San Francisco in a day
If you've got only one day to visit San Francisco, make the best of it you can. These are a few ways to see the most interesting and popular sights, without wasting too much time in between. Things to know:
Visiting Alcatraz takes almost a half day, by the time you take the ferry out there, look around and get back. If you want to see it desperately, reserve ahead (to avoid finding the tour sold out). Opt for their evening tour and you'll have more daylight time to see other things. How to visit Alcatraz
Park once and leave your vehicle there until you're ready to leave the main tourist area. While it might seem like you can see more by driving from place to place, you'll burn up both your brakes and your good humor looking for parking places. If you want to drive Lombard Street, go there in the morning when it's best-lit, on your way to or from the Golden Gate Bridge.
Day Tour by Cable Car and Walking
If you're up to a lot of walking (most of it on fairly flat streets), this is the best way to take in as much of the San Francisco experience as can be managed in a single day. Get more information about riding San Francisco cable cars and find out about ticket prices and how to ride. It will be cheaper to buy a Muni Passport for this trip than to pay each time you board.
Start at Union Square, have a look around and catch any cable car from the stop at Powell and Market Streets.
Get off the cable car in Chinatown (at California Street). Walk two blocks to Grant Avenue and follow Grant north through Chinatown to Columbus Ave.
Turn left on Columbus for a walk through North Beach. Stop for a coffee and a little people-watching at Caffe Roma or any of the other coffee shops along the street.
Follow Stockton over the hill to Pier 39, the follow the waterfront west toward Fisherman's Wharf and Ghirardelli Square. Grab a quick bite to eat at Boudin's sourdough bakery or from one of the sidewalk vendors at Fisherman's Wharf.
Take the cable car back from the Hyde Street turnaround, ending up at Union Square where you started. If you have time, get off at the top of Lombard Street and walk down. From the bottom, continue on Lombard to Columbus, where you can catch the cable car again.
If you want to drive down Lombard Street, you can do it after you return to where you parked your car.
San Francisco tourist tips:
1. Know the Weather: Many a San Francisco tourist doesn't realize how cold it can get here in summer, and dozens of sweatshirt shops thrive on their ignorance. Our guide to weather and what to expect can help you bring the right stuff.
2. Stay in the Right Place: The most convenient areas in the city for a tourist are Union Square and Fisherman's Wharf. Van Ness and Lombard Street, areas many people ask about, are inconvenient and noisy, and it's more likely you'll need a car to get around.
3. Don't Spend Too Much: Discover 7 ways to save money and if you're willing to invest some time, you can get excellent rates on some of San Francisco's best hotels. Our tips will show you how.
4. Don't Rent a Car: San Francisco is small, and all the tourist sights are close together. Some hotels charge more than the price of a nice lunch just for parking, and snagging a spot on the street is impossible. Pick a hotel in a convenient area (Union Square or Fisherman's Wharf), use public transportation or taxis, and rent a car for just one day if you want to take a side trip.
5. Make Reservations for Alcatraz Island: Alcatraz tours fill up fast. Reserve ahead online, or go to the ticket office your first day to avoid disappointment.
6. Pick a Good Tour Guide: If you're inclined to take guided tours, avoid the obvious choices. Their tours are canned, restrictive and sometimes their guides are just plain wrong. Instead, take a free walking tour with City Guides or engage a small, local company to take you on a private tour. While the private tour costs more, when you take into account what you get for your money, it's well worth it.
7. Life's Too Short to Eat Bad Food: You're in a city that some think is the world's best for food. Don't be a typical San Francisco tourist who settles for the tired, mediocre Fisherman's Wharf restaurants or the even tireder garlic-laden dishes at Stinking Rose. Ask your hotel for suggestions, or stop a San Franciscan on the street and ask them where they eat.
8. Get on the Cable Car Faster: Don't stand in the interminable line below Ghirardelli Square. Instead, head over to Mason and Bay Streets, where lines are much shorter. You'll end up at Union Square on either line. If you just want to ride for the fun of it, get on the California line where California Street intersects Market near the Ferry Building.
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San Francisco tourist pitfallsby bastablejc1,456 views
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