Are you going to San Francisco, but only have 2 days to explore this amazing city? Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered for the best way to spend two days in San Francisco so you don’t miss anything.
San Francisco, also known as The Bay City or Golden Gate City, is located along the eastern edge of the United States, about halfway up the coast of California.
San Francisco has a whole vibe. You don’t visit for a day at the beach, as it is usually much cooler than the rest of California. Instead, you visit to explore the city, see the sights, and enjoy yourself.
I spent a long weekend in San Francisco in the Spring of 2023 and did just that…explored the city, saw the sights, and had the best time.
Keep reading for this comprehensive itinerary to make the most of your two days in San Francisco.
How to get to San Francisco
San Francisco is easily accessible with 3 major airports within 50 miles…San Francisco International Airport (SFO), Oakland International Airport (OAK), and San Jose Mineta International Airport (SJC).
When I visited, I flew into San Jose and rented a car. The drive to San Francisco took about 45 minutes and was through beautiful rolling green hills. The traffic in San Francisco is really bad, so make sure you time your drive to the city so it doesn’t coincide with rush hour.
Best Time to Visit San Francisco
The best time to visit San Francisco is in the Fall or the Spring.
The Fall, August to November, has great weather with the warmest weather of the year averaging 21 C/ 70 F. It also has less rainy days than the rest of the year.
The Spring, March-May, has decent temperatures with the average being 17.2 C/ 62 F. March is the tail end of rainy season, so your chances of having some sunshine while you are exploring San Francisco are better than in the winter. I went in Spring and it was the perfect getaway because our favorite hikes in northern Utah, such as the Wind Caves, were still under snow.
The Summer is when the world-famous San Francisco fog sets in. The warm weather in the rest of California with the cooler temperatures in San Francisco creates thick fog in the morning that often dissipates by the middle of the afternoon.
Winter does not get very cold, with the average temperature being 14.4 C/ 58 F, but it is the rainy season and you won’t see much sunshine.
Where to Stay in San Francisco
The best areas to stay while in San Francisco are Nob Hill, Union Square, or Fisherman’s Wharf. These are safe areas and close to all the sights, so you don’t spend your precious time trying to get across the whole city.
Best Ways to Get Around San Francisco
San Francisco is a walkable/bikeable city especially if your lodging is located centrally, but keep the hills in mind…they get pretty steep. It is not as steep as hiking Heimaklettur in Iceland, but it is enough to make your calves burn by the end of the day.
I rented a car when I went because I like the freedom of being able to come and go as I please. Parking is a premium in San Francisco, so if you plan to rent a car, make sure you check with your hotel about parking before booking so you aren’t surprised with a large parking bill.
The public transportation in San Francisco is reliable and runs frequently. Check out their website for routes and times.
Another great option to get around San Francisco is the Hop-On-Hop-Off Bus. This will take you around to all of the best sights and is a great way to see the city. They have a 1 Day Pass or a 2 Day Pass, which is perfect when spending 2 days in San Francisco.
Is San Francisco Safe to Visit?
Yes. San Francisco is safe to visit, as long as you practice normal precautions. It is no different than any other large city. Make sure that you don’t leave anything valuable or visible in your car (if you rent one) and lock the doors.
Pick-pocketing occasionally happens, so make sure to practice safe traveling. I saw multiple homeless people, including a gentleman laying across the garbage cans along the side of the road, but none of them bothered my group.
How to Spend 2 days in San Francisco
Now that we have the little details out of the way, let’s get down to the fun part…planning what to see.
Day 1 in San Francisco
Go Across the Golden Gate Bridge
We are going to start the first day off in San Francisco with the famous landmark of the Golden Gate Bridge. This massive suspension bridge spans 2737 m/ 1.7 miles across San Francisco Bay. It is an amazing engineering feat and arguably the most famous part of the city. Just like you have to see a natural arch when you go to Utah, you have to see the Golden Gate Bridge when you go to San Francisco.
There are a few different ways you can get to the Golden Gate Bridge. You can walk across or bike across for free. You can drive a car across, but you have to pay a toll. The cost was $9 when we went, but make sure to check their website for the most up to date information.
