San Francisco in 2 Days: everything you need to know

If you are wondering what to see and do in San Francisco in just two days, you will see that there are plenty of activities available, for all ages, tastes and budgets. San Francisco is a city with a lot of culture, history and excellent cuisine, not in vain is one of the most visited destinations in the United States, not only by domestic tourism but also by international visitors.

To get to know the most important things in San Francisco in two days, you should optimize your time and plan your itinerary well. If you don't, with all that this city has to see and do, you may find yourself a bit overwhelmed and end up not making the most of the two days you have.

On the first day of our tour of San Francisco, you'll get an overview of what the city has to offer.

You will be able to see the most important sights in a short time and, most importantly, without rushing, but you should start early. Otherwise, you won't have enough time to take in all the sights on the itinerary for your first day in San Francisco.

Morning Hop On Hop Off Bus Tour

You have two days and you want to explore the city to the fullest, the best way to do it is with a San Francisco sightseeing bus.

The great advantage of touring the city on a tour bus is that in a short time you'll have an overview of the city and you'll know what to see and do in the hours that follow.

That's why I recommend you to take the bus tour early in the morning. The estimated time spent on this activity is 2.5 hours and I recommend getting on the bus at the bus stop closest to your hotel around 10:00 or 10:30, so you will finish your tour around noon, with time for lunch.

These tours are available with audio guides in English and take you to the most interesting places in San Francisco.

The full tour, which lasts two hours, takes you from one side of the city to the other, showing you the Golden Gate, Chinatown and Pier 39, among other places.

The bus has 16 stops where you can hop on and off throughout the day. Tickets last for one day, so you can get a lot out of it if you organise yourself well.

It costs around 50 euros, but it's worth buying it as you can use it as a means of transport within the city, saving you money on other means of transport. In addition, the bus has trained staff in the area of tourism who will be willing to answer your questions and doubts about the city.

Have lunch at one of San Francisco's excellent restaurants

San Francisco is a city known worldwide for its multiculturalism. It is precisely this characteristic that makes it one of the best gastronomic destinations in the United States.

Some of the best chefs in the world have their restaurants in San Francisco and the world renowned Michelin Guide does not spare any praise for some of the restaurants you have to visit in the city.

Do you want Indian, Spanish, Portuguese, French, Italian or Chinese food, San Francisco has what you prefer. The limit to the dining options is only your imagination.

Have lunch at some of San Francisco' s excellent Michelin-recommended restaurants and then continue your tour of the wonders to see and do in the city.

Many of the restaurants have months-long reservation lists, so if you intend to eat at one of them specifically, you'll want to book a table well in advance. You can make your reservation online from home without any problems, so you won't be disappointed if you don't find a table at the restaurant.

Now that you've got lunch sorted out, you have 1 hour for lunch before we continue our tour of the best things to see and do in San Francisco in two days.

Be enchanted by Muir Woods

If you're on schedule with our itinerary you should have finished your lunch around 14:00. Now, nothing better than a leisurely stroll through Muir Woods National Park, where you 'll be amazed by the centuries-old sequoias. This is undoubtedly one of the best national parks near San Francisco.

Remember to wear comfortable clothes, comfortable shoes, sunscreen, hat and insect repellent so you can make the route through the National Park in total comfort and safety. Muir Woods National Park is a must-see for nature lovers.

The park is open from 08:00 to 20:00, so you can tour the park at your leisure. If you prefer to take a guided tour of Muir Wood, there are many options available that also include visits to other points of interest such as Sausalito, but keep in mind that these tours last between 5 to 10 hours.

If you want to continue touring San Francisco and also visit Muir Woods with a guide, you'll want to book the shorter tour, so you'll have time to do other things.

San Francisco Night Tour

It's around 20:00 and it's time to enjoy San Francisco by night. This city has a lot to offer and the nightlife is no exception.

If you still have energy after such a busy day, I recommend you to go out at night and explore San Francisco. Visit restaurants, nightclubs, theatres, you have hundreds of different nightlife options to enjoy in the city. You can also opt for a guided night tour. There is a highly recommended tour that is done in a hippie van, with super fun guides who give you lots of interesting information.

Keep in mind that this tour is only for people over 21 years old and also that San Francisco is a very open and free city, so don't be surprised by the contents of this tour.

It's already late, go get some rest and tomorrow you will have another day full of activities, because there is still a lot to see and do in San Francisco in two days.

On this second day you will visit one of San Francisco's main attractions, Alcatraz Prison. You will also visit one of the best aquariums in the country.

In the evening there is nothing better than watching the sunset on a romantic cruise on the bay to recharge the energy you will need later to face the mysteries of San Francisco on a scary tour.

