City Guide: San Francisco

The Bay Area is a vibrant and buzzing metropolis full of delicious food, stunning greenspaces, and historic architecture. To truly appreciate all that San Francisco has to offer you'll need to spend more than a few days in the city, but I've rounded up some key spots to check out if you've got a limited amount of time.
38 Places • ago
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Waking Up

San Francisco has been home to boundary-pushing coffee since supplying coffee to miners during the gold rush. There are many coffee shops and cafes to visit scattered throughout all the pockets and neighborhoods, so finding a good one near you shouldn't be hard.

Wrecking Ball Coffee Roasters
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Saint Frank Coffee
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Haraz Coffee House
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The Coffee Movement
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The Earl Greyhound is a must try
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Flywheel Coffee Roasters
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Hey Neighbor Cafe
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Bites

San Francisco is a foodie's dream, but to maximize a short trip I recommend picking up some grub and packing up a daypack so you can enjoy a picnic and snacks at various locations throughout the day. Pick a special spot for brunch and dinner, but take in the views during the day and snack along the way.

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Tartine Manufactory
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Cafe Okawari
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Marufuku Ramen
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Flour + Water
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If it's your first time visiting, I would start the day checking out Golden Gate bridge and the surrounding viewpoints, even biking across the bridge if you have time!

Then make your way to Golden Gate Park and head through The Panhandle towards the Haight-Ashbury neighborhood, walk up Haight Street to do some window and thrift shopping, then take in the view of the Painted Ladies off of Alamo Square.

Explore the miles of greenspaces and take in the unique arcihtecture and spend the day touring the NW half of the city.

If you want to hit some more touristy spots head downtown towards the NE half of the city and explore the waterfront from the Fisherman's Wharf, Pier 39 towards Chinatown and Union Square, and Oracle Baseball Park. Try to avoid walking through the Tenderloin.

Sites / Activites

North

Golden Gate Bridge
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Presidio of San Francisco
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Golden Gate Postcard Viewpoint
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Golden Gate Beach
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West Bluff Picnic Area
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Palace of Fine Arts
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West

Ocean Beach
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Lands End Lookout
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Central

The start of Golden Gate Park starts the western side of the penninsula and fills in towards the central neighborhoods.

Golden Gate Park
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Conservatory of Flowers
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Haight Street
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Grateful Dead House
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The Painted Ladies
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Lombard Street
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Dolores Park
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Explore Mission District, pick up some street food or burritos from a Taqueria, and take your picnic to Mission Dolores Park. This is the place to be on a weekend! The park is like one communal brunch spot - amazing people watching and good vibes. People bring their blankets and picnic setups, music, and are soaking in sunny days sprawled out on the grassy hills.

East

Fisherman's Wharf
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Union Square
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San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
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Oracle Park
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Other Things

Drive up to the top of the Twin Peaks viewpoint. Or take a drive north of the city along the coast of Sausalito and look at the house boats or drive east across the Oakland Bay Bridge through Berkeley.

Twin Peaks
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Driving up or down the coast?

Check out my other guides for road trip reccommendations for Southern California and the PNW

* * *
CURATED BY
Greetings fellow Earth-dwellers! 🏜️West Coast kid at heart (lived in AZ & OR) 📚Studied abroad in B.C. Canada 📍Now I call the Southeast U.S. home 🌍My passion for sustainability shines through everything I do. I currently work for an outdoor retailer and I love sharing outdoorsy recommendations and breweries. I've been to over 20 National Parks and am exicted to create localized guides for them! Conscious travel doesn't have to include finding a spot off the grid, living out of a van, or only eating vegan food. I enjoy sharing local businesses, environmentally-focused travel tips, and authentic and respectful ways to spend time while you're away from home. Check out my city guides and trip recommendations for mix of eco-tourism and enriching plans anyone would enjoy!
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City Guide: San Francisco

The Bay Area is a vibrant and buzzing metropolis full of delicious food, stunning greenspaces, and historic architecture. To truly appreciate all that San Francisco has to offer you'll need to spend more than a few days in the city, but I've rounded up some key spots to check out if you've got a limited amount of time.
38 Places • ago
Free

Waking Up

San Francisco has been home to boundary-pushing coffee since supplying coffee to miners during the gold rush. There are many coffee shops and cafes to visit scattered throughout all the pockets and neighborhoods, so finding a good one near you shouldn't be hard.

