3 days in San Francisco

San Francisco in 3 Days: A Day by Day Itinerary to Enjoy the City at Its Best

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As already explained in a previous article on how many days to spend in San Francisco, 3 days is the typical time frame that visitors dedicate to San Francisco, and indeed it can be considered a good compromise between the desire to make the most of the visit to the city and the need, at the same time, to invest time in other destinations, since, in the majority of cases, San Francisco is included as part of much longer road trips, whether in California or through the entire Southwest.

In this article, I will try to detail what I think is the best route to visit San Francisco in 3 days, designed not only to see the so-called must-see attractions but also to experience the city more fully. San Francisco is in fact a city with a unique atmosphere and should be explored in-depth to capture its most authentic personality.

I have already briefly outlined this itinerary in the article about how many days to spend in San Francisco, but I would like to write it here in more detail with a map and travel instructions so that it can be used easily once you are in San Francisco.

Please note: Of course, all the itineraries are affected by a certain degree of subjectivity, so, in order to have a more complete overview, I invite you to read about all the other attractions not included in this article. In this regard you can read my article about all the things to see in San Francisco.

Now back to the 3-day itinerary: What is there to see in San Francisco in 3 days?

Disclaimer: Whenever possible (especially for the first day) I have reported some interactive maps, so that you can easily reapply the route on foot in the city. Most of the stops described have a link to an in-depth article, which I suggest you read to learn more about the attraction itself and then make any adjustments as you see fit. During the itinerary you will cover a lot of ground on foot, by bus, and by bicycle. There are many hills in the city, so it may be a little exhausting to get around, but I assure you that the effort will definitely pay off.

Day 1: Downtown and the Hills of San Francisco

san francisco 3 day trip itinerary

On the first day, you’ll explore the city’s main neighborhoods and viewpoints on foot. You will only take public transport once but, as we’ll see, San Francisco is the only city in the world that can turn a cable car into a real attraction!

There’s no better way to start the day than with a good breakfast, especially in a beautiful setting like the market at the Ferry Building in Embarcadero. Within this famous market you’ll find a wide selection, which will increase even more on the days when the farmers’ market is set up in the square in front (Ferry Plaza Farmers Market). I suggest you sit at a small table on the pier to have your breakfast, where you can hear seagulls, feel the morning breeze, and watch street musicians in an exceptional atmosphere.

After breakfast, cross Embarcadero Plaza and go on Clay Street. As you keep going, you’ll begin to catch a glimpse of the Transamerica Pyramid, a true symbol of the Financial District and the San Francisco skyline.

3 day trip in san francisco
Columbus Avenue

As soon as you reach the Transamerica Pyramid, turn right onto Montgomery Street and then continue on Columbus Avenue to reach North Beach, a neighborhood with many features that make it worth visiting. First of all, it has Italian roots, as testified by a large number of cafes and restaurants (such as Vesuvio or Caffè Trieste), but that’s not all. Here there are also still traces left by the Beat Generation, starting from the City Lights Bookstore, the hub of alternative culture at the time of the Beat movement, the museum dedicated to the movement (Beat Museum), and an entire alley full of murals dedicated to Kerouac (Jack Kerouac Alley).

And there’s more. On Broadway, in the same area where you’ll find the Beat Museum, you can’t help but notice some large, clearly visible signs, which are reminders of (around the mid-800s) the famous Barbary Coast red light district that was located here.

san francisco what to see 3 days

Let’s go back south now, because there are 2 other interesting areas waiting for us, which are Chinatown, the largest Chinese community in America, and Union Square, one of San Francisco’s iconic squares. Heading south on Kearny Street, you’ll come across Portsmouth Square, the perfect place to watch the daily traffic flow of the Chinese neighborhood, and a prelude to Grant Avenue, one of the main arteries of Chinatown, where the Dragon’s Gate is also located.

