24 Hours to See Everything in San Francisco for Those on a Tight Schedule and Budget

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This post is about San Francisco.

There was absolutely no way I was going to leave the west coast and not see San Francisco! This colorful and vibrant city should definitely be on your must-see list if you are ever nearby. This being only a short stop on my larger cross country road trip, I spent about 24 hours in this city. Here’s how you can too!

How Long Do You Need in San Francisco?

I would say make it a weekend trip. You can fit all the touristy spots into one day, but I rather enjoy taking time to wander as well as visit different parts of cities throughout my stay. With one day, it was crunch time.

Getting Around San Francisco

If you can refrain from bringing your car, I’d recommend it. Not only is parking expensive, but the city has a high frequency of car break ins. And traveling with my entire life in my car had me STRESSED out! In my case, I paid extra to park in garages. Here’s where I parked during my daytime adventure and overnight by my hotel.

Trolleys are the more touristy way to go. I unfortunately did not get my Instagrammable moment on one of these due to the covid restrictions, but it is just a reason for me to go back! I wouldn’t rely too heavily on this form of transportation as the lines get pretty long at the stops. At least that’s what I’ve been told.

I mainly walked everywhere! But be warned, the hills in this city are no joke. You can walk to most of the spots below, but I walked roughly five miles that day. Just make sure you come prepared.

San Francisco Hotels

San Francisco is a pricey city, but there are still some budget friendly options. There are hostels around the touristy areas, but there are also plenty of Airbnbs. I found a discounted hotel room right down the street from the Painted Ladies that was also located near plenty of restaurants. My stay at the Hayes Valley Inn was perfect for my one night escapade.

Now let’s get into the things you must see when you visit San Francisco!

Alcatraz:

If you are on the fence about whether to book a trip to this famous prison, I am here to tell you that you absolutely should! Not only is this island full of history, but it is also a great view of the city skyline. I booked my tour through the national park website, but you can book through others and get bundles like bike rentals etc.

I recommend selecting the earliest slot to avoid crowds (10am). I got there at 9am to be one of the first on the boats and at check in.

How to see everything on the island in two/three hours: 

Listen to the park ranger’s welcome speech as soon as you get off the boat. Then you can follow the next ranger to the prison worker buildings while everyone else rushes to the prison. They will give you a full history lesson you won’t find in the pamphlets.

They’ll leave you at the buildings to explore on your own, and before the 11am boat docks, make your way to the cell house for your audio tour. This took me roughly 45 mins to go through the tour. I highly recommend downloading the Alcatraz Island app before getting onto the island due to the lack of service once you arrive. This app is where you’ll listen to the audio tour.

Then you can make your way to the dock and go inside the bookstore to watch the informational videos before the 12pm boat docks to take you back to the mainland.

Fisherman’s Wharf and Pier 39

I walked from Alcatraz to Ghirardelli’s Square (2mi), and you pass right by here. I didn’t stop to eat since seafood isn’t in my diet anymore, but everything smelled amazing! You can walk out onto the pier and watch the sea lions sunbathing, visit the aquarium, or grab some fresh sea food.

Ghirardelli’s Square

Am I allowed to say this? I’ve been a die-hard fan of their ice cream sundaes (Ocean Beach being my go-to), so I had to visit the birthplace. And I have to say that the Disney Springs’ Ghirardelli’s in Orlando, Florida is better! I don’t really know what the deciding factor of it was (maybe because I wasn’t given a cherry on top or the correct chocolate square). Maybe just chalk it up to the nostalgia of Disney Springs. But it was definitely worth grabbing some ice cream and having a beautiful view of the Golden Gate Bridge from the park nearby.

Lombard Street

I decided to walk instead of drive Lombard Street because my poor car had already done so many steep grades. The walk from Ghirardelli’s Square to Lombard Street isn’t very far but it is all UPHILL! Wow, I’ve never felt so out of shape. This walk will take you to the top of Lombard street, but there are stairs to take you to the bottom for a better view of the cars maneuvering the six sharp switchbacks.

Battery Spencer Overlook – San Francisco Bridge

Next, I walked back to my car and drove across the Golden Gate Bridge to get to Battery Spencer Overlook. Totally worth it! I’d suggest going later in the day like I did because by the time I got to the overlook, the fog was gone leaving the entire bridge visible! One of the best views of the bridge you’ll get!

Painted Ladies

A five-minute walk from my hotel, I sat in the park across the street and watched the sunset here. A peaceful end to the day.

Golden Gate Overlook

This is the picture you’ll see on people’s Instagram. I didn’t have time to go the day before, so I stopped in the morning before I left. Sadly, the San Francisco fog had set in, and I couldn’t get a good look at the bridge. Definitely come later in the day for this picture as well!

After a full day of adventure, this city still had so much more to give. I know for a fact that I will have to return soon. Have you ever been? What’s was your favorite part?

This post is about San Francisco.