see it embedded below. Tap the icon on the top left of the map to see the whole menu.
1 Day in San Francisco Itinerary
This San Francisco itinerary hits on the key spots in San Francisco you NEED to visit. I only had 4 hours, so I had to make it count!
But I obviously missed some things, and I’ll tell you exactly what I regret so that you make sure you don’t miss them.
It’s definitely best to take your time and spend the whole day in San Francisco. But I had a puppy to take care of back home… the things you do for free lodging!
1. The Golden Gate Bridge
The Golden Gate Bridge is the icon of San Francisco – like the Statue of Liberty in NYC, it’s the symbol of the city. So, of course, it was the first destination.
Since I was staying in Hercules, my local friends drove me around the Bay Area, not through San Francisco, to get to the Golden Gate Bridge.
According to them, the best view of the bridge is from the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.
And I have to agree!
You can stop and see the bridge from several stops on the road, but the best view is from Battery Spencer. The Golden Gate Bridge is splayed out below you, with the San Francisco skyline in the distance, and it’s amazing!
Alternatively, you can walk down to Kirby Beach from the same parking area and see the bridge from water-level. The pictures look super cool!
2. The Place to Be: Sausalito
After seeing the Golden Gate Bridge, the next destination has to be Sausalito, which is a town right on the bay next to the bridge.
Sausalito is gorgeous. It’s a classic California town – layers of big, airy houses on a hill in the midst of trees.
Other than walking around the waterfront promenade and taking in the vibe, there’s also lots to do. Stop at any of its creative restaurants, visit some art galleries – and prepare to spend some money!
After exploring Sausalito, cross the Golden Gate Bridge to get into San Francisco proper.
3. The Palace of Fine Arts
This random structure in the city is something out of a Fantasy book, and definitely worth a visit!
I could see it from the other side of the bay, from the Golden Gate National Recreation Area and it looked beautiful.
Up close? Absolutely gorgeous!
And what is there to do, you say? Well, just walk around.
It’s not an art gallery or museum, as I thought it would be – it’s just an amazing structure.
To find free or at least cheaper parking (if you’re in a car), park on Bay or Baker Street.
Then, after taking it all in (and make sure you walk through it and around the lake), head over to Fisherman’s Wharf. It’s the place I most regret missing!
4. Fisherman’s Wharf
Fisherman’s Wharf is an iconic San Francisco destination that’s VERY touristy.
Since I was short on time and on a low budget, I skipped it. But from what everyone had told me before, I shouldn’t have.
My mom lived in the Bay Area for years, and she kept telling me I had to go to Fisherman’s Wharf for fresh crab and sourdough bread. Best eaten from a stand by the ocean.
The entire neighborhood is also known for its amazing restaurants and views of the bay and Alcatraz. But what interests me the most is the colony of sea lions and all the ships you can tour.
5. This One’s for the Full House Fans
Instead of going to Fisherman’s Wharf we went to the Painted Ladies because my wife, Lala, is a Full House fan.
The Painted Ladies are a series of beautiful colored houses in front of Alamo Square Park. When we got there, there were hundreds of people having a picnic.
It has gorgeous views of San Francisco and the bay, since it’s pretty far inland and up a hill.
6. When the Destination is a Street
Next up was something dumb I wanted to see –San Francisco’s famous winding street.
It’s called Lombard Street, and the epic part is between Hyde and Leavenworth Streets. One block has 8 hairpin turns, and it’s just fun to ride down.
My picture from the back of the car was TERRIBLE, but at least I experienced it myself!
If you want to see it with your own eyes and take a better picture, there was a crowd doing just that at the bottom, on Leavenworth Street.
⚠️ As I was making the map, I noticed a place called The Real “Crookedest Street in the World.” I’ve never been, but I’d be interested to see how crooked it is, so I marked it on the map in case you want to see a less touristy spot.
7. End the Day a Little Differently
Most 1 day in San Francisco itineraries will probably end saying, “Watch the sunset from the Golden Gate Bridge Vista Point” or a tall hill or go out to a club. And that’s totally valid!
But let me give you a very cool alternative.
I drove 45 minutes south to Half Moon Bay and Mavericks Beach, and that place was COOL.
If you go in the winter, you’ll get to see some of the world’s tallest waves (I’ve been watching 100 Foot Wave on Max). And the best times for big waves just so happen to be sunrise and sunset.
So, I would recommend getting to see something very different and enjoying the sunset in a radical place dude!
Then, you can go to Half Moon Bay. It’s a cool town with good restaurants and beer.
And, just like that, your 1 day in San Francisco comes to an end with a bang!
Even if you’re not a city person, San Francisco has a lot to offer – too much actually! That’s what can make it a pain for us outdoorsy people.
But if you’re finishing up a California road trip, like the Eastern Sierras road trip, or going to Yosemite for a day or two, you should definitely take a day and explore San Francisco.
If you have any questions, comment below and I’ll be sure to answer!
