San Francisco Bay Area: A Weekend Itinerary
This realistic San Francisco Bay Area weekend Itinerary helps you plan next getaway to this iconic Northern California destination.
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The San Francisco Bay Area is popular tourist destination. It is hardly a surprise since there is a lot to see.
- Engineering wonders and architectural landmarks.
- Museums and historic ships.
- Scenic parks, gardens, and wildlife.
- And same weather year round.
Almost every traveler could find something to explore in this region.
Yet, the region’s popularity presents challenges when planning a trip. Hotels and vacation rentals are expensive. Many tours sell out well in advance.
Therefore, it is critical to prioritize sights and plan ahead. Our itinerary provides a one-stop solution to your weekend trip to Bay Area.
Where to Fly In
The first step in planning a trip is to find an airport with affordable fare. The San Francisco Bay Area has three international airports:
- San Francisco (SFO) is the major hub and closest to the city.
- Oakland (OAK) is just across the San Francisco Bay.
- San Jose Mineta (SJC) is best for reaching destinations in the South Bay.
Airfare depends on your origin and preferred airline. We found the lowest domestic fares at OAK. The SFO vast network could offer greater value for international visitors.
How to Get Around Bay Area
Once you picked the airport to fly into the Bay Area, you need to decide on ground transportation. A rental car or public transport are your two options.
Rental Car
- Pros: A car would enable you to travel faster and in greater comfort. It would also help reach destinations off the pubic transport routes, such as Muir Woods or Reinhardt Redwood.
- Cons: Driving a car is a costly pleasure in the Bay Area. Gas, parking, and bridge toll rates could add quickly up. Plus, you will run into traffic during weekday rush hours.
Public Transport
- Pros: Bay Area has robust pubic transport network. Between Amtrak, BART, Muni, VTA, and AC Transit you can get from the airports to most sights.
- Cons: Delays could leave you stranded. And some public transport options cost a great deal more than a comparable car ride.
Unless you plan on spending most of your time in or close to San Francisco, a rental car is a winner. You just need to be strategic about your route planning and parking to minimize extra costs.
Where to Stay
Fremont, CA is the happiest city in America. It also has some of the most affordable hotels and vacation rentals in the Bay Area. If you rent a car, Fremont and Hayward could give the best value on places to stay.
If you proceed with public transport, stick to locations next to the hubs, like the Union Square. Average night price in the Bay Area depends on your property preferences. But you should budget at least $150 a night.
Day 1: San Francisco
The first day’s itinerary focuses exclusively on exploring San Francisco. A car would help with getting to the more distant Lands End Lookout, Ocean Beach, and Presidio.
However, it would slow you down while exploring the central sights. In an ideal case, you could park the car somewhere for about half a day and use it after. It is also possible to explore all of Day 1’s sights using only public transport.
Alcatraz Island
Start the day by catching a historic street car to Fisherman’s Wharf. Decide if you would like to visit Alcatraz Island. If so, book your tour tickets ($42+ per adult) well in advance.
Board the early morning ferry at Pier 33 to explore the historic prison in a less crowded setting. Return to Fisherman’s Wharf well before lunch.
Coit Tower
If you are up for an uphill hike, visit the Coit Tower. At $10 per adult the tower offers great panoramic views of the city.
Pier 39 & Hyde Street Pier
Watch Sea Lions and get some seafood at Pier 39. Then walk to the Hyde Street Pier. With the America the Beautiful Annual Pass you can explore six historic ships at San Francisco Maritime National Historic Park.
Lombard Street
Take a historic cable car or ascend 267 ft (81 m) over 0.4 miles (0.6 km) to the Lombard Street. Once you see the incline of the Russian Hill, you might find the $8 cable car fee reasonable. The Lombard Street’s hairpin turns are certain to surprise you.
Haas-Lilienthal House
Continue on a cable car or bus (long live the Muni 1-Day Pass!) to the Haas-Lilienthal House. For $10 per person you can tour the last standing Victorian era house in San Francisco.
Lands End Lookout
Next it’s time to use your car. Proceed to the Lands End Lookout and Sutro Heights. Make sure to take or hide any valuables since vehicle break-ins are frequent. If you are sticking to the public transport, take Buses 1 and 38R. Get a good look at the Golden Gate Bridge.
Ocean Beach & Golden Gate Park
If you get tired or run out of daytime, enjoy the sunset at the Ocean Beach.
Presidio
Or hop back in your car (bus), and drive to Presidio of San Francisco. It is impossible to fully explore this vast park in just a few hours. Pick the areas that interest you the most, from various batteries to the Lover’s Lane.
Palace of Fine Arts
If you like architecture, finish the day at the Palace of Fine Arts with another view of the Golden Gate Bridge.
Day 2: North Bay
A drive to the North Bay is the centerpiece of the second day of the Weekend Bay Area Itinerary. While you can explore the Golden Gate with public transport, the car is necessary to reach other North Bay sights.
Golden Gate National Recreation Area
Start the second day with crossing the Golden Gate Bridge. You don’t pay toll when traveling northbound. Proceed straight to the Battery Spencer for the iconic views of the Golden Gate Bridge.
Muir Woods National Monument
If you have an advance reservation at hand, make Muir Woods your next stop. It’s easy to spend multiple hours hiking the trails at Muir Woods. Enjoy the beautiful redwood trees just half an hour north of San Francisco.
Muir Beach
Once you finish hiking at Muir Woods, hop back in the car for a quick drive to the Muir Beach. Admire the Pacific Ocean from the overlook or at the ocean level.
Point Reyes National Seashore
If you would like to explore the Northern California Coast more, continue to Point Reyes. The North Beach is a great destination to enjoy the succulents and breaking waves. A drive to Point Reyes adds about 2 hours to your trip.
Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park
If Point Reyes feels too far, drive to Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park in Oakland instead. It is another park with impressive redwood trees, just minutes away from the city. Still, it is close to impossible to get to this park via public transport on a weekend.
Morcom Rose Garden
If you visit Bay Area between May and October, you can visit another breathtaking park in Oakland. The Morcom Rose Garden has a variety of exotic roses. It is a short drive fro the Reinhard Redwood Park.
Winchester Mystery House
All bridges across the Bay towards San Francisco charge tolls. The only free route would take you around the Bay. It would save $7 but add at least an hour to your itinerary.
If you decide to follow that route, you could stop at the Winchester Mystery House. This mansion has a lot of bizarre features in its 160 rooms. See for yourself if they justify the steep tour price of $44.99+ per adult.
Takeaways: San Francisco Bay Area
The San Francisco Bay Area is a great destination to visit. But if you only have a weekend there you have to prioritize.
This Bay Area weekend itinerary gives you pointers on sights to visit and to skip. It also shares our experience with finding the best value on flights, transportation, and places to stay.
Take a look at our San Francisco Bay Area Video Itinerary and visit our YouTube channel for the latest videos.
Frequently Asked Questions
A weekend is a good amount of time to explore San Francisco. While you won’t visit all the sights, you can get a great adventure packed weekend if you prioritize properly.
San Francisco is an expensive destination year round. But trips in winter are slightly cheaper than during other seasons.
Devote at least a day to exploring San Francisco. If you have a car, explore the sights in the North Bay area on the second day.
A weekend is a sufficient time to explore the city and its surrounding areas.
Make sure to visit the Golden Gate Bridge, Fisherman’s Wharf, Lombard Street, and Muir Woods.
Safe realist travels!