Once past the picturesque arch, you’ll notice a change in the scenery. Dragons and red lanterns will give way to famous brands and boutiques. There are a lot of things to do in Union Square, the vital center of the city, where you will see the Victory Goddess monument right in the middle of the square (Dewey Monument).

3 day san francisco tour
Union Square

After taking a stroll around the square, it’s time to take a break. Head about 3 blocks south to the cable car stop (Powell St & Market St ), which is not only a convenient means of transportation, but an attraction in itself.

Take the red Powell/Hyde line and get ready for a very special trip…

Get off at Lombard Street & Hyde Street, on Russian Hill, to admire the first nice view of the day (it’s only the first in a long series). Below you’ll see a unique winding flower-filled street winding. This is Lombard Street.

Walk down Lombard Street and from there continue your walk up Jones Street. After about 3 blocks, you will reach Macondray Lane, a small alleyway and historical site that passes by gardens and private homes.

You will then continue on a wooden walkway that can be crossed in a few minutes to enjoy a beautiful view of Coit Tower. This will be exciting especially for fans of Armistead Maupin, whose Barbary Lane from the book Tales of the City is inspired by this small street.

top things to do in san francisco in 3 days
Ina Coolbrith Park

Not far from Coit Tower there is Ina Coolbrith Park, a small city park not frequented often by tourists, where you can enjoy a remarkable view of Downtown San Francisco. This is one of your best places to take a picture of the San Francisco Skyline, so do not miss this opportunity!

So far in this itinerary, you have caught glimpses of Coit Tower, the final destination of the day. It is an observation tower on Telegraph Hill, the hill facing Russian Hill. To reach it, you’ll cross Washington Square, one of the liveliest squares in North Beach (yes, you cross through this neighborhood again), where you will notice Saint Peter and Paul Church.

The easiest (and least tiring) way to get to Coit Tower is to climb up Greenwich Street (as shown on the map above), but on the way down the hill I suggest you take the Filbert Steps or Greenwich Steps, which lead through pretty gardens and private residences.

Once you get to the base of the tower you can already enjoy a beautiful view, in addition to the beautiful murals inside the tower. To climb to the top (by elevator) you will need to buy a ticket. Read more in our guide on Coit Tower.

Day 2: Alcatraz and Fisherman’s Wharf

what to see in san francisco in three days
View of Alcatraz

The second day is dedicated to Alcatraz and the lively neighborhood of Fisherman’s Wharf, with 2 little treats at the end that are not very well known…

The morning, or a good part of it, will be spent visiting Alcatraz, so I suggest you plan to spend about 3 hours between boarding the boat, visiting the island, and the return trip (even if the trip to and from the island lasts only about fifteen minutes, keep in mind that ferries leave the island every half hour). To board the boat, you must go to Pier 33. You can read our guide on Alcatraz to help you better organize your trip.

what to do in san francisco in three days

Once back on the mainland, walk along the bay until you reach Pier 39, the most commercial soul of Fisherman’s Wharf, the historic wharf of San Francisco, that has become one of the city’s most vital gathering places. At Pier 39 you can have fun entering its bizarre shops and see the sea lions sunbathing on the piers.

Continue along the bay and you will find yourself surrounded by many attractions from historic ships to unique museums. You could spend hours here without realizing it, so, to get an idea of what awaits you, I refer you to our Fisherman’s Wharf itinerary (Please note: In this itinerary, the order of the points of interest is reversed).

You will eventually make your way to Ghirardelli Square, the historic square with shops and restaurants where you will find the Ghirardelli Chocolate Company, founded in the mid-nineteenth century and now a historic landmark of San Francisco.

After walking through Fisherman’s Wharf, it’s time to go to the next stop. You will have to take public transportation,  but it won’t be as fascinating as a cable car. Instead, you will take the 30 Stockton bus (about a 15- minute ride) is one of the most convenient ways to reach one of the most beautiful monuments of San Francisco, the  Palace of Fine Arts, which was used as a location for the movie The Rock (do you remember the scene?).

