One day San Francisco itinerary for First Timers

During my first trip to California, I couldn’t visit the beautiful city of San Francisco! But I badly wanted to visit it, so I made it happen during our trip to Hawaii. This San Francisco One day Itinerary and Travel Guide I’ve curated is exactly how I spent my 24 hours in San Fransisco. This guide will take you to all the best photo spots, and drool-worthy food with lots of fun!

I’ll also include a few day trip ideas and local tour options if you have more time! The city is so beautiful at the same time it is famous for crime! But all in all, San Francisco is my Favorite city in the USA after Washington DC! The city is charming and you’ll also fall in love with it!

In this post, you’ll find the best things to do in San Francisco in one day, the San Francisco One Day Itinerary, a complete travel guide for one day in San Francisco, and travel tips for first-timers including how to navigate your way in the city! So, keep reading about my favorite spots in San Francisco.

Things to Know for your One Day San Francisco Itinerary

First, let me share with you a few important details to make the most of your 24 hours in the city before sharing the complete One Day San Francisco Itinerary travel guide.

Is One Day in San Francisco Enough?

Surely, One day is enough to cover all the major sightseeing attractions of San Francisco including the Golden Gate Bridge, Fisherman’s Wharf, and more! If this feels rushed for you, 2 days are perfect to cover all the major sightseeing places in San Francisco. If you’re planning to take day trips like Napa Valley or Redwoods, I recommend spending at least 5 days in the city.

When is the best time to visit San Francisco?

I visited San Francisco in September which is said to be the perfect month to visit the city, which I think was the best time of the year. The weather was fantastic with the pleasant temperatures, and clear skies, while avoiding the large summer crowds! Late summer months and fall season particularly September and October are the perfect times to visit San Francisco.

The truth is, there is no way to predict whether San Francisco can be foggy at any time. And most importantly, you just never know when “Karl the Fog” decides to descend.

Spring is also another good time to visit with warm temperatures, Spring flower blooms along the coast, and less rain.

How to get to San Francisco from the airport (SFO)

By BART – BART is a short form for Bay Area Rapid Transit. This is probably the best way to reach the city center since there is a BART station at SFO airport itself. It costs around US$ 9 to get downtown from SFO, then you can resume your journey with local transport via MUNI once you’re in the city. It takes 20-30 minutes to reach downtown from SFO.

• BART Route – Check out the list of BART stations here

By Caltrain – This is one of the most popular ways to commute and get to San Francisco. Caltrain is the train service linking San Francisco to cities along the Peninsula south of the city and on to the South Bay and San Jose. It runs services at least hourly throughout the day and is reasonably fast and very comfortable.

To get to the city from SFO, you’ll want to either get to San Bruno Caltrain station (not to be confused with San Bruno BART station) or take it to San Francisco station for US$ 3.25. Once you’re in SF, you can resume your journey with local transport via MUNI.

• Caltrain Route – Check out the list of stations and zones here

By Bus – The SanTrans has three lines that link the San Francisco Airport with the city’s downtown: 292, 397, and KX. The three lines end at the Transbay Terminal, on Market Street. The first two are urban lines and cost US$ 2.25, the KX line is express and has a US$ 4 fare. It takes a bit longer but the Bus is the cheapest option to reach downtown San Francisco from SFO.

By Uber or Lyft – Of course, the most expensive way to get into the city, also the costliest. To give you some idea of the prices, the trip from the airport to the city’s downtown area can cost around US$ 60, and getting to the Fisherman’s Wharf area costs US$ 65.

How to Get Around For Your One-Day San Francisco Itinerary?

San Francisco is a very walkable city just like any other big USA Cities! I believe walking is the best way to explore the city. However, you’ll have only one day in San Francisco and you don’t want to miss any sightseeing attractions! Also, practically it’s not possible to walk everywhere, so I’m sharing a few ways to get around San Francisco.

Taking public transport via Muni – Muni is short for The San Francisco Municipal Railway, which is the public transit system of San Francisco. Muni operates a system of bus routes, the Muni Metro rail system, three historic cable car lines, and two historic streetcar lines. A single ride on Muni public transportation costs US$2.50, and it’s good for 2 hours of travel.

