5 Things to Do in San Francisco, if You Have Just One Day
San Francisco – home to historic landmarks and vibrant neighborhoods – has a lot to offer in terms of sightseeing. There is so much to see here, you will need more than one day to completely explore every inch of it. And it’s worth it.
However, if you only have one day, then with a good itinerary and planning, you can still make the most of your time in the City by the Bay, as it is famously known. In this article, I’ll list five things you must see on your next trip to San Francisco that are worth seeing.
Be sure to keep internet data with you, since you may need to hail a ride on Uber or look up locations on Google Maps.
Visit the Golden Gate Bridge
You don’t visit San Francisco without making a visit to the Golden Gate Bridge. It’s the city’s best-known landmark; this architectural masterpiece was deemed the longest suspension bridge ever built in 1937.
Now, San Francisco waterfront towns and woods are connected through this bridge, making it a very popular tourist attraction. You can visit this landmark on foot, in a car, by bike, or a ferry.
The best time to visit is early morning after having your breakfast i.e. 8 am to 10 am, otherwise, it gets too crowded around noon and later.
Take a Stroll at the historical Palace of Fine Arts
From the Golden Gate Bridge, you can get to Old Mason Street where you can spot the magnificent structure of the Palace of Fine Arts.
It was built in 1915 for the Panama-Pacific exposition where the works of art were exhibited. The Palace of Fine Arts is one of the most popular tourist attractions of San Francisco, in the USA.
You can easily spend around 20 minutes exploring the whole place.
Explore Alcatraz Island
Many visitors think a trip to Alcatraz is an obvious choice to see in San Francisco, especially if you are just visiting for one day.
Alcatraz Island has been featured in many movies and TV shows and is also referred to as “the Rock” by many. It’s basically a large rock on a bay. You can join a tour group where the guide narrates its history, the prisoners, and many escape attempts from the prisons.
Buy the tickets in advance since they sell out pretty quickly.
Check Out Mural Projects
San Francisco is famous for murals – it has around 1000 of them, spread throughout the city. Following are the places where you can find beautiful mural paintings to admire;
- Clairon Alley, where you can find vibrant murals focused on social movements and human rights
- Balmy Alley, consisting of politically motivated messages to fun ones about San Francisco
- 24th Street Corridor in the Mission district
Other areas around San Francisco are the Women’s Building near Clarion Alley, Garfield Square Park, and Precita Avenue. All these places are free for you to visit and explore.
Cruise Through San Francisco Bay
San Francisco is also famous for its beautiful bays around. You can cruise through them and enjoy the views of Alcatraz, the Golden Gate Bridge, and the San Francisco skyline.
There are several companies that offer sightseeing cruises around San Francisco, and you definitely need to take this one before the day is over.
Your cruise will depart from the Fisherman’s Wharf, and sail past Fort Mason, the Marina District, the Palace of Fine Arts, the Presidio, and Fort Point, until coming under the iconic Golden Gate Bridge, which is definitely a sight to behold! This cruise then heads back to Fisherman’s Wharf where you can get off, but not before passing through Alcatraz.
This whole cruise will take just one hour.
Final Thoughts: Other Attractions
Even after all the places you explore mentioned above, there’s still more time before the day ends. You can check out the following places as well;
- Land’s End Hike, a secret labyrinth in San Francisco where you can go hiking.
- The Museum of Modern Art for all the art lovers out there.
- Ferry Building, at the foot of Market Street where you will come across vendors selling cheese, coffee, candy, and prepared food.
- Muir Woods, known for towering old-growth redwood trees.
However, to be honest, you need more than a single day to explore San Francisco for any first-time visitor. But hopefully, your one-day trip to San Francisco will make you want to visit it again in the future!
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