3 days in San Francisco Itinerary and Budget Guide

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This 3 days in San Francisco itinerary will take you to the must-see places in San Francisco but also to San Francisco hidden gems. I have been to San Francisco twice and it is one of my favorite cities in the world. It is the perfect place for a city break without feeling overwhelmed by the crowds, cars and noise. I always think of San Francisco as a chill city with a nice hipster vibe.

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San Francisco is well known for its iconic Golden Gate Bridge, Victorian architecture and Alcatraz prison. However, lots of other places like Sausalito and Castro District will make you fall in love with San Francisco off the grid and away from tourists.

Although San Francisco is located in California, which we often think of as a sunny and warm state, the weather in San Francisco can vary quite a bit. In April, I experienced a colder weather where coats were needed and the city was sometimes covered by a dense fog. In August, I experienced a much warmer weather with lots of sun, the perfect weather for ice cream!

3 days in San Francisco on a budget

This 3 days in San Francisco itinerary is the ultimate San Francisco bucket list. If you follow this San Francisco travel guide for your 3 days in San Francisco, you will have seen almost everything of San Francisco. But, you know I like to stay on budget when I travel so it is important for me to share what my 3 days in San Francisco budget looks like. Although there are definitely ways to travel for free, it is likely that you will also need to budget for your next trip.

My second time in San Francisco, I was actually on a road trip across America. I was sharing all the costs with two other people for a total road trip cost of $15 000 for a one month road trip across America (all expenses included from flights to activities). For background, this budget of $5000 per person included several expenses that I would consider on the more expensive side such as renting a luxurious suite on the Las Vegas Trip.

However, my budget for 3 days in San Francisco was about $65 a day, inclusive of all expenses such as accommodation, rental car for the 3 days, gas, activities, food, souvenirs, etc.

Keep in mind that you can make your 3 days in San Francisco as cheap or as luxurious as you want. My travel budget is usually on the moderate side with a hint of cheap and luxurious travel here and there. I personally prefer focusing on having a clear budget for my trip and saving ahead of time so I can afford my dream trip than cheap traveling. But that comes down to personal preference.

If you are trying to save money to travel and would like to learn more about budget travel, you can check out my budgeting tips for beginners blog post, our 64 tips for budget travel and my video series on how to travel on a budget:

Budget for activities in San Francisco

Most activities and places in this San Francisco itinerary are actually free things to do in San Francisco! We only paid to visit the Alcatraz prison and ride on the cable car. Even though, those two activities were not free, they are still very much accessible.

Accommodation budget

I stayed at the Hotel Aura in San Bruno, located 10min from San Francisco International airport and about 20km from San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge. One night cost about €80 which we split between 3 people. Our room was modern and clean with everything we needed. This hotel was very well located and comfortable. I would recommend it to anyone on a budget wishing to stay close to San Francisco.

Food budget

The food in San Francisco can be as cheap as you want it to be. There are lots of fast foods and on-the-go places so I wouldn’t worry too much about this although food still needs to be factored in your budget.

Transportation budget

As I was on a road trip across America, we had rented a car and budgeted a bit differently than if the trip had just been us visiting San Francisco for 3 days. When you choose to rent a car, you need to factor in the costs of gas, parking and extra costs for the return location in addition to the rental cost. There are major pros to renting a car, the main ones being flexibility and independence. But it can also become a heavy budget quite fast, especially when you are not splitting the costs.

That said, most parking lots we parked at in San Francisco were free and we found parking quite fast every time.

For 3 days in San Francisco, you could also easily get around by taking the bus and walking. A single bus ride for adults is $2.50. From August 2021, anyone under 19 can ride for free. Discounts are also available for seniors and people with disabilities. Using public transportation will most likely be cheaper than renting a car.

3 days in San Francisco: the night before

We drove 3 hours from Yosemite National Park to the City of the Bay and stopped in the Silicon Valley on our way. I’ll be honest, there isn’t really much to do there as the Silicon Valley is all office buildings. However, we did enjoy stopping by Google headquarters and a couple of other big companies to check out their offices and the vibe of the Silicon Valley.

I probably wouldn’t recommend driving there just for this purpose but I don’t regret stopping there on our way as it is a cool place to see once in your life.

Day 1: The Golden Gate Bridge area and Sausalito

Golden Gate Park

The Golden Gate Park is located right before the Golden Gate Bridge on the west side of San Francisco. Entrance to the Golden Gate Park is free and the park is about 3km long. There is lots to visit in the Park but the most interesting places to see are surely the two windmills in the western section of the park and the Japanese Tea Garden.

The two windmills used to serve a functional purpose for the city of San Francisco but they are not used anymore. You can check out both windmills for free.

Admission to the Japanese Tea Garden is $9 for adult non-residents and discounts are available for seniors and children. However, admission is free if you enter the gardens before 10am on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

Other activities in the Golden Gate Park include riding segways, walking around the lakes and visiting the Conservatory of flowers and the De Young Museum.

