Photo: King of Hearts · CC BY-SA 3.0
7 Days · in San Francisco
Seven Days in San Francisco: The Complete City Itinerary
A full week lets you experience San Francisco the way residents do, blending marquee sights with slower neighborhood days. The first five days cover downtown and the waterfront, Golden Gate Park, the creative Mission, the Presidio and the Golden Gate Bridge, and the northern waterfront. Days six and seven then reach the counterculture history of Haight-Ashbury, the panoramas of Twin Peaks, the Castro, and the food and history of Chinatown, along with the city's classic parks. You'll eat across the city's signature traditions, cioppino, Mission burritos, dim sum, and fresh Dungeness crab, and see its art, architecture, and green spaces. Each day stays geographically tight, so a week feels immersive rather than exhausting.
Day 01
Downtown, the Waterfront & Skyline
Union Square, SFMOMA, a bay cruise, and views from Coit Tower.
Morning
Union Square & Cable Cars
Start at Union Square, then ride a Powell Street cable car up and over Nob Hill for a classic orientation to downtown San Francisco.
Late Morning
SFMOMA
Spend two hours with the modern and contemporary collection, the photography galleries, and the living wall, a short walk from the square.
Lunch
Ferry Building Marketplace
Lunch at the Ferry Building's food hall on the Embarcadero, with bay views and moments from the afternoon cruise dock.
Afternoon
Golden Gate Bay Cruise
Take a narrated bay cruise beneath the Golden Gate Bridge and past Alcatraz for the city's best skyline primer from the water.
Late Afternoon
Coit Tower & Telegraph Hill
Climb Telegraph Hill to Coit Tower and ride to the top for sweeping views over the bay, the bridges, and the city's hills.
Evening
North Beach dinner
Close with cioppino or Italian fare in North Beach, the city's historic Little Italy, toasting your first day.
Day 02
Golden Gate Park & the Museums
The Academy of Sciences, the de Young, the Tea Garden, and Stow Lake.
Morning
California Academy of Sciences
Explore the rainforest dome, aquarium, and planetarium under one living roof; arrive early to beat the groups.
Late Morning
de Young Museum
Cross the Music Concourse to the de Young for American art and global textiles, then ride up its tower for a free park view.
Lunch
Golden Gate Park lawns
Picnic or grab a casual lunch on the greens near the concourse, surrounded by the park's gardens.
Afternoon
Japanese Tea Garden
Walk to the oldest public Japanese garden in the country for koi ponds, a drum bridge, and a quiet cup of tea.
Late Afternoon
Stow Lake & Strawberry Hill
Rent a rowboat or circle Stow Lake, then climb Strawberry Hill to Huntington Falls and a peaceful overlook.
Evening
Inner Sunset dinner
Dine along Irving Street in the Inner Sunset, with everything from ramen to modern California cooking.
Day 03
The Mission & Dolores
Parks, murals, boutiques, and acclaimed independent dining in the Mission.
Morning
Mission Dolores Park
Start with a stroll through Dolores Park, with skyline views from its sloping lawns, then see the historic Mission Dolores nearby.
Late Morning
Valencia Street boutiques
Browse independent shops, bookstores, and record stores along Valencia, and spot murals on the side streets.
Lunch
Mission burrito
Grab a burrito or tacos at one of the taquerias along Mission Street, a beloved neighborhood tradition.
Afternoon
Balmy Alley & Clarion Alley
Wander the Mission's celebrated mural alleys, a vivid open-air gallery of Latino and political art.
Evening
Mission dinner
Dine along Valencia or 18th Street among some of the city's best independent restaurants.
Evening
Cocktail nightcap
End with a drink at a Mission cocktail bar and the neighborhood's laid-back creative energy.
Day 04
The Presidio & Golden Gate Bridge
A grand palace, a walk across the bridge, coastal ruins, and a clifftop trail.
Morning
Palace of Fine Arts
Begin at the domed Palace of Fine Arts, a Beaux-Arts relic of the 1915 world's fair set beside its lagoon.
Lunch
Presidio cafés
Lunch in the Presidio near the Main Post, with food trucks and cafés among the parade grounds and old barracks.
Afternoon
Golden Gate Bridge walk
Walk out onto the Golden Gate Bridge from the welcome center for close-up views of its towers and the bay; dress for the wind.
Late Afternoon
Lands End & Sutro Baths
Hike the Lands End Trail past cypress groves to the ruins of the Sutro Baths and a rugged Pacific overlook.
Evening
Baker Beach view
Catch the sunset from Baker Beach for a classic view of the bridge against the ocean.
Evening
Richmond District dinner
Dine along Clement Street in the Richmond, known for its dim sum, pho, and international spots.
Day 05
Fisherman's Wharf & the Northern Waterfront
Alcatraz history, a sea lion pier, chocolate, beaches, and the Marina.
Morning
Alcatraz Island
Ferry to Alcatraz for the cellhouse audio tour and island history; book tickets well ahead as they sell out.
Lunch
Fisherman's Wharf eats
Lunch at the wharf on clam chowder in a sourdough bowl or fresh Dungeness crab from the sidewalk stands.
Afternoon
Pier 39 & the sea lions
See the barking sea lions hauled out on K-Dock, then wander the pier's shops and street performers.
Late Afternoon
Aquatic Park & Ghirardelli Square
Relax at Aquatic Park's curved beach, then stop at Ghirardelli Square for chocolate and bay views.
Evening
Chestnut Street shopping
Browse the boutiques and cafés along Chestnut Street in the Marina near Fort Mason.
Evening
Marina dinner
Dine in the Marina's restaurant-lined blocks; reserve ahead for the neighborhood's popular tables.
Day 06
Haight-Ashbury, Twin Peaks & the Castro
Counterculture history, vintage shops, panoramic views, and a landmark theater.
Morning
Haight-Ashbury
Start at the corner of Haight and Ashbury, the heart of the 1960s counterculture, amid Victorian homes and record shops.
Late Morning
Haight Street vintage shops
Browse the vintage clothing and bookstores up Haight Street, then rest in nearby Buena Vista Park.
Lunch
Haight Street eats
Enjoy a casual lunch on Haight Street, from classic diners to global street food.
Afternoon
Twin Peaks
Head up to Twin Peaks for the finest panorama in the city, a 360-degree view over downtown, the bay, and the ocean.
Evening
The Castro
Explore the Castro, a center of LGBTQ history, past the Castro Theatre marquee and the rainbow crosswalks.
Evening
Castro dinner
Book dinner along Castro or Market Street among the neighborhood's lively restaurants and bars.
Day 07
Chinatown, Nob Hill & Farewell
Dumplings and history in Chinatown, plus flexible time for favorites.
Morning
Chinatown & Dragon Gate
Enter through the Dragon Gate on Grant Avenue and explore Portsmouth Square, in the oldest Chinatown in the country.
Late Morning
Chinatown shops & Ross Alley
Browse the herbal shops, tea stores, and the Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory in Ross Alley at your own pace.
Lunch
Dim sum or dumplings
Feast on dim sum or hand-pulled noodles at one of Chinatown's many acclaimed restaurants.
Afternoon
Cable Car Museum
Walk up to Nob Hill's free Cable Car Museum to see the huge winding wheels that still power the lines.
Late Afternoon
Alamo Square & the Painted Ladies
Head to Alamo Square for a final leisurely stop before the Painted Ladies and their downtown backdrop.
Evening
Farewell dinner downtown
End the week with a favorite San Francisco meal, cioppino, Dungeness crab, or a classic steakhouse, before departing.