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California, United States

San Francisco

Spend a full day before heading south: bridge views, a waterfront food hall and North Beach for the evening. This guide pulls together 2 sights, 1 activity and 1 outdoor spot from our curated routes.

Plan San Francisco with friendsBrowse 10 places
San Francisco, California, United States
Places
10

2 See · 1 Do · 1 Outdoors · 3 Eat · 2 Drink · 1 Shop

Curated routes
1

Pacific Coast Highway

Best season
Apr – Oct

from our route notes

Warmest month
September

24°C / 74°F avg high

Coolest month
January

13°C / 56°F avg high

Wettest month
December

about 138 mm rain

Climate: NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages.

Things to do in San Francisco

10 places from our curated routes, grouped by what you will do there. Each one has its own page with the address and full notes.

See

2 sights worth building a day around across Presidio and Fisherman's Wharf. All 2 are free to visit.

  • Golden Gate Bridge Welcome Center in San FranciscoPhoto: A Ch · Google
    See

    Golden Gate Bridge Welcome Center

    Walk partway onto the bridge from the south end for the classic span-and-bay view.

    Tip Fog usually burns off by late morning; Battery Spencer gives the postcard angle.

    • Presidio
    • Free
    • 60 min
    • Late morning
  • Pier 39 Sea Lions in San FranciscoPhoto: Christine Herrmann · Google
    See

    Pier 39 Sea Lions

    Watch hundreds of California sea lions haul out on the K-Dock floats at Fisherman's Wharf.

    Tip Numbers peak in winter; skip the chain restaurants nearby.

    • Fisherman's Wharf
    • Free
    • 30 min
    • Winter mornings

Do

1 activity for when the group wants to do more than look in Embarcadero.

  • Alcatraz Island in San FranciscoPhoto: Chris6d · CC BY-SA 4.0
    Do

    Alcatraz Island

    Ferry to the former federal prison and take the cellhouse audio tour.

    Tip Book with Alcatraz City Cruises weeks ahead; departs Pier 33.

    • Embarcadero
    • $$
    • 3 hr
    • Morning

Outdoors

1 outdoor spot for fresh air in Outer Richmond.

  • Lands End Trail in San FranciscoPhoto: Yin Cui · Google
    Outdoors

    Lands End Trail

    Cliffside trail with Golden Gate views, shipwreck remains and the Sutro Baths ruins.

    Tip Start at the Lands End Lookout visitor center; about 3 miles round trip.

    • Outer Richmond
    • Free
    • 1.5 hr
    • Afternoon

Eat

Where we would book a table in San Francisco across Embarcadero, Nob Hill and Mission District.

  • Ferry Building Marketplace in San FranciscoPhoto: Ferry Building · Google
    Eat

    Ferry Building Marketplace

    Bayfront hall of local producers: oysters, cheese, bread and coffee under one roof.

    Tip Saturday morning farmers market outside is the busiest and best.

    • Embarcadero
    • $$
    • 75 min
    • Saturday morning
  • Swan Oyster Depot in San FranciscoPhoto: Rafaelquint99 · CC BY-SA 4.0
    Eat

    Swan Oyster Depot

    Counter-only seafood bar since 1912 serving crab, oysters and Sicilian sashimi.

    Tip Cash only; line forms before the 10:30am opening. Closed Sundays.

    • Nob Hill
    • $$$
    • 60 min
    • Weekday lunch
  • Tartine Bakery in San FranciscoPhoto: Ling Watson · Google
    Eat

    Tartine Bakery

    Mission bakery known for its morning buns, croissants and country bread.

    Tip Go early for the morning bun before it sells out.

    • Mission District
    • $$
    • 30 min
    • Morning

Drink

Our picks for a drink in San Francisco across North Beach and Fisherman's Wharf.

  • Vesuvio Cafe in San FranciscoPhoto: Shadle · CC BY-SA 3.0
    Drink

    Vesuvio Cafe

    Two-floor bohemian bar next to City Lights, a Kerouac-era hangout since 1948.

    • North Beach
    • $
    • 60 min
    • Evening
  • Buena Vista Cafe in San FranciscoPhoto: BriefEdits · CC BY-SA 4.0
    Drink

    Buena Vista Cafe

    Bar at the cable car turnaround that popularized Irish coffee in the US.

    Tip Order the Irish coffee; bartenders line up a dozen glasses at a time.

    • Fisherman's Wharf
    • $
    • 30 min
    • Afternoon

Shop

Markets and shops worth the detour in North Beach.

  • City Lights Booksellers in San FranciscoPhoto: City Lights Booksellers & Publishers · Google
    Shop

    City Lights Booksellers

    Beat-era bookstore and publisher with a poetry room upstairs.

    • North Beach
    • 30 min
    • Evening

How to fit San Francisco into a trip

San Francisco is stop 1 of 6 on our Pacific Coast Highway route. Follow it as-is or lift San Francisco into your own plan.

Getting here and onward

Distances are straight-line estimates between destination centers, not road distances.

San Francisco month by month

Average daily highs run from 13°C / 56°F in January to 24°C / 74°F in September. December is the wettest month, with about 138 mm of rain. Outlined months fall in the best season on our routes.

Average daily highs, NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages. San Francisco weather and the best time to visit →

Near San Francisco

8 other destinations from our guides within about 150 km (93 mi), measured in a straight line.

San Francisco questions, answered

How many days do you need in San Francisco?

Our route notes suggest a full day in San Francisco. On our Pacific Coast Highway route it is stop 1 of 6 in a 6-day trip. The listed visit times for our 10 places add up to roughly 11 hours, before travel between them, so you will need to choose.

What is San Francisco best known for?

Spend a full day before heading south: bridge views, a waterfront food hall and North Beach for the evening. Standouts on our list: Golden Gate Bridge Welcome Center (Walk partway onto the bridge from the south end for the classic span-and-bay view); Pier 39 Sea Lions (Watch hundreds of California sea lions haul out on the K-Dock floats at Fisherman's Wharf); Lands End Trail (Cliffside trail with Golden Gate views, shipwreck remains and the Sutro Baths ruins).

When is the best time to visit San Francisco?

Our Pacific Coast Highway route is best Apr – Oct. NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages put the warmest highs in September (24°C / 74°F), the coolest in January (13°C / 56°F) and the most rain in December (about 138 mm).

What are the best things to do in San Francisco?

Start with Golden Gate Bridge Welcome Center, Lands End Trail, Alcatraz Island and Pier 39 Sea Lions. Our guide lists 10 places in all, from 2 sights, 1 activity, 1 outdoor spot, 3 places to eat, 2 bars & cafés and 1 shop.

Where should a group eat in San Francisco?

Our picks: Ferry Building Marketplace (Embarcadero); Swan Oyster Depot (Nob Hill); Tartine Bakery (Mission District). Saturday morning farmers market outside is the busiest and best (Ferry Building Marketplace).

What is near San Francisco?

The closest destinations in our guides are The Embarcadero & Ferry Building (about 3 km / 2 mi), Lands End & Ocean Beach (about 8 km / 5 mi) and Sonoma (about 58 km / 36 mi). Distances are straight-line estimates, not road distances.

Plan San Francisco with your crew

Open the Pacific Coast Highway route in TripsCircle, invite friends with a link, settle which of these 10 places make the cut with a quick poll, then split costs and share one packing list.

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