Golden Gate Bridge

The Golden Gate Bridge is the iconic red bridge in San Francisco. The Golden Gate Bridge links the northern tip of San Francisco to Marin County over the Golden Gate strait. It is a true symbol of California and for good reasons. It is huge and beautiful!

There are a few places where you can shoot really nice photos of the bridge and the city. First, you can stop right before the Golden Gate Bridge on the right at Fort Point. There is a small parking lot there where you can park while you take photos. Then, you can hop on the bridge and go across. You cannot stop on the bridge. However, you can stop right after, on the right, at H.Dana Bowers Memorial Vista Point. There you will have one of the best views of San Francisco!

From there, you will have one of the most beautiful views of the Golden Gate bridge and San Francisco skyline. The last view point is called Battery Spencer on the opposite side of the highway. Again, another viewpoint you won’t regret!

Sausalito

Sausalito is one of my favourite places in the San Francisco area, located in Marine County. It is one of San Francisco hidden gems as it is not very well known of tourists and remains pretty quiet! Sausalito is a floating neighbourhood made of about 500 house boats.

Each house boat is different and all are well decorated. There are lots of flowers everywhere which give the floating community a very laid-back hipster vibe.

Here, you can wander on the docks, admiring the exteriors of the house boats and taking in the relaxing atmosphere. You might even get lucky and see a house boat being installed which is quite impressive!

You can also enjoy Sausalito’s boardwalk and the beautiful view on San Francisco from Sausalito.

Alcatraz

Alcatraz Island is located in the San Francisco Bay and is the home of the abandoned federal prison Alcatraz. I highly recommend visiting Alcatraz if you have never done it before.

You will for sure enjoy the tour and the history of the place. During the tour, you get to visit the Alcatraz cellhouse which was captivating and listen to the stories of prisoners who tried to escape but never succeeded! Alcatraz island is also home to the first lighthouse on the Pacific Coast.

From Alcatraz Island, you will also enjoy one of the best views of San Francisco’s skyline.

All Alcatraz Island tours depart and return on Pier 33 on San Francisco’s waterfront promenade. The journey to the island takes about 15min and tours recommend you plan a 3 hour visit. Adult tickets cost $41 with discounts for seniors and children. This is one of the most pricy activities I have done in San Francisco but I found it well worth it. No food is allowed on the island.

The Palace of Fine Arts

The Palace of Fine Arts is located in the Marina District of San Francisco, in the east of the Golden Gate Bridge. It was originally built for the 1915 Panama-Pacific Exposition and is the only structure from the Exposition that remains.

The Palace of Fine Arts is surrounded by a pond and gardens where you can enjoy a nice walk or people watching at sunset. It is a nice place to relax after a long day of walking around!

Half Moon Bay

If after this big day you are still standing on your feet, you can head to Half Moon Bay. Half Moon Bay is a small coastal city in the south of San Francisco. This is a popular spot for San Franciscans looking to get away for the weekend. In Half Moon Bay, you will find shops and restaurants. But more importantly, you will find the beach, cliffs and a beautiful sunset!

Day 2: San Francisco City Centre

The Painted Ladies and Alamo Square

The Painted Ladies are the row of colourful Victorian and Edwardian houses located around Alamo square on Hayes and Steiner St. The Ladies are an iconic symbol of San Francisco and therefore need to be part of your 3 days in San Francisco itinerary.

The contrast between the Painted Ladies and the skyscrapers is quite impressive and will make you appreciate them even more.

Castro District

The Castro District is an internationally recognised neighbourhood for supporting the rights of the LGBTQ+ community. You will recognise the District by its colourful crosswalks and paintings on the walls. The Castro District is a lively, joyful, and colourful neighbourhood and I had a really good time there. It left me with a very positive and happy feeling!

While in the Castro District, I would recommend having a look at the Castro Theatre, the funny names of the shops and having a bite at a Greek restaurant.

San Francisco is also one of the best ranked cities for vegan and vegetarian restaurants and some of those places are near the Castro District such as VeganBurg. You can find more of the best vegan places in San Francisco here.

Twin Peaks: the best view of San Francisco

Twin Peaks summit is a short 30min drive away from the Castro District. It offers one of the best views of San Francisco and is therefore a must-see during your 3 days in San Francisco. That said, the weather at Twin Peaks can be intense so cover up and hang on tight as the wind might feel like it will blow you away!

Further, I recommend going to Twin Peaks only if the sky is clear. On days when the city is foggy, you will not be able to see anything and it will just be a waste of your time.

Hop on the cable car for a ride

The cable car is a historical symbol of San Francisco and an attraction to definitely try. Although locals do use it as a mean of transportation, it is quite expensive to ride and is mainly used by tourists. We chose to mainly walk and drive in San Francisco and just bought tickets once for the experience.

