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I'm getting into San Francisco late afternoon tomorrow, and fly out at the same time on Sunday. I'm on my own, staying relatively central, as far as i know.
Don't want to spend loads of money, do like nice food, happy just milling around seeing the sights.
But, I have no idea where to start and don't want to waste my time!
Tips on places to see, things to do, how to get around and where to eat, please!
My favourite place near San Francisco was Muirwoods National Park - magical place if you can get there early before the other tourists arrive. Otherwise, there’s Fisherman’s Wharf, Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz or just take a walk along the Presidio which is closed to traffic, maybe rent a bike and ride out to Golden Gate on the cycle track?
Chinese food (house of nanking was good but it was years ago...). Or I see Pearl's Deluxe Burgers is still going strong. Both in 24h!
Bike over gg bridge if the weather's half decent.
Lovely city.
There’s a great sushi place in the business district, but for the life of me I cannot recall the name. It has a lot of really nice sake though.
You could always go to Scientology HQ and heckle. That’s worth a laugh. Or retrace Dirty Harry when he did the run around town to deliver the money
Bluebottle coffee in the ferry building on the wharf.
Do beware it will ruin British coffee for you forever.
A mission district burrito is a must.
A mission district burrito is a must.
I kind of assumed he would stay central but I guess with BART no reason to....
Taqueria Cancun for a hole in the wall experience or la Taqueria if you want the posh version. Again you'll ruin a uk perception of "mexican"*. (Ps when it says spicy...... Unlike my experience in the UK .... It's spicy)
* I'm aware it's not what Mexicans eat
Alcatraz for sure.
Alcatraz for sure
We went out there. My only regret in my time there. Massively over rated for the time spent.
buy a cheap skateboard and ride it down Lombard Street. Get someone to film it for us.
Take out medical insurance.
Maybe not in that order.
If the weather is nice, hire a bike and cycle over the GG bridge. On the far side, turn left & cycle up Hawk Hill in the Marin Headlands. Don’t stop at the first viewpoint, but carry on up the hill, for the best view. At the top, carry on the descent off to the point of Marin Headlands - the road is 1 way downhill so no oncoming cars!! Complete the loop, through the tunnel and roll into Sausalito. Ferry back to SF across the bay takes you right past Alcatraz
- tick!!
I can't believe that taking a streetcar (downhill) hasn't been mentioned, there's nothing like the smell of burning brake blocks in the morning...don't worry it's meant to be like that
Any of the above as well ^^, although we didn't visit Alcatraz
Bloody awful place I've been there 3 times with work.
Nowhere in the world is life's inequalities so visible on the streets and America's disdain for the less fortunate.
Rent a Pivot from the brit at Roaring Moose Cycles and ride it to the Marin headlands trails / take the ferry closer.
I rode up mt Tampalpais from downtown once on a rented stumpjumper.
We had similar last summer and we’re staying near union square. Had a very nice late morning to early evening wandering around. Head up the embarcadero through the financial district to the old ferry building for some food and coffee, wander back through Chinatown, then up round the north beach (very much a favourite - Vesuvio bar) and telegraph hill districts, trip up coit tower for the views, then head along to fisherman’s wharf and pier 39 for tourist tat, deff do an Alcatraz trip it’s great (especially the evening / night trips as quieter). Mooch along the rest of the piers heading north (there’s an old arcade / games museum on one of them). Finish up at buena vista to hammer a couple of Irish coffees and then get on of the old trolley cars back into town hanging off the running boards. Ticks lots of the main tourist boxes and a great day out
Alcatraz is great.
Bike over GG bridge, to headlands and over to Sausalito, ferry back is good.
NBA is great, SF team in the playoffs.
If the weather is nice, hire a bike and cycle over the GG bridge.
I agree with dan. This is the best use of your time, followed by a walk along to Fisherman's Wharf. Check the weather forecast carefully though because it can be toasty in the city and absolutely bloody freezing on the bridge, with the headlands in fog. Sausalito usually has good weather though.
Ferry timings got a bit broken with Covid so you might have to ride out and back.
Do not underestimate how bad SF is in the lower part of Market St and Tenderloin district and plan your route with care.
Do not underestimate how bad SF is in the lower part of Market St and Tenderloin district and plan your route with care.
Yeah, basically go uphill in direction of the harbour!!! Visited a pal who lived over there a while ago. Some of the alternative sights he took us to were eye opening.
To be honest, if central-ish - I'd walk the trolley car route (or jump on if you're lazy/tired) down to harbour, maybe do Alkatraz, do windy street thingy and go to Chinatown for fud.
Great, thanks everyone. I'll try and work out a plan after I'm done working today, heading there this afternoon...
Will try to report back!
I rode up mt Tampalpais from downtown once on a rented stumpjumper
lol so did I in 2000 albeit a stumpjumper FSR.
Riding over GG bridge is cool. easy ride from downtowm/rental places.
Second the recommendation to hire a bike and pedal around the city, through Golden Gate park to the coast, over the bridge etc. it’s a great way to see the city that’s unusually cyclable for the US.
Rent a Pivot from the brit at Roaring Moose Cycles and ride it to the Marin headlands trails / take the ferry closer.
This, I did it about 7 years ago, jet lagged to hell, still one of my best days on a bike!
It’s good to mooch around China town and fisherman’s wharf. Pretty much as suggested by others.
When I was there with the family (as opposed to for business) we did a catamaran trip round the bay which was as a great way to see the sights. Although that is weather dependent.
The Muirwoods was a fabulous place to vist to see the Redwoods but it’s a drive.
If you want to do Alcatraz you might need to book in advance if busy you can't always go same day.
I'm surprised no one mentioned the old trams. The grab a cable in the ground and off they go! Hard to control there is a lot of peril in traffic. There is a tram museum where the cable systems meet in the middle. You buy a hop on hop off day ticket.
I enjoyed Golden Gate and the pier with sea lion too. Also hire a car and launch it over the steep roads like Steve McQueen and drive Lombard Street "the crookedest street in the world".
Just hire a bike and pedal about the different districts. As @wzzzzz said, there is a terrible discrepancy between the haves and have nots. The mission is worth seeing to witness the lives some people lead, and maybe have some interesting food. The Haight is worth a look, go to the anarchist bookshop! Plenty of hills, plenty to just absorb. I spent a day doing just that and was something of an emotional wreck by the end.
avoid getting murdered.
25 years ago, but Rasputins Records at the wharf was fantastic.