San Francisco, famously known as the City by the Bay, is one of the United States’ most eclectic and vibrant cities, with an endless amount of things to see and do! If you are a first-time visitor and are looking for the best way to spend a week in the city, look no further as this post features a day-by-day one week itinerary to help you plan your trip. From the iconic Golden Gate Bridge to the soaring Transamerica Pyramid, you will quickly realise why the West Coast is the best coast!

Day One

For your first day in the bay, you should go and see San Francisco’s most famous landmark, the Golden Gate Bridge! I would recommend spending a whole day here, as this is not just any old ordinary bridge, but is one of the seven wonders of the modern world and its sheer magnificence will leave you stunned when you see it for the first time.

You can walk across the east sidewalk of the bridge, either from Presidio to the Marin Headlands or vice versa and each way takes just over half an hour, but you should definitely stop along the way to take photos and take in the breathtaking views! Walking across the bridge and ticking this off my bucket list was the highlight from my trip and these are the memories that I look back on most.

There are a number of different viewpoints to see the bridge. On the Presidio side, Fort Point is my favourite. It is situated beneath the bridge, offering a really unique perspective, and is a short walk away from Crissy Field and the Golden Gate Bridge Welcome Center.

The Golden Gate Overlook located on the southwest side of the bridge is also a great vantage point, from which you will be able to see the volume of traffic and how busy the bridge can get. This is the perfect spot for hiking and witnessing a golden sunset, with views across the Pacific Ocean.

A short distance away from the Golden Gate Bridge is the Palace of Fine Arts. The stunning architecture of this beautiful dome, together with its 12,000 works of art and idyllic pond means you should incorporate this into your first day. I visited approximately two hours before the sunset, which gave me enough time to explore the Palace, and to make it back to the Golden Gate Bridge in time for the sun going down. The Palace is free to visit and can be reached by BART or a bus, with numbers 101, 30 and 70 stopping at the Palace.

Day Two

Start your second day by visiting the observation deck at the top of Coit Tower, located on Telegraph Hill. The panoramic views are unobstructed by taller buildings, so offer impressive scenes of both the Golden Gate Bridge and Bay Bridge, the curves of Lombard Street and the Transamerica Pyramid, together with downtown San Francisco’s multiple skyscrapers.

It is wise to go here during the morning, as it tends to get very busy later in the day. Due to heavy traffic in the area, the best way to get to Coit Tower is to walk through North Beach to Filbert Street, which although is a steep trek, has steps to make it easier. The 39 Coit bus from Pier 39 is also another option.

Once you have taken in the glorious views, head to downtown San Francisco. At the heart of downtown is Union Square. This is a public square, with shopping centres, galleries, boutique stores and more including the famous Macy’s and Tiffany & Co stores.

From Union Square, walk down Market Street for approximately 20 minutes, until you get to San Francisco City Hall. The architecture of both the interior and exterior are pretty impressive, with a magnificent rotunda made of marble. Admission into City Hall is free and you are able to explore on your own. There is also garden area, and other monuments situated around the building.

San Francisco is home to the largest Chinatown outside of Asia. Dragon’s Gate is the main entrance into Chinatown. From here, continue walking on Washington Street until you get to Ross Alley, and then turn right. Near the end of the alley, you will find the Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory, where you can see the staff making fortune cookies on the spot.

Day Three

Spend your third day along the waterfront, where there are numerous things to do which can easily fill up a whole day. Pier 39 in Fisherman’s Wharf is home to California’s 1,700 sea lions – be sure to take a trip down there, which has picturesque views of the Golden Gate Bridge. Fisherman’s Wharf is also full of great souvenir shops, restaurants and street performers.

A short walk away is Ghirardelli Square and this chocolate heaven is headquartered in San Francisco. There is an endless supply of delicious chocolates, and free samples to enjoy before purchasing.

Stop over for lunch, and for the rest of the afternoon, continue scrolling along the Embarcadero and visit the many waterfront attractions including the iconic clock tower and Ferry Building. The trams also stop along the Embarcadero, so you could also hop on board to enjoy the views, whilst giving your feet a break!

Day Four

Begin your fourth day at Lombard Street, San Francisco’s most famous street, and the world’s most crookedest street! I highly recommend you walk to the top, from where you will be able to truly appreciate the impressive winding street, whilst enjoying great views of San Francisco, including seeing the Golden Gate Bridge and the Transamerica Pyramid.

From here, either get an Uber or walk through Japan Town until you get to Alamo Square. This is home to the famous Painted Ladies, the ‘postcard row’ of colourful Victorian houses, which together with the jaw-dropping backdrop of the downtown skyscrapers, provides a visual treat for all. The famous Seven Painted Ladies have appeared in approximately 70 movies, TV shows and adverts, including in the opening credits of the Full House televisions series. The green park in Alamo Square is also a perfect spot to have a picnic.

You can then take a short walk to Haight-Ashbury, a district with a unique history and charm. The area is home to funky shops, vintage cafes and clothes stalls, more interesting Victorian house interiors and pretty murals. Finish your day by watching the sunset from the top of the oldest park in the city located in Haight-Ashbury, Buena Vista Park. This is a cool vantage point to see the sun going down over the Golden Gate Bridge.

Day Five

After quite a jam-packed itinerary so far, by day five you have seen most of San Francisco’s main sights, so now it is time to slow down a bit and relax!

In the morning, either hike up or drive to Twin Peaks, which for me hands down, is San Francisco’s best panoramic viewpoint. The peaks are located near the geographical centre of the city, making this the perfect spot of 360 degree vistas of the city, the bridges, the Pacific Ocean and beyond.

After taking in the extraordinary views, head to Baker Beach and spend the rest of your day chilling there. If you are after a quiet beach to soak in the sun’s rays whilst having epic glimpses of the Golden Gate Bridge, you will not be disappointed!

Day Six

As a tourist, you would not normally think about visiting a prison, but Alcatraz Island is usually a huge exception for anyone visiting San Francisco. If you are curious about what life was like as an inmate in the world’s most notorious prison, be sure to fit in this day trip and make an excursion to Alcatraz.

You should book your tickets through the official company Alcatraz Cruises at least 4-6 weeks beforehand, as they are always in high demand. On the day of your trip, head to Pier 33. The Alcatraz Cruise departs from Pier 33 at a range of times during the day and the duration of the ride from the Pier to the Island is about 15 minutes, and offers stunning perspectives of the San Francisco Bay Area and the Golden Gate Bridge. Tours are self-guided and you are provided with portable audio units and headphones at the start. You should allow 3-4 hours for the tour. There are plenty of things to see during the 3-4 hour tour, including the cellhouse and going inside a prisoner’s cell, exploring their canteen, and walking around the barracks and forts.

Day Seven

Spend your final day in San Francisco as you want – do you want to go and see the Golden Gate Bridge from a different vantage point? Purchase souvenirs? Hike up to Twin Peaks again? The choice is yours!