Would you prefer to continue on foot?
Prepare to walk a good half hour along the bay. You will cross  Fort Mason and Marina District

You can take the bus at North Point St & Hyde St (near Ghirardelli Square) and get off at Broderick St & North Point St. After an enjoyable visit at this beautiful monument, you can enter the Presidio and take a short walk to the beach of Crissy Field, where you can admire the Golden Gate in the distance, which you will visit the next day.

Want to see something bizarre?

Just 10 minutes walking from the Palace of Fine Arts there is Wave Organ, an unusual sculpture designed to reproduce the sound of the waves.

Day 3: The Golden Gate Bridge and Residential Neighborhoods

san francisco 3 day trip itinerary

For the last day of the trip, we saved the undisputed symbol of San Francisco, the Golden Gate Bridge, the famous red bridge over the bay. After dedicating the first part of the day to visiting the bridge, we will then move on to 2 important residential areas so that you can get a sense of the true essence of Frisco (as its inhabitants affectionately call it).

There are many ways to visit the Golden Gate Bridge. You can get there by car, by bus, or by bike and reach Sausalito. I recommend the third option. “Crossing” the red bridge over the bay by bike is one of the most pleasant memories I cherish of the city.

If you’re concerned about getting tired, don’t worry. You can take an electric bike (in our guide for e-bike rental in San Francisco you’ll find more information) and, to come back, instead of redoing the same route, take the ferry that takes you back to the city from Sausalito. This solution (costing about $13), in addition to speeding up the time, will allow you to make a short and pleasant cruise on the bay.

There are 2 companies that operate ferries from Sausalito. One arrives at the Ferry Building, and the other near Pier 39. I suggest you check the schedule in advance (here and here) in order to plan your arrival time in Sausalito accordingly.

The next stop is a few miles away, so you have 2 options. You can either return the bike and take the bus or continue to explore the city by bike. In the first case, if you rented it in the Fisherman’s Wharf area (I choose this option and if you are interested, take a look at the bike rental companies we mentioned in our guide on bike rental in San Francisco), you may need to take 2 buses or take a long walk to reach the area.

If you opt for the bike, get ready to climb up and down the hills of the city!

The next stop is Alamo Square, the square near the famous Painted Ladies. The hill in the park is the perfect spot to take one of the most classic pictures of San Francisco. There are also other interesting buildings nearby, so check out our Painted Ladies guide to learn more.

must see in san francisco in 3 days
Photo taken in Alamo Square

After taking pictures, you will head to another residential neighborhood that is rich in history. Let’s head to the intersection of Haight Street and Ashbury Street, the heart of Haight-Ashbury, the neighborhood where the Hippie movement was born.

To reach it from Alamo Square you can continue with your bike, take a nice walk (about 20 minutes), or use the bus (on the 21st).

Finally, if you have time and energy left, you can take a walk in the neighboring Golden Gate Park, one of San Francisco’s great parks, so rich in attractions that it deserves almost a day to itself (you should seriously consider it if you have a fourth day of sightseeing available).

Other Useful Resources

Let me remind you that in order to integrate this itinerary with other places of interest that are not included here, you can refer to my article on attractions in San Francisco. To plan your trips from one attraction to the next, you can read our guide on how to get around San Francisco. Lastly, to understand which area of the city is the most suitable area for an overnight stay, we have published the following guide: Where to stay in San Francisco: Recommended hotels and neighborhoods.

All our articles about San Francisco are found in our San Francisco Travel Guide.


Our Tip:
Looking for accommodations for your trip from California to other parts of the Southwest? Read our guide that contains reviews of hotels and strategic tips for finding accommodations near major attractions: Where to Stay: Our Tips for the SouthWest Area

Warning: Operating hours can change and closures for extraordinary events can occur, so we strongly suggest to check the venues official websites.

lorenzo puliti
lorenzo puliti

I am fascinated by the wonders of the world I never tire of going in search of them.

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