You have just booked a Frenchbee flight for a trip to the West Coast of the United States and you would like to visit San Francisco in 1 day.

Of course 1 day is not enough to visit all the tourist attractions of this legendary city. But with good organization and an optimized itinerary, it is possible to achieve in 1 day a walking tour of San Francisco's most iconic landmarks.

I let you discover below how to organize this visit to San Francisco and how to make the most of it in 1 day.

Why visit San Francisco in 1 day?

California has many must-see tourist sites: Los Angeles, Napa Valley, San Francisco, Sturtevant Falls, Santa Anita Grand Canyon, Sacramento, Yosemite National Park, Sequoia National Park, Monterey.

So, when you don't have 2 or 3 weeks to discover the region, you have to choose carefully where to go and limit the time of visits when possible.

This is why many travelers decide to visit San Francisco in 1 day to also have time to discover the other Californian wonders.

Indeed, we must not skip San Francisco which is a mythical city on the West Coast. With its neighborhoods like Haight Ashbury, its superb Golden Gate, its historic tramway, its steep streets lined with Victorian houses, San Francisco is certainly the most beautiful city in California.

Which flight for a Paris San Francisco?

Visiting California is expensive and it would be a shame to devote a large part of the travel budget to a simple flight. So, it is interesting to find out about the cheapest flights to San Francisco.

It is this strategy that made me discover the Frenchbee company with a flight paris san francisco ideal level price and conditions. And it was an excellent choice: low price, easy online booking, punctuality and a great welcome on board!

How to visit San Francisco in 1 day?

To discover theessential of San Francisco in 1 day, you can take the tourist bus or follow my walking tour which represents 3h30 of walking.

If you want to walk less, you can:

• take the free shuttle that circulates throughout the North tourist part of San Francisco from the Presidio Park: PresidiGo Downtown Shuttle,
• use the famous streetcars of San Francisco (see on San Francisco Cable Cars where you can plan your trips or the app MuniMobile)

Finally, to be able to enjoy this tourist circuit in a pleasant way, you have to start very early in the morning.

Be careful because my itinerary only allows you to discover the sites from the outside. Indeed, you will not have enough time to make the complete visits of the monuments or the museums.

What to see in San Francisco in 1 day?

Here are the main stages of my circuit of San Francisco must-see sites :

• Golden Gate
• Crissy Field Beach
• Palace of Fine Arts
• Lombard Street
• Fisherman's Wharf
• Pier 39
• San Francisco Sea Lions
• San Francisco Streetcar
• Chinatown
• Ferry Building
• Union Square
• Painted ladies
• poplar square

San Francisco in 1 day – Itinerary map

San Francisco in 1 day – Tour program

Here are now the stages of my tourist circuit in the order of the itinerary:

Golden Gate

My circuit starts from the most famous bridge in the United States: the Golden Gate. It can be crossed by car or on foot. But to have the best view of this splendid bridge, you have to go and have a coffee at the Warming Hut Bookstore or until Crissy Field in the Marina district.

Palace of Fine Arts

Le Palace of Fine Arts is a magnificent romantic structure on a body of water whose architecture has classical Greek and Roman inspiration. Personally, it reminds me a little of the water tower at Place du Peyrou in Montpellier but much grander!

Lombard Street

The next stage of my circuit can be done by tram going down to thestop of the Powell-Hyde cable car. You will be on the Lombard Street reputed to be the windiest street in the United States. The most popular part is on Russian Hill between Hyde Street and Leavenworth Street.

Fisherman's Wharf

From south of Lombard Street, you only have to walk 10 minutes down Leavenworth Street to Fisherman's Wharf. It is the oldest district of the port of San Francisco, one of the most touristic areas of the city where you will find many activities and possibilities of visits.

It's also where you'll get the most incredible views of San Francisco Bay, the Golden Gate and Alcatraz Island. Moreover, ferries depart from Pier 33 of Fisherman's Wharf for Alcatraz prison (3 hour journey) or Angel Island park.

Sea Lions at Pier 39

You can't go to Fisherman's Wharf without taking a tour of Pier 39. Indeed, you will discover the sea lions of San Francisco! They appeared on these docks just after the Loma Prieta earthquake in 39 and must have liked it since they are still there.

Along Pier 39 you will also find the best seafood restaurants in San Francisco.

San Francisco Streetcar

My circuit now takes us to Chinatown. But with a tram ride (means of transport declared national historical heritage in 1964)!

For this you will need to follow the Powell – Mason route from the cable cars to the station near Fisherman's Wharf: Columbus Ave & Bay Street. After 10 minutes you will get off at the station Stockton St & Sacramento St to reach Chinatown on foot in 2 minutes.

Chinatown

Head to Bush Street where you can see Chinatown's famous Dragon Gate. If you have time, you can also discover the small Buddhist temple Tin How Temple.

The Ferry Building

From Chinatown, you will walk along the Clay Street which goes directly to Ferry Building (20 minutes walk.) You will arrive at a former ferry terminal known for its tower and its clock rehabilitated into a huge shopping hall. You will head to the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market which is a typical market housed in a historical monument.

Union Square

From the Ferry Building, you will walk 20 minutes along the Market Street which will take you directly to Union Square. Union Square is a financial center but also the shopping district of San Francisco with in particular the Macy's department store which has nothing to envy to that of New York!

Painted ladies

I saved the best for last: The Painted Ladies! These are the famous colorful Victorian houses of San Francisco.

Here's how to get there by public transport:

From Union Square, walk to Powell Street Station to take the yellow YELLOW-S BART line and exit at St Mission station. You will then take the 22 bus to Bay Street and get off at stop 13291 Fillmore Street and Grove Street.

Then you will walk to poplar square where the most beautiful houses are located between 710 and 720 Steiner Street.