This means you can ride as much as you want for 2 hours once you’ve paid the fare. Another good news – anyone under 18 can ride for free! Download the Muni Mobile app which you can use to pay for the fare. A MuniMobile all-day ticket is $5, whether bought with the MuniMobile app or at the kiosk. It allows unlimited rides on the entire system except for the cable cars. (view Muni fares here).

Historic Cable Car – Yes, taking the cable car is an option in the City. Cable car tickets cost $8 per ride and can be bought at cable car ticket kiosks or on board from the conductor. However, a Muni Visitor day Pass allows unlimited travel on all Muni transportation, including cable cars.

Hop On Hop Off Bus – Another great way to get from one attraction to another is by taking the Hop On Hop Off Bus. This double-decker sightseeing bus travels between the most famous landmarks in SF. Travel at your own pace, hop off at any of the stops, and hop back on when you’re done. Book your Hop-on Hop-Off Sightseeing tour here.

Using ride-sharing services like Uber or Lyft – This is one of the best options if you will be traveling in a group of 3-4 people. An Uber ride in the city doesn’t run much and costs somewhere US$10-16 before tips.

Renting a car – This is not my recommended option! Firstly, Parking is really expensive in the city. Secondly, there are very frequent Car break-ins near touristy areas. But if you must rent a car, try to get a car with a California license plate, and don’t leave any valuables in the car, or don’t leave anything visible from the glass!

How to Decide on Using Muni Mobile vs. Clipper Card in San Francisco

There are two transport card systems in San Francisco: Muni Mobile and Clipper Card. Muni Mobile is only valid for San Francisco city, while Clipper covers the entire Bay Area including San Francisco.

For those who are only planning to occasionally take Public Transport like 1-2 rides per day, the Clipper Card is the most convenient way for single rides as it allows you to pay via your Smartphone without any additional app!

However, if you are planning to take a lot of public transport and get on cable cars, Muni Mobile is your best bet! You’ll get unlimited access to all Muni Public Transportation including historic streetcars and cable cars.

You can get visitor passports aka Passes, valid for 1 day (US$13), 3 days (US$31), or 7 days (US$41). This could be worthwhile as the price for a single ride on the cable car is already US$8.00. If you’re only planning to take Muni transports (and no cable cars), they also have a day pass for US$5. View the full list of fares here.

Alternatively, you can use a mix of both systems. For example, you could get a 1-day pass on Muni Mobile for the days that you’re planning to take the cable car. On other days when you aren’t taking the cable car anymore, you can use the Clipper card or get the MuniMobile Day Pass to maximize your money value for your One Day San Francisco Itinerary!

Historic Cable Car in San Francisco

While you have only One Day in San Francisco, it’s not possible to take a Cable car every time! While Cable Cars are a cool way to get around, you must ride it at least once, not more than that to experience it!

Here’s what you need to know about taking the cable car:

Cable Car Fare – A single, one-way cable car ride costs US$8 and doesn’t allow you to hop on/off, so as much as possible you ride the entire route! If you’re planning to ride the cable car, check out the visitor passes that are available through Muni Mobile. It allows unlimited rides on the cable car in case you do want to ride it multiple times a day.

Timing – The cable car service runs daily from 7 AM to 10:30 PM. You can ride it at 7:00 AM to beat the crowd! But for sightseeing, 9:30 AM onwards is perfect for you!

Routes – Usually, the starting point is from Union Square at Powell St & Market St. There are two routes you can take from Union Square to Fisherman’s Wharf:

• Powell-Hyde – Drops you off near Ghirardelli Square (Route Map)
• Powell-Mason – Drops you off near Pier 39 at the Powell/Mason Cable Car Turnaround (Route Map)
• California Street – Starts at California and Market and continues until Van Ness Avenue. (Route Map)

It doesn’t matter which one you take. The routes are pretty similar and endpoints are pretty close together.

There is a cable car turnaround at the intersection of Powell and Market Street near Union Square. It is kind of neat to see the cars turn around here if it’s something you’ve never seen before. Here you can get in line on both the Powell/Hyde and Powell/Mason lines! This is a great place to take photos if you want to take Instagram-worthy Photos for yourself!

