From the Haight to the Mission District, this 5-day San Francisco itinerary for first timers gives your all the magic that this unique city has to offer. This is one of my favorite cities in all of the U.S. and with good reason. Whether it’s delicious food, a top Instagram spot, the cutest shops, the best Golden Gate Bridge views and more, this will tell you exactly how to spend 5 days in San Francisco.
I’ve been to San Francisco, California, three times, and I have fallen more and more in love with it each time. It’s such a cool city with some of the best food I’ve ever had, perfect weather year-round and so many things to do.
Before getting any deeper, I want to thank my friend Monica — my first mentor, a fellow foodie and El Pasoan living in San Francisco — because she’s the reason why I got to explore so many of these places and try such all the yummy food. Without her recommendations and experience from living in the city for 8+ years, this San Francisco travel itinerary wouldn’t exist.
Useful Travel Tips for San Francisco
Which San Francisco Neighborhoods We’ll Talk About
This day-by-day San Francisco itinerary will help you dip your toes into the Haight, Japantown, Chinatown, Inner Richmond, Mission District, Inner Sunset, Marina District, Fisherman’s Wharf, the Embarcadero and Alamo Square. You’ll make your way around the city, but you could spend years exploring and still not have discovered everything in San Francisco. We’ll also talk a little bit about the Presidio of San Francisco and I hope you love all of it.
Where to Stay in San Francisco
This is one of the top-asked questions when it comes to San Francisco. You’ll be wondering where to stay in San Francisco as a first timer and you’ll have plenty of options depending on your vibe and budget.
Now, please note that I am not a local and there are nuances on the safety of the different areas of San Francisco that only come with lived experience. From what I’ve experienced and researched for my personal trips, this is what I’ve found to be the safest areas to stay in San Francisco (with the least likely hood of violent crime).
Marina District
The Marina District has a reputation of being fratty, but it’s still a relaxed, nice area to stay in San Francisco. Its proximity to tourist hot spots like Lombard Street, Fisherman’s Wharf, North Beach or even the Golden Gate Bridge makes it a great neighborhood to stay in for first timers.
In terms of accommodation, there are a lot of decent motels off Lombard Street with superb food nearby. Cow Hollow Inn is a highly rated motel with free parking that’s also only 10 minutes from Mama’s Luncheonette, one of my favorite food spots in San Francisco.
You can also try the Signature Inn San Francisco Marina District and be walking distance from the Palace of Fine Arts and Crissy Field. If you’re in the mood for splurging, the Infinity Hotel San Francisco, Tapestry Collection by Hilton is a highly rated, newish, modern and upscale hotel on Lombard Street in perfect proximity to delicious eats, shopping and more. And for a more mid-tier budget option, try La Casa Inn for clean, spacious rooms and free parking.
Sunset District
The Sunset is a safe, quiet and mostly residential area to stay in. There isn’t a whole ton of hotels, but it’s a big area of the city that would work perfectly for first-timers or families looking for a safe place to stay in SF.
Check out the highly-rated, family-run Ocean Park Motel near North Beach for a comfy, low-key, foggy summer stay. You can book this charming, old-school motel by calling them directly.
Richmond District
This is another safe, more-residential area to stay in San Francisco. It’s a perfect location for people looking to explore the city and also be close to the iconic Land’s End Trail, Golden Gate Park and the Presidio.
Seal Rock Inn is a highly-rated hotel that offers clean, spacious rooms with gorgeous Pacific Ocean views. This hotel’s close to lovely hiking spots and a lot of great coffee shops, and you can easily get to other parts of the city via public transportation.
Gigi’s Bed & Breakfast is another perfect San Francisco stay option in outer Richmond for up to four people. You’ll need to book this private garden apartment far in advance as it’s one unit, but it does come with a lot of amenities and breakfast cooked by Gigi.
How to Get Around San Francisco
San Francisco’s public transportation system, referred to as the Muni, is amazing, reliable and easy to use. A Clipper Card and Google Maps will be your BFFs by the end of this trip.
