From the Haight to the Mission District, all San Francisco neighborhoods have something unique to offer! Whether it’s delicious food, a top instagram spot, the cutest shops, the best SF views and more, I have an expert-level itinerary that’s going to 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 7 years, this San Francisco travel itinerary wouldn’t exist!
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.
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’s 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. 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 see 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?
There are so many things to do, see and eat in San Francisco! I’ve done a weekend trip and a week-long trip. From my personal experience, 5 days is a perfect amount of time to see many of San Francisco neighborhoods. And even possibly throw in a farther-afield option like the Muir Woods or Sausalito. Getting from place to place can also eat up a bit of time. But 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. So, 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. The differences in weather in different San Francisco neighborhoods is truly mind-blowing!
Even then, SF temperatures remain 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. Only dipping 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, 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.
Day 1: Golden gate overlook & japantown SF
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 for a bit. Find the perfect snapshot of the Golden Gate Bridge lined up between two tall cypress trees (pictured above). If you’re lucky, there won’t be too much fog and you’ll catch the full view. Make sure to walk down the path to get closer to the bridge and catch more beautiful views of Baker Beach, the cliffs and the ocean. And now, onto exploring some unmissable gems in Inner Sunset!
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 7 stops). From there, walk one long block south toward Kirkham Street, and then, turn left and walk three blocks 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 0.3 miles 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 possibly wait in line a little bit. You can join their daily waitlist 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!
Then, 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. It’s a beautiful area and one of the most beautiful San Francisco neighborhoods. 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. 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 all the San Francisco neighborhoods I’ve explored, this is one that made me feel like I live in a tiny home. If you’re not exhausted after all of 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
I’m literally so excited to talk 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 2 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.
Then, Uber or bus-it to Golden Gate Park, a huge and lush park, spanning 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!
After that, 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
Start out day 3 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 Tartine if you find seating. But I highly recommend you walk two blocks west and have a mini breakfast picnic at Dolores Park for some of the absolute 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.
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!
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 one of the most iconic San Francisco landmarks — the “Crookedest Street in the World”! Lombard Street, one of the most popular spots in San Francisco, is a street in Russian Hill with 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 probably now time for dinner! Some dinner options include A Mano (made-in-house pasta), Woodhouse Fish (lobster rolls and seafood) or NONO (Japanese). And now, on to the next of 5 days in San Francisco!
DAY 4: Fisherman’s Wharf, the Ferry Building & The CASTRO
Day 4 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!
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. This includes 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 Musée Mécanique!
This is another Princess Diaries film location! In the movie, Mia Thermopolis (Anne Hathaway) 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.
Walk to Pier 39 from here! 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 it to be busy and expensive! 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.
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. You’ll 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 because they have the best fish and chips I’ve ever had and a very tasty, authentic clam chowder that you HAVE to try. Fresh oysters are their specialty so make sure to try that too!
Next, you’re going to visit the infamous Alcatraz Island! This tiny island has been a maximum security prison, a fort and a military prison. This 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! Make sure to buy your Alcatraz Island tour tickets online ahead of time — especially for the night tour — because tickets sell out. Adult day-tour tickets are $45 and night-tour tickets are $56. 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
The last of 5 days in San Francisco kickstarts 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, you can 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 1.
If you opted for Land’s End Trail, you’ll head to the Golden Gate Bridge next. My suggestion would be to take an Uber or Lyft there, as the bus route requires you to change buses and is much longer than the 11 min. car ride. 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. I found this in-depth post about renting a bike to ride across the Golden Gate Bridge — because I haven’t done it myself yet!
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’ll be able to 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 also check out 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. Though, you absolutely need some 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. This will eventually be its own post — I promiseeee!
For now, that concludes this lovely little post on how to spend 5 days exploring all the cool spots in 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!