If you’re interested in how the cable car works and its history in San Francisco, you should stop by the San Francisco Cable Car Museum. It’s free of charge! This museum gives you an overview of the history of cable cars in San Francisco, how the cable cars work, as well as a view of the cable that runs the cable cars around the city.

Neighborhoods / Districts in San Francisco

San Francisco is a big city and knowing the neighborhoods will make it clear where to stay for your one day in the San Francisco Itinerary! Each of San Francisco’s major neighborhoods has its own distinct culture and charm. Here are a few notable districts of San Franciso:

Fisherman’s Wharf – A picturesque district of SF. Fisherman’s Wharf offers plenty of touristy things to do from Pier 39 and Ghirardelli Square etc.

Mission District – The most vibrant district of San Francisco, the Mission District is the most colorful, and exciting neighborhood in the city. There is so much to do at Mission from trendy boutiques, restaurants, bars, and more. No visit would be complete without a Mission-style burrito! Just don’t miss the colorful murals at Balmy Alley and Clarion Alley, which showcase the neighborhood’s rich artistic heritage.

Union Square – This is the downtown area of San Francisco. Union Square is the most renowned source of retail therapy along with fine hotels, great meals, and green spaces to sit outside and enjoy San Francisco’s weather!

Embarcadero – It is the city’s east-facing waterfront, with its finger piers and glistening views of San Francisco Bay, where San Francisco had its first growth spurt! There are so many things to do here like visiting Ferry Building Marketplace where you can sample gourmet food, shop for local produce, and enjoy waterfront views. From there, take a leisurely walk along the Embarcadero waterfront, which features parks, piers, and public art!

Haight-Ashbury – Known for its rich history and bohemian vibe, Haight-Ashbury is where the Summer of Love took place. The neighborhood is also home to the Red Victorian Bed & Breakfast, a historic landmark that offers a glimpse into the area’s colorful past. Don’t forget to visit Golden Gate Park which offers a lush green space for a relaxing stroll.

Pro-tip: Get a CityPASS which covers admission to a cruise, the California Academy of Science, MOMA, AND unlimited Muni/cable car rides!! It’s a great deal.

Where to stay for your One Day in San Francisco

As you have only one day in San Francisco, I recommend staying in the center of all the attractions to minimize your commute! I highly recommend areas around Fisherman’s Wharf or near Union Square for the stay. Here are my options for hotels:

• CitizenM Union Square: If you are traveling by yourself or as a couple, you can consider citizenM. The rooms are small, but the location is great. Right at the heart of Union Square with plenty of amenities nearby the hotel.
• Riu Plaza Fisherman’s Wharf: Located in the heart of Fisherman’s Wharf this luxury hotel has spacious rooms with an onsite restaurant.
• Four Seasons Hotel San Francisco: If you’re looking for a luxurious stay with exceptional views of the San Francisco Bay, this is the best place to stay in SF! Also, the location is such that you can go anywhere easily.

One Day San Francisco Itinerary: Perfect 24 hours in San Francisco

As a first-timer in San Francisco, this One Day San Francisco Itinerary will cover nearly everything San Francisco is known for including all the must-visit spots! Make sure to have comfortable walking shoes as you’ll be walking a lot – up and down the hilly streets of San Francisco.

While this San Francisco one-day itinerary might seem jam-packed, it is doable! I did everything exactly as listed in San Francisco in a day. If you start in the morning and continue through until the evening, you will be able to see and do all of the things listed in this San Francisco travel guide.

Here’s an overview of how to spend One Day in San Francisco. 

• A Morning at the Golden Gate Bridge (or Golden Gate Park)
• Breakfast/Brunch
• Palace of Fine Arts
• Ghirardelli Square
• Fisherman’s Wharf & Pier 39
• Lombard Street
• Ferry Building
• Chinatown & California Street
• Painted Ladies
• Dinner and Drinks in the Mission District
• Chose your adventure: Sunset Cruise or Alcatraz Island

Now let’s get into more details about each!

