2 days in San Francisco - what to do?

[Snatch1]

Arriving in SFO 2 days early for a work trip to San Jose. Looking for suggestions for things to do. Any suggestions (not Altcatraz again!)?

[nonsequitur]

Alcatraz / Fishermans Wharf / Coit Tower / Cable Cars / Chinatown / Golden Gate bridge / Sausolito / Hire a car and drive like 'Bullitt' ! A great city.

[LHRFlightman]

nonsequitur said:

Alcatraz / Fishermans Wharf / Coit Tower / Cable Cars / Chinatown / Golden Gate bridge / Sausolito / Hire a car and drive like 'Bullitt' ! A great city.

This. If you want to travel a little further, try Carmel and 17 mile drive.

[RedWhiteMonkey]

Hanging off a cable car is great fun.

Hire an electric bike and explore the city before heading to Sausalito over the Golden Gate Bridge. You can then get the ferry back.

[SistersofPercy]

As has been said Fishermans Wharf is a lovely place for a wander, go see the Sea Lions. Head down to the SF Giants Stadium and if you're lucky you'll find parts open to go in and have a walk around. Amazing place.

[Freakuk]

Cable car definitely, last time I was there we did a movie tour https://sanfranciscomovietours.com/ which involved jumping on a converted school bus and toured lots of famous movie locations, watching clips on the bus and getting to wonder around. It actually opened my eyes to areas of SF I'd never seen/visited previously.

[Snatch1]

Thanks for the replies!

I think the plan is to head down to Fishermans Wharf for a wander round. Sausolito was recommended by a colleague as well. Electric bike across the Golden Gate brisdge, I like the sound of that!

The trams around the City are always fun. China Town for dinner in the evening sounds good.

[Smiljan]

If you don't fancy Alcatraz there is another boat tour which takes you over to the bridge, around and back past Alcatraz but without stopping. Worth it is the weather is good.

[chr15b]

There is a published scenic tour you can do that takes you round 40-odd landmarks.

[SistersofPercy]

Snatch1 said:

Thanks for the replies!

I think the plan is to head down to Fishermans Wharf for a wander round. Sausolito was recommended by a colleague as well. Electric bike across the Golden Gate brisdge, I like the sound of that!

The trams around the City are always fun. China Town for dinner in the evening sounds good.

I got a cab to China Town and just wandered. Ended up in the most random, tiny little restaurant that clearly never welcomed tourists let alone women from Stoke. Some of the best food I've eaten.
Stumbled on a little park where all the elderly Chinese were sat playing chess and Mah Jong etc. It really was an outstandingly beautiful place and a nice afternoon. Just be careful you don't wander into Tenderloin.

[Mogsmex]

Smiljan said:

If you don't fancy Alcatraz there is another boat tour which takes you over to the bridge, around and back past Alcatraz but without stopping. Worth it is the weather is good.

we done the Hornblower dinner cruise, was a lovely way to spend the evening, good food recommended


https://www.hornblower.com/san-francisco/

[wobert]

Another vote for Sausilito, go across the bay by boat from Fisherman’s Wharf, then walk back down the bay front to the Golden Gate Bridge and back to the city

[RedWhiteMonkey]

SistersofPercy said:

Just be careful you don't wander into Tenderloin.

Worse still, the are between Tenderloin and Nob Hill, aka Tender Nob!

[gazapc]

There is a great vintage arcade games machine place just near fishermans wharf. Well worth a quick visit to get rid of change.

Cable cars were busy but get on at an intermediary stop in order to avoid the worst of the queues.

[JuanGandini]

Hiring a bike for a ride round Golden Gate park is good fun too. Well worth it. You can cycle all the way through until you reach the beach.

[Sebastian Tombs]

Go and eat pizza at Tony's. Preferably the New Yorker from the 1000 degree coal fired section of the menu.

You can thank me later.

[SistersofPercy]

gazapc said:

There is a great vintage arcade games machine place just near fishermans wharf.

I stumbled in to that place whilst waiting for the kids to come out of the dungeons. Loved it!

[alangla]

gazapc said:

Cable cars were busy but get on at an intermediary stop in order to avoid the worst of the queues.

Or travel at night - a fairly empty cable car rattling through deserted streets on the way home from Fisherman's Wharf is a nice way to finish off an evening.

They seem to have changed the way the fares work since I was there, so download the mobile app & buy this with it - https://www.sfmta.com/fares/1-day-visitor-passport - a single cable car trip is $7 so $12/day or $29/3 days including all the trams/buses/trolleybuses etc is probably worth it.

[TCEvo]

Coit Tower for the view (assuming it's clear) & walk to Fisherman's from there.

Amoeba Music in Haight Ashbury's cool, plus the vintage shops etc.

If your interested in architecture/buildings there's plenty to see (for free) in the Financial District (the Hyatt Regency's lobby, Hilton SF & Vaillancourt Fountain) and Glen Park BART Station if your taking the train into town.

MOMO's good & easy to spend a few hours there - they had a cool space/moon exhibition during the summer.

[james-witton]

Take a coat if you’re going across the Bridge.

And this place is legendary
http://tonyspizzanapoletana.com/

And it’s near Francis Ford Coppla’s bar.
https://www.cafezoetrope.com/menu

All highly recommend.

Edited by james-witton on Wednesday 13th November 23:21