The first San Francisco cable car line services in 1873. You can hop on the cable car at any of its stops and you don’t need to wave for it to stop. The cable car will take you up and down the hills of San Francisco, which can be quite steep, and will allow you to rest for a minute (all that walking is tiring!). It stops at all the stops so you can just hop off when you need to. You can sit inside the cable car or just hang tight like I did! Watch out for the view when hanging on the outside of the cable car, it is so beautiful.

Tickets are $8 per adult but the experience is totally worth it!

Mission Dolores Park

Mission Dolores Park, often abbreviated to Dolores Park offers quite a beautiful view on downtown San Francisco. It is a great place to have a picnic or just rest for a minute.

The famous Blue House

Maxime Le Forestier is a famous French singer who wrote a song about this specific Blue House, the blue house on the hill. Located right by Mission Dolores Park, on the 18th street in the Castro district, this blue house means a lot in the French music history because the song “San Francisco” was one of the biggest hit in the 70s. Le Forestier wrote this song to tell the story of his unforgettable summer in this house, surrounded by friends and family, all part of the hippy movement.

For the longest time, French tourists were unable to locate the famous blue house because it had been painted green! Finally, in 2010, the house was found and since then has been visited by thousands of French tourists!

Day 3: San Francisco by the Bay

Lombard Street

Lombard Street is the most crooked street in the world. And I’m sure you have seen photos of it before! It is a one-way road, accessible by foot or by car and has eight sharp turns giving it this ultra winding look. Lombard street was designed like this after it was determined that the street was too steep for most cars.

Further, and besides the funny look of the road, Lombard street houses are very pretty and worth admiring. The street is also filled with flowers and very pleasant to walk down.

The cable car stops right at the top of Lombard Street if you’re on foot. But if you prefer, you can drive down for free.

Fisherman’s Wharf

Fisherman’s Wharf is San Francisco’s waterfront area where you can walk along the promenade and enjoy a laid-back atmosphere. It is a popular area and therefore, you will find lots of souvenir shops, seafood and a colony of sea lions (see below).

Fisherman’s Wharf is a very pleasant area of San Francisco and I would recommend taking your time, admiring the different piers, Ghirardelli square and really taking it all in.

Watching a Cable Car turnaround

The Cable cars need to be turned around as they only have one grip end with which to grab the cable. If you’ve never seen a cable car turn around, it is quite an interesting maneuvre to watch. One of the turnaround is located at the intersection of Hyde St and Beach St by Fisherman’s Wharf. We loved watching the cable car turn around and thought it was very insightful as to how the cable cars operate!

Pier 39 and the Sea Lions

Pier 39 is located only a few minutes away from Fisherman’s Wharf’s sign. It is definitely one of the best free things to do in San Francisco! And that is because Pier 39 is home to a colony of adorable sea lions that will make your heart melt! We stopped there at the end of the day after having ice cream. It was just so nice to watch them nap and swim with the sun starting to set.

On Pier 39, you will also find a Carousel and lots of places to eat such as the Pier Market Seafood Restaurant.

Coit Tower

Coit Tower is located a short 15 min walk from Pier 23 in the Telegraph Hill neighbourhood of San Francisco. It offers a panoramic view of San Francisco and of the San Francisco Bay.

Admission to the grounds of the tower is free but admission to the second floor costs $8 per adult with discounts available for seniors and children.

Although Coit Tower is definitely a must-see, as I’ve shared above, there are plenty of free spots that offer great views of the city and the Bay as well.

Transamerica Pyramid

The Transamerica Pyramid is located in the financial district of San Francisco and is an office building. It is one of the most iconic skyscrapers of the City by the Bay and the second tallest building of San Francisco. Therefore, it is one of the most recognisable buildings in the world.

You can admire the Transamerica Pyramid from the street or from the Redwood Park at the base of the building.

Chinatown

Chinatown is located only a few minutes from the Transamerica Pyramid. San Francisco’s Chinatown is the oldest Chinatown in North America and the largest Chinese enclave outside Asia.

Visiting Chinatown is also one of the best free things to do during your 3 days in San Francisco. It will immerse you in the Chinese culture and architecture. I recommend entering Chinatown through the Dragon Gate at the intersection of Bush St and Grant Avenue.

We spent hours wandering around Chinatown, looking at the different shops, foods, and street decorations.

If you are looking for more things to do near San Francisco, check out these cute towns near San Francisco!

3 days in San Francisco: Is San Francisco safe?

Both times I went to San Francisco, I felt extremely safe. San Francisco is a very lively city. Therefore, there is always someone around during the day.

However, we did notice a high number of homeless people which made some areas feel a bit less safe. That said, we drove across those areas as opposed to walking so it wasn’t really an issue.

Further, it is recommended to avoid Tenderloin District, and Mission District (although Mission Dolores Park is fine during the day). I would avoid Tenderloin District during the day and at night and any parks at night.

In addition, just like anywhere you go, always be aware of who is surrounding you. Be mindful of your belongings and pickpockets and always lock your car.

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Any questions on San Francisco? Drop them in the comments or on insta @twolostexplorers and I will get back to you asap.

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