TravPa
The Golden Gate Bridge's two orange towers rise above the water between the Marin Headlands and San Francisco.

San Francisco

Cable cars on steep hills, the Golden Gate Bridge in the fog, Alcatraz out in the bay and neighborhoods from Chinatown to the Mission.

Approved by TravPa Editors, Nov 3, 2026
From the Marin Headlands, the Golden Gate Bridge spans the strait toward San Francisco. · Adapted from Carol M. Highsmith, Library of Congress, public domain.

Itineraries

The Golden Gate Bridge's two orange towers rise above the water between the Marin Headlands and San Francisco.
From the Marin Headlands, the Golden Gate Bridge spans the strait toward San Francisco. · Adapted from Carol M. Highsmith, Library of Congress, public domain.
San Francisco in 3 daysAlcatraz, Fisherman's Wharf, Coit Tower, Chinatown, Golden Gate Bridge, Haight-Ashbury, Painted Ladies, cable car, Twin Peaks3 days, United StatesBalanced pace

Where to stay

Union Square for first-timers and transit; Fisherman's Wharf for families and the Alcatraz ferry; North Beach for cafés and evenings out; Nob Hill for classic hotels on the cable car lines.

The areas: Union Square, Fisherman's Wharf, North Beach, Nob Hill.

Where to stay in San Francisco: areas and adviceHotels in San Francisco

Places to see

All things to do in United States
ViewpointAlamo Square and the Painted LadiesHilltop park facing a row of Victorian houses, with the downtown skyline behind them.Entry: Free to visit
MuseumAlcatraz IslandThe former federal prison island in the bay, visited by ferry with a cellhouse audio tour.Entry: Book a ferry time
NeighborhoodBalmy AlleyShort Mission alley where murals cover the walls and garage doors from one end to the other.Entry: Free to visit
NeighborhoodChinatownThe oldest Chinatown in North America, with tea shops, temples, bakeries and markets.Entry: Free to visit
FoodClement StreetThe Richmond District's main street, lined with bakeries, family-run restaurants and produce shops.Entry: Pay as you go
ViewpointCoit TowerThe 1930s tower on Telegraph Hill, with murals of California history inside and bay views from the top.Entry: Daily from 10 AM; closes 5 PM Nov-Mar, 6 PM Apr-Oct. Tickets end one hour earlier. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year.
NatureDolores ParkSloping Mission park popular for picnics, with wide views over the city skyline.Entry: Free to visit
MarketFerry Building MarketplaceFood hall in the historic ferry terminal on the Embarcadero, with a farmers market outside.Entry: Pay as you go
FoodFisherman's WharfWaterfront area of seafood stands, sourdough bakeries and piers, busiest around Jefferson Street.Entry: Pay as you go
ViewpointGolden Gate BridgeThe orange suspension bridge across the Golden Gate strait, with a sidewalk open to walkers.Entry: Free to walk
NeighborhoodHaight-AshburyThe birthplace of 1960s flower power, now known for vintage clothing and record shops.Entry: Free to visit
FoodJapantownThe oldest Japantown in the US, with ramen, sushi and sweet shops around the Peace Pagoda.Entry: Pay as you go
ViewpointLombard StreetThe steep block of eight hairpin bends between Hyde and Leavenworth streets on Russian Hill.Entry: Free to visit
FoodMission District taqueriasLong-running taquerias around 24th and Mission streets, home of the Mission-style burrito.Entry: Pay as you go
ChurchMission DoloresThe adobe Old Mission and basilica where San Francisco began, with a small museum and cemetery.Entry: Self-guided visit, $[fee]
FoodNorth BeachThe city's Italian quarter along Columbus Avenue, full of cafés, bakeries and old-school restaurants.Entry: Pay as you go
ViewpointPalace of Fine ArtsClassical rotunda and lagoon, the only structure left from the 1915 Panama-Pacific Exposition.Entry: Free to visit
TransportPowell Street cable car turnaroundStarting point of the Powell-Hyde and Powell-Mason cable car lines, at Powell and Market streets.Entry: Pay per ride
ViewpointTwin PeaksTwo hills near the center of the city, among the highest natural viewpoints over San Francisco.Entry: Free to visit