SF is living in 2060 because you can buy a Clipper Card online, add it to your phone’s mobile wallet, and simply tap when you get on the bus, light rail or metro — even when your phone is dead. You can easily reload the card as you go and ride the bus, light-rail metro trains, streetcars, cable cars and trolley coaches.
When I say, “Take a bus to …” it means type the name of the place into Google Maps and look for the best route the app gives you. Google Maps will tell you exactly what bus, streetcar or metro to take (which stop, number, line, color, etc.), and how many stops to ride for (even approx. how long to ride for). This will help you easily explore the top San Francisco neighborhoods.
How Many Days in San Francisco is Enough?
From my personal experience, five days is a perfect amount of time to see a lot of San Francisco. Even 3–4 days is a good amount of time to explore this wonderful city. There are so many things to do, see and eat in San Francisco — it’s great over a weekend or even a week-long trip.
You could even throw in a farther-afield option like the Muir Woods or Sausalito. But note that getting from place to place using public transportation can also eat up a bit of time. Regardless, I always enjoy seeing the city from a bus window.
WHAT TO PACK FOR SAN FRANCISCO
San Francisco weather is kind of peculiar for a desert-living woman like me. I’m used to either really hot or reaaally cold down in El Paso, Texas. I definitely felt strange packing layers and jackets for a summer trip to San Francisco.
When deciding what to pack for San Francisco, layers are your best friend. This Northern California city is known for its microclimates, where temperatures can vary by 9 degrees from neighborhood to neighborhood. You could be sweating in the Mission and cold in Haight-Ashbury on the same day.
Even then, SF temperatures stay mostly mild throughout the year, with January being the coldest month and September the hottest. On average, the lows remain in the 50–56 degrees range and the highs in the 61–71 degrees range throughout the year. Temperatures truly only dip into the high-40s December–March. I took a long wool coat and thick-ish sweaters in December and a leather jacket in June. And you’ll see puffer jackets aplenty.
Packing the right shoes is also important as you’ll be walking a lot. Plus, think of the hills. Good sneakers or boots with good traction usually do the trick for me. But I’m now used to doing a whole week in San Francisco in platform Converse sneakers, soooo yeah.
Is San Francisco Safe?
And I oop. San Francisco is generally safe for travelers if you use self- and situational awareness and know which areas to completely avoid. The violent-crime rate is actually one of the lowest in the U.S., but we do have to address the drug overdose epidemic.
Based on my personal experience in my three trips to San Francisco, I’ve always felt well informed by my friend living in SF about what areas and places to avoid, down to a street-by-street level. In general, stay away from the Ternderloin day or night, the area around Civic Center and South of Market (SoMa).
Is San Francisco Expensive?
This is the second golden question (because the first is whether San Francisco is safe). Short answer is yes, San Francisco is expensive. Food, lodging and activities can get expensive, so budgeting for your trip will be important.
You can expect to pay between $40 and $60 USD on average for dinner in the city. But as a foodie, I can honestly tell you it’s worth it. See everything I ate in San Francisco and start making your foodie list.
Compared to the prices of ride shares, parking, gas and other driving-related costs, San Francisco’s public transit systems are relatively affordable. Single rides on the Muni (buses and light rail) are $2.85 USD using a Clipper Card or the mobile app.
I would recommend budgeting for $130–150 USD a day for a mid-range budget, $170+ for a splurge budget, and at least $80–100 per day for a low budget.
My 5-Day San Francisco Itinerary
Day 1: Golden gate overlook & japantown SF
Morning: Croissants & Views of the Golden Gate Bridge
Kick off your San Francisco adventure by picking up breakfast to-go at Arsicault Bakery‘s Inner Richmond location. The locals (and TikTok) rave about this being the best croissant in the Bay Area. Personally, I love starting my travel mornings with a yummy little croissant. It makes my days so much better.
It’s best to arrive at the bakery as soon as it opens because the lines get long. I’m not sure I want to admit it, but I definitely waited about 45 minutes in line for an almond croissant.
From Arsicault Bakery, take public transportation to the Golden Gate Overlook to admire the gorgeous, early-morning views of the Golden Gate Bridge. Find the perfect snapshot of the Golden Gate Bridge lined up between two tall cypress trees.
