When someone asks what my favorite city to visit in the US is I immediately have a few that come to mind: Honolulu, New Orleans, and….San Fransisco! In this post I breakdown how to spend a weekend in San Fransisco, California. This guide walks you through all of the main sites to check out and some must-see spots in the Golden Gate City.

Day One

Stop by Boudin for the Best Sourdough Bread

Start your Saturday morning in San Francisco by walking over to Boudin. Boudin is a San Francisco staple. It’s known as the oldest operating bakery in the city dating back to the mid-1800s. There are a few locations throughout the city, but the Fisherman’s Wharf location is the largest and busiest. Purchase a loaf of the sourdough.

Wander Around Pier 39

While in this area, walk through Fisherman’s Wharf. It’s always packed here and extremely touristy, but that’s why we were here! This is the perfect spot for seal-spotting! They are usually sunning on the piers.

We’d been climbing the hills of SF all morning, so by the time we arrived it was time to eat. It was super windy and quite chilly, so we ended up opting to eat at Chowder’s. We gobbled up some clam chowder and were ready to get back to walking around!

People Watch in Union Square

This is a great shopping district, so it makes for a nice zone to meander a variety of stores. There are also plenty of seating options if you choose to grab a spot and people-watch.

Fill Up in Little Italy

North Beach is another fun neighborhood to check out. Columbus Street is the Little Italy of SF with a great strip of restaurants, shops, and cafes. It was difficult to choose, but we settled for Il Casaro.

After eating, we spent some time checking out the shops on Columbus. If you’re a bookworm, head to the funky City Lights bookstore.

(Over)Indulge at the Fairmont’s Famous Tonga Room Tiki Bar

I love a good tiki bar. For the first night I suggest grabbing some drinks at The Tonga Room, located inside the Fairmont Hotel. Step inside and instantly transport yourself back to the 1950s – in a good way! A large pool in the center includes a floating stage for the band to play on. In addition, every hour it “rains” over the pool.

Order responsibly as the drinks are STRONG. So, don’t say I didn’t warn you when you want to order a third but you’re on the floor.

Day Two

Take the Cable Car

During your weekend in San Francisco, you must opt for a classic trolley ride! During the peak tourist season you may have to wait in a long line. There are a few options of cable car stops – I suggest the Powell and Market location.

To purchase your tickets, head to kiosk, and then wait. And wait and wait and wait. Seriously, the line can be long. For the best experience, grab a seat on the outside so you can get the full views, otherwise you’ll be crammed in the middle on the inside of the trolley.

Jolt Yourself Awake at The Buena Vista

Any time is an acceptable time to drink an Irish coffee, right? For an afternoon pick-me-up go over to The Buena Vista. This historical place is famous for their (very strong) Irish coffees. It is usually packed wall-to-wall people, so you will have to quickly pounce when you see a free space open up.

Explore Chinatown

Next, you can head to the gates of Chinatown. There are so many unique shops selling a variety of items. I’m the type of person who will take my time inspecting every single shop even if they are all essentially selling the same thing. I am a souvenir-store addict!

Whenever I spend a weekend in San Francisco, more specifically Chinatown, I make a point to stop by the Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory. There may be a brief line to wait to get in. The fresh smell of the fortunate cookies teases you while you wait.

Once inside, hand over 50 cents for your picture to be taken while the workers make the fortune cookies. Then, quickly decide what you want to buy – the workers shuffle you outside pretty quick. Make sure to buy the chocolate-dipped fortune cookies.

Flights Before Flights

Before leaving the city, you may want one final touristy stop at Fisherman’s Wharf. There is a spot right on the water with a great outdoor patio to sit down, relax, and buy a rose flight before your actual flight home!

With only a weekend in San Francisco, it is hard to see all of the sites. If you have more time, there are plenty of other items to check off the list: Golden Gate Park, some of the beaches like Marshall’s or Baker near the Golden Gate bridge, an Alcatraz tour, the Haight-Ashbury neighborhood, etc.

If you’d like to check out more travel guides, you may want to see:

• 14 Amazing Things to Do in Vancouver in Summer
• Best Beaches in Naples, Florida
• The Best Bars in the West Loop of Chicago, IL

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