Truth be told, I didn’t know much about San Francisco before visiting.

All I really associated it with was tech, start-ups, and Silicon Valley culture. But once I arrived in San Francisco, I quickly realised how wrong I was.

This city is so much more.

It’s vibrant, quirky, and full of character – home to diverse restaurants, rooftop bars, and neighbourhoods that all feel completely different from one another.

This was the fourth leg of my hen do trip – after Simi Valley, San Diego, and Las Vegas – and it felt like the perfect final stop. We had three days to explore this compact city, packed into just 47 square miles of hills, coastline, and unmistakable energy.

One thing I will say straight away: Pack layers.

San Francisco’s weather is unpredictable, and you’ll almost definitely encounter the city’s famous fo – affectionately known as Karl the Fog.

So here are top things to do during your visit to the ‘City By the Bay’!

• North Beach (aka Little Italy) and Tony’s Pizza Napolitana
• Lombard Street
• Mama’s on Washington Square
• Fisherman’s Wharf and Pier 39
• Golden Gate Bridge & Battery Spencer
• Ride a cablecar
• Go shopping in Union Square
• Explore Chinatown
• Alcatraz
• Charmaines Rooftop bar
• Where We Stayed
• Final Thoughts: Is San Francisco Worth Visiting?
  • Planning a Trip to San Francisco?
  • Related Posts

North Beach (aka Little Italy) and Tony’s Pizza Napolitana

We headed to North Beach on our first evening – mainly because we were starving and had one mission: pizza.

North Beach, also known as Little Italy, has such a charming, small-town feel. The Italian influence is still very much alive, and we loved wandering through its cosy cafés and restaurants.

Our destination was Tony’s Pizza Napoletana, and let me tell you – this place is popular.

Everyone we spoke to told us the same thing: If you want to experience North Beach like a local, grab a slice here and then head up to Coit Tower or Telegraph Hill.

What they didn’t warn us about… was the queue. When we arrived, the wait time was two hours. I hate waiting for food. But thanks to FOMO, we put our names down and explored the area while we waited.

And honestly? It was worth it.

One of the best pizzas we had on the entire trip.

Lombard Street

After heading towards Coit Tower, we made our way to Lombard Street – famous for its eight sharp hairpin turns.

Even getting there was an experience. The street leading up to it was so steep that we genuinely had to walk backwards at one point.

I got a little too excited and ended up walking way ahead of my friends… which earned me the nickname “cub scout.”

Mama’s on Washington Square

We had read about Mama’s on Washington Square before the trip, but ended up stumbling across it by accident.

This place has been around for over 50 years and is famous for its breakfast.

The menu is stacked with:

• Fluffy benedicts
• Fresh omelettes
• Homemade jams
• Multiple types of French toast

Like most popular spots in San Francisco, there was a queue – but thankfully only about 30 minutes.

The food? Definitely worth it.

Fisherman’s Wharf and Pier 39

A visit to Fisherman’s Wharf is pretty much essential.

It’s one of the most touristy areas in the city – but for good reason. There’s so much to see and do.

We spent time around Pier 39, wandered through Ghirardelli Square, and of course – stopped for something sweet at the Ghirardelli Chocolate Company.

Yes, the ice cream sundae is absolutely worth the calories.

And then there are the sea lions – loud, chaotic, and impossible to ignore.

We also made a stop at Boudin Bakery Café to try the famous clam chowder.

Golden Gate Bridge & Battery Spencer

You can’t visit San Francisco without seeing the Golden Gate Bridge.

At the time it was completed in 1937, it was considered an engineering marvel – and it still feels just as impressive today.

There’s a pedestrian walkway and bike path across the bridge, but due to time (and maybe a bit of laziness), we took an Uber to the other side.

We headed to Battery Spencer, which was recommended by my cousin.

And wow.

The views were incredible… but so was the wind.

It was so strong that we were literally being blown around while trying to get to the top.

Once we made it, though, we were rewarded with one of the best views of the city.

Getting back? That was an adventure.

No signal. No taxis. Hardly any people.

We ended up hitchhiking with two guys who had rented a taxi for the day – and somehow all squeezed into the back.

Definitely one of those “only while travelling” moments.

Ride a cablecar

San Francisco is home to one of the last manually operated cable car systems in the world, so of course we had to try it.

We took one from the pier to Union Square, although it stops at plenty of major attractions along the way.

We waited about 45 minutes to get on – but it’s one of those iconic experiences you just have to do.

Go shopping in Union Square

We didn’t actually go shopping, but we spent some time walking around Union Square.

Historically, it was a site for Civil War rallies, but today it’s the heart of shopping in San Francisco – filled with luxury boutiques, department stores, galleries, and hotels.

It’s busy, energetic, and a complete contrast to some of the quieter neighbourhoods.

Explore Chinatown

I don’t usually prioritise visiting Chinatowns when I travel – but this Chinatown is different.

It’s the largest Chinatown outside of Asia and the oldest in the United States, established in 1848.

Walking through it genuinely felt like stepping into another world.

We explored markets, small shops, and just soaked in the atmosphere. The area has played such an important role in the history and culture of Chinese immigrants in the city.

We also popped into the Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory and learned something surprising:

👉 Fortune cookies were actually created in San Francisco.

Alcatraz

You’ve probably seen it in movies or at least heard of it – but now, you can get the chance to see it in person. Alcatraz is an island in the SF Bay that was once a military and federal prison. It has since been converted to a National Historic Landmark that you can tour. I didn’t know much about it before I went, but it was fascinating hearing about the atrocities meted out of the prisons – its scary and gruesome. When the federal prison was in operation, it was believed to have kept the hard criminals at bay. Most notorious of them all was Al Capone, who was imprisoned here. They moved there due to its isolated location and since the waters of SF Bay are so cold and the currents so strong, they thought that it was impossible to escape the island.

It was built in 1910 – 1912 as a military prison but then later became a federal prison in 1934. It operated until March 1963 but it was then closed due to the very high maintenance costs.

My friend and I took a guided tour of Alcatraz Island first thing in the morning. You should book it a few weeks in advance as it gets fully booked. We were quite lucky as we kept a tab on the website the day before and luckily two tickets became available for the time slot we wanted. It is usually a 1.5 to 2 hour guided tour and you would have to take a 15 minutes ferry ride each way.

Charmaines Rooftop bar

We were recommended this rooftop bar by my cousin, and no wonder Charmaines rooftop bar is the hottest roof bar at the moment in San Francisco. The views are amazing and the interior is flawless – so modern and chic. When we got there, we found ourselves a firepit outside and sat around it chatting. I am such a sucker for views – but this one was amazing!

One tip from me is to get there as early as you can. This bar is so popular (and for good reason), so you could potentially face a long time of waiting to get into the bar. It is really worth the wait and you will have a fabulous time there!

Where We Stayed

We stayed at Courtyard by Marriott San Francisco Union Square, and it was a great base for the trip.

Central, clean, and reasonably priced—perfect if you want easy access to most of the city.

---

Final Thoughts: Is San Francisco Worth Visiting?

San Francisco completely surprised me.

It’s not just a tech hub—it’s a city full of personality, contrasts, and unforgettable experiences.

From steep streets and iconic landmarks to hidden neighbourhoods and spontaneous travel moments, it’s a place that keeps you on your toes in the best way possible.

And honestly?
I’d go back in a heartbeat.

---

Planning a Trip to San Francisco?

If you’ve got any questions or want help planning your itinerary, drop them below—I’d love to help!

📌 And if you found this guide useful, don’t forget to save it on Pinterest for later!