If you’re lucky, there won’t be too much fog and you’ll catch one of the best views of the Golden Gate Bridge. Make sure to walk down the path to get closer and catch more beautiful views of Baker Beach, the cliffs and the ocean. And now, onto exploring some unmissable gems in Inner Sunset!
Midday: Inner Sunset Lunch in Japantown
That’s right — we’re checking out the Hidden Garden Steps and 16th Avenue Tiled steps! First, take the 28 bus from Golden Gate Overlook to Hidden Garden Steps in the Inner Sunset district. You’ll get off at 19th Avenue and Judah Street (that’s seven stops). From there, walk south toward Kirkham Street, and then, turn left and walk down to 16th Avenue.
Start your journey at the bottom of the Hidden Garden Steps on 16th Avenue and Kirkham Street. With a total of 148 steps, the beautiful mosaic stairs are a community project that illustrates images of flowers, plants and insects. The gardens on each side of the steps and the colorful designs create a lovely atmosphere to admire!
From the top of the Hidden Garden Steps, you can walk or take a short bus ride to the 16th Avenue Tiled Steps. These steps are also a community project that’s maintained by the neighbors in the area. The 163 steps feature a sea-to-stars theme with mosaics and some of the neighbors even participated in workshops where they created the mosaic panels.
Similarly to the Hidden Garden Steps, the 16th Avenue Tiled Steps have absolutely gorgeous gardens on each side with an abundance of different species of flowers, succulents and other plants. I was amazed by how well taken care of the gardens are!
Next is lunch at Daeho Kalbijjim — a super popular Korean BBQ spot in Japantown SF. They don’t take reservations, so be prepared to wait in line a little bit. You can join their daily wait list starting at 5 p.m. That’s why you had a croissant earlier! Plus, it will be worth it.
I loved everything I tried here. The meat was so juicy, tender and flavorful. Make sure to add the cheese as a topping! After indulging in delicious kalbijjim (braised short ribs and Daeho’s specialty), it’s time to shop at Japan Center. Checkout Chato (tea), Kissako Tea, Maido (Japanese stationery), Kinokuniya (books) and Nijiya Market (groceries) in Japantown SF. And don’t miss the Japantown Peace Plaza!
Afternoon: The Palace of Fine Arts & Movie Set Hangs
After lunch, take the bus to the Palace of Fine Arts in SF’s Marina District. Avoid Marina bros at all costs. The Palace of Fine Arts is an Greco-Roman architectural landmark and one of the top Instagram spots in San Francisco. This beautiful area is in one of the most beautiful San Francisco neighborhoods.
Here, you’ll enjoy beautiful views of the great arches, rotunda and the lagoon. Grab a coffee nearby and people-watch a bit before heading to dinner or the bonus spot below!
BONUS: If you’re a 90s baby, you know the iconic impact that The Princess Diaries had on so many of us in 2001. Well, the movie that launched Anne Hathaway into stardom was filmed in San Francisco, and it had been a long-time dream of mine to see some of these film locations!
This is the first of two film locations I visited on my last trip to San Francisco (above). The façade of this mansion was featured in the movie as the high school where princess-to-be Mia Thermopolis (Anne Hathaway) was studying when she found out she was actually a princess. You can find this beautiful mansion at 2601 Lyon St. in the Marina District.
I suggest you walk around this area because the houses are absolutely insane. Out of the San Francisco neighborhoods I’ve explored, this one made me feel like I live in a tiny home. If you’re not exhausted after this, do dinner at Del Popolo or Thai Farmhouse. (Check out my post on my favorite things I ate in SF.) And that concludes day one in San Francisco.
DAY 2: the best bagel in the bay area, Golden Gate Park & The Mission
Morning: My Favorite Bagel Sandwich & the Painted Ladies
I’m literally so excited to talk to you about Schlok‘s. It was one of the culinary highlights of my last trip to San Francisco. And I ate A LOT of really good food. Start out day two by picking up an egg and cheese bagel sandwich from Schlok’s in the Haight. Then, promptly ascend to the heavens from the first bite. So yummy.
