San Francisco, CA
Plan a trip to San Francisco
Seven miles square, which makes it one of the few US cities you can cover without a car. Layer up; the fog decides the temperature.
- Weekend getaways
- Food trips
- Couples
- First-timers
Free to run, and you keep editing after. Add who's coming or a pace like “slow mornings” to shape the result.
San Francisco at a glance
Most trips run 3 to 4 days. This page covers the 4 stops worth anchoring a plan around, 3 neighborhoods to base yourself in, and what the timing looks like across the year — then you can turn any of it into a mapped San Francisco itinerary you can edit and share.
- How long
- 3–4 days
- When to go
- September and October are the warmest, clearest months. July and August bring the heaviest fog, and summer evenings can drop into the fifties.
- Getting around
- Muni buses, streetcars, and BART cover the city, and BART runs from SFO. Walk within neighborhoods, but check the hills first. Skip the car, since parking is hard and break-ins are common.
What to build the plan around
- 1
Golden Gate Bridge
Walk or bike from the Presidio side. Mornings are clearest before the fog rolls back in.
- 2
Ferry Building
Food hall on the Embarcadero, with a large farmers market on Saturday mornings.
- 3
Alcatraz
Book weeks ahead; it sells out. The audio tour is worth it and takes about two hours.
- 4
Golden Gate Park
Bigger than Central Park, with the de Young, the Japanese Tea Garden, and car-free JFK Drive.
Where to stay in San Francisco
- Hayes Valley
- Central, walkable, good food, close to transit lines in every direction.
- The Mission
- Warmest and sunniest part of the city, best taquerias, liveliest at night.
- North Beach
- Walk to the waterfront and Chinatown, with the steepest hills attached.
San Francisco planning questions
- How many days do you need in San Francisco?
- 3 to 4 days. Three days covers the bridge, Alcatraz, and two neighborhoods. A fourth day gets you to Muir Woods or Napa.
- What is the best time to visit San Francisco?
- September and October are the warmest, clearest months. July and August bring the heaviest fog, and summer evenings can drop into the fifties.
- Where should I stay in San Francisco?
- Three areas cover most trips — Hayes Valley (central, walkable, good food, close to transit lines in every direction); The Mission (warmest and sunniest part of the city, best taquerias, liveliest at night); North Beach (walk to the waterfront and chinatown, with the steepest hills attached). Pick based on whether you'd rather walk to dinner or pay less per night.
- How do you get around San Francisco?
- Muni buses, streetcars, and BART cover the city, and BART runs from SFO. Walk within neighborhoods, but check the hills first. Skip the car, since parking is hard and break-ins are common.
- What should I see first in San Francisco?
- Start with Golden Gate Bridge, Ferry Building, Alcatraz. Golden Gate Bridge is the one to schedule first: walk or bike from the Presidio side. Mornings are clearest before the fog rolls back in.
- Can I build a San Francisco itinerary automatically?
- Yes. Describe the trip — length, pace, who's coming — and Arriv builds a San Francisco itinerary with real, mapped venues you can reorder or replace. It's free to run, and you only sign in to save it or share it with your group.