San Francisco Travel Guide! (What to Know Before You Go)

Traveling to California?  Read this San Francisco Travel Guide for the best things to do in San Francisco on a budget!

Wondering how to visit San Francisco on a budget?  Fear not, you have come to the right place!

Whether you dream of visiting the iconic sights or indulging in the delicious cuisine, a visit to San Francisco does not disappoint!  Now to help you plan your visit, I’ve compiled my top tips with best local food in San Francisco, the epic Instagram-worthy sights, and tricks to help you travel San Francisco on the cheap!

Whether you’re looking to visit San Francisco on a shoestring or plan the ultimate vacation, this San Francisco Travel Guide is your go-to resource for exploring the city.  Get ready to discover everything from bay views, the best spots to eat,Victorian Homes in San Francisco, and more.

Are you ready to start exploring San Francisco?  Let’s get started…

San Francisco Travel Guide

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Drive, Walk, or Bike Across the Golden Gate Bridge.

Address: Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, California

This international orange icon is something that needs to be crossed to truly be experienced!  And whether you choose to drive, bike, jog, or walk the 1.7 mile art deco span, there’s no doubt that is the top experience in San Francisco, with incredible views in every direction!

Note: if you want to drive across the bridge, there’s a $8 toll going south into San Francisco, but it’s free to go north.

Get Your History Fix at Fort Point.

Address: The Presidio of San Francisco 991-999 Marine Dr San Francisco, California

Perhaps it’s the free entrance, or the epic views of the Golden Gate Bridge, or the fact that it’s a history buff’s dream that makes this former military fort one of my favorite things to do in San Francisco on a budget.  Actually, it’s probably all of those reasons why I love this fort!

During the American Civil War, this fort was built as part of a large defense system that defended the Union-held city of San Francisco from the rogue Confederate States.  When you first enter this large fort, you’ll see a few types of cannons that were used here during the Civil War.  On the second floor, inside, there’s a museum which contains the belongings of the Union troops that were stationed at Fort Point in the 1860’s.

However, the best part of the fort is the sprawling rooftop deck, with amazing views of the Golden Gate Bridge and the city!  The fort, being underneath the bridge, gives you a chance to see the intricate rivets and steel beams holding the Golden Gate together.

Visit Torpedo Wharf for Stunning Views and Crabbing.

Address: 983 Marine Dr, San Francisco, California

Originally built to help with the construction of Fort Point, the American Military later used the Torpedo Wharf area as a place to construct submarine mines, which were a vital part of the San Francisco Bay defense system.

Decades later, the torpedo construction facility is long gone, and this breezy pier is known for two things: the best views of the Golden Gate Bridge and the endless crabbing opportunities!

After you’ve walked out onto the breezy pier, West Bluff Picnic Area is a pretty spot to have a little lunch, before continuing on with the day.

Relax and Enjoy the Views at East Beach.

Address: East Beach, San Francisco, California

Just one mile’s walk east of Torpedo Wharf, this pleasant beach is a great place to take your dog or kids and enjoy the beautiful views of the Bay.  There are bathrooms and free parking available at the beach, and you’re just a short walk away from the historic Palace of the Fine Arts building!

Enter into Chocolate Heaven at Ghirardelli Square.

Address: 900 North Point St San Francisco, California 94109

The restaurant at Ghirardelli Square has everything from small packaged chocolates to huge desserts (like below!).  You may slip into a chocolate induced coma, but on this occasion, the coma is definitely worth it!  Plus, you can watch the chocolate being made in the dining area, which I enjoyed! 🙂

Grab a Bite to Eat at the Historic Cannery Building.

Address: 2801 Leavenworth St, San Francisco, California

Originally built in the early 1900’s as a canning plant for Del Monte, this historic building has since been sold and converted into a mixed retail/food space.  Here you’ll find some affordable places to grab a bite to eat, as well as some fun shops as well.

Indulge in Delicious Fresh-Caught Seafood at Fisherman’s Wharf.

Address: 2800-2818 Taylor St San Francisco, California

At best, a visit to Fisherman’s Wharf is an assault on the senses.  In this bustling hubbub of activity, the smell of fresh cooked seafood, food vendors yelling for your attention, and hawkers performing for your spare change all battle for your attention.  Here you’ll find every type of seafood establishment, from affordable food vendors to high end restaurants all within a block of each other.

In other words, if you like food, then don’t miss Fisherman’s Wharf!

Enter Sourdough Galore at the Boudin Bakery and Museum.

Address: 160 Jefferson St San Francisco, California 94133

If you’re on the hunt for the best sourdough bread in a city that is full of ridiculously yummy sourdough, Boudin is the place to go!  Probably San Francisco’s most famous sourdough bakery, there is a wide range of styles and flavors of bread to choose from (other than sourdough, even!).

And if you’re not out sourdough-ed out after all that, there is a museum with guided tours and a gift shop completely dedicated to Boudin!

Try San Francisco’s Best Fish Sandwich at the Franciscan Crab Restaurant.

Address: Pier 43 1/2 Fisherman’s Wharf San Francisco, California 94133

One of the best moderatley priced restaurants in San Francisco, The Franciscan Crab is not to be missed!  When you eat at this amazing seafood restaurant, be sure to order the delicious ‘World Famous Fish Sandwich’, which is is large enough to split between two people!  Plus, the beignets are out of this world!  And don’t forget: If you sit in the back right corner of the restaurant, there are nice views of the water.

