Planning 1-day in San Francisco?
San Francisco is a USA bucket list destination, known worldwide for the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, and Pier 39. It has featured on countless movies and TV shows including Mrs Doubtfire, The Princess Diaries, and Full House. It is one of the most visited cities in the US, alongside the likes of New York City, Los Angeles and Las Vegas.
This itinerary is part of a larger 5-Day San Francisco itinerary which also includes a trip to Alcatraz Island, a half-day trip to Muir Woods and Sausalito, and a Yosemite day trip from San Francisco.
Read My Full 5-Day San Francisco: Perfect for Solo Travellers Itinerary here.
About This 1-Day in San Francisco Itinerary
This 1-day in San Francisco itinerary is perfect for:
- Solo travellers
- First-time visitors to San Francisco
- International tourists who don’t want to drive
- Travellers with a limited amount of time
Sightseeing Bus vs Public Transport in San Francisco
My recommended way to get about the city is via the San Francisco sightseeing buses. Although touristy and a little pricey, they offer an easy and safe way to explore the city, which is ideal for solo travellers and first-time visitors. It’s also a great way to see the city with limited time; by removing the pressure of navigating public transport, you can fit more attractions into your sightseeing day.
Sightseeing buses aren’t for everyone. If you’re looking to save money, or enjoy the challenge of navigating the city solo, this 1-day in San Francisco itinerary still works, you’ll just need a little extra planning. Make sure to read the Public Transport in San Francisco section at the end of this post for tips on using public transport.
San Francisco Sightseeing Buses
There are two big bus companies that offer a sightseeing bus experience. Big Bus Tours San Francisco, which leaves from their office in Fisherman’s Wharf, and City Sightseeing San Francisco, which departs from Union Square.
Big Bus Tours San Francisco Stops
Stop 1: Big Bus Tours Visitors’ Centre
Located: 99 Jefferson St (Fisherman’s Wharf).
First Bus: 10:00 Last Bus: 17:00
Stop 2: Columbus / Ghirardelli Square
Ghirardelli Square is named after the chocolate of the same name. You can sample some of their famous chocolate at the Ghirardelli Square Chocolate Experience. You can also visit San Francisco Brewing Co. and have a drink in their open-air beer garden.
If you’re staying in Fisherman’s Wharf I’d recommend saving Ghirardelli Square for the end of the day, it’s only a short walk away.
Stop 3: North Beach / Chinatown (Recommended Stop)
North Beach is San Francisco’s Little Italy, home to a wide range of Italian restaurants and cafes.
It is also the location of the City Lights Bookstore. Famous as the headquarters of the Beat Generation, a literary movement led by writers like Jack Kerouac and Allen Ginsberg.
A short walk away on Telegraph Hill is Coit Tower, a monument to firefighters, built by Lillie Hitchcock Coit in 1933. Its panoramic observation platform offers great views of the city.
North Beach is connected to San Francisco’s Chinatown via Jack Kerouac Alley.
Enter through the Chinatown Gate and take a stroll along the lantern-lined streets of Grant Ave, Ross Ave and Stockton St. You will find everything from dim sum restaurants and traditional herbal medicines, to souvenir stores and fortune cookie factories. Make sure to explore some of the back alleys to experience Chinatown’s hidden charm.
Stop 4: Embarcadero Center
Large shopping complex with shops, restaurants and a movie theatre.
Stop 5: Ferry Building
Originally a ferry terminal built in 1898, this water-front building is now a marketplace with shops, restaurants and a farmer’s market (Tues, Thurs & Sat). If you’re hungry, its worth getting off the bus for a quick bite to eat here.
Stop 6: Union Square South
San Francisco’s downtown shopping area, with hotels, high-end shops, department stores and the theatre district. It’s also a popular area for tourists to stay when visiting the city. Personally, I had an uncomfortable encounter here and returned to the bus quickly so I didn’t explore much further.
Stop 7: Hilton Hotel
Located on Mason St, between O’Farrell and Ellis Street, convenient stop for those staying in nearby hotels.
Stop 8: Civic Center
San Francisco’s political and cultural hub, with key buildings such as San Francisco City Hall and Opera and Symphony Hall. It is also the location of the Asian Art Museum, one of the largest collections of Asian art in the US. San Francisco has been North America’s gateway to Asia for over 150 years.
Stop 9: Alamo Square (Recommended Stop)
The historic Painted Ladies are located on Alamo Square. These repainted Victorian and Edwardian houses are iconic to San Francisco. They have appeared on numerous films and tv shows, most notably Full House.
You could attempt to take a photo from the bus, or get off and walk around. The African American Art & Culture Complex is a short walk away.
Stop 10: Haight Ashbury (Recommended Stop)
Haight Ashbury, named for the intersection of the same name, is one of the city’s most famous neighbourhoods. Known as the birthplace of the Hippie movement, it was the centre of the Summer of Love 1967. Today, you can still experience flower power, peace and love in this quirky district.
Haight Ashbury has plenty of unique boutiques, coffee shops and street art. I think its worth getting off the bus here and exploring the neighbourhood. The bus stops at 1816 Haight Street, opposite Cha Cha Cha restaurant.
Stop 11: Golden Gate Park
Between Monday and Saturday, the bus stops at 55 Music Concourse Drive within Golden Gate Park right outside of the California Academy of Sciences, a natural history museum with aquarium, planetarium and rainforest dome.
