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First timer’s guide to San Francisco

If you’re planning your first ever trip to the beautiful city of San Francisco, look no further than this guide on food, main sites and great hikes and excursions to add to your bucket list. I lived in the San Francisco Bay Area for nearly 10 years, half in the city proper, so I know where to take visitors and what to skip!

Why go to San Francisco

Unique architecture, tons of museums, distinct neighborhoods, eclectic food from all over the world, easy public transit, hallmark landmarks featured in both Hollywood and history, and of course, mild climate. What’s not to love?

The Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco spans the water as cars cross and a coastline appears below—a must-see in any first timer’s guide.
Golden Gate bridge as viewed from Fort Point National Historic Site.

What’s the weather like in San Francisco

Don’t be fooled! Unlike the sunny, warm California you might see in the movies, San Francisco has a very unusual weather pattern. For example, summers tend to be cooler than September / October months, with the marine layer coming in from the ocean each evening and cooling off the city. Expect cold/cool mornings and evenings (always bring a jacket!), with noontime being the warmest time of the day. The weather remains pretty constant throughout the year, hovering between the 50s-70s Fahrenheit. Rain is uncommon, but you will encounter fog and mist, especially in the neighborhoods closer to the ocean (Sunset, Richmond). If you venture further out of the city to Berkeley or Oakland for example, you might experience a temperature difference of up to 10 degrees over only a few miles, just because of how the marine layer cloud inversion works.

Sutro Tower rises above a layer of fog over a residential neighborhood in San Francisco under a clear blue sky.
Sutro Tower above the cloud inversion and fog blanketing the city.

What should I bring / pack for a trip

The two main important points for packing are to bring:

  • A windbreaker / warm jacket you can pack down for the day and pull out for the evenings
  • Supportive walking shoes – the hills in the city are no joke and you’ll be glad you were comfortable – especially since so many neighbhorhoods are best explored by foot.

Where should I stay in San Francisco?

Most hotels are based in Union Square. However, I’d recommend staying in North Beach, Pacific Heights, or Hayes Valley if possible. The tenderloin neighborhood that borders Union Square is a rough place these days with a lot of vagrancy and crime. Check out all the hotels available in San Francisco, or look into renting a home through VRBO in order to get more into the cute neighborhoods.

View from a grassy hillside overlooking a curving road, with San Francisco cityscape and bay visible in the background under a clear sky.
Views of San Francisco from the top of Twin Peaks.

Which activities should I book in advance

Alcatraz Island sits in the bay with the San Francisco skyline and Bay Bridge visible in the background under a clear sky.
Alcatraz Island.

Sites you can’t miss that locals love

Some of my favorite spots that I always take visitors:

  • Land’s end – an incredible hike with views out to the ocean, the dilapidated Land’s End bath house, and views of the golden gate bridge too. Plus a walk through the nearby Sea Cliff neighborhood gives a preview of some of the most beautiful homes in the city.
  • Walking around the Castro and up to Twin Peaks – follow this thorough walking guide.
  • Walking from Billionaire’s row down the Lyon Street Steps to the Palace of Fine Arts – and grabbing a meal on Chestnut Street.
  • Go hunting for murals in the Mission – follow this guide.
Street view of the Castro Theatre with its vertical sign, nearby shops, pedestrians, and rainbow flags in San Francisco.
Castro
A vibrant mural depicts a surreal yellow creature with three eyes, multiple limbs, and abstract patterns on a brick wall.
Murals in the Mission
The Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco stands beside a pond under a clear blue sky, surrounded by trees and greenery.
Palace of Fine Arts
A coastal scene with rocky cliffs, a small lagoon, walking paths, and the ocean under a partly cloudy sky.
Sutro Baths at Land’s End

Most popular sites

The most popular sites with tourists are Pier 39, Coit Tower, The Painted Ladies, Ghirardelli and the Golden Gate Bridge. If these spots are on your bucket list but you hate tourist traps, let me tell you about the best ways to see these sites and some others that should be on your list to get the most out of your trip:

  • Pier 39 – there are a lot of shops, especially tourist trap shops in this area. Skip the shopping and check out just two things:
    • Boudin – delicious bread bowls – try a chowder or just some famous sourdough bread.
    • The resident sea lions – it’s amazing to see the hundreds of sea lions laying out in the sun, picking fights with one another and just lazing about the day.
  • Ghirardelli – while the original location not too far from Pier 39 is famous (and super crowded), there are actually multiple locations now for this delicious chocolate brand, including a larger space near the original shop. You can also grab some ice cream if you’re downtown at the location on Market Street.
  • Coit Tower – the views around Coit Tower are sensational – you don’t even need to pay to go up into the tower to get a pretty great bang for your buck. Afterward, walk down the steep hill to the Little Italy and Chinatown neighborhoods, and pick up some dimsum, chinese baked goods, cannollis and fantastic pizza slices.
  • The Painted Ladies – unfortunately, this row of colored homes is a bit underwhelming for most tourists. You can’t go in them, but they do have a fantastic backdrop of the city in the distance if viewed from Alamo Square. If you are going to bother seeing them, while in the area check out the hip neighborhood east of the square called Hayes Valley (the central point is Fell and Octavia Streets), the 1960s / summer of love famous Haight Ashbury south of the square (the central point is Haight and Ashbury streets), or the enormous Golden Gate Park (north of Alamo Square, starting at Stanyan and Fell).
  • The Golden Gate Bridge – the bridge is indeed impressive and work a visit – the best way of course, is by bike! You can rent bikes throughout the city and ride them over the bridge, down into Sausalito, and then take the ferry back to the Ferry Building. That’s the best way to get a full 360 degree view and appreciation for the city. Try a guided tour or rent on your own!
Golden Gate Bridge spans across the blue water with hills in the background and a clear sky above.
Golden Gate Bridge
A row of colorful Victorian houses with city buildings in the background under a partly cloudy sky.
The Painted Ladies
A large brick building with a visible Ghirardelli sign on the roof, set against a clear blue sky and grassy foreground.
Ghirardelli
Large Fisherman’s Wharf sign with a crab logo stands near a construction site in San Francisco, surrounded by orange cones and barriers.
Fisherman’s Wharf
The exterior of a building with a large red BOUDIN sign above the entrance, flanked by parked cars and orange traffic cones.
Boudin
Aerial view of San Francisco skyline with Coit Tower in the foreground and tall downtown buildings in the background.
Coit Tower

What are the main foods not to miss

When people ask me what one thing they should eat in San Francisco is, I always say – Mexican Food! It’s so good and affordable to. Here are some of my favorite spots:

Other great food not to miss:

Two hands holding ice cream cones with yellow and white scoops in front of a red creamery storefront on a sunny day.
Ice cream from Garden Creamery
A plate of ravioli in a light sauce, garnished with shaved cheese, herbs, and microgreens.
Pasta at Flour and Water

Rebecca runs The Adventure Beckons, a travel and outdoor adventure blog based in Vancouver, British Columbia. As an experienced traveler to over 40 countries and counting, she provides her readers with practical travel itineraries from day trips to multi-week adventures. She strives to balance nature and hiking with the must-see tourist highlights that are genuinely worth your time and money.

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