This 3-day San Francisco itinerary is designed with Oakland as your central hub. Begin by immersing yourself in the vibrant culture of Oakland and Berkeley on the first day. Then, take a day to bask in the natural beauty surrounding the area. Finally, venture into the iconic city of San Francisco on the third day, where you’ll uncover its unique charm.
Day 1: Oakland/Berkely
Lake Merritt– Lake Merritt is located in the center of Oakland and is a hub for both locals and tourists. There is a path around Lake Merritt that is 3.4 miles long. You definitely don’t have to walk the whole thing but I do recommend checking out the lake. Depending on how far around it you go, checkout the Bonsai Garden which is free to visit and has various Bonsai trees.
Grand Lake Kitchen– while near lake Merritt, grab brunch at Grand Lake Kitchen. They have the best brunch, I recommend getting the chilaquiles, I get it every time I’m there!
Berkeley Botanical Garden– this 34 acre botanical garden consists of 12,000 different plant species from around the world. A few highlights include the Australia and New Zealand Collection, the East Asian Collection and the Red Wood grove.
Grizzly Peak– you can drive right up to Grizzly Peak overlook, though parking might be limited. It seems like recently they are closing down some of the parking lots so you might have to park on the side of the road. This can be dangerous so I recommend using caution if this is the case! On a clear day you can see across the Bay area, it is also a great place to watch the sunset at. On a foggy day I wouldn’t recommend going here because visibility is going to be low and you won’t be able to see anything.
Almare Gelato– if you’re in the mood for something sweet, grab some gelato or a coffee at Almare Gelato Italiano. Their gelato is so tasty you won’t be disappointed!
Tane Vegan– If you like sushi you have to visit Tane while in Berkeley! Even if you’re not vegan (which I am not) you’ll still love this sushi place and be blown away by it. I would have never known it was vegan sushi if I wasn’t told it was. Definitely a spot you don’t want to miss.
Watch the sunset at Alameda Beach– a picture of the end of the day, or a nice place for a picnic is at Alameda Beach. Pack a blanket and watch the sun go down over the water.
Day 2: Muir Woods Area
Its worth it to spend one day heading a little farther from the bay area to experience the natural beauty this area has to offer.
Muir Beach Overlook– you’re first stop is about 45 minutes from the bay area, give or take a few minutes depending on traffic. The Muir Beach Overlook gives you stunning views of the coast and views of the ocean. Its also just a short walk from the car so it won’t take you long to get to this view.
Muir Woods National Monument– just 10 minutes away from the overlook is Muir Woods. Muir Woods National Monument is home to some of the tallest and oldest coastal redwood trees on Earth, some of which are over 1,000 years old and over 250 feet tall! Be sure to plan ahead for this one as you will need to purchase tickets and a parking pass online ahead of time. Spend some time on one of the six miles of trails that wind through the forest, including a 1/2-mile loop, a 1-hour loop, and a 1 1/2-hour loop.
Mount Tamalpais State Park- Finish out the day with a short hike to the Gardner Fire Lookout Tower. I recommend packing a picnic lunch and eating it from the picnic tables before starting your hike! The trail is only 0.6miles around trip and will take you approx. 30-45 minutes to complete. The views from the top of the trail are absolutely stunning, giving you views of the Bay and surrounding area.
For more information on the Muir area and everything you need to know, checkout this article!
Day 3: San Francisco
Spend your third day exploring San Francisco! I recommend taking the ferry from Oakland to San Francisco. This saves you time and money and gives you gorgeous views of the city on the ride in! The ferry will drop you off at Pier 41, which is where the farmer market is located on Saturdays. You’ll want to spend some time here sampling some delicious food and shopping at the various vendors.
Spend your day in San Francisco exploring some of the following:
Fisherman Dwarfs– the perfect place for doing some souvenir shopping and grabbing some fresh seafood. Fisherman’s wharf is also the perfect place to spot some seals sunbathing on the docks.
Ghirardelli Square– another great place for shopping, I would do either this one or Fisherman’s wharf but not both because they are pretty similar. Ghirardelli square will give you views of the Golden Gate Bridge (on clear days) and access to the water.
Conservatory of Flowers– located in the Golden Gate Park, the conservatory is a must visit place for plant lovers. The Conservatory of Flowers houses a variety of rare and exotic plant collections and is a very magical place.
San Francisco Botanical Garden– another place for the plant and nature lovers. It’s much larger than the conservatory and spans over 55 acres, with over 8000 varieties of plants. If you don’t have enough time to explore the whole park, you can check out a few of their sections. A few of the most popular ones are the rainforest collection, Japanese garden, the succulent garden and the rose garden.
Golden Gate Bridge– you can’t visit the Bay without seeing the iconic Golden Gate Bridge. You can park at the Golden Gate Bridge Visitors Center, grab a cup of coffee and walk across it. There are a few trails here you can explore to see it from another angle. You can also visit Fort Point, which is located right under the bridge, giving you a unique view of it.
You can also hangout at Crissy fields, which is a great place to have a picnic and take in the views of the bridge.
Mission Dolores Park– if time permits head away from the water and to Mission Dolores Park. This park is located on a hill that gives you some of the best views of the city. If you have time I definitely recommend checking it out. The mission area has some great restaurants to check out. I recommend stopping by Panchitas Restaurant for some pupusas, you want to be disappointed. If you’re looking for something a little fancier, checkout Flour + Water, one of the best places in the city to get pasta.
San Francisco Itinerary
There is so much to see and explore in the Bay Area, this San Francisco itinerary contains the best things to see and do in 3 days. This itinerary gives you a tasty of the San Francisco, Oakland, and the natural beauty of the area.
