San Francisco, or the Golden City, as some have called it due to the California Gold Rush that happened over a century ago, never ceases to amaze us every time we visit the city. There’s always something for everybody – museums, parks, bridges, whale tours, streets, food and chocolates! If you are looking to spend a weekend in San Francisco, and truly enjoy it as a vacationer with style and luxury, instead of as a tourist, then this post is for you. Read on to get some ideas on how to spend a weekend in San Francisco.
Weekend in San Francisco – Where To Stay
If you have read my post on enjoying a luxurious long weekend in Los Angeles, you might have realized that we like to stay in one of the best areas in a city, close to the attractions, shopping and dining, so that we can explore the city on foot. Union Square is one such area in San Francisco, which is filled with luxurious stores, restaurants, cafes and hotels. There’s so much to explore and enjoy in this area that you can spend a day here.
We recommend staying at Hotel Adagio, part of the Autograph Collection of Marriott for a weekend in San Francisco. This is an upscale hotel with a touch of Spanish architecture, that puts you within walking distance of Union Square. The rooms are equipped with a mini-bar, mini-fridge, tea/coffee maker and bathrobes too! Breakfast and parking are available for a fee, and they have two restaurants and a bar for you to choose from. There are several other hotels to choose from in the area; we found this suitable to our taste of style and at a great location, so recommend you check this out when you plan your vacation.
How To Spend A Weekend In San Francisco
Day 1: Arrive in San Francisco and explore Union Square.
Plan to arrive at your hotel by 6 PM; there’s always going to be traffic in the area since you are in Union Square, so plan accordingly. Since this trip is for your weekend, we are assuming you will arrive on a Friday. After you have checked-in to your room (and check-in is really smooth!), walk down to Union Square which is under half a mile away so shouldn’t take you more than 10 minutes to get there. Remember that it is always on the cooler side at San Francisco; I don’t even remember not wearing a jacket ever, so plan to layer up accordingly.
Spend time exploring the shops in that area, and find a nice restaurant for dinner before you head back to the hotel. The mini-bar in your room has some nice options for your indulgence, before you turn out the lights.
Day 2: Visit Golden Gate Park and Golden Gate Bridge.
Grab breakfast at your hotel at the Elliott’s restaurant and drive down to the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, famously known as SFMOMA. The museum is a 15-minute walk from the hotel, however, you will be exploring other parts of the city that will need you to drive to, so we recommend driving to the museum.
As the name states, the museum has collections of contemporary and modern art from artists around the world. Tickets are required to enter, and plan to spend at least 2 hours here.
You will then drive down to the Golden Gate Park. No trip to San Francisco is complete without spending some time here, so this is a must-visit location. Entry to the park is free, and while some of the attractions are free inside, you would need tickets for some.
There are several things to do in Golden Gate Park – explore the Japanese Tea Garden, the Botanical Garden, Conservatory of Flowers and the California Academy of Sciences, which is the city’s premier science museum. In fact, if modern art is not your thing, you can skip SFMOMA and head to the park directly and visit the science museum instead.
There are several restaurants that you can pick from for lunch, including inside the science museum, or enjoy some street food from one of the food trucks out there.
After lunch, you will drive to the Golden Gate View Point, for which you will drive across the Golden Gate Bridge, and experience one of the seven wonders of the modern world, the true highlight of your weekend in San Francisco. The bridge is not really “golden” in color, it’s a bright-red orange! As you drive through it, you will be mesmerized by its sheer magnanimity and engineering brilliance, so no wonder it is one of the most photographed bridges in the world.
From the parking spot of the view point, it is short hike to the actual view point, so be prepared for a mini hike. Capture as many memories as you want before heading back to the hotel for some rest.
Later in the evening after you have been charged up, head to the historical Ghirardelli Square in San Francisco. You would need to drive to this spot and find a paid parking location nearby.
If there’s one thing that you must do here, it is to taste their world-famous chocolates and ice cream sundaes in one of their salons. Spend time exploring the area. For dinner, either pick a restaurant in the square, or head back to the hotel and have dinner at one of the nearby restaurants.
Day 3: Check-out and explore more of San Francisco.
Today, you will check-out of your hotel and depending on your availability, you can explore more of San Francisco based on your interests. You can go whale watching by joining one of the many tours from Pier 39 on Fisherman’s Wharf, or visit the Alcatraz Island. Or head to the famous Lombard Street also known as the “Crookedest Street in San Francisco”, and discover why the street is known as such. Or, take a cable car ride on the famous Powell Hyde line.
There are many other things that you can do in San Francisco, and clearly, a weekend is not enough. Plan to return another time and visit the other exciting attractions that the city has in store for you.
Need Help Planning Your Vacation?
If you are looking for ideas on planning a weekend in San Francisco or a once-in-a-lifetime 7-10 day luxurious vacation to anywhere in the world, email us and we can help put together a custom itinerary just for you and your family!