Here’s my complete list of things to do during 2 days in San Francisco. Falling in love with this city was one of the highlights of my trip to the U.S. Let me share all the spots that made this city so special for me.
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2 Days in San Francisco Itinerary
First time in San Francisco
While my weekend in Los Angeles left me with mixed feelings, visiting San Francisco was love at first sight. Despite a grey blanket of clouds covering the hills the whole weekend, San Francisco managed to steal my heart. It wasn’t entirely unexpected – one of my all-time favorite movies, Sweet November, was filmed here, and I remember having a photo of the Golden Gate Bridge on a “Board of Dream Places” in my room as a kid. But still, I had high expectations and wasn’t sure if they would be met. However, the moment the taxi pulled up to hotel and I stepped onto one of the city’s steep streets, the iconic sound of a cable car made me realize there was indeed something very special about San Francisco – something hard to put into words. One quick glance and I knew I was going to love it here.
What is special about San Francisco?
I remember posting the first photos from this San Francisco trip on Instagram, along with Joe Flower’s quote below: “Money lives in New York. Power sits in Washington. And freedom sips a cappuccino in a sidewalk cafe in San Francisco.” Freedom is probably the closest word to describe your feelings when standing in front of the impressive 746-foot-tall Golden Gate Bridge, surrounded by the splendid beauty of California’s nature. But then someone made a great point in the comments, saying Joe Flower’s quote is actually “a little out of date these days.” Because money lives in San Francisco now. And it really does.
The digital era has completely reshaped San Francisco, and you can read thousands of stories about people from the Bay Area simply leaving California. Who can afford these rents?! I hadn’t been to San Francisco before the tech boom, and the truth is, as a visitor, you don’t experience any city the same way locals do.
Nevertheless, despite being fully aware of this “other side” of San Francisco, I’ve still fallen for it. After all, you don’t fall in love with disadvantages, do you? You fall in love with a personality. You feel the energy of a place, and it’s either a hit or a miss. Either you’re disappointed, or you become a part of its heartbeat. So, my two days in San Francisco were an absolute joy, even though they were a bit too packed with all the bucket-list experiences in the city.
2 Days in San Francisco Itinerary
Day 1: Iconic Landmarks & Waterfront
Golden Gate Bridge
It probably won’t be the most original idea to start any San Francisco itinerary at the Golden Gate Bridge, but I was too excited to see it with my own eyes to wait. Known as one of the most iconic international symbols of San Francisco, the Golden Gate Bridge is a must-see landmark in the city. Spanning 1.7 miles, it connects San Francisco to Marin County and offers stunning views of the bay and the city skyline, and even Alcatraz Island. While you can walk or bike across the bridge, I simply enjoyed the views from a nearby-viewpoint.
Golden Gate Park
One of the highlights of my two days in San Francisco was Golden Gate Park. For some reason, I had heard little about it and was surprised to find so much green space within an urban area. With more than 1,000 acres of trees and gardens, it’s 20% larger than the famous Central Park in New York City. In addition to the natural beauty, you can also visit the California Academy of Sciences, where you can explore an aquarium, planetarium, and rainforest exhibit.
The Painted Ladies
Another iconic postcard location I was eager to see in San Francisco was the Painted Ladies at Alamo Square. This famous row of Victorian homes offers a classic view, with the beautifully restored houses set against the backdrop of the San Francisco skyline. It’s one of the most photographed spots in the city: the vibrant colors of the homes look so charming.
San Francisco Cable Car
After visiting Alamo Square and admiring the Painted Ladies, I walked 10 minutes to Church St. and Market St. and hopped on the historic F Line towards Pier 39. During my two days in San Francisco, I rode a cable car several times, mostly not for practical reasons, but because I enjoyed it so much.
Pier 39
Pier 39 is a popular attraction in San Francisco, famous for its Sea Lion Viewing Area, where you can watch playful sea lions lounging and basking in the sun. It’s a fun spectacle, especially since it’s not something you typically encounter in coastal towns of Spain. The sight of these marine mammals, often piled on top of each other, creates a and lively atmosphere, drawing crowds of visitors.
Ferry to Alcatraz
I must admit I was hesitant about visiting Alcatraz and almost missed it. With only two days in the city, I initially didn’t want to spend a few hours on a former prison island. However, the rave reviews were so compelling that my curiosity ultimately took over. I’m so glad it did, because the experience turned out to be amazing. The tour lasted about 4 hours and was both educational and engaging. It included an audio-guided tour full of insights into island’s history. Booking in advance is mandatory, as tickets sell out quickly. They also offer a spooky Night Tour, which would have been an exciting option, but unfortunately, it was fully booked when I decided to visit. It’s definitely something I’d return for on my next trip to San Francisco!
- Alcatraz San Francisco Bay Cruise with Night Option (check availability)
Fisherman’s Wharf
Having an amazing seafood meal at Fisherman’s Wharf felt like the perfect way to end my first day in San Francisco. I had been dying to try the local crabs, and the waterfront restaurants offered a great selection of dishes with views.
Day 2: Best Views & Iconic Neighborhoods
Lombard Street
Lombard Street, the famously winding road in San Francisco, is just as picturesque in real life as it looks in photos. The street is known for its eight steep turns and beautifully decorated flowerbeds, making it one of the city’s most iconic landmarks. I loved walking down it and taking pictures.