Visit Alcatraz, the most famous prison in US history

The mythical Alcatraz prison is located on an island that is also classified as a Natural Park, accessible only by ferry. This is a visit not to be missed if you are in San Francisco.

Alcatraz prison is also famous for the innumerable escape attempts of the prisoners, all of them failed, as no one ever managed to escape from Alcatraz.

Some of the most famous criminals in the United States, such as Al Capone, were illustrious guests of this prison. In the days when it functioned as a prison, the most dangerous criminals were sent to Alcatraz prison, precisely because being located on an island, escapes were impossible.

If you are going to visit Alcatraz Prison, you will want to take a guided tour of the island, so you won't miss any of the details of its amazing history.

There are many different options for tours of Alcatraz and other attractions combined. Tours last between 3 to 7 hours, so I recommend leaving early to make the most of the day and to include other activities as well.

Tours to Alcatraz, which include other activities as well, cost between 155 and 170 euros and are well worth it. If you opt for the 4-hour tour, which also includes a food tour, the departure time is around 10:00, so by 14:00 you will have finished the tour and had lunch.

You'll have time to do some of the other activities I suggest in this two-day tour of all there is to see and do in San Francisco.

Enjoy one of the best aquariums in the United States, Aquarium of the Bay

At the San Francisco Aquarium, considered one of the best aquariums in the United States, you will enjoy an immersive and interactive experience where you will learn all there is to know about the marine life of the San Francisco Bay.

You'll need about two hours to visit in its entirety, and the aquarium **is open from 10:00 to 18:**00. If you arrive at 15:00, you'll have more than enough time to get around before closing time.

One advantage of doing this itinerary is that the ferries to Alcatraz prison depart and arrive from the same pier where the Aquarium of the Bay is located, so you won't waste time on transfers.

To make the most of your visit and be able to do more afterwards, I recommend planning ahead what you want to see and do at the aquarium.

Don't miss the "Under the Bay" exhibit, where you'll walk through a 90-metre long glass tunnel system and see giant octopuses, rays, sharks and much more.

This aquarium is a great activity to do with children, who will enjoy every minute of their time in the aquarium.

San Francisco Bay Sunset Cruise

The best way to end a tiring day and recharge your batteries for the evening's activities is to cruise the calm waters of San Francisco Bay on a sunset cruise.

On sunset cruises in San Francisco Bay, you'll be able to watch a beautiful sunset from the sea. You will also see the famous Golden Gate Bridge from a totally different angle, sailing underneath it. You will discover a totally different city from the sea, seeing the silhouette of San Francisco silhouetted on the horizon with the sun's rays setting over the city.

The best boat trips on San Francisco Bay cost between 120 and 165 euros, and last between 2 and 3 hours.

Some of the options available include dinner and also dancing on board. It is an unforgettable experience, if you are doing this trip with your partner, this is a very romantic activity that you will remember for a lifetime, it is truly a wonderful experience.

San Francisco Mysteries Nighttime Tour

This last activity on your tour of the best things to see and do in San Francisco in two days is optional, depending on how much energy you have left and if you like the theme of this original tour.

It is an open air tour, where you will walk through the streets of San Francisco listening to spooky stories that have happened in the city.

The guide will tell you about strange deaths, villains, famous ghosts, serial killers, in short, all the horror you can imagine you will have in 1 hour and a half of tour.

You must take into account that this is not a tour suitable for children under 10 years old and not for those who are easily impressionable. The approximate price of the tour is 37 euros. Don't let yourself be scared off and take a tour of the darkest part of the city.

To get to see the highlights of San Francisco in just two days, you'll need to be well organised. It's best to start your day as early as possible, even if it means getting up early.

There are many activities that start early in the morning, so if you take advantage of those early hours of the day you will be able to see and do many more things during your two-day trip.

It is also highly recommended that you don't go to bed too early, so that you can also take part in night-time activities. You will end these two days very tired, but this is the only way to get the most out of your trip.

To optimise your time in the city and not waste hours on transport, using the Hop on Hop off bus is an excellent alternative, because it takes you from one end of the city to the other and you can use any of its 16 stops as many times as you want while the ticket is valid.

When the travel time is short, it is best to hire guided tours toavoid wasting time. When visiting the city for the first time, you can waste many hours trying to get from one place to another, so it is best to hire someone who knows the city and can guide you.

An excellent option to get even more out of the city is to buy a San Francisco Pass or any other pass to visit the city's main attractions.

With these cards you not only save a lot of money on tickets for the different activities, but you also save a lot of time, because the card offers several attractions with the option of skipping the queue.

With these special passes, you not only get free entry to several attractions, but you also get great discounts on other activities that are normally expensive.

You are also entitled to discounts or special menus at various restaurants and shops in the city.