Wrecking Ball Coffee Roasters
@geo-conscious
Add to
Details
Saint Frank Coffee
@geo-conscious
Add to
Details
Haraz Coffee House
@geo-conscious
Add to
Details
The Coffee Movement
@geo-conscious
The Earl Greyhound is a must try
Add to
Details
Flywheel Coffee Roasters
@geo-conscious
Add to
Details
Hey Neighbor Cafe
@geo-conscious
Add to
Details

Bites

San Francisco is a foodie's dream, but to maximize a short trip I recommend picking up some grub and packing up a daypack so you can enjoy a picnic and snacks at various locations throughout the day. Pick a special spot for brunch and dinner, but take in the views during the day and snack along the way.

Add to
Details
Tartine Manufactory
@geo-conscious
Add to
Details
Add to
Details
Cafe Okawari
@geo-conscious
Add to
Details
Marufuku Ramen
@geo-conscious
Add to
Details
Add to
Details
Flour + Water
@geo-conscious
Add to
Details
Add to
Details

If it's your first time visiting, I would start the day checking out Golden Gate bridge and the surrounding viewpoints, even biking across the bridge if you have time!

Then make your way to Golden Gate Park and head through The Panhandle towards the Haight-Ashbury neighborhood, walk up Haight Street to do some window and thrift shopping, then take in the view of the Painted Ladies off of Alamo Square.

Explore the miles of greenspaces and take in the unique arcihtecture and spend the day touring the NW half of the city.

If you want to hit some more touristy spots head downtown towards the NE half of the city and explore the waterfront from the Fisherman's Wharf, Pier 39 towards Chinatown and Union Square, and Oracle Baseball Park. Try to avoid walking through the Tenderloin.

Sites / Activites

North

Golden Gate Bridge
@geo-conscious
Add to
Details
Presidio of San Francisco
@geo-conscious
Add to
Details
Golden Gate Postcard Viewpoint
@geo-conscious
Add to
Details
Golden Gate Beach
@geo-conscious
Add to
Details
West Bluff Picnic Area
@geo-conscious
Add to
Details
Palace of Fine Arts
@geo-conscious
Add to
Details

West

Ocean Beach
@geo-conscious
Add to
Details
Lands End Lookout
@geo-conscious
Add to
Details

Central

The start of Golden Gate Park starts the western side of the penninsula and fills in towards the central neighborhoods.

Golden Gate Park
@geo-conscious
Add to
Details
Conservatory of Flowers
@geo-conscious
Add to
Details
Haight Street
@geo-conscious
Add to
Details
Grateful Dead House
@geo-conscious
Add to
Details
The Painted Ladies
@geo-conscious
Add to
Details
Lombard Street
@geo-conscious
Add to
Details
Dolores Park
@geo-conscious
Add to
Details

Explore Mission District, pick up some street food or burritos from a Taqueria, and take your picnic to Mission Dolores Park. This is the place to be on a weekend! The park is like one communal brunch spot - amazing people watching and good vibes. People bring their blankets and picnic setups, music, and are soaking in sunny days sprawled out on the grassy hills.

East

Fisherman's Wharf
@geo-conscious
Add to
Details
Add to
Details
Union Square
@geo-conscious
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Details
San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
@geo-conscious
Add to
Details
Add to
Details
Oracle Park
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Add to
Details

Other Things

Drive up to the top of the Twin Peaks viewpoint. Or take a drive north of the city along the coast of Sausalito and look at the house boats or drive east across the Oakland Bay Bridge through Berkeley.

Twin Peaks
@geo-conscious
Add to
Details
Add to
Details
Add to
Details

Driving up or down the coast?

Check out my other guides for road trip reccommendations for Southern California and the PNW

* * *
CURATED BY
Greetings fellow Earth-dwellers! 🏜️West Coast kid at heart (lived in AZ & OR) 📚Studied abroad in B.C. Canada 📍Now I call the Southeast U.S. home 🌍My passion for sustainability shines through everything I do. I currently work for an outdoor retailer and I love sharing outdoorsy recommendations and breweries. I've been to over 20 National Parks and am exicted to create localized guides for them! Conscious travel doesn't have to include finding a spot off the grid, living out of a van, or only eating vegan food. I enjoy sharing local businesses, environmentally-focused travel tips, and authentic and respectful ways to spend time while you're away from home. Check out my city guides and trip recommendations for mix of eco-tourism and enriching plans anyone would enjoy!
Send A Tip
Support Emily Geo’s work.
Select your tip amount
$5
$10
$20
$50
Or type in other amount
Powered by Thatch
The home for unique & authentic travel
Powered by Thatch: Where great trips are made.
© Emily Geo Privacy Terms