This guide covers 5 days in San Francisco, and it’s perfect for budget solo travelers! It’s based on my first trip to San Francisco right before I moved to New Zealand for the Working Holiday Visa. San Francisco is a wonderful city for nature lovers and foodies. Throughout the Golden City, you can see people running, cycling, or just simply enjoying the fresh air and there are so many different cuisines available.
Why go to San Francisco?
First of all, why not go to San Francisco? Ever since I was a little girl, I always wanted to visit this city and ride the cable cars. It’s such an iconic piece of this city’s history. It’s not the cheapest place to visit and being from Arkansas, it’s not like I could easily drive there for a weekend trip.
Luckily, I had the opportunity to visit the Golden City because it was cheaper flying out of San Francisco to New Zealand than from my home state of Arkansas. Instead of paying $1,400 