How To See San Francisco In One Whirlwind Weekend

San Francisco is like no other city in the world and with holiday time at a premium, many of us are left facing the harsh reality that we have to pack in as much as possible into the little amount of vacation time we have each year.  If you find yourself in San Francisco and only a few days to see ALL THE THINGS, rest easy, it can be done.  With a little forethought, some good shoes, and a sense of humour here’s how to see San Francisco in one whirlwind weekend:

Have a plan: So much to see, so little time. With this in mind, the only way to make the most of your time in the city is to have a plan and stick to it. Loosely of course. Nothing ever goes exactly as planned so create an itinerary that includes your “must see” hot spots and don’t forget to build in extra time for breaks, meals and even a missed bus or trolley connection or two.  Insider Tip:  When creating your itinerary remember that everything is busier of Saturday.  Everything!
Purchase a good map: Many good maps can be found in tour books before you go.  If you forget you can probably grab a free one right from the concierge desk at your hotel.  Once you get the lay of the land, the tourist areas of San Francisco are fairly easy to navigate. Having an easy to read map will make your trip much more pleasant.
Book a Bus Tour: San Francisco is a large and sprawling city with miles to cover between sites and I swear it’s uphill both ways. The best way to learn your way around and get from site to site is with a Double Decker bus tour. There are many different tours to choose from so do a little research and find the one that’s the best fit for you. Some choices include; Viator, Big Bus and City Tour.  Not only did we use the bus tour to see the majority of our “must see” sites, but we used it as cheap transportation from one end of the city to the other.  It may not be the fastest mode of transport, but it is the most scenic and saved us a few dollars along the way.

Consider buying the City Pass:  Included in this pass are entrance into four of San Francisco’s top attractions; California Academy of Sciences, Blue & Gold Fleet Bay Cruise Adventure, Aquarium of the Bay and Exploratorium   OR   de Young Museum plus unlimited Cable Car rides.  The Blue & Gold Fleet’s one-hour Bay Cruise Adventure which sails underneath the Golden Gate Bridge, around Alcatraz and past Angel Island was incredible.  The Aquarium of the Bay was the perfect place to escape both the crowds and the weather for an hour, and the unlimited Cable Car rides were….well, priceless! Do the math and see if a City Pass might be worth the investment for your trip.

Create time to do the things that are uniquely San Franciscan: 
-Pause a moment outside of Boudin Bakery & Cafe and watch the live demo as they make their famous sour dough bread.
-Indulge in the offerings available at Fisherman’s Wharf. Lobster rolls, clam chowder and Ghirardelli Chocolate Company to name a few.  (some made on that famous Boudin bread!)
-Sample some exotic treats in the worlds largest China Town outside of China.
-Ride a Cable Car.  Bucket list for me – hang off the side of a cable car as we ding dinged our way down the streets of San Francisco.  I must admit, I loved every second of every cable car ride.

Give your feet a rest and book a boat tour: You might choose to sail around the bay and under the Golden Gate Bridge or a specific tour to wander through the infamous Alcatraz.   Insider Tip: Alcatraz tours fill up fast so be sure to look into this one weeks or even months before you go!  Boat tours offer a unique perspective of this sprawling city.
Relax and enjoy: My biggest tip for seeing the city, remember that there’s no way to take in all this incredible place has to offer in just one visit. Check those top 5 must see’s on your list in depth. Explore, learn, take pictures and let the culture and history soak into your soul. Then bounce around to as many of the other sites as your feet and body can manage, but don’t overdo it. No one wants to return home worn out and too tired to unable to remember one iconic landmark from the next.

Happy Travels!

Posts coming up next:  The 5 must-see sites of San Francisco!

Disclosure:  I was provided with media passes in order to help facilitate this post.  As always all opinions on the blog remain my own.

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