As travel restrictions are beginning to ease up, there’s a sense of excitement in the air as taking vacations in San Francisco is once again possible. Of course, longer trips to the city by the bay are desirable, but what if you only have a few days in this stunning city?
The top seven things to do in San Francisco if you only have three days are:
- Visit the museums
- Go to Chinatown
- Stroll along Fisherman’s Wharf
- Take a Cable Car Ride
- Visit Union Square
- Enjoy Golden Gate Park
- Tour A Famous Landmark, like Alcatraz
With the right timing, there is plenty you can do in San Francisco in 3 days. From touring historic landmarks to exploring the city’s many museums, there’s something here for anyone.
What is There To Do in San Francisco in 3 Days?
There is a lot to do in San Francisco in just three days! As one of the most popular tourist destinations in the United States, practically anything can be seen or done in the city. But, for the sake of time, here are the top 7 things to do in San Francisco if you only have a trio of days there:
The Top 7 Things to Do in San Francisco in 3 Days
1. Visit the Museums
You don’t have to visit all of them, of course, but San Francisco has museums for practically every crowd. Here are just some of the many museums the city has to offer:
- Do you love science and hands-on activities? Go to the Exploratorium or the California Academy of Sciences.
- Do you prefer to visit art galleries? Go to the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) or stroll along to the San Francisco Art Institute.
- Are you a Disney kid at heart? Go to the Walt Disney Family Museum.
- Are you interested in the unique aspects of San Francisco? Go to the Cable Car Museum or the Gregangelo Museum.
- Do you want a more unusual museum experience? Go to the Ice Cream Museum or the San Francisco Dungeon!
2. Go to Chinatown!
San Francisco is home to one of the oldest and most expansive Chinatowns in the country and is perhaps home to the largest Chinese population outside of China.
This can make navigating the neighborhood seem overwhelming, but here are some must sees and must dos:
- See Dragon’s Gate. It’s a small, but exquisite, work of architecture that serves as the primary Chinatown entrance.
- Visit the Red Blossom Tea Company. This is a family-owned teahouse that has offered various East Asian teas since 1985. You can taste their offerings in-store and even buy your own teaware.
- Shop at Kim + Ono. This women-owned establishment specializes in hand-painted kimono robes, wraps, and jackets. Their products might be on the pricier side, but just viewing them in person is worth it.
- Buy a treat from the Good Mong Kok Bakery. This small, but historic bakery has a number of Chinese treats, from their famous Dim Sum to steamed pork buns.
- Tour the Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory. A staple of Chinatown for over 50 years, this small store offers homemade fortune cookies in all varieties, from chocolate-dipped to strawberry glazed.
3. Go to Fisherman’s Wharf!
As one of the most postcard-ready locations in San Francisco, it’d be a mistake to not at least visit Fisherman’s Wharf during your three day San Francisco vacation!
Sadly, as a popular place to see, it is inundated with tourist traps, so here are some less touristy things you can do in Fisherman’s Wharf:
- Go to the Ghiradelli Chocolate Marketplace. Did you know that Ghiradelli Chocolates originated in San Francisco? In their store, you can make yourself a custom bag of their famous chocolate squares with some flavors you can’t find in a normal store.
- Visit the Aquarium of the Bay. This Smithsonian Affiliate is home to over 20,000 sea creatures, including over 50 sharks! You can view all the aquatic animals that populate the San Francisco Bay, and even see river otters up close!
- Eat at a seafood restaurant! As a home to several original restaurants, Fisherman’s Wharf is a foodie’s paradise, from Fog Harbor Fish House to Pier Market Seafood Restaurant.
4. Take a Cable Car Ride!
Cable cars, distinct from streetcars, are also a quintessential aspect of San Francisco history and culture. San Francisco’s cable car system is also unique, as it is the world’s oldest and final manually-operated cable car system.
If you can’t get enough of the adorable little trams, you can also drop by the San Francisco Cable Car Museum once it opens back up. It details the history of the cable car and details on how the cars themselves work!
5. Visit Union Square!
Union Square is among the most upscale neighborhoods in the city of San Francisco. From classy department stores to timeless theaters, it’s no wonder that union Square is considered the heart of San Francisco.
But what to do there? Here are some options for you:
- Visit the Macy’s. Now, your town might already have its own Macy’s, so what makes this one special? It’s the largest Macy’s in the western half of the country, with over five floors of retail space. It’s worth visiting for walking around it alone.
- Browse the luxury shops. From Rolex to Valentino, Union Square is San Francisco’s center of luxury! It doesn’t matter if you can afford these stores’ goods or not, just being able to walk around and admire the luxurious goods is reason enough to drop by one of them.
