Hotels near Union Square HotelCentral, with cable cars and BART nearby.
4Days
15Stops
5Meal tips
About £180-290 a day, mid-range, flights excludedBudget
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Four days in San Francisco: the Golden Gate Bridge, cable cars, Alcatraz, Chinatown and the Mission, plus a day among the redwoods at Muir Woods. Layers matter, because fog can make summer afternoons cold. Book Alcatraz at least two weeks ahead.
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Where TripSora Editors stayed and what to book
Alcatraz official tour TourBook weeks ahead.
Day by day
Golden Gate and the Presidio
09:00
Golden Gate Bridge walk
Walk or cycle across the 1937 suspension bridge. Fog often lifts by late morning.
View on map ↗💡 Park at the Welcome Center and use shuttles on busy days.
11:30
Presidio and Crissy Field
Waterfront trails with views back to the bridge.
View on map ↗💡 Pick up lunch at the Presidio Tunnel Tops.
14:30
Palace of Fine Arts
A Roman-style rotunda beside a lagoon.
View on map ↗💡 Photogenic in late-afternoon light.
17:00
Fisherman's Wharf and Pier 39
Sea lions, souvenir shops and clam chowder in sourdough bowls.
View on map ↗💡 Touristy, but the sea lions are free to watch.
🍽 Where to eat
lunchClam chowder in a bread bowlAmerican · $$
dinnerCioppino seafood stewItalian-American · $$$
🎟 Book ahead for day 1Tickets and tours: Golden Gate Bridge walk 🏨 Find a hotel
Alcatraz and North Beach
09:00
Alcatraz Island
The former federal prison, with an audio tour narrated by ex-inmates and guards.
View on map ↗💡 Official tickets only; sell out in advance.
13:00
Coit Tower
Murals and views over the bay.
View on map ↗💡 Walk up the Filbert Steps through the gardens.
15:00
North Beach and City Lights Books
The Beat-era district with Italian cafés.
View on map ↗💡 Stop for an espresso.
18:00
Chinatown
One of the oldest Chinatowns in North America.
View on map ↗💡 Dim sum is best at lunchtime, but dinner stalls are good too.
🍽 Where to eat
lunchFocaccia from a North Beach bakeryItalian · $
🎟 Book ahead for day 2Tickets and tours: Alcatraz Island
Cable cars, Haight and the Mission
09:30
Cable car ride
Ride the Powell-Hyde line over the hills.
View on map ↗💡 Queue at the Powell Street turntable early.
11:30
Painted Ladies and Alamo Square
Victorian houses with the skyline behind.
View on map ↗💡 Bring a picnic.
13:30
16:30
The Mission and Dolores Park
Murals on Clarion Alley and a lively park.
View on map ↗💡 Try a Mission-style burrito.
🍽 Where to eat
dinnerBurrito or tacos in the MissionMexican · $
🎟 Book ahead for day 3Tickets and tours: Cable car ride
Muir Woods and Sausalito
09:00
Muir Woods
Old-growth coast redwoods on a flat, accessible boardwalk.
View on map ↗💡 Parking and shuttle reservations are required.
13:00
Sausalito
A waterfront town with houseboats and bay views.
View on map ↗💡 Return to the city by ferry.
16:30
🍽 Where to eat
lunchSeafood lunch in SausalitoAmerican · $$
🎟 Book ahead for day 4Tickets and tours: Muir Woods
Good to know
✈️ Getting thereSFO connects by BART to Powell Street in about 30 minutes.
🚆 Getting aroundMuni buses, cable cars and BART; a Clipper card or phone wallet works. Hilly, so wear comfortable shoes.
💷 CurrencyUS dollar ($). Tipping of 18-20% is expected in restaurants.
🗣 LanguageEnglish.
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Photos: Eric Broder Van Dyke, Igor Passchier, Robert So, Aaron Hatton, alex ohan on Pexels.