I traveled to well… the Fog City two times, mainly for business, before spending a day doing nothing else, but exploring some of the must-see landmarks of San Francisco and its surroundings.
Last updated: September 28, 2024
But It Shouldn’t Have Taken that Long…
One of the most influential cities is the San Francisco Bay area, San Francisco is also one of the most popular destinations in the world. Its foggy weather, steep streets, and the world-famous Golden Gate Bridge attract millions of visitors yearly.
Living in California, we tend to take this incredible city with its rich historical and cultural heritage for granted. We travel to the city for business, dine in its waterfront restaurants, and hurry back to the airport, always postponing a deeper introduction to the Bay area for another time.
Yet I dare you to prolong your trip, get outside earlier and spend the entire day exploring some of the best sites and globally recognized landmarks of San Francisco.
BEST THINGS TO DO IN SAN FRANCISCO IN ONE DAY
My friend was going to San Francisco on a business trip. Eager to finally explore the City by the Bay, I quickly invited myself to accompany him. Spending the first part of the day admiring the city center solo, I kept the best sights, including the geographical center of San Francisco, for the evening.
1. Shop at Union Square
Union Square is a one-block plaza with its surrounding area. If you are on a major shopping mission, this is a place where you want to spend at least half of the day. You will find the largest collection of department stores, gift and souvenir shops, boutiques, beauty salons and art galleries in the country here.
Union Square is also a permanent residence of one of the Hearts in San Francisco. The structure was inspired by the Tony Bennett song “I left My Heart in San Francisco”.
Address: 333 Post St, San Francisco, CA 94108
2. Drive Down Lombard Street
San Francisco is notable for the steepest streets in the United States. Lombard Street, however, will blow your mind. As steep as some other places in the city, this scenic street with beautiful flower beds is also considered the world’s crookedest street.
3. Ride a Cable Car
When in the City by the Bay, you must take a ride on a cable car, the last manually operated cable car system in the world. This old transport is popular with locals and visitors alike. Moreover, riding the cable cars gives you plenty of opportunities to see some of the iconic sights of the city.
For history enthusiasts, be sure to complete your quick immersion into the past of the city by visiting the Cable Car Museum.
4. See the Golden Gate Bridge Up Close
The world-famous Golden Gate Bridge is one of the first places you want to tick off your One Day in San Francisco itinerary. The colossal suspension bridge famous for its bright orange color, the Art Deco styling, and imposing towers extends 700 feet above and 100 feet beneath the water.
You can literally spend hours upon hours walking or biking on sidewalks of the bridge. The majority of the visitors, however, prefer to admire the iconic structure from designated vista points, including Battery East Vista, Golden Gate Overlook, and Pacific Overlook.
READ MORE: Walking across Brooklyn Bridge from Manhattan to Brooklyn
5. Visit Chinatown
You can’t spend the entire day in San Francisco without visiting its Chinatown, the largest Chinese community outside Asia. Surprisingly, its unique cultures, customs, languages, and temples attract more visitors than the Golden Gate Bridge.
While exploring this vast area, take a guided walking tour or just let yourself get lost in its chaotic streets. Spend some time discovering cute souvenir and herbal shops, antique stores and restaurants that serve foods that will make you want to come back again and again. And don’t forget to take a picture of the Dragon Gate, the most photographed structure in Chinatown.
READ MORE: Imperfect San Francisco Photo Diary
6. Explore Fisherman’s Wharf
Fisherman’s Wharf is another favorite area of the city. It features some of the most entertaining places, including Pier 39, the Cannery Shopping Center, Ghirardelli Square, the Wax Museum and San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park. The area’s fishing boats and plenty of seafood restaurants and souvenir shops always gather huge crowds.
TIP: Furthermore, you can’t leave the Fisherman’s Wharf without taking the Alcatraz tour or Bay Cruise. Yet make sure to buy your tickets in advance since the tours are often sold out months in advance.
7. Take a Picture of Painted Ladies
A row of Victorian houses at 710-720 Steiner Street across from Alamo Square Park is better known as Painted Ladies or Postcard Row. Residential houses, these architectural masterpieces are some of the most photographed places in the city. Moreover, fans of the popular TV show Full House will surely recognize this area as Tanners’ neighborhood.
Address: Steiner St &, Hayes St, San Francisco, CA 94117
8. Admire the City from Twin Peaks
Is it even possible to spend one day in San Francisco without admiring the city from above? A geographical center of the Fog City, Twin Peaks is an ideal location to admire the city skyline.
On a clear day, you can also get to see the Golden Gate Bridge, the Bay Bridge, and Alcatraz Island, and many other landmarks featured in Hollywood movies and TV shows from this 922-foot hill. In other words, you need to see all of these in person. Pictures don’t do this place justice.
Address: 501 Twin Peaks Blvd, San Francisco, CA 94114
