What do you do when visiting one of the most famous cities in the world but have only 24 hours to spend? Well, you should try to make the most of those 24 hours, cover what you can, and vow to return later to explore more! That is precisely what this 24 hours in San Francisco guide will walk you through.
San Francisco is an incredible city exuding art, culture, and culinary as well as adventurous experiences. With world-renowned wonders (hello, Golden Gate bridge), world-class dining, and hiking trails within the city, there is truly something for each and every visitor to this city. Now, having lived in San Francisco for over 4 years, I will walk you through all the places you should visit during your limited time here. I will also guide you on things you should avoid, and those you should come back for on your next visit to this wonderfully quirky city.
Things to know about San Francisco city
Before landing in San Francisco, you should note the following about this wonderful city I call home.
Know about the weather quirks
San Francisco city has a lot of weather quirks you should know about. I cannot count the number of times I had friends and family visiting during the summer expecting beach weather only to be caught shivering the entire day before rushing to buy those souvenir sweatshirts.
So, keep in mind that in the months of June through August, the weather is foggy, cold, and windy. Make sure to wear layers. Bring a windcheater and you will be so glad you did!
San Francisco city also experiences different microclimates within the city. Thus, you may be cold and (kinda) freezing in Embarcadero and Golden Gate area, while in the Mission district, it would be sunny and warm. Then, once you hike up or drive to the top of Twin Peaks, it will be foggy and windy again! All of this is to say that expect a myriad of weather conditions within the confines of this small city.
Do you know why the Golden Gate Bridge is named so? This is because it is named after the waterway or strait connecting the San Francisco Bay with the Pacific Ocean. This strait was named the "Golden Gate" before gold was discovered in California, because it enabled trading with the Orient. Thus, the "golden gate" name was established. Once the bridge was built over the strait, it was named the "Golden Gate Bridge".
The food scene is incredible
If you are looking for a special event dinner, and want to indulge in a Michelin-starred experience, San Francisco is the right city for this! There are tons of incredible places to eat, and innumerable dishes to try.
For a nice evening, plan on going to a rooftop bar near Mission Bay. There are quite a few swanky places to pick from. However, make sure you bundle up as it will be windy.
But, be aware that you will need to book ahead of time. Some restaurants may require booking upwards of 4 weeks ahead of time.
Driving and parking may get challenging
Are you experienced in navigating around in older cities with tiny roads? That’s what you will experience in parts of the city where the roads are cramped and cars are parked on both sides of the road. (I am looking at you, Bernal Heights, and Chinatown.)
Additionally, as you can imagine, parking on the street can be difficult for the same reasons. You will need to parallel park unless you opt for a parking garage.
It is an expensive city
There is no beating around the bush that San Francisco is an expensive city. The only other city in the world where I have found prices to be comparable is Singapore (don’t even get me started on just how pricey that place is!). So, just be aware that visiting SF will burn a hole in your pocket. Make sure to budget accordingly.
San Francisco is hilly but extremely walkable
You know those shots of the pretty houses on the TV show “Full House” where you see a line of pretty houses on a sloped road? That’s how most parts of San Francisco are. Hilly. It is absolutely beautiful and the views you will see from the top of the hills are stunning. Talk about incredible views of the landscape.
However, note that with the beautiful views walking around the city will kind of be like hiking. With steep slopes from one block to another, you will undoubtedly burn a lot of calories! Nevertheless, it is still a very walkable city. Cars stop for pedestrians and unless you are on a main street, cars are not running at high speeds.
Wear comfortable shoes
To navigate the hills and slopes with ease, make sure to wear comfortable shoes. In fact, nobody will judge you for wearing the comfiest sneakers ever. And you will fit right in with the locals. Thanks to the hilly terrain and the omnipresence of the tech crowd, the uniform of SF is arguably chic athleisure.
Choose a good overnight location
Picking a hotel in a good location is important given your short stay in San Francisco. While there are hundreds of good hotels in several different neighborhoods, each with its own distinct flair, consider staying close to at least one spot you intend to visit. This is because, in spite of being a relatively small city, San Francisco traffic is notorious for being bad. Add to that the fact that there are no freeways within the city, you could end up spending over an hour from one location to another.