Up next, head to Alamo Square to eat your bagel sandwich with a beautiful view of the city and some ladies — the painted ones! That’s right, we made it to The Painted Ladies. You’re going to ask yourself, “What’s so special about The Painted Ladies? Why are The Painted Ladies so popular?” Bro, I don’t know. But the picturesque row of Queen Anne Victorian style homes are really cool to look at! It’s also one of the top places to take pictures in SF.
Midday: Lovely Golden Gate Park Sights
After that, Uber or bus-it to Golden Gate Park, a huge and lush park that spans 1,017 acres. Here, you’ll enjoy car-free, sprawling green spaces where you can walk, run, bike, picnic and more. This place is also home to the De Young Museum, the San Francisco Botanical Garden, the Conservatory of Flowers and the Japanese Tea Garden. Pick two out of those options to check out in one day for timing.
Also, the popular vinyl record store Amoeba Music and the Grateful Dead House are nearby-ish in the Haight-Ashbury neighborhood. So you can check those out afterward!
Afternoon: Art, Shopping and Eating in the Mission
For the last part of the day, we’re going to explore one of the oldest San Francisco neighborhoods — the Mission District. Known primarily as a Chicano/Mexican American community, you’ll find murals, authentic taquerías, great shopping and much more. Have late lunch or early dinner at Bottega or freshen up a strawberry matcha from Stonemill Matcha.
Alternatively, get a late-night Mission-style burrito from El Farolito or tacos from Tacos El Patrón. According to the internet machine, El Patrón has the best burrito in the U.S., but I grew up in Ciudad Juárez (the literal place where burritos were invented) so I can’t vouch for it.
And I can’t say enough about getting a matcha cream pie from Stonemill Matcha. It’s a San Francisco must and one of the best things I’ve ever eaten in my life. Then, go shopping at Topdrawer (stationery), Stranded Records, Open Editions, Dog Eared Books, Community Thrift and more on Valencia Street.
DAY 3: DOLORES PARK, SFMOMA & CHINATOWN
Morning: Views at Dolores Park & SFMOMA
Start out day three with a morning bun, lemon tart or the absolutely delicious egg sando from Tartine Bakery in the Mission District. You can have your breakfast at the bakery if you find seating. But I highly recommend you walk a couple of blocks and have a mini breakfast picnic at Dolores Park for some of the best views of San Francisco. You’ll immediately see why locals love Dolores Park. The views and vibes are impeccable and it’s a perfect place for a picnic!
From Dolores Park, take the J Muni metro from the southwest corner of the park and head Downtown to the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. SFMoMA is one of the largest museums of modern art in the U.S. Here, you’ll see beautiful works by Henry Matisse, Frida Kahlo and Georgia O’Keeffe on permanent exhibit.
You can spend hours exploring the museum’s six floors. Check out the current temporary exhibitions and get tickets on their website. I definitely recommend looking into tickets for Yayoi Kusama’s newest installation, “Dreaming of Earth’s Sphericity, I Would Offer My Love,” on until January 2025.
Midday: Souvenir Shopping & Lunch in Chinatown
Now, head to one of the most-renowned San Francisco neighborhoods: Chinatown. Your Chinatown SF journey begins at one of the most photographed places in San Francisco — the Dragon Gate on Grant Street.
San Francisco’s Chinatown is the biggest and oldest in the U.S. It has been home to Chinese immigrants for more than 150 years. It’s one of the largest Chinese enclaves outside of Asia, and it has retained its cultural identity through the years. Here, you’ll get some of the best food in San Francisco, especially some of the best dim sum!
You’ll find cheap souvenirs walking around Waverly Place and Grant Avenue between Washington Street and Clay Street. Stop by On Waverly, a super cute AAPI-owned space and shop with the coolest pins, stickers, prints and more! If you want a snack, check out The Spicy Shrimp, Good Mong Kok Bakery or Chong Qing Xiao Mian. Also, don’t forget to check out Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory and get your own personalized fortune cookie for funsies!
