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3 days in San Francisco

3 days in San Francisco
A collection of San Francisco highlights you can squeeze into 3 days.
Good for: Families, Groups, Seniors, Individuals
Seasons: Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
45 ratings 45 ratings
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Day 1
Alcatraz
Alcatraz

Alcatraz Island, located in the middle of San Francisco Bay, is a must-see attraction for any visitor to the area.  One of the most infamous prisons... more »

Fee: Yes      Duration of visit: 2-3 hours
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Pier 39
Pier 39

This third most visited attraction in the U.S. is a hive of activity with rides, entertainment, restaurants, shops and lively street entertainers. You can easily hop a ferry across the bay to Alcatraz or Tiburon, but don't miss the celebrated sea lion colony that inhabits the nearby abandoned docks.

Fee: No      Duration of visit: <1 hour
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Fisherman's Wharf
Fisherman's Wharf

Yes, it can be touristy, if you do not know the best places to go.  But, Fisherman's Wharf is San Francisco's most popular attraction for a reason... more »

Fee: No      Duration of visit: 1-2 hours
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Day 2
Twin Peaks
Twin Peaks

A twenty-minute ride from downtown, this is the best place to catch a San Francisco sunrise.

Fee: No      Duration of visit: <1 hour
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Golden Gate Bridge
Golden Gate Bridge

The Golden Gate Bridge is not the oldest suspension bridge nor the newest.  It is no longer the tallest or the highest.  Yet it remains the most... more »

Fee: No      Duration of visit: <1 hour
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Golden Gate Park
Golden Gate Park

The Golden Gate Park is a large urban park configured in a rectangular shape, much like the famous Central Park of New York City.  The park contains... more »

Fee: No      Duration of visit: <1 hour
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California Academy of Sciences
California Academy of Sciences

The world’s only aquarium-planetarium-rainforest-living museum.Come nose-to-beak with penguins and parrots, watch sharks and sting rays cruise beneath your feet, and feel the spray of the California coast. Fly to Mars (and beyond the Milky Way!) from the safety of your planetarium seat, take a virtual safari in African Hall, or climb into the canopy of a living rainforest. Face your... More

The world’s only aquarium-planetarium-rainforest-living museum.Come nose-to-beak with penguins and parrots, watch sharks and sting rays cruise beneath your feet, and feel the spray of the California coast. Fly to Mars (and beyond the Milky Way!) from the safety of your planetarium seat, take a virtual safari in African Hall, or climb into the canopy of a living rainforest. Face your fears—and an albino alligator—inside the Swamp, and meet scientists as they return from research expeditions around the world. From the depths of a Philippine coral reef to the outer reaches of the Universe, it's all inside the California Academy of Sciences. Less

Fee: Yes      Duration of visit: 2-3 hours
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Haight-Ashbury
Haight-Ashbury

Center of the long-gone hippie culture of the 1960s, this trendy neighborhood is now a whole new scene with upscale boutiques, Internet cafes and hip restaurants.

Fee: No      Duration of visit: 1-2 hours
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Day 3
Chinatown
Chinatown

San Francisco's Chinatown is the largest outside of Asia.  It is a place many visitors want to see and put high on their list of places to go.  But... more »

Fee: No      Duration of visit: 1-2 hours
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North Beach
North Beach

Most of this neighborhood's former beatnik charm is retained while adding fine cuisine to its claim to fame.

Fee: No      Duration of visit: 1-2 hours
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Coit Tower
Coit Tower

Monument built in honor of the city's volunteer firemen, with an observation deck that provides a great view of San Francisco.

Fee: Yes      Duration of visit: <1 hour
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Ferry Building Marketplace
Ferry Building Marketplace

A city landmark transformed into a gourmet food emporium and farmers market.

Fee: No      Duration of visit: 1-2 hours
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Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.