For instance, it takes over an hour during the day to go from Sunset District to Fisherman’s Wharf. Unless you are okay with spending this amount of time on the road, pick a place closer to the middle of the city or near a spot on your itinerary.
Do you what the name of the distinctive color of the Golden Gate Bridge is? The paint is called "International Orange" and was picked by Consulting Architect Irving Morrow.
How to get around San Francisco
The first thing to know about getting around in San Francisco is that the city is not very big. As a matter of fact, if you are used to walking long distances, you will be able to walk from one end of the city to the other in a day! But, obviously, with only 24 hours in San Francisco, you will want to optimize getting around to cover maximum ground.
Here are some options for you to get around this awesome city.
MUNI Light Rail
Light Rail is the equivalent of the metro. So, while San Francisco does not have an underground metro system, it does have the MUNI light rail. The MUNI light rail connects most of the city. The rest is covered by the MUNI bus system with some overlap.
You can purchase a single ride or a full-day MUNI ticket. If you have a Clipper Card (or Clipper app), you can use it for the MUNI. You can purchase a day pass on MuniMobile online. However, be aware that the light rail is not very fast.
MUNI Bus
The MUNI bus system covers all routes around San Francisco, including some areas covered by the light rail. While the coverage is great, note that once again this is going to be a slow service. Because you are going to spend only 24 hours in San Francisco, you may want to look at other options. However, if you choose to only do a handful of spots around the city, and want to be economical, you can avail of the bus system.
Check this page from SFMTA for the locations where you can buy MUNI tickets.
BART
If you stay close to a BART station, it is a convenient option for exploring the northeast and central parts of San Francisco. As you may expect, the BART rail system is much faster than the MUNI services. It is also slightly more expensive. However, if you use a Clipper Card, you will get a small discount.
The BART lines also run toward East Bay. So, if you are staying overnight there (in cheaper hotels), you can catch a BART and be in the city within an hour.
Caltrain
If staying in the South Bay (cities such as San Mateo, Mountain View, etc.), you can take the Caltrain up to San Francisco city. Be warned that Caltrain services limited areas in the South Bay. So, unless you stay close to a limited number of stations, you will need to arrange for transportation to the station.
Uber/Lyft
A convenient way of getting around the city is to take Uber or Lyft. These ride-sharing apps serve all parts of the city well. They are also the fastest option for getting from point A to B, albeit expensive. However, in your limited time in SF, this option will serve you well.
Drive yourself
Another convenient option is to rent a car and drive yourself. You can rent cars in many areas of the city (the most popular being downtown SF), and you can easily get around the city quickly. The only challenge with doing this is finding parking. With the exception of a handful of neighborhoods, most parts of SF city have limited street parking.
Rent a bike or scooter
Renting a bike or a ubiquitous scooter you see everywhere in SF is also an excellent option! There are several companies that let you rent bikes and scooters. When I lived and worked in San Francisco, I used Lyft bikes from my home to the office. They were a fantastic option to get some exercise in as well as very inexpensive.
Note the roads where you intend to bike/scoot. With the hills of SF, a regular bike will have you struggling for breath (unless you are super fit, of course!). So, if you expect to navigate hills on your day out in SF, rent an electric bike or scooter.
Should you rent a car or not?
As mentioned above, renting a car is a good choice considering your limited time in SF. However, depending on which areas you end up exploring, a car might not be an ideal solution for you. For instance, if you only want to travel around Fisherman’s Wharf and Chinatown along with the Golden Gate Bridge, it may make more sense to use MUNI or Uber/Lyft.
Another point to consider is parking expenses. Again, depending on the area of the city, metered parking can get very expensive quickly. You also need to know where to park.
With that being said, if you are flying in, it might make sense to rent a car. That way, you can cover more ground. But, expect parking to be difficult in areas like Chinatown, downtown SF, etc. If it gets especially challenging, you can always go to a covered parking structure. Just be prepared to pay an arm and a leg as prices can be about $40-50 for the entire day or $3 per 15 minutes. Unfortunately, I am not kidding.