If you don’t want to walk or drive across the Golden Gate Bridge, you can use public transportation. There are a few bus routes that cross the bridge and have stops on the other side.
The Hop-On-Hop-Off Bus will take you across the Golden Gate Bridge to H. Dana Bowers Memorial Vista Point, which has a great view of the bridge stretching out across the bay, unless it is a foggy day.
View the Golden Gate Bridge
You can get good views of the Golden Gate Bridge from H. Dana Bowers Memorial Vista Point, but the best spot for pictures is Battery Spencer. If you take the Hop-On-Hop-Off Bus, you can walk the 0.5 miles from Vista Point to Battery Spencer. The walk has some stairs and is a bit steep up the hill, but it is definitely worth it.
I chose to drive while in San Francisco, so after driving across the Golden Gate Bridge, I got to drive through the Baker-Barry Tunnel, which is almost 819 m/ 0.5 miles long and is only one lane, so you might have to wait up to 5 minutes to be able to get through.
Battery Spencer is an old military gun battery and happens to have the best view of the Golden Gate Bridge. You can explore the old concrete buildings on your short walk to the viewpoint. On a clear day, the view is amazing and you are sure to get some fantastic photos of the famous bridge with San Francisco in the background.
If you enjoy hiking, you can take some extra time and explore the Marin Headlands, which has many trails around Battery Spencer.
Presidio of San Francisco
After viewing the remarkable Golden Gate Bridge, make your way back across the bridge. Your next stop is going to be the Presidio, a large park just south of the Golden Gate Bridge. This large 1,480 acre park has activities for everyone.
If you love movies, visit the Walt Disney Family Museum or stop by the Yoda Fountain outside of Lucasfilm.
If you like history, visit the Fort Point National Historic Site or the World War II West Coast Memorial.
If you want some amazing photography spots, visit the Palace of Fine Arts or the Lyon Street Steps. The steps are technically not in the Presidio, but they are right outside the east end and it is the perfect spot to snap a few photos.
If you enjoy walking/hiking, climb down the Sand Ladder to get to Baker Beach. This is an easy ladder to climb and you don’t see your life flash before your eyes like the sketchy ladders on the Heimaklettur Hike. You can also take a stroll along any of the 24 miles of trails through the park.
Golden Gate Park
Start out the afternoon of your first of two days in San Francisco with exploring another park. Golden Gate Park is just waiting to be enjoyed.
Take a stroll through the San Francisco Botanical Garden, Japanese Tea Garden or the Conservatory of Flowers. You do not want to miss these, especially if you are there in Spring when the flowers are all in full bloom.
If you want to visit a museum, make a stop at the California Academy of Sciences or the de Young Museum of Fine Art. The de Young Museum has free admission on the first Tuesday of every month. If you are a resident of one of the 9 Bay Area counties, you get free admission every Saturday.
Are you looking for a unique experience? Visit the bison that have been in Golden Gate Park since 1892. You can also rent a pedal boat or a row boat and explore Stow Lake.
Or if you want to take it a bit slower, you can enjoy a walk along one of the many paths around Golden Gate Park. Whatever you choose to do with your afternoon, you will not forget your time in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park.
Painted Ladies and Full House
As Day 1 starts to wind down, you will want to make your way back toward your hotel.
There are many movies and TV shows filmed in San Francisco and it is fun to stop by some of the scenes from movies. After leaving Golden Gate Park and beginning your trek across town, make sure to stop and see the Painted Ladies, a row of colorful houses featured in many movies and TV shows.
Just a short jaunt (1.8 km/ 1.1 miles) from the Painted Ladies is the Full House House, where the TV show Full House took place. It is located at 1709 Broderick Street.
Chinatown
After seeing the movie sights in San Francisco, make your way to Chinatown for dinner. After eating some excellent Chinese food, explore the oldest Chinatown in the United States.
Make sure you stop by the Dragon Gate for an iconic picture. Then take a stroll down Grant Avenue, the main street that runs through Chinatown. There are plenty of gift shops to peruse and it is lined with red lanterns and Chinese architecture.
Day 2 in San Francisco
Take a Boat to Alcatraz Island
Alcatraz Island, or “The Rock”, is the historical site of the federal prison that housed notorious people such as Al Capone and “Birdman” Robert Stroud.
