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What do you do when you find yourself with only one day in San Francisco? As a city so advanced and so pioneering, you would be hard pressed to fit all the things that make San Fran tick into just 24 hours – but, you can certainly see the highlights.
For first-time visitors, the Golden City can often feel imposing, with its skyrise buildings and bustling metropolis streets, but it’s actually incredibly walkable in its downtown area, making it a great city to visit for one day. Although taking an iconic cable car ride is a top things to do in SF, you don’t need to get a cable car in this itinerary.
Downtown is where the majority of attractions are, and they’ve serviced their 43 incredibly steep hills with trams so you can give your legs and your lungs a break and allow you to explore Greater San Fran quickly and easily.
A chilly San Francisco Day!
Since I visited San Fran as a solo female traveler, this one day San Francisco itinerary caters towards solo adults rather than families, so you’ll find no Children’s Museums or kitschy attractions in this guide.
As this was my third visit to this wonderful city, I didn’t tick off the top San Francisco attractions on this visit, but I know that first time visitors will want to see them, so I’ve written this itinerary for first timers and added in some optional attractions for returning visitors if you want to get off the main touristy trail.
So, let’s get stuck in!
One Day in San Francisco Itinerary
The following itinerary assumes that you arrived in San Francisco the night before. If you are arriving mid afternoon, scroll down to the time of day you arrive and start from there.
8:00am: Chinatown
The gates of Chinatown 
Chinatown streets
I had an early breakfast in my hotel, and then headed straight for my favorite district, Chinatown.
I walked through the gates of Chinatown, soaking up the smells and sounds and feeling a little unnerved at just how quiet this normally bustling largest Chinatown outside of Asia was.
This is America’s largest Chinatown, as well as the oldest and and the oldest Chinatown in North America and home to the largest Chinese enclave outside of Asia.
Since 1848, San Francisco has been home to a Chinese community who first ventured here during the Gold Rush, and have since survived riots, earthquakes and attempts to be relocated by politicians, but has continued to stand strong.
Chinatown has a lot to see and do. Walk along Ross Alley and see the murals, take a selfie with the iconic Dragon Gate, visit the Tin How Temple, and eat Golden Fortune cookies.
Also near Chinatown if you’re particularly interested in transportation history is the Cable Car Museum.
9:00am: Jack Kerouac Alley
Awesome murals
If you enjoyed the murals of Chinatown, pause for a bit to admire Kack Kerouac Alley, which sits beside Vesvuio Cafe and City Lights Bookstore (both wonderful establishments worth dipping your head into!)
In fact, Vesuvio may even have tables and chairs out there.
This small alley is filled with murals and poetic wisdom from the greats starting from Confucius at the East side of the Alley (which is in Chinatown) moving down to Mayou Angelo down the west side of the alley (in North Beach).
A merging of the east and west philosophies. So clever!
City of Lights Bookstore
City of Lights Bookstore
City Lights Bookstore was founded in 1953 by poet Lawrence Ferlinghetti and Peter D. Martin and became became an instant gathering place for readers, writers, artists, and activists.
This bookstore is synonymous with Beatnik culture, showcasing the Beat Generation’s writing works and is best known for publishing Allen Ginsberg’s Howland Other Poems.
City of Lights is one of the most famous independent bookstores in the USA and has the most comprehensive collections of any bookstore in San Francisco.
Second floor Beatnik World
Across three floors you’ll find new-release books from major publishing houses as well as harder-to-find, specialty publishers.
I headed straight to the second floor where the Beatnik publications are and did what anyone wannabe writer and devout traveler would do, picked up a copy of The Open Road at City of Lights Bookstore and headed next door to Vesuvio Café to read a few chapters.
Vesuvio Café
Vesuvio, City Lights and Jack Kerouac Alley
Vesuvio Café is a 21+ bar, so we walked past on our previous visit with kids, but I was not going to pass up this moment on my own to read a book with a glass of wine in one of the most famous bars in the USA!
It’s the kind of bar you want to sit around in all day and, while I relished the opportunity to sit on my own and read, I was envious of the twenty-somethings sitting around the bar deep in conversation and laughter.
Vesuvio Cafe
This was the kind of pub I found myself in as a traveler in London and Europe – chasing dreams.
This was a pub that told stories. And had stories born from within – many of the greats have gotten sloshed here: Dylan Thomas, Jack Kerouac, Allen Ginsberg and Bob Dylan.
I chose one of the balcony tables by the window over looking the bookstore and Jack Kerouac Alley.