Afternoon: Iconic Beats Locations & Crooked Streets
Up next, you’ll head toward North Beach and one of my favorite San Francisco spots. City Lights Bookstore is an indie bookstore on the edge of Chinatown and North Beach that’s famous for publishing Allen Ginsberg’s iconic Howl and Other Poems. As a Beats Generation nerd, I definitely geeked out walking where some of my favorite authors walked.
After City Lights Bookstore, stop by the historic bar Vesuvio Cafe next door for a couple of drinks. You’ll be in the atmosphere where Beats’ celebs like Allen Gingsberg, Jack Kerouac and Neal Cassady once walked. Don’t forget to admire the cool murals outside City Lights and Vesuvio!
Other North Beach attractions to check out include The Beat Museum, Columbus Avenue, Washington Square Park and Tony’s Pizza Napoletana.
From City Lights, take a cable car or bus to the iconic Lombard Street. Known as “the Crookedest Street in the World,” this is one of the most iconic and most popular landmarks in San Francisco. This street in Russian Hill has eight sharp turns surrounded by mansions and manicured landscaping. It’s mostly for the views and, I’ll be honest, it’s just alright. But if you’re an SF first-timer, you gotta see it at least once in your life.
It’s now time to close out your third day in San Francisco with some delicious din-din. Check out A Mano (made-in-house pasta), Woodhouse Fish (lobster rolls and seafood) or NONO (Japanese).
DAY 4: Fisherman’s Wharf, the Ferry Building & The CASTRO
Morning: The Best Breakfast Burrito in San Francisco
Day four starts out with one of my favorite San Francisco foodie spots in the Union Street neighborhood. Grab a hearty and delicious breakfast burrito or Caesar salad wrap from Mama’s Luncheonette — a small breakfast and lunch takeaway spot with the best Caesar salad wrap and Za’atar fries I’ve ever had. I raved about them in my best food in San Francisco post.
Midday: Fisherman’s Wharf & Cute Sea Lions
Take an Uber or public transportation to Fisherman’s Wharf next. If you’re traveling with children, you’ll probably love the concentration of family-friend activities to enjoy here, including Ghirardelli Square and Pier 39.
Start exploring this area at Ghirardelli Square, a public square with shops, restaurants and even a fancy hotel. Visit any of the three Ghirardelli Chocolate stores with a wide selection of chocolate squares, gifts and more. You can also get the signature Irish coffee at The Buena Vista nearby. Then, walk along Jefferson Street to get to Musée Mécanique.
This is another Princess Diaries film location. In the movie, Mia Thermopolis brings her grandma (Julie Andrews), who happens to be the queen of Genovia, to Musée Mécanique, where she shows her strength on an arm wrestling machine.
Musée Mécanique is an interactive museum with a collection of more than 300 arcade games and artifacts. Admission to the museum is free, but you have to pay to use the machines.
Up next, you’ll walk to Pier 39 from Musée Mécanique. Pier 39 is a tourist hub of shops, souvenirs, food, video arcades, performances, and good views of the sea lions on the docks and Alcatraz Island. This is a very touristy spot — expect the souvenirs and food to be busy and expensive in this area.
But my favorite thing here is watching the sea lions living their best lives on the docks. And from Pier 39, you can take the light rail to Pier 7 for some lovely views of the city and the Bay Bridge.
Lunch: Unforgettable Bites at the Ferry Building
From Pier 7, walk to the Ferry Building on The Embarcadero and get ready for some delicious food! The Ferry Building Marketplace is a San Francisco must. It’s an actual ferry terminal, food hall and office building.
Find some of the freshest and tastiest food by artisan producers, including coffee, beer, pastries, cheeses, seafood and much more. My favorite spot here is Hog Island Oyster Company. They have the best fish and chips I’ve ever had and a very tasty, authentic clam chowder that you MUST try. Fresh oysters are their specialty, so make sure to try that too.
Afternoon: A Trip to Alcatraz
Next, you’re going to visit the infamous Alcatraz Island! Throughout its history, this tiny island has been a max-security prison, a fort and a military prison. The place has so much complex and interesting history to discover as you take their audio-guided tour through the prison. I recommend doing one of the night tours because you’ll catch wonderful views of the city and sunset. Plus, there are areas that you can only access during a night tour.
