San Francisco occupies the tip of a peninsula only about 11 km (7 miles) across, which makes it the easiest of California’s big cities to explore without a car. Its famous sights — the Golden Gate Bridge, the former prison island of Alcatraz, the cable cars climbing Nob Hill and Russian Hill — sit close together, tied by a walkable waterfront.
It is also the natural base for the redwoods of Muir Woods, the waterside town of Sausalito and day trips to Napa and Sonoma. Plan around two things: Alcatraz tickets sell out well ahead, and summer here is cool and foggy — the warm months are September and October.
Highlights
- Walking or cycling across the Golden Gate Bridge
- The ferry to Alcatraz and the cell-house audio tour
- Riding a cable car over the hills to the waterfront
- Sea lions at Pier 39 and seafood at Fisherman’s Wharf
- Old-growth coast redwoods at Muir Woods
- Chinatown, North Beach and the Painted Ladies
Plan your time in San Francisco
Three full days cover the main sights at a sensible pace: one for the waterfront and Alcatraz, one for the Golden Gate Bridge and the Presidio, one for the neighbourhoods and Golden Gate Park. Add a day for Muir Woods and Sausalito or a wine-country tour. If you are continuing by road, collect your rental car on the day you leave.