If driving does not appeal to you, jump on the BART train from SFO and head into the city. Once you check in at your hotel, you can use the public transport systems or use Uber/Lyft to get around. All parts of SF city are well connected.
While in California, take advantage of the natural beauty of the state by traveling to Lake Tahoe and the mesmerizing Yosemite National Park. This guide will show you how to plan your travel from Lake Tahoe to Yosemite.
How to use this guide
24 hours in San Francisco is a very short amount of time. However, with the right planning and tools, you should be able to see a good portion of this amazing city. Use this guide to finetune and narrow down your itinerary. In order to do that, check out my tips on how to build your itinerary and use this guide.
Section by 3 hours
As you will see below, this guide is sectioned by 3 hours. My recommendation is to stay within a certain “area” for 3 hours and explore multiple points of interest within that area. After that, move over to the next area. This strategy will also work well if you drive a car. You can park at one location, walk around to visit multiple spots, and then drive to the next area.
Pick 2-3 things to do for each section
This may be hard to adhere to, but know that you won’t be able to see everything you want to in 24 hours. In fact, even a week would not be sufficient to explore the city of San Francisco completely. So, to make the most of your day there, and not feel rushed, pick 2 or 3 spots for each of the 3-hour slots.
More information on that is available in the table in the next section of this article below.
Getting around will take time without a car
Another important point about pacing yourself is to account for travel time from one spot to another. As mentioned earlier, there is plenty of traffic in SF city, so do note that it will take some time to get around. Especially if you don’t have a car.
While traveling in San Francisco, if you are itching to explore the outdoors a bit more, you only need to drive 12 miles north to the beautiful Muir Woods National Park. Here, you can meet the age-old redwood trees and indulge in forest bathing. Read all about this park and how to get there in this post.
Have a rough idea of where you want to park
Parking is limited and expensive. So, as you build your itinerary, take note of nearby parking structures. Park in a spot close to several points of interest. You may also find free street parking 3-4 blocks away from the busy areas.
24 hours in San Francisco: Itinerary ideas
There are so many places, locations, and neighborhoods to check out in San Francisco that jamming them all into a single itinerary is impossible. Trust me, I tried. But, because every visitor is unique and will want to try different things, I have put together a table at the bottom of this section to help you narrow down the list of places you should go based on the type of traveler you are.
This section will walk you through the best things you should do while in San Francisco. Over my four years of stay, these are the spots I would take friends and family to show them my city.
Morning 9 am - Golden Gate Bridge, Palace of Fine Arts, Golden Gate Park
Start your day early and get a view of the iconic Golden Gate Bridge in the morning light. My view is that no matter how short or long your stay in SF, the Golden Gate Bridge is a must-visit!
Start from the west at the Golden Gate Overlook in Langdon Ct. If you’re feeling adventurous, go for the Lands End hike on the northwestern front for sweeping views of the Golden Gate Bridge and the Sutro Baths. Climb to the top of the bunkers there for even more epic views.
Another option to soak in the Golden Gate bridge is to rent a bike and bike to the other end of the bridge. Be sure to check out the beautiful views of the bridge with downtown San Francisco as the backdrop from Golden Gate View Point (Old Conzelman Rd).
By the way, be sure to review the recommendations in a table at the end of this article for the type of traveler you are!
Afterward, do a quick stop at the picturesque Palace of Fine Arts and then head over to the epic Golden Gate Park. With an area covering 1.583 square miles (!), there are plenty of gardens and parks within to keep you occupied for days! My favorite spots inside the park include the Japanese Tea Garden, Conservatory of Flowers, SF Botanical Garden, and Strawberry Hill. You can also go boating in Stow Lake.
In addition to San Francisco, another great city to visit in California is San Diego. Enjoy the laidback California life and indulge in water activities down in coastal San Diego. Read this itinerary to learn all about this city.
If you want a bit more adventure, add a day to explore the fascinating SeaWorld in San Diego. Read all about that here.