The only way to reach Alcatraz is by a ferry boat. The ferry ride is about 15 minutes long, much shorter and smoother than my ferry ride to the Westman Islands in Iceland. Make sure to purchase your ticket before going, as they can sell out.
After taking the ferry to Alcatraz Island, you can explore the old jail at your own pace with a free audio tour that is available in many different languages.
The ferry back to San Francisco leaves every 30 minutes and you can leave whenever you are done on the island. Most people spend 2-3 hours on “The Rock” before returning to the mainland.
Explore Fisherman’s Wharf
Fisherman’s Wharf is one of the most popular places to visit while in San Francisco. It refers to the northeast end of San Francisco and is the area right along the bay. The Alcatraz Ferry departs/returns from Pier 33, which is on the eastern edge of Fisherman’s Wharf.
You are going to head past a stop for later in the day and head to Pier 39. Here you can see sea lions relaxing on the K Dock of Pier 39. To see the sea lions, walk all the way down Pier 39 and they are at the end on the left (west side). After enjoying the natural wildlife, wander back down Pier 39 to find lunch. There are multiple restaurants to choose from… some with fresh seafood!
After enjoying lunch, make your way down the pier and explore the shops. A favorite is the magic shop and Christmas in San Francisco.
Once you have shopped to your heart’s desire, stop at the Aquarium of the Bay. You can learn all about the local wildlife in the bay. There is a large tunnel you walk through that goes under the tank, so you have sharks and stingrays and fish swimming all around you.
Ride a Cable Car
Enjoy your stroll to the west end of Fisherman’s Wharf. On the corner of Hyde Street and Beach Street, catch a historic trolly and head up the renowned San Francisco hills. This is an experience you will never forget…and it is your transportation to the next notable stop.
For information on routes and rates for the cable cars, visit their website.
Lombard Street
Get off of the cable car on the Chestnut Street or Greenwich Street stop and walk the block to…Lombard Street! Walk down the stairs of this famous serpentine one-way road or enjoy the view from the top. If you make it to the bottom and you want to see another set for a TV show, walk half a block on Lombard Street and see the house where The Real World: San Francisco was filmed.
Head back up the curvy Lombard Street and catch the next cable car, which you will ride to Union Square.
Union Square
Union Square is the heart of San Francisco and has a thriving night-life. Union Square has options for everyone. It is full of fantastic stores and makes for a great evening of shopping. Or see a show at one of the many theaters after grabbing dinner at one of the many restaurants around.
Coit Tower and Telegraph Hill
If you got in all of your shopping on Pier 39 and you don’t want to see a show, head to Telegraph Hill and watch the sunset from Pioneer Park. The park gives you a stunning panoramic view of the city and the bay. If you happen to get there before 5:00 PM, you can climb to the top of Coit Tower for an amazing view of San Francisco.
If you head east from Coit Tower, you can explore the Filbert Street Stairs, a steep set of wooden stairs that goes through a leafy garden and if you are lucky, you can see some wild parrots that live there.
Conclusion
San Francisco is a bustling city with so much to see! It is most famous for the Golden Gate Bridge, cable cars, and Alcatraz Island. Two days in San Francisco is enough time to see all the highlights and leave you with a desire to want to come back and experience all that this vibrant city has to offer.
Day 1 you will see the Golden Gate Bridge, Presidio of San Francisco, Golden Gate Park, the Painted Ladies, and Chinatown.
Day 2 you will explore Alcatraz Island, Fisherman’s Wharf, Lombard Street, Union Square, and Coit Tower. You will also get the experience of riding the historic cable cars.
San Francisco is the perfect place to visit for a weekend, but there is plenty to do to fill up a whole week.
Elizabeth is the mother of two children and the creator of the Tall Adventure Fam Blog. She is the organizer of chaos and planner of all activities along with the help of her husband. She decided that traveling was more fun than therapy, and now the family travels as much as possible. She decided she wanted to share their travel experiences so other people can get out and enjoy the world around them, so she started her family travel blog in 2023. She loves exploring around her home in Utah and loves adventures in new places.