One Day San Francisco Itinerary: Golden Gate Bridge

The First thing anyone thinks about San Francisco, is Golden Gate Bridge! This one-day San Francisco Itinerary is incomplete without mentioning this historical landmark of the city!

While the bridge is a landmark, nobody tells you how hard it is to click in your frame! You’ll ask why so. you will be surprised that Golden Gate Bridge mostly remains foggy, windy, and cold! There’s a good chance that it’s one – or all – of those things when you visit, so make sure to bring plenty of layers! We Visited it in September and we needed light jackets throughout the day!

Start Your Perfect One Day in San Francisco with a Visit to the Golden Gate Bridge! When you’re at the bridge, there are a few places you make sure to hit for great photos. I recommend visiting Golden Gate Bridge early in the day to give you more peaceful views as it gets crowded later in the day!

• The Main Viewpoint: Go here for the classic view of the bridge. Put Golden Gate Postcard Viewpoint in GPS. 
• The Cypress Trees View: Go here for the bridge framed by several photogenic trees. Put Golden Gate Overlook in GPS. 
• Marshall’s Beach: A little further – about two miles round trip from the parking lot – this is the best view of the bridge in the city. It’s better at sunset when the golden light of the setting sun lights up the bridge in a brilliant red color, but the morning light will do just fine. 
• Fort Point: Another cool spot to view the bridge from below. It’s a 0.7-mile downhill walk from the toll plaza.
• Baker Beach: Baker Beach offers some of the most amazing views of the iconic Golden Gate Bridge at sunrise as well as Sunset. It offers some of the best views of the bridge! And due to its long stretch, it doesn’t feel crowded.

After walking around the Viewpoints, you can cross the Bridge and visit a few more viewpoints on the Sausalito Side. One of the best viewpoints is Battery Spencer which gives the views of the Bridge and the Bay of San Francisco.

Dana Bowers Rest Area & Vista Point – This is a rest area located just at the foot of the Golden Gate Bridge in Marin County. It is very close to Battery Spencer, so you can visit these two viewpoints together.

When We visited San Francisco, the bridge was foggy on one day and clear on the other day! So, plan your visit to GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE ON CLEAR DAY! The fog clears for a while, so you can’t wait to get that perfect shot if you have only one day in San Francisco!

Next in your one-day in San Francisco Itinerary is Breakfast/Brunch! You’ll find people in the city standing in line outside beautiful cafes waiting for their turn to sit down and enjoy a leisurely breakfast/lunch on weekends. 

You can grab Breakfast at classic Boudin Bakery in San Francisco. Boudin claims to be the inventor of San Francisco Sourdough, and to this day they are still baking their sourdough bread from a gold miner’s sourdough starter! This means, if you’re eating Boudin’s sourdough – you could be tasting something that is over 100 years old.

Boudin is known for New England-style clam chowders served in sourdough bread bowls. I had pretty good clam chowder. They serve a vegetarian version too which was win-win for me!

If you’re more in the mood for pastries, there are two great options in this part of town. I love trying Croissants everywhere and it surely didn’t disappoint. 

• Arsicault Bakery: This place is famous for its Croissants! it was right on our route and saw no line on Sunday morning. It’s said to be one of the best new bakeries in the country in 2016 by Bonappetit. So, they mostly sell out of their buttery croissants by noon! There are plenty of other options, like Pain au Chocolat and some savory options, but you should try the croissant at least once. 

• B Patisserie: Another famous Pastry in the city, with its take on French pastries, is a little more modern, combining classic French techniques with more innovative flavors. They have a huge selection of pastries but know that they are sold out of the most popular items so go early, if you can. 

Palace of Fine Arts: Must Visit in Your One-Day San Francisco Itinerary

You really can’t miss the Palace of Fine Arts. Once you get there – you’ll know why I’m telling you this! It’s a grand structure, built in the ancient Roman style, located in the Marina district of San Francisco. The Palace of Fine Arts is free to visit, though certain areas might be booked for private events or weddings.