Ever Wanted to go to Prison?  Visit Alcatraz Island.

Address for ferry: Pier 33, San Francisco California

One of the, well… more unusual attractions in San Francisco has got to be Alcatraz.  In most cases, prisons don’t turn into world famous sights, but in this case, the unusual happened!

To go to prison, er Alcatraz, you’ll need to take a ferry from Pier 33.  Once you arrive, you can book a tour of the island.

Test Your Driving Capabilities on Lombard Street, The Windiest Road in America.

Address: Lombard Street San Francisco, California 94109 (the windy part is located between Hyde Street and Leavenworth Street, descending eastward)

Driving down America’s windiest street should be a top priority when in San Francisco… not only will your brake pads get a workout, but becoming slightly dizzy will be another fun reward!

Go up the Coit Tower for Sweeping City Views

Address: 1 Telegraph Hill Blvd, San Francisco, California

If you want to see sweeping views over the city, then you’ll want to pay a visit to the historic Coit Tower!  The first floor is free to visit, but there are fees to get to the upper levels.

Ride a Trolley for Sweeping Bay Views.

The perfect way to give your feet a rest from walking and enjoy one of San Francisco’s icons is to ride the trolley cars!  The views of the bay descending the steep hills are absolutely amazing, too.

Watch the Sunset at Baker Beach

Located on the Pacific Side of San Francisco, Baker Beach offers an interesting perspective on the Golden Gate Bridge!  Because this beach faces west out to the Pacific, the sunsets here are nothing short of incredible.

Escape the City and go North to the Marin Headlands.

North of San Francisco, you can get to the Marin Headlands by crossing the Golden Gate Bridge and taking the first left onto Alexander Avenue, and then an almost immediate right onto Conzelman Road.  This road passed many different historic batteries, forts, and sweeping vantage points over the bridge and city!  You’ll eventually reach the Point Bonita Lighthouse, and in this vicinity you’ll find a multitude of things to do, including beaches, forts, and even a former Cold War missile sight!

San Francisco Travel Guide: Budget Tips

How to Get Free Airfare to San Francisco:

Flying to San Francisco?  Why pay, when you can score FREE airfare?!?  When you use Swagbucks, you can get free gift cards for Southwest Airlines and Delta, which both fly into the San Francisco International Airport.  Overall, this is the the best way to reduce the cost of your airfare to San Francisco.  I’ve been a member of Swagbucks for about 10 years now, and it’s still one of my favorite ways to earn Free airline gift cards!

Here’s how it works:

• Sign up with Swagbucks
• Then start earning Swagbucks SB Points.  There are so many EASY ways to earn Swagbucks!  You can earn by Searching the Web {just like you would using Google}, Taking Surveys, Using Coupons, Shopping Online, Watching Videos, etc.  I typically earn an easy $25 each month on Swagbucks!
• Cash in your Swagbucks SB Points for Free Southwest Airlines Gift Cards and Free Delta Gift Cards!

Being such a large air hub, you won’t have any trouble getting flights to San Francisco.  There are direct flights to almost every major city in the US, Canada, and Mexico.  If you’re coming from further abroad, there’s plenty of flights direct from Europe, Asia, and Australia.  In fact, Norwegian Airlines operates several direct routes between a handful of European cities and Oakland for as little as $300-$400!

How to Get Free Uber Rides in San Francisco:

If you’re flying into San Francisco for a quick city break; or you have an extended layover and you don’t plan on renting a car, you can simply call an Uber to come pick you up from the airport and take you into the city.  My favorite trick is to cash in Swagbucks points for Free Uber gift cards!

Here’s how it works:

• Sign up with Swagbucks
• Then start earning Swagbucks SB Points.  There are so many EASY ways to earn Swagbucks!  You can earn by Searching the Web {just like you would using Google}, Taking Surveys, Using Coupons, Shopping Online, Watching Videos, etc.  I typically earn an easy $25 each month on Swagbucks!
• Cash in your Swagbucks SB Points for Free Uber Gift Cards!

Renting a Car in San Francisco:

However, if you do rent a car, OR if you’re driving to San Francisco, then what you can do is take my recommended two-week road trip through California!  This road trip begins in San Francisco and goes to Yosemite, Sequoia & Kings Canyon, Joshua Tree, San Diego, and finally Los Angeles.  Ultimately, you’ll see California’s three iconic cities, the famous Yosemite Valley, the world’s biggest trees in Sequoia, and the rugged desert landscape in Joshua Tree National Park.

California Road Trip Itinerary (San Francisco to L.A.)

Now, isn’t San Francisco such an amazing city to visit??

With everything from world famous landmarks like the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz Island to the amazing sourdough bread at Boudin and dessert at Ghirardelli Square, San Francisco really does have so much to offer!

Now that you’ve seen this San Francisco Travel Guide Things To Do, check out these travel tips below…

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Don’t miss out!  Now that you’ve read this San Francisco Travel Guide Things to do, follow along with Never Ending Journeys for more fun Travel Tips and Ideas!

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