Coit Tower
Within a 20-minute walk from Lombard Street, I made a stop at Coit Tower on Telegraph Hill to enjoy some stunning panoramic views of the city. This 210-foot tower was built in 1933 and adorned with beautiful murals inside, depicting scenes of California’s history.
Cable Car Museum
The Cable Car Museum is one of the most unique museums in San Francisco, renowned for its informative exhibits that provide an in-depth look at the city’s historic cable car system. It showcases the mechanics behind the world-famous cable cars, including original cable car engines, vintage vehicles, and interactive displays that illustrate how the system has evolved over the years.
ChinaTown
After the Cable Car Museum, I headed to Chinatown, one of the local neighborhoods I was most excited to explore in San Francisco. I knew it was considered one of the largest in the world, but it also felt like the most picturesque. Despite living in Hong Kong for a few months and seeing many local markets and architecture there, I was still pleasantly surprised by San Francisco’s Chinatown. The vibrant atmosphere, colorful streets, and unique mix of shops made it truly special. The food was also delicious, and I couldn’t resist picking up a jade jewelry set from one of the local stores as a souvenir.
San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA)
In the afternoon, I visited the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA), which is dedicated to contemporary art. While I typically prefer historical museums, after experiencing the Museum of Modern Art in New York, I couldn’t miss the one in San Francisco. Additionally, after visiting the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, I’ve developed a strong interest in the unique architecture that most modern art museums feature. The building itself is a work of art, and it was exciting to explore both the exhibits and the architectural design.
Street art in San Francisco
Since I love exploring street art in Spain, I couldn’t miss the Mission District in San Francisco. This vibrant neighborhood is home to over 200 impressive murals by national and international artists. The artwork reflects the area’s rich cultural heritage. From the colorful murals of Balmy Alley to the powerful pieces in Clarion Alley, the Mission District offers a stunning visual experience that captures the heart and soul of the city.
Unique tours in San Francisco:
- Alcatraz Ticket: San Francisco, Muir Woods and Sausalito Tour (check availability)
- San Francisco Walking Food Tour (check availability)
- Small Group Yosemite and Giant Sequoias Day Trip from San Francisco (check availability)
- San Francisco Hop-on Hop-off Sightseeing Tour (check availability)
- San Francisco Golden Gate Bay Cruise (check availability)
- Napa and Sonoma Wine Country Full-Day Tour (check availability)
- San Francisco Love Tour (check availability)
- Chinatown and North Beach Walking Tour (check availability)
- Painted Ladies San Francisco City Tour (check availability)
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SF is one of my favorite cities (aside from Chicago). It’s so true that with how startup and digital technology has changed, money is definitely in SF!
I´d love to visit Chicago – gonna like it as well, that´s for sure!
The Golden Gate Park looks so nice ! i really would love to visit San Francisco one day!
The Golden Gate Park is amazing, so huge!
I had the chance to visit SF a while back and really enjoyed Chinatown as well!
Yes! The coolest Chinatown ever!
I have always wanted to visit San Francisco because it just looks beautiful. ( I also thought I could be one of the Charmed sisters too, as this is where it’s based/filmed )
Your photos are stunning, really capture the San Fran vibe! I totally agree you can fall in love with a place or many places at once.
Thanks for sharing….pinned it too 🙂
Aimsy xoxo
It really does look beautiful! I was also the Charmed fan years ago! Although I´ve read they´ve mostly filmed in LA and their screen house is in SF, but it´s private property (I´ve researched lol) so you can´t get a picture on their porch for ex!
The architecture looks so beautiful in San Francisco. I really would love to visit one day. It looks amazing there.
xx
Margot
It´s such a charming city – the architecture is unique!
Funny you should mention that quote — and how out of date it is. I was having that exact same thought last night, in the middle of the night, walking the decks of our tugboat in Sausalito, looking out at the lights of San Francisco. (SausalitoTugboat.com)
The quote was written in 1978. It is from a long love letter to the City by the Bay that I wrote for San Francisco Magazine when I was not yet 30 and had just moved from the City to Marin County. I adapted the piece for the New York Times, which then syndicated it to hundreds of newspapers all over the country. Though I have since published millions of words, thousands of articles and a handful of books, 40 years later those lines are still the most-quoted thing I ever wrote.
Thank you so much for our comment and all the interesting details! You know, despite the digital era changing things – I feel like people will keep on using this quote for more than one century after us! I guess, it is how we all want to remember SF, even if it´s not the current reality!
Aw, This post is making me smile! I travelled to San Fransico with my family as a child! I really want to go back these photos are stunning!
Thanks, Georgina! I´d love to go back myself!
I have been to SF and to Berlin and both cities are great. And yes the tech boom had some negative impacts on the city for sure. The cost of living seriously it is bad. And Vancouver too.
LOVE your photos really brings the city to life! Thanks for sharing it brings back memories of when I visited and when I lived on the west coast. And the redwoods wow that really makes you feel free.
Allie of
Thanks, Allie! I´d love to visit Vancouver as well one day – heard so many wonderful things!