sAN fRANCISCO
7 Day Itinerary
San Francisco 7 Day Itinerary
This 7 day itinerary of San Francisco and nearby excursions has a little bit of everything from beaches to hiking to prison tours. The San Francisco Bay area is such a unique place because the weather can change on a dime and they have some of the most diverse restaurants and terrain imaginable. There are beaches and skyscrapers, vineyards and mountains. So much to see and eat and do that I promise you won’t be bored here.
When to Visit San Francisco
In my opinion July or August is the best time to visit San Francisco, especially if you want to spend time outdoors. Weather in San Francisco can change so quickly no matter what time of year it is. Due to it’s geography and landscape there can be dense fog and sudden rain showers. We visited at the end of July and I thought the weather was great. I highly recommend bringing layers, especially if you plan on hiking or going out on the bay. During our trip I was shocked by how much warmer it was in Napa and Sonoma compared to in San Francisco. We also got really chilly on the boat ride to and from Alcatraz, so be sure to bring a jacket on that tour as well.
Where to Stay in San Francisco
Highly recommend staying in a hotel within the Fisherman’s Wharf or North Beach area so that you’re centrally located. We stayed at Hotel Zephyr in the Fisherman’s Wharf area of San Francisco and it was perfect. It’s a very unique and instagrammable hotel walking-distance to most major sights in north San Francisco.
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San Francisco Itinerary
Day 1 - Baker Beach San Francisco
Take a cab to Baker Beach and hike Lands End Trail
Explore Fisherman's Wharf and Pier 39
Where to Eat:
Lunch at Hollywood Cafe
Dinner at Bistro Boudin
Ghirardelli Square - dessert
How to Get Around in San Francisco
San Francisco is a very walkable city but you definitely need to be prepared to hike some hills. We walked around the city as much as we could and took an Uber or a cab when necessary.
For the winery tours, Muir Woods, and Yosemite National Park, we took Get Your Guide tours, each linked within the itinerary. For Napa Valley and Sonoma I think it’s especially important to arrange transportation in advance so you don’t have to worry about drinking and driving after sampling their delicious wines.
Day 2 - Napa Valley
Where to Eat:
During tour at Calistoga Inn Restaurant & Brewery
Dinner at Palette Tea House & Dim Sum (San Francisco)
Best Places to Eat in Fisherman’s Wharf
As a type A foodie I made a list of places I wanted to eat at in San Francisco months before we left. They are known for having amazing Chinese food, Italian restaurants, and great seafood as well. Check out my “Must Eat in San Francisco Foodie Tour” article for all the details on the best eats in San Fran.
dAY 3 - Chinatown and Little Italy fOOD tOUR
The Buena Vista for breakfast
Visit Coit tower
Little Italy (North Beach)
Lunch at Piccolo Forno
Stella Pastry
Chinatown
Dim Sum at City View Restaurant
Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory
Vesuvio Cafe (see Jack Kerouac Alley)
Lush Gelato on the way back to hotel
Day 4 - Muir Woods
Full day Get Your Guide Tour
Muir Woods
Sausalito
San Francisco Bay Cruise
Where to Eat:
Lunch in Sausalito- Venice Pizzeria
Dinner at Wipeout Bar & Grill in San Francisco
Day 5 - Yosemite National Park
Where to Eat:
Stop for lunch on the way to Yosemite
Dinner on the way back
Day 6 - Sonoma Valley
San Francisco: Small-Group Sonoma Wine Tour with Tastings - Full day tour
Where to Eat:
Tour stops in Sausalito - Barrel House Tavern
Dinner in San Francisco at Fior d’Italia
Day 7 - Alcatraz Tour
All Day 2 Part Alcatraz Tour and Bay Sail:
Ferry and Alcatraz tour in the morning
Afternoon San Francisco Bay Sail
Where to Eat:
Lunch at Cafe de Casa
The Baked Bear - ice cream cookie sandwiches
Dinner at Tony's Pizza Napoletana
I hope this 7 day San Francisco Itinerary helped you plan your own epic California adventure. San Francisco and wine country had been on my travel wish list for a long time and it was well worth the wait. San Francisco area is definitely a foodie travel destination for good reason. Check out more of my travel itineraries below and get inspired to plan your own adventure!