The ferry ride from Pier 33 to Alcatraz Island takes about 15 minutes. Touring the prison and island can take about 1.5 hours or so. Having done both a day and night tour on separate trips, I liked the night tour better. Buy your Alcatraz Island tour tickets online ahead of time because they sell out. Adult day-tour tickets are $45 USD and night-tour tickets are $56 USD. If you do the night tour, dinner after should be a delicious hot dog from one of the vendors outside the pier when you get back. You won’t regret it.
DAY 5: LAND’S END trail, GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE, CRISSY BEACH & THE CASTRO
Morning: Oceanside Views & Outdoorsy Stuff
The last of these 5 days in San Francisco kicks off with a pastry and coffee from Andytown Coffee Roasters‘ Outer Richmond location. Walk across the street with your light breakfast to Ocean Beach, if the weather is good.
Once you’re ready (and again if the weather is good), you can either walk about 1.5 miles/40 minutes or take a 18-minute bus ride to the beginning of the Land’s End Trail. The walking option takes you on the Coastal Trail through Camera Obscura, possible views of the Sutro Baths and the Land’s End Lookout (different from the trails). Once at the Land’s End Trail, there are several different routes and sites to see! This one’s on the bucket list for me as I didn’t have time to do it on my last trip.
Alternatively, you can walk the width of Golden Gate Park from Andytown Coffee to the Murphy Windmill. Then, go deeper into the park to check out another one of the spots in Golden Gate Park — whatever you didn’t get to visit on day one in San Francisco.
If you opted for Land’s End Trail, you’ll head to the Golden Gate Bridge next. My suggestion is to Uber or Lyft there, as the bus route requires you to change buses and is much longer. Set the destination for the Uber/Lyft to the Golden Gate Bridge Welcome Center.
Once at the Golden Gate Bridge, you can bike or walk across and back the bridge on the pedestrian side. This gets you an up-close view of the bridge and wonderful views of San Francisco. The walk/ride across the bridge is 1.7 miles.
You can also explore and do lunch in Sausalito once you ride across the bridge. And then, take a ferry back to Fisherman’s Wharf afterward. See this in-depth post about renting a bike to ride across the Golden Gate Bridge (because I haven’t done it myself yet).
Afternoon: Crissy Beach and Delicious Roman Pinsa
If you rode across the bridge and back, head to Crissy Field next. It’s a nice walk near the water and you get great views of the bridge.
If you’re not exhausted from the bike ride, head to Crissy Field South Beach, where you can picnic or dog-watch. From there, take a bus or Lyft/Uber to Pinsa Rossa, where you can get the yummiest Roman-style pinsa. Or you can visit one of the most iconic San Francisco neighborhoods — the Castro — as your last activity of the day.
Farther Afield: Muir Woods, Sausalito & The Napa Valley
San Francisco and its vicinity are full of magnificent wonders to explore. Some of the most gorgeous places in the U.S. are in this area, including the Muir Woods National Monument, Sausalito and the Napa Valley. Even though you will need extra time to make a day trip from San Francisco to these spots, I’d pick one for this 5-day itinerary.
I’m planning to include at least one of these places to visit near San Francisco on my next trip so I can bring you the details and necessary logistics from personal experience.
So, What Are the Best San Francisco Neighborhoods?
In the end, San Francisco is one of the coolest cities in the entire continental U.S. Despite its rep, I’ve had such a good time every time I’ve visited. Exploring San Francisco neighborhoods is one of my top things to do in this city.
I like the Mission and the Haight for delicious eats and drinks. The Marina District has swanky shopping. Pacific Heights is home to my favorite Caesar salad wrap nearby. All of these San Francisco neighborhoods truly have something unique to offer.
And that concludes this lovely little post on how to spend 5 days exploring the coolest San Francisco neighborhoods! What a journey! I hope you made it to the end and thank you so much if you did. Let me know what other things I’ve yet to discover in San Francisco in the comments below!
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