The First-Timer’s Guide to a Weekend in San Francisco

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San Francisco offers so much more than Ghiradelli chocolates and the world-famous Golden Gate Bridge. However, your very first visit to the city just wouldn’t be complete without experiencing at least a few touristy places. My first-timer’s guide to a weekend in San Francisco covers things to consider while navigating this city, and it balances those iconic attractions with some less-touristy experiences.

Getting Around San Francisco

On any weekend in San Francisco, transportation is one of the first things you will have to consider before you make any plans. Between the lack of parking space, constant traffic, parking fees, and steep and narrow streets, I’m always hesitant about taking my own car. On my first visit, I opted to find the cheapest parking I could and leave my car there for the day. (But good luck finding garages for under $25.) If you arrive early enough to get a spot, I found Crissy Field West Bluff Picnic Area to be the most convenient. That way you are already close to the Golden Gate Bridge and only an Uber away from your next stop.

If you can avoid taking your own car, definitely opt for public transportation. The Muni is not only very easy to use, but it also has very affordable fares and is environmentally friendly. Between the busses, light rail, streetcars and historic cable cars, you can get almost anywhere.

Best Places to See the Golden Gate Bridge

There is nothing more touristy (or more worthwhile) than seeing the Golden Gate Bridge from the water. Seeing it from underneath really gives you an appreciation for how massive the bridge actually is. Taking a ferry is also a great way to recuperate from a long day of walking. Plus, it’s a great way to learn more about the city by listening to offered audio tours. Blue and Gold Fleet’s 90-minute Escape From the Rock tour was the perfect amount of rest for me. Plus, I got to see the bridge and Alcatraz on the same tour.

Naturally, once you’ve gone under the bridge you must go over it next. Biking the Golden Gate Bridge has always been a bucket list experience for me. Since I parked at the aforementioned West Bluff Picnic Area, renting a bike from Sports Basement was an easy and affordable choice. The bike paths are well marked and easy to follow. As expected, biking on the actual bridge was incredibly noisy and pretty crowded. However, nothing beats seeing the Golden Gate Bridge from the seat of a bike on the bridge itself.

Read Next: Visiting the Bixby Bridge

For a less touristy experience, enjoy the Golden Gate views from the Presidio. My personal favorite spot to see the Golden Gate Bridge is on the Batteries to Bluffs Trail. Prepare for steep steps and winding trails, but the constant view of the bridge is completely worth the cardio workout. If you are looking for a longer adventure, take the Batteries to Bluffs trail all the way through Land’s End to Sutro Baths. Not only will you check off multiple San Francisco bucket list items at once, but you will also enjoy relative solitude, incredible views, and end up at a convenient bus stop back to where you started.

Top San Francisco Tourist Spots

Once you’ve got the most iconic landmark out of the way, you’ll want to hit a few more famous San Francisco spots. Located on a walkable stretch along North Beach, the Embarcadero and Fisherman’s Wharf are by far the most crowded and touristy places in San Francisco. The Embarcadero is the street that runs along the waterfront from the Bay Bridge through Fisherman’s Wharf. Fisherman’s Wharf is the stretch along the waterfront specifically from PIER 39 to Van Ness Avenue. On your first weekend in San Francisco, I recommend choosing a few things to visit in this area before moving on to explore more of the city.

Another popular spot is the 16th Avenue Tiled Steps. The stunning swirled tile steps make up some of the most famous mosaic art in the world. Beware that this is an attraction you should definitely use public transportation to access. There are multiple warnings along 16th Avenue not to leave any valuables in cars due to frequent vehicle break-ins. Despite this, the Golden Heights neighborhood surrounding the steps is relatively safe and usually highly trafficked during the day. Furthermore, it is important to remember that the steps are paid for and maintained by the private residents of the surrounding neighborhood, not the city. Check out the official webpage to make sure you are a respectful visitor.

Pro Tip: Take the N Judah Muni Route outbound to Ocean Beach and get off at stop 15198 Judah and 16th. A bonus of taking public transportation here is seeing the Hidden Garden Steps along the way! The Hidden Garden Steps were honestly just as stunning, and I did not see another soul on them. Check out my Instagram highlights to see just how easy it was to access both mural staircases.

Must Eat in San Francisco

I never pass up the opportunity to sample a city’s best ice cream. And the incredible variety of specialty ice cream here is definitely underappreciated. If you are interested in more of a foodie adventure for your first weekend in San Francisco, take an ice cream tour! Humphry Slocombe, Salt & Straw, Milkbomb, Honey Creme, and Bi-Rite are just a few spots that will give you a sampling of both San Fran neighborhoods and flavors.

Another foodie stop you can’t miss on your first weekend in San Francisco is, of course, Chinatown. Deciding where to eat here can be overwhelming because of the sheer amount of choices available. However, getting a little lost and exploring different allies is part of the fun of this area. Try picking one type of food and then exploring until you find it. I have stumbled upon some incredible boba, dim sum, pho, and ramen places.

Finally, make sure at least one of your meals goes beyond a cliche San Francisco staple. To do that you will need to turn to an actual local. Anne of Part-Time Traveler has some of the best and most comprehensive San Francisco restaurant suggestions I have found. I trust her local perspective and have yet to be disappointed in her recommendations that I wouldn’t have otherwise discovered.

If my first-timer’s guide was helpful for your first weekend in San Franciso I would love to know in the comments. And if you like this guide be sure to check out some of my other guides to California!

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