- Visit one of the square’s cafes. Aside from the ubiquitious Starbucks, Union Square has a large number of independent cafes, from the upscale ONE65 Patisserie & Boutique to the casual Roxanne’s Cafe, there are a bunch of options for cafe and pastry lovers everywhere!
6. Go to Golden Gate Park!
As one of the most spacious and frequented parks in the United States, Golden Gate Park is a must-see for any San Francisco trip regardless of how long you’re staying. However, because of its size, one may be overwhelmed at what they can do there. Here are some options:
- Go to one of the gardens! The Golden Gate Park is home to over a dozen gardens with various aesthetics, including:
- Japanese Tea Garden
- Queen Wilhelmina Tulip Garden
- George Washington Bicentennial Grove
- Go see the Buffalo! This may sound surprising, but did you know Golden Gate Park has had a population of bison since the 1800s? They’re located at the Buffalo Paddock, where you can see them up close and observe their behavior.
- Venture into the Conservatory of Flowers! As the home to some of the most beautiful and rarest flowers in the world, it’d be a mistake to not visit this historic conservatory. Just be mindful that you will have to pay an admissions fee to get in.
- Visit the Golden Gate Park Playground! This is a definite must do if you have children. It has a merry go round, a rope playground, and even a climbing wall, all safe for kids. Most of the area is free, but the merry go round costs along $1 to 2 for a ride.
7. Take a Tour of a Historic Landmark!
As one of the United States’ most iconic cities, San Francisco is a city filled with historic landmarks. Whether you’re a history buff or just a curious tourist, here are some of the most popular landmarks in the city:
- Alcatraz Island. Home to one of the most notorious prisons in history, this landmark is filled with history about 20th century incarceration and the inmates who used to live there. The “prison” is even being restored due to its historic significance!
- Golden Gate Bridge. Probably THE landmark of San Francisco, the Golden Gate Bridge was the longest and tallest suspension birdge in the world when it first opened. It may be a bit crowded when you go and see it, but seeing the beautiful bridge is worth it alone.
- Oracle Park. Home of the San Francisco Giants baseball team, this iconic sports venue is open for daily 90 minute tours, where you can explore one of the most highly regarded venues in baseball.
Check out cheap flights to San Francisco to find out more things to do in San Francisco, as well as cheap plane tickets, places to stay, and more!
Where Should I Stay in San Francisco?
Where you should stay in San Francisco mostly depends on your budget, with hotels ranging from around $90 to over $300 a night for the most part.
However, the general consensus is that the more touristy areas have better accommodations than some of the less-traveled areas of the city, which tend to be primarily residential and lower-income.
As a major city, San Francisco has its Best Westerns, or try staying at hostels for those trying to figure out how to travel on a budget. If you are someone who likes to stay at more unique hotels, the Staypineapple is, according to TripAdvisor, the best value hotel in the city.
For those with more money and/or the desire to splurge, the Hotel Drisco Pacific Heights is one of the highest-rated hotels in San Francisco, complete with free wifi and parking!
Is It Better to Stay Near Fisherman's Wharf or Union Square?
Whether it’s better to stay near Fisherman’s Wharf or Union Square depends on what you want to get out of your vacation to San Francisco.
If you are someone who wants to experience the more unique aspects of San Francisco, Fisherman’s Wharf is the better place to be by, as it has the aforementioned San Francisco Dungeon and Ghiradelli stores, as well as a couple of other surprises!
If you are taking children with you, staying as Fisherman’s Wharf may also be preferable, as the more “touristy” aspects of the neighborhood, like the Exploratorium and a Madame Tussaud’s, are located there to keep the kids entertained for hours.
However, if you’re more interested in exploring downtown San Francisco, wish to do a decent amount of shopping, and / or experience the San Francisco nightlife, you’ll probably want to stay in Union Square, as it’s within Downtown San Francisco and is the shopping center of the city.
If you’re an art or theater fan, Union Square is also the place for you, Not only is Union Square home to a bunch of upscale art galleries, but it is also home to the city of San Francisco’s theater district, hosting plenty of shows from the local to the national level for most of the year!
No matter what you are into, this city has it. Finding the best way to tour San Francisco in just a few days will be the hardest part of the trip, but it is totally worth it!
And there you have it, the top 7 things to do in the city of San Francisco in 3 days, with a couple of extra tips along the way.
Just remember, though, that it’s YOUR vacation. You don’t have to do everything on the list to have a fun trip; just do what seems interesting to you.