A short walk away is the Japanese Tea Garden where you can walk through beautiful gardens with koi ponds, pagodas and bonsai trees. There is also a Tea House where you can enjoy Japanese food and drinks with a view.
You can also visit the San Francisco Botanical Garden and the De Young Museum, a fine art museum.
On Sundays and Public Holidays, the bus stops on the outskirts of the park on Lincoln Park at 9th Ave. Its a short walk into the park and the above attractions.
Stop 12: Golden Gate Bridge (Recommended Stop)
The next stop takes you over the world-famous Golden Gate Bridge, a bucket list moment for many tourists, and just a daily commute for Bay Area residents.
Built between 1933 and 1937, the bridge connects San Francisco to Marin County over the Pacific Ocean. Its iconic red-orange colour helps it to stand out in the San Francisco fog.
The bus stops at North Vista Point in the lookout parking area. You can take photos of the bridge from here, butfor the most iconic view, walk across the bridge to the other side and follow the trails toward the Battery Spencer area, where you’ll find several viewpoints. Take note of the time, buses come every 15 minutes, if you’re quick 30 minutes will be enough.
Stop 13: Palace of Fine Arts
The Palace of Fine Arts is an iconic San Francisco structure. Originally built in 1915 for the Panama-Pacific International Exposition, it was rebuilt in the 60s and 70s, it is one of the city’s most recognisable landmarks.
Stop 14: Marina / Cow Hollow
The Marina District is a trendy waterfront district with shops, cafes, bars and restaurants.
Stop 15: Lombard Street (Recommended Stop)
This is the stop for Lombard Street, the iconic San Francisco landmark nicknamed “the crookedest street in the world“. This famous street has 8 hairpin turns and 12 flowerbeds filled with hydrangeas. It is a huge tourist attraction in San Francisco.
Stop 16: Alcatraz (Pier 35) / Cruise Terminal
Pier 35 is the stop where boats depart to Alcatraz Island. Alcatraz is America’s most notorious prison, operating from 1934 to 1963. It is famous for housing notable prisoners such as Al Capone, as well as its infamous escape attempts.
Alcatraz Island can be visited by booking a self-guided tour with Alcatraz City Cruises. Tours usually last around 2.5 hours, this includes round-trip ferry service and self-guided tour of Alcatraz. If you have enough time it is a must-do in San Francisco.
It is also the stop for the cruise terminal, which is located at Pier 27, less than 10 minutes from this bus stop.
Stop 17: Pier 39
The bus loops back to Fisherman’s Wharf, stopping outside the entrance to Pier 39. Pier 39 is home to a colony of California Sea Lions, make sure to visit this iconic landmark in Fisherman’s Wharf.
Other things to do in Fisherman’s Wharf include:
- Musée Mécanique – old-fashioned arcade with coin-operated game machines.
- USS Pampanito – restored WWII Navy submarine.
- Aquarium By the Bay – focuses on marine life in the San Francisco Bay.
Night Tour (Blue Line)
I used Big Bus Tours San Francisco, because it includes a Night Tour (Blue Route) in addition to the standard Day Tour (Red Route) included in your ticket. The night tour departs once daily at 18:00 from the Big Bus Tours Visitor Centre at Fisherman’s Wharf and lasts approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes.
It’s a great way to see San Francisco after dark, especially for solo travellers who may not feel comfortable exploring the city at night on their own. The route takes you through the city and across the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge to Treasure Island, where the bus makes a brief stop for photos of the city skyline.
I’d highly recommend doing the night tour, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it. Make sure to dress warmly, as it can get very cold on the top deck, especially while crossing the bridge.
Public Transport in San Francisco
Muni (short for San Francisco Municipal Railway) is San Francisco’s public transport system, consisting of cable cars, historic street cars, buses and light rail.
The San Francisco cable car is an iconic feature of the city. There are three cable car lines: Powell-Hyde and Powell-Mason lines (both run from Union Square to Fisherman’s Wharf) and the California Street line.
The Powell-Hyde line is a sightseeing experience itself, with scenic views over Alcatraz and the Bay.
The F Market & Wharves is a historic streetcar line running along the waterfront stopping at Union Square, the Ferry Building and Fisherman’s Wharf.
You can also take the city’s network of buses between attractions. Fares can be paid with a Clipper Card, a reloadable smart card that works on most public transport in the Bay Area, with the MuniMobile App, or directly on board with cash or contactless payment.
Day Passes are available for unlimited rides on Muni buses, trains and historic streetcars, for 5.70 USD. Note, this does not include the cable cars, a single ride is 9 USD, alternatively, you can purchase a 1, 3 or 7 Day Visitor Passport starting from 15 USD.
Although this 1-Day in San Francisco itinerary is easier using the sightseeing buses, taking public transport is considerably cheaper.
Final Thoughts on 1-Day in San Francisco Itinerary
Exploring San Francisco without a car doesn’t have to be difficult. The sightseeing buses offer an easy, convenient and safe way to see the city, ideal for solo travellers, first-time visitors and people who don’t want to drive. The Muni public transport system is an affordable and reliable way to see the city too.
This 1-day in San Francisco itinerary showcases the best of the city in a limited amount of time. From Fisherman’s Wharf and Pier 39, to Golden Gate Park and Haight Ashbury. San Francisco is a true USA bucket list destination and well worth visiting.