Ghirardelli Square

Take a short Bus ride to reach Aquatic Cove and Fort Mason. This is a very nice walk that shows off the beauty of San Francisco, especially on a good day. You’ll be able to see Alcatraz Island from here. You can visit the San Francisco Maritime National Historic Park(free to visit) to learn more about the marine history!

Then, once you’re done, you can visit the famous Ghirardelli Square, where you can learn about the history of chocolate factories in San Francisco and taste their hot chocolate or buy the famous Ghirardelli chocolates. We had ice cream here and it was worth stopping here during our one-day in San Francisco Itinerary!

You can also visit the nearby colorful Umbrella Alley. Umbrella Alley is one of the coolest alleyways in San Francisco — it’s where you’ll find the California Dreaming and Greetings from San Francisco mural, and brightly colored balloons and umbrellas suspended over the street.

Fisherman’s Wharf & Pier 39

You can easily walk to Fisherman’s Wharf from Ghirardelli Square. Before that, you can stop at Cable Car Turnaround to get good photographs! The Fisherman’s Wharf area is a very touristy area with expensive souvenir shops and crowds of people, though it’s an iconic place you should include in your One Day San Francisco Itinerary.

Even if you don’t like to spend much time here, simply go for an aimless walk around Fisherman’s Wharf and take in the sights and sounds. I spent so much less time here but loved the waterfront views.

This is also where boats depart to Alcatraz Island if you’ve decided to take a tour there. Wander over to the ferry building at Pier 33 to find your boat tour to Alcatraz. Make sure you book your Alcatraz tour in advance here.

One Day in San Francisco Must Visit: Pier 39

Your One Day San Franciso itinerary is incomplete without seeing the famous California Sea Lions at Pier 39! California sea lions are loud and cute creatures. You’ll witness them piled up together on the docks, playing with each other and barking away. You’ll probably hear them before you see them as they’re quite noisy!

You’ll think how did a bunch of sea lions end up at Pier 39? After the Loma Prieta earthquake in October 1989, a few California sea lions began to gather on Pier 39’s K-Dock. K-Dock was completely swarmed by sea lions a couple of months later.

The marina staff reached out to The Marine Mammal Center (an organization that rescues and rehabilitates marine mammals), and they recommended that the sea lions stay at Pier 39. While the number of sea lions rises and falls with the seasons and food supply, the number of sea lions grew to more than 300 and hit a record of over 2,100 in May- June of 2024!

The first time I saw them at the Atlanta Aquarium but seeing them in the wild in San Francisco was another great experience!

Some notable attractions near Pier 39 are:

• Pearl Factory – where you can see pearls harvested from an oyster!
• Magowan’s Infinite Mirror Maze – A colorful mirror maze, a staple of any American beach carnival attraction. You go in and try to find your way out.
• Aquarium of the Bay – If you are interested in visiting this aquarium, please pre-buy the ticket online here for a cheaper price.
• Musée Mécanique – A free museum showcasing antique and coin-operated arcade games!

Lunch at Fisherman’s Wharf

If you’re at Fisherman’s Wharf area, try the famous In-N-Out Burger option! If you haven’t tried yet the Boudin Bakery in the morning, this is your chance to visit it during Lunch! There are also many Mexican and Seafood restaurants in the area! Go for the options according to your needs!

Take Cable Car to Lombard Street

After lunch, make your way to the most famous street in San Francisco: Lombard Street. You’ll need to ride back to Hyde/Powell Turnaround Point to catch your cable car.

This is one of the best things to do in your One Day San Francisco Itinerary. Plus, San Francisco is so hilly that you’ll save yourself some hill walking in the process. You can purchase your tickets via Muni Mobile app as I mentioned earlier in the post. On the way, you can also stop at San Francisco Park for more scenic views.

Pro tip: Enter from the Hyde Street side, so that you can walk down Lombard Street instead of walking up.

San Francisco in a Day: Walk Down Lombard Street

Even if you only have one day in San Francisco, you need to check out Lombard Street. Thanks to this design, Lombard is now famous for being “the most crooked street in the world”. It is a very curvy and unique street which you shouldn’t miss! Lombard Street covers one city block down a steep hill with eight hairpin turns. This is why I can imagine, Lombard Street is one of the top tourist attractions in San Francisco!