Budget travelers take note. If you purchase a book from City of Lights, you get a beer, well spirit, or hose wine from Vesuvio Café for only $5.
I contemplated getting a Kerouac cocktail, but since it was still early, and I had more walking to do, I settled for a glass of the house Pinot Gris making the flavors of the Italian North Beach neighborhood the café is located in.
10:30am: Admire views from Coit Tower
Coit Tower, Telegraph Hill
My footsteps then took me to Coit Tower, which I surprisingly haven’t visited before. I think someone mentioned it to us and we just brushed it aside as just another observation tower.
Listen: Don’t brush it aside.
Especially if the typical San Francisco fog has risen and the blue sky is radiating. When that happens, you’ll see views that will make you think you’ve landed on a Greek island.
Coit Tower is a 210-foot white, fluted tower in the Telegraph Hill neighborhood of San Francisco. It’s surrounded by Pioneer Park, which was established in 1876 on the former site of the telegraph station.
It costs $10 to go to the top of the tower for the views, but it is worth it. You’ll get 360-degree unobstructed views of San Francisco city and bay area – all the way out to the Golden Gate Bridge, Bay Bridge, Alcatraz Island and Angel Island.
Be sure to ask the attendant to open the windows so you can get clear views and photos.
Amazing San Francisco Views 
Alcatraz Island Views
You may enjoy the murals downstairs on the walls telling the story of life in California during the Great Depression.
Optional alternative
If you have already been to Coit Tower, or you want downtown views without paying the fee, then head to Ina Coolbrith Park for incredible views overlooking downtown, and nice grassy areas where you can chill for a minute with a snack and a coffee.
11:00am: Pioneer Park
Pioneer Park, at the bottom of the tower has nice gardens and seating areas and trails. I absolutely LOVED the gigantic gum trees around here. As if San Francisco didn’t’ remind me of Sydney enough.
I’ve been told there are parrots along the paths in Pioneer Park. I did not see any, but was not paying attention.
11:30am: Washington Square and North Beach
St Peter & Paul Church, Washington Square
After soaking up the views, my footsteps lead me down Grant Avenue, to the hill past Washington Square and right down into North Beach.
You won’t find sandy shores here (but in the 1800s there was!), but you will find endless options for pizza, pasta, and gelato. North Beach is the Little Italy (Italian neighborhood of San Francisco).
North Beach
Jack Kerouac and the counter culture Beatnik movement made this the most infamous of the San Francisco neighborhoods.
Washington Square Park is one of the three oldest parks in San Francisco and is the place to come on a sunny day with your coffee and pastries.
The famous St Peter and Paul Church is here and is where Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio had their wedding photos on the stairs.
12:30pm: Lunch at Chubby Noodle
Roast beef pho
Nestled between all these Italian cafes in North Beach was the Chubby Noodle, which is where if found myself eating!
For a gluten free eater, Italian can sometimes be a little tricky. And North Beach borders Chinatown so we can pretend it was in there!
I’m so glad I stopped here as I slurped up the most delicious, braised beef pho. It tasted like my Mum’s Sunday Roast in a hearty, healthy soup. Gosh it was good and so filling.
2:00pm: Pier 39
Head to pier 39 to see some of San Fran’s cutest residents, the sea lions. This colony of seal lions have been calling this pier home since 1990. It’s great fun watching them swim around and get up to their usual antics!
Pier 39 also has some quirky attractions such as the Musical Stairs, and is where you will find the Aquarium of the Bay.
You can also shop in some of the stores along here. Boudin Bakery Cafe is a great place to pick up some sourdough bread treats.
Alternative Option: Lombard Street
Lombard St
If you’re someone who wants to get a quintessentially San Fran photo for your Instagram page, head to Lombard Street, also known as “The Crookedest Street in the World!”
It’s characterized by its eight sharp hairpin turns, which were designed in the 1920s to make the steep incline easier.
It’s now a top tourist attraction!
3:00pm: Alcatraz Island Tour or Presidio of San Francisco
Alcatraz Island, San Francisco
If you haven’t been to San Francisco before, then try to book onto one of the famous Alcatraz Prison tours. It’s an unmissable thing to do in SF and offers more than just a tour around the infamous prison.
Departing from San Francisco Pier 33 Ferry Building, the ferries over to Alcatraz offer incredible waterfront views back over the Fisherman’s Wharf district, as well as views of the Golden Gate Bridge and Golden Gate National Recreation Area.
