How To Spend 48 Hours in San Francisco

After the shopping spree, head east towards the Ferry Building on one of the many buses that go in that direction, and check out the shops there. (Free samples, anyone?)

From there, walk to Chinatown. It can be fun to catch the cable car, but the lines are absurdly long and it’s not always worth it. Don’t miss the Dragon’s Gate, which marks the entrance, as it’s a great photo op.

From Chinatown, make your way up to Little Italy, where you will find Italian restaurants, shops and culture.

From the tower, take the 39 to Fisherman’s Wharf and walk to Ghirardelli Square, where you will find the home of San Francisco’s famous chocolate factory (and lots of samples).

Once you are done checking out Ghirardelli Square, walk back down to Fisherman’s Wharf and explore the area. There are many shops and tourist attractions there, including Ripley’s Believe It or Not, various galleries and many performers.

Afterward, walk along the piers or take the E-Embarcadero historic streetcar down toward the Ferry Building. Stop off at Pier 15 in order to see the Exploratorium. Depending on what day it is, you may have to plan to see the Exploratorium earlier in the day, but that is simple; take the E streetcar up from the Ferry Building during your time there, and then you can do this day in reverse. If there happens to be a Giants game during your time in San Francisco, it is worth it to go see them play, but if not, you can usually catch a tour of the stadium.

Then drive through the Presidio on Arguello Boulevard, stopping at Inspiration Point to enjoy a stunning view of the bay. If you are up for it (literally), sunrises at this spot are lovely and peaceful. This road will take you down into the main post area of the Presidio, which is fun to explore, so spend some time checking out the former military base.

Drive out towards Lands End to experience both the Legion of Honor and the Lands End park, which includes a labyrinth with stunning views of the bridge. Just south of Lands End are the Sutro Baths, one of San Francisco’s landmarks, right on the water. Both places are worth walking around and checking out, but it can be cold, so be sure to bring layers.

Right next to the Sutro Baths is another San Francisco landmark, the Cliff House. Grab lunch here and then make your way to Golden Gate Park. Starting at the west end, check out the Bison Paddock (yes, San Francisco has its own bison), Stow Lake, Huntington Falls, the San Francisco Botanical Garden, the Japanese Tea Garden, the de Young Museum, the California Academy of Sciences and the Conservatory of Flowers. It is easy to spend your whole day inside the park, especially if you decide to visit the museums, so don’t feel like you are wasting any of your precious time – Golden Gate Park in itself could take 48 hours to see!

After you romp around the park, head to Haight-Ashbury to find some dinner. There are all sorts of unique and delicious eats there, from Cha Cha Cha to VeganBurg, so there is bound to be something for everyone. Once dinner is over, drive up to Twin Peaks for the view of a lifetime, especially if San Francisco’s own Karl the Fog is not around, and appreciate the views, as your crazy 48-hour itinerary has come to an end.

It should be noted that certain features, especially the museums, are closed on certain days, so if you do intend to visit them, it may be necessary to switch your two days around.