Lombard Street is flanked by mansions and manicured gardens that will leave you in awe. As it’s so incredibly picturesque and wildly curved with a 27% steep grade, Lombard Street is one of the most photographed streets in the world.

It contains eight switchbacks to allow cars to safely climb up and down the street. Don’t miss experiencing this zig-zag street for yourself. Also, I safely say People who live on this street must be really good drivers!

From the top of Lombard Street looking down, you’ll be able to admire the stunning scenery of the city looking out to San Francisco Bay. You can use the stairs on either side of the street to go down Lombard Street and gaze upwards for a new perspective. Also, be mindful of the cars when you are at the bottom!

Telegraph Hill and Coit Tower

Your Next Stop is Coit Tower. One of the most recognizable structures when viewing San Francisco’s cityscape is the Coit Tower, which sits atop Telegraph Hill. On the way Grab coffee from the “Hole in the Wall”(HITW) cafe as you are going to climb up! So, fuel yourself first!

Coit Tower, also known as Coit Memorial Tower, is the main feature at Pioneer Park. It stands at 210 feet tall and it was completed in 1933. It is a monument to a San Francisco firefighter who died in 1929 and left a nice chunk of money to the city.

From the outside of the tower, you can stop and admire the view of Bay Bridge and Treasure Island from up there. There are beautiful murals in the lobby and staircase of the tower up to the 2nd floor, which was painted in 1934 by artists employed by the Public Works of Art Project. It depicts life in California during the great depression era.

At the top of the tower, it gives you a cool 360 view of the San Francisco city and the Pacific Ocean. It is free to check out the tower’s observation deck, as long as you don’t mind taking the stairs to the top.

There is a small $11 fee to use the 90-year-old elevator. You can also take a guided paid tour of the tower to learn more about the tower’s history! More details are available on the San Francisco Recreation & Parks website.

Next, I also recommend walking/bus ride north up the Embarcadero, which is the wide street that runs along the water to Pier 7 (here on Google Maps). It gives the best views of the city skyline including the Transamerica Pyramid building.

Ferry Building

One of the most iconic landmarks of San Francisco is the Ferry Building. Popularly known as Ferry Building Marketplace, it is home to nearly 50 local artisan food merchants, restaurants, and small eateries—all located in an architectural jewel with panoramic views of the Bay.

If you’re lucky enough to be in town on a Saturday, there is an awesome farmers market that takes place at the Ferry Building with a combination of farm-fresh produce from all over Northern California and cool local food brands with a variety of ready-made foods.

Here are some of the iconic spots at the Ferry Building:

• Blue Bottle Coffee
• Mariposa Baking Company
• Secret Breakfast sundae from Humphry Slocombe
• Gott’s Roadside for American-Style Burgers
• El Porteno for Argentinian Style Empanadas
• Dandelion Chocolate

California Street & China Town

From the Ferry Building, you’re within walking distance of a few of San Francisco’s iconic neighborhoods. They are North Beach, Chinatown, and Nob Hill. But as you’ve only one day in San Francisco, I recommend strolling around Chinatown and California Street.

Hop on a Cable Car from the Ferry Building to San Francisco’s Chinatown, one of the biggest in the country, and it is well worth exploring if you have the time!

Widespread racism against Chinese immigrants in the 1800s and laws that excluded them from other neighborhoods led to the creation of these communities that still exist today. It’s more than just a place to go to check out the Fortune Cookie Factory! It’s fun to explore and be around. This factory makes up to 10,000 fortune cookies a day and has been around since the 1960s.

If you haven’t yet had lunch, I recommend visiting the famous Golden Gate Bakery for amazing food (savory and sweet)!

Head to Dragon’s Gate and the area around Grant Avenue, where you’ll find all sorts of shops and restaurants.

But I recommend stopping at California Street near Chinatown. You might have seen numerous photos on Social Media with bridge views! Put in GPS “601, Grant Avenue, San Francisco” to get the most iconic views of the longest street in San Francisco – California Street. Make sure to watch for cars while you’re filming here!