Noon 12 pm - Haight-Ashbury, Fisherman’s Wharf, Watch the resident seals at Pier 39, Lombard Street
From the Golden Gate park, head to Haight Ashbury, the birthplace of the hippie movement in the 1960s. You can still see remnants of the Summer of Love and the counterculture movement in the form of murals while walking through this famous neighborhood.
Next, head over to Fisherman’s Wharf – one of the most touristy spots in the city. But, don’t spend too much time here as it is mostly a tourist trap. In fact, I would have asked you to avoid this place completely, except that this is an iconic part of San Francisco. Plus, the resident seals at Pier 39 make it totally worth it. However, while touristy, Fisherman’s Wharf does have incredible seafood. Grab a clam chowder sourdough bread bowl at the legendary Boudin Bakery.
If you spend more than five minutes at Pier 39, you will inevitably hear the California seals roaring at each other loudly. In fact, I spent about half an hour just watching those crazy, fascinating, and funny animals the last time I was there. A good portion of the time was spent watching them fight with each other for room on the piers and to assert dominance.
Once you are ready to move on from the seals, take the iconic San Francisco Trolley to Lombard Street. Chocolate lovers should consider a pitstop at Ghirardelli Square first though.
If you don’t know about Lombard Street, it is considered to be the most crooked street in the world! While I don’t believe that that is true, it is a very quirky SF spot to check out. Not to mention that it is also very pretty! If you have a car, drive through the 8 hairpin turns so you can check that item off your to-do list!
Afternoon 3 pm - Chinatown, Bakeries and Dim sum, Dragon Gate, Shopping
Next, we head over to Chinatown. San Francisco Chinatown is the largest settlement of Chinese immigrants in the US. As expected, it is a historic location with many things to do and see. Start by checking out the Dragon Gate and walk through Grant Ave to see old buildings with Chinese signboards and red lantern string lights.
Pop into Good Mong Kok Bakery for some freshly baked delicious goodness or try some of the best dim sum in SF, City View Restaurant! Shop for souvenirs here that include cheap knockoffs as well as unique oriental ware.
While there, also check out the City Lights Bookstore and the uniquely shaped TransAmerica Pyramid Building.
Evening 6 pm - Coit Tower, Japantown, and sushi (Alternate: Mission district or Alcatraz Night Tour)
Later, walk up Telegraph Hill to the Coit Tower to enjoy 360-degree views of the city and the bay. If you time it well, you will be able to catch views of the setting sun above the city. The murals inside the building are also beautiful and offer insight into the days of yore in San Francisco city.
After sunset, head south toward Japantown and sample incredible sushi handcrafted by Japanese masters. There are plenty of ramen and udon options to choose from as well.
Alternately, head towards the lively Mission district. Named after the location of the old San Francisco mission, today, this place is hip and busy with locals. Although gentrification has been a big problem here, you can still see remnants of the vibrant Mexican culture here, and grab a drink at a local dive bar.
Walk along Balmy Alley which is the most famous mural street in the city, with diverse and political artwork. The nearby Cypress St also has some graffiti-style murals. Be sure to taste a mission burrito (SF is the birthplace of the burrito after all!) at the popular La Taqueria. Grab a refreshing pint afterward at the famous Anchor Brewing in nearby Potrero Hill. If you want to stay within Mission, try Southern Pacific Brewing.
If you crave something adventurous, opt to go for a Night Tour of Alcatraz Island. I promise that you will enjoy the experience!
Night 9 pm - Embarcadero, Bay Bridge, Oysters, Rooftop, or Speakeasy Bar
After dinner, head toward Embarcadero to enjoy nighttime views of the San Francisco bay. Flanked by swanky highrises on one side and the glittering Bay Bridge on the other, the Embarcadero walkway is perfect to wind down your busy day. If you feel peckish, pop into Waterbar to sample fresh oysters.
Head south toward Mission Bay and walk past Oracle Park to end your night at a rooftop place. Be sure to book ahead of time as the reservations fill up fast. Enjoy a cocktail with a view of the nighttime glistening bay waters at Rooftop 25.
Alternately, grab a fancy cocktail at a speakeasy bar close by. My recommendation is Bourbon & Branch.