Tours leave three times a day, with the last one leaving around 3:20pm, but you would want to get to the pier before departure time to check in and go through security. They recommend getting there 30 minutes early.
Then, you will cruise over to Alcatraz Island, a Civil War fort and military prison, while learning about its history from a 45-minute audio presentation on the ferry.
Experiencing Alcatraz
On the island, you get to tour the cell house prison building, hear stories about correctional officers and prisoners through the audio guide, and then head back to the pier.
If the weather isn’t playing ball or you’re not interested in Alcatraz, you can head to Presidio of San Francisco where there are plenty of museums, urban spaces, and art installations to check out. You could easily spend an entire afternoon there – check out this guide on all the things you can do in Presidio of San Francisco.
7:30pm: Sunset overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge
Golden Gate Bridge from the Water, San Francisco, California
While in the Presidio of San Francisco, be sure to stay around for a sunset overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge. Two great spots for a view are from Crissy Field or Fort Point National Historic Site, which gives you that iconic shot of the bridge from undernearth.
Of course, visiting Golden Gate Park is an iconic thing to do, but since you’re in the Presidio Area it makes sense to stay here for sunset.
8:00pm: Dinner at Ghirardelli Square
While in the Forst Mason area, head over to Ghirardelli Square, the first successful “adaptive reuse project in the country.”
This retail and dining complex was once a chocolate factory, but in the 1960s when the factory moved, a group of locals bought the site and turned it into boutique shops and restaurants. It has been this way since 1964.
There are plenty of options for food, so have a walk around and see what takes your fancy. Head over to nearby The Buena Vista cafe afterwards for the best Irish Coffee in San Fran!
9:00pm: Nightlife on Columbus Avenue
You might be wandering where to go in San Fran so nightlife. Well, that would be Columbus Avenue, which is one of the main streets in the city.
It runs diagonally from Chinatown to North Beach and has some of the best bars and restaurants in the city, including Bimbo’s 365 Club.
Where to stay in San Francisco: Marriott Marquis San Francisco
Marriott Marquis room
For this trip, I stayed at the Marriott Marquis, located in SOMA, near Union Square.
I was very impressed with the size of the rooms at the Marriot Marquis and I was happy to sleep starfish in a king-sized bed. I had a corner suite with great views. The hotel is centrally located and was close to public transit.
The breakfast buffet at the Marriott Marquis was pretty good, if that is what you enjoy. Otherwise, you’re in San Francisco, there are plenty of places everywhere serving up delicious food!
Huge rooms! 
When I researched the four star hotels in the area I found this had the best price and location for this itinerary. I was only concerned about getting stuck with a resort / hotel amenity fee, which many hotels charge in San Francisco!
I lucked out! No resort fee at the Marriott Marquis. While I would have loved to have tried another San Francisco hotel, I was very happy to stay here. My room was a little small, but still fantastic with great views.
As a Marriot Bonvoy member you will receive free Wi-Fi during your stay.
The View Lounge
Amazing San Francisco View
I also got to experience the Marriott Marquis’ View Lounge on the 48th floor. It’s an Art Deco-inspired rooftop restaurant and bar with hand crafted cocktails and small plates.
Whether you want to eat there or not (pricey), I highly recommend visiting the View Lounge, especially at sunset. I had all the time in the world to sit and soak it up.
The view was so lovely that I ordered cocktails, tacos and desserts! I rarely splurge or eat dessert in this way. But, my soul just needed the celebration,
Best time to visit San Francisco
The best time to visit San Francisco is in the summer or early fall, from June until September, when the weather has clear skies and relatively warm temperatures.
Although warm, summer is also time for the city’s famous fog. In fact, the locals affectionately call August “Fogust.”
Seeing fog in San Francisco is kind of iconic though, and shouldn’t be a reason not to visit.
How to get from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to the city
Ready to explore these streets of San Francisco
The most efficient way to get from San Francisco International Airport to the city is by taking the BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit), which has a direct service to downtown San Francisco and takes about 30 minutes and costs around $8.
Final Thoughts
I miss that wild, adventurous style of travel that you get when you travel alone, and this one day in SF gave me a small taste once again to the beauty of solo travel.
It hasn’t made me want to dump Craig and the girls from my future travel, but instead find ways to weave it in more.
Now the girls are in school, I can plan for those kind of travel experiences, and make room for Craig to do the same!!
I found myself with the rare blissful freedom of just being able to wander and see what I am drawn to.
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What are you most looking forward to doing in San Francisco? Let us know in the comments.
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