San Francisco City Hall/Union Square

If you’re an architecture lover like me and love visiting iconic buildings, head to San Francisco City Hall. Popularly known as the People’s Palace, San Francisco City Hall is the seat of government for the City and County of San Francisco and a destination historic landmark. Designed by Arthur Brown, Jr., this Beaux-Arts building originally opened in 1915 as a monument to the City Beautiful movement.

From the lavish Rotunda and its ornate Grand Staircase to the naturally luminous North and South Light Courts, San Francisco City Hall is the perfect backdrop for galas, weddings, dinners, and celebrations.

But it is open to the public and free to visit when there is no event! Even from the outside, it is elegant! When we visited it, some performances were going on and the farmer’s market was held there! So, if you have time in your One Day San Francisco Itinerary, it is worth stopping here.

But if you want other options and looking for some retail therapy, I recommend stopping at Union Square. There are so many fine hotels, luxury restaurants, cafes, and outdoor spaces that there is never a dull moment around here!

One Day San Francisco Itinerary Last Spot: Painted Ladies

In the evening, head to the last spot of the One Day San Francisco Itinerary which is Painted Ladies in Alamo Square. Painted Ladies are a row of brightly colored, well-preserved Victorian houses. They have been featured in many movies and TV shows, most notably the house featured on the opening credit of “Full House”, the popular 90s TV show.

The Painted Ladies, also known as the Seven Sisters or Postcard Row, is the row of Victorian houses at 710–720 Steiner Street across from Alamo Square Park. When you walk up the hill at Alamo Square Park, you’ll be treated to a view of these brightly painted houses with an impressive city skyline backdrop.

It’s even possible to book a tour inside one of the Painted Ladies. The homeowner of the blue home (#712) offers guided tours of the top three floors of their home.

While you’re in the area, you can also visit the Haight Ashbury area. From Painted Ladies, walk to the corner of Haight Street and Ashbury Street, the center of the counterculture movement in the 1960s. There are plenty of shops and restaurants to check out in this area including colorful murals on the walls!

Dinner in Mission District

Mission District is a hippie neighborhood of San Francisco and the heart of the city! You can spend the whole afternoon exploring the area. There are plenty of good food, cute little shops, and generally just a great area to hang out.

It’s the best place to get food and drinks in the city. This is why that’s exactly I recommend ending your perfect One Day in San Francisco here. For a “nicer” walk, you can walk down Valencia Street, just one block east of Mission. The street is lined up with trendy boutique shops and nice eateries. You can even book the Mission District Food and History Tour to know more.

From affordable taquerias to more upscale restaurants, the Mission has a great range of food and drinks to enjoy. I highly recommend Mexican Food in the Mission if you are vegetarian. Here are a few of my recommendations:

• La Taqueria for Mission style burritos
• Taqueria El Farolito for tacos
• Burma Love for Burmese Food
• Little Star Pizza for Classic Pizzas

If you’re a food lover, go for this San Francisco Mission District Walking Food tour. On this small-group food tour, discover how immigrants and others have shaped the neighborhood by tasting local specialties including Mission-style burritos, Italian sandwiches, San Francisco clam chowder, and, best of all, a “secret” dish for you! Book it here: San Francisco Walking Food Tour.

You can also visit nearby Dolores Park in the Mission District if you have more time to squeeze in! You’ll see locals here hanging out or having a picnic!

On Sunny Day, you can stop by Tartine Bakery or Bi-Rite Creamery, just across the street from the park, so that you can have some snacks while picnic-ing at the Park. But visiting during dinner time probably you can miss all that matcha and tea/coffee!

Sunset City Lights Cruise

End your perfect and most exciting one day San Francisco Itinerary with a 1.5-hour Sunset cruise around the bay, where you’ll be able to see Alcatraz, Golden Gate Bridge, and the Bay Bridge. Sailing at sunset time gives you the best sunset and nighttime views of the city! This is an excellent way to end your one day San Francisco trip. Book your City Lights Cruise Here.

If you still have some energy, You can book an Alcatraz at-night tour. I have heard it’s different than visiting Alcatraz during the day!