Add-ons to your 24 hours in San Francisco Itinerary
Do you have a few more hours the next morning? Consider adding these places to your itinerary
Dolores Park
Experience San Francisco like a local by hanging out in Dolores Park in the afternoon and people-watching. Bonus points for making a picnic out of it with ice cream from the crowd-favorite Bi-Rite Creamery at the corner.
Potrero Hill lookouts
Potrero Hill has hands down some of the best views of downtown SF. If you are looking for a magical view of the city during the day or night, head up to Potrero Hill. I used to live in this area and can tell you that not a lot of tourists know about this place. Photographers will particularly enjoy the intersection of 20th St and Wisconsin St or De Haro St. And for the best-uninterrupted views of downtown SF, take the walkway across Freeway 101 at the intersection of 18th St and San Bruno Ave.
Presidio Park
Presidio Park is the park closest to Golden Gate Bridge. There is a lot to explore here (Crissy Fields, Palace of Fine Arts, etc.). However, my favorite is the food truck festivals hosted here during the summer months. Explore SF like a local and embrace the laid back lifestyle by visiting an Off the Grid food truck event.
Twin Peaks
There is a hike in the middle of San Francisco that you can take: Twin Peaks. Named after a pair of hills that frame this side of the city. Park your car at the bottom of the hill and hike up to see 360 views of the entire bay. Note that the weather can be finicky though with fog being common in the summertime. If it gets foggy, you won’t be able to see much of the view, but the fog does not stay for long!
Castro District
I cannot end this post about San Francisco without referring to the iconic Castro district (or the Castro). San Francisco houses one of the largest LGBTQ populations, and much of its history can be traced to the Castro. While you are there, check out the LGBTQ Historical Society Museum and the famous Castro Theatre.
Do you have an extra day and want to explore outside the Bay area? This post will show you the best day trip spots you should explore from San Francisco!
24 hours in San Francisco summary
Thus, to summarize, this is the itinerary you should follow based on the traveler you are. Whether you like to explore new spots and sights, have a bit of adventure, or identify yourself as a foodie, you will undoubtedly have a grand time in San Francisco!
Explorer | Adventurer | Foodie | |
Morning | Golden Gate Bridge, Golden Gate View Point (other side of the bridge), Golden Gate Park | Bike across Golden Gate, explore Palace of Fine Arts gardens, The Wave Organ | Sourdough bread bowl at Boudin, seafood at Fisherman’s Wharf |
Noon | Haight-Ashbury, Fisherman’s Wharf, Pier 39, Ghirardelli Sq., Lombard St | Lands End hike, Sutro Baths, explore Golden Gate Park | Ghirardelli Sq. chocolate, Chinatown dim sum, bakeries, and boba tea |
Afternoon | Chinatown, Dragon Gate, City Lights Bookstore | Hike up to Twin Peaks, meet the seals at Fisherman’s Wharf | Mission burrito at La Taqueria, Bi-Rite Creamery, Anchor Brewing |
Evening | Coit Tower, Japantown, Mission district | Alcatraz Night tour | Michelin-starred restaurant: Sons & Daughters or Mourad |
Night | Bay Bridge, speakeasy or rooftop bar | Walk along Embarcadero, sample oysters | Mission Bay oysters and bay views, cocktail at a speakeasy |
Places to avoid on your 24 hours in San Francisco
Or rather, think of this list as spots to save for another trip. With only 24 hours in hand to explore an impressive city with just so many things to do, you will need to edit your list. Therefore, these are the places you should skip on your short visit to San Francisco.
SF MOMA
Unless you are a devout modern art fan, skip the SF MOMA for this trip. While this museum is 100% worth it if you have the time, it deserves at least 2 hours to properly see everything. This is a long period of time that you will likely not have on this trip.
De Young Museum
Another excellent art museum in SF that you should plan to come back to for the same reason as above.
Painted Ladies
Unless you are a diehard fan of “Full House” or its sequel “Fuller House” or a budding photographer, skip the Painted Ladies. Sure, they are a very pretty set of Victorian houses, but you don’t need to go out of your way to see them. Especially when you have only 24 hours in San Francisco.
Union Square
Skip Union Square unless you want to shop at luxury stores while in SF. There is not much to do here other than eat and shop. And frankly, there are loads of better eateries for you to try.
Close to San Francisco is the interesting Lassen Volcanic National Park. If you are traveling during summer, make the drive to this national park to see some incredible geological features. Check out this guide to learn more.
San Francisco City Hall
The City Hall is really pretty, but it is a bit out of the way for you to visit on your one-day tour of SF. Much like the rest of this list, save this for your next visit.
Tenderloin
This spot is different from the rest of the list. While the rest of the list is for you to come back to on your next visit, the Tenderloin area should be avoided altogether. It is deemed unsafe although the “danger” aspect is somewhat inflated in the media. However, this area does have a large homeless population, and drug use is common. People have reported getting into altercations or unpleasant exchanges here. Cars are also routinely broken into (even though this is not the only place in San Francisco where this happens).
Thus, for visitors, it is best to avoid walking alone in this area after dark. Also, avoid parking on the street here. While I have personally never experienced anything unfortunate I also have not walked alone in the dark. I have, however, biked alone after dark in the Tenderloin without an issue. But for a visitor, I always caution them to avoid this area.
It should be noted that there are some great bars in this location. So, if you want to visit them, use Uber or Lyft. That way, you will be dropped off and picked up in front of your destination. And you won’t have to worry about anything wrong happening.
I do not mean to scare you from visiting SF or the areas nearby with this note. Instead, my intent is to arm you with as much information as possible so that you have the best time when you visit my favorite city 🙂
When to visit San Francisco
San Francisco is a wonderful city to visit year-round. With the exception of the winter months of December through February, expect the weather to remain in the pleasant 60s throughout your stay. The important thing to keep in mind is that the weather fluctuates as you move from one end of the city to the other. So, be prepared for different types of weather and wear layers.
During the peak summer months of June through August, the famous (or infamous?) San Francisco fog rolls in from the bay making areas near the Golden Gate Bridge windy and chilly. So, if you travel during this time, expect it to be cooler, and don’t forget a windcheater!
For the best months of warm sunshine, plan your travel during the months of September and October. At this time, the summer crowds dwindle, and the weather is amazing in the 70s (sometimes even reaching > 80F).
What to wear for 24 hours in San Francisco
For your day in San Francisco city, you should plan for the weather you will face. Wear the following to make sure that you are comfortable.
- Layers!! – This is the most important tip for SF. Do NOT forget to pack a warm layer or two.
- Comfortable shoes – super important due to the hills you will climb
- A jacket is a must – preferably a windbreaker for the time you are near the bay waters
- Hat – woolen for winter, sunhat for the summer
- Sunglasses – the sun is bright year-round
- Sunscreen
- Backpack or Day Bag
- Water bottle
- Scarf – if you (like me) get cold easily
24 hours in San Francisco FAQs
Does Uber run 24 hours in San Francisco?
Yes, Uber and Lyft run 24 hours in San Francisco. All parts of the city are well-serviced by these ride-sharing apps.
Where to park 24 hours in San Francisco?
Parking in San Francisco city is available in the form of street parking and private covered parking structures. Note that parking is expensive, and street parking is limited. To park your car for a full day or 24 hours, opt for parking at your hotel, or in a covered parking structure with an attendant.
Is 24 hours enough to explore San Francisco?
Honestly, 24 hours is not enough to explore San Francisco. However, you can see some of the highlights of this city in those 24 hours. Use this guide above to determine which spots you would like to explore and build out your itinerary that way. Know that you won’t be able to see everything and that is okay.
Is San Francisco a walkable city?
Yes, San Francisco is a highly walkable city. It is also super residential. Two-lane streets and ample sidewalks connect most neighborhoods. Make sure to wear comfortable shoes and you might be able to walk from one side of the city to the other in a day!
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While in California, make sure to check out Lake Tahoe and Yosemite National Park. Read this post on how to travel from Lake Tahoe to Yosemite here!
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