Extra Things to See & Do in San Francisco

• Golden Gate Park: If you’ve more time during your 24 hours in San Francisco, you can visit the Golden Gate Park near the Golden Gate Bridge. There are also not one but two windmills, a lake, a few sports fields, a giant stone cross, 2 museums, a conservatory, a carousel, a Japanese Garden and so much more.
• Twin Peaks
• Lands End: A hiking trail at the northwestern corner of San Francisco. The trails are convenient to get to from the city, and it is quite rewarding with really nice views of Sutro Baths and Lands End Lookout.
• SF MOMA: San Francisco Museum of Modern Arts. The museum has 6-levels worth of exhibitions. One of its permanent exhibits is the Oculus Bridge by Olafur Eliasson on the fifth floor of the museum, which you can’t miss. If art museums are your thing, you can’t miss this!
• San Francisco Cable Car Museum: Free Admission. This museum gives you an overview of the history of the cable cars in San Francisco, how the cable cars work, as well as a view of the actual cable that runs the cable cars. The museum closes at 4 PM and is fully closed on Mondays. Highly recommend!
• Visit Alcatraz Island: Alcatraz has a fascinating history. It is a small island just off San Francisco Bay which used to be a maximum-security prison in the 1930s.
  • Alcatraz Island and San Francisco Bay Cruise – Buy tickets here, which will include the ferry and ticket that allows you to visit the island. You can also book this Alcatraz and Golden Gate Bridge Cruise.
  • Alcatraz at night – If you can, try to go for Alcatraz at night tour! I have heard it’s different than visiting Alcatraz during the day.

Excursions and Day trips from San Francisco

• Napa and Sonoma Wine Country Tour: California is known for its wine, so while you’re here, you must visit the wineries that made the place famous. Most of the wineries need prior reservations, so this tour is the best option if you love to visit wineries. Book your Full Day Napa and Sonoma Valley Wine Country Tour here.
• Muir Woods Half-Day Tour: If you have 2 days in San Franciso, definitely check out the Muir Woods, they are the last remaining ancient redwood forest in the Bay area! If you’ve never seen redwood and sequoia trees, it’s an absolute must-do for your San Francisco Trip. Book your Muir Woods with Sausalito Tour here.
• If you just have one day in hand, you can combine the visit to the Redwoods and Wine Country tour. This Muir Woods & Wine Country with gourmet lunch will take you through Muir Woods National Monument, then tour three wineries in Napa and Sonoma Valleys, with tastings included. 
• Yosemite Park with Giant Sequoia full-day tour: Travel by minibus on a small group tour to Stunning Yosemite and Sequoia National Park. This full-day itinerary takes you through the Central Valley to Yosemite Valley, and stroll through a grove of giant sequoias. Find plenty of photo ops of Half Dome, El Capitan, Yosemite Fall, and more.
• Monterey, Carmel, and 17-Mile Drive: This full-day tour from San Francisco will drive you to one of the most scenic roads in California. Cruise along the coast-hugging Highway 1, passing Pebble Beach on the iconic 17-Mile Drive, and visit the beautiful towns of Carmel and Monterey. Book your Tour Here.

Tips for visiting San Francisco for the first time

• If you’re road-tripping in California, Plan your Itinerary in such a way that you can visit the Golden Gate Bridge without “KARL- the Fog“. Have some flexibility in your schedule.
• San Francisco is very hilly! Many places will require you to climb up and down! So, if you’re planning to walk a lot, bring good walking shoes! And refrain from wearing any heels!
• Avoid certain neighborhoods and stay vigilant. I’m sure you’ve heard about it on the news as well. Avoid certain parts of the Tenderloin district at night. Generally, this means the area around where Market Street crosses with 5th to 9th Streets.
• If you’re driving into the city, make sure you do not leave any valuables within sight in the car when you park, and only park in a secured garage (vs the street). Car break-ins are common in the city, regardless of the area.
• Most shops will close by 7 PM, and restaurants are shut by 10 pm. Plan your dinners accordingly!

That’s all for my detailed One Day San Francisco Itinerary and Travel Guide. If you’re planning your trip to California, make sure to add this beautiful city to your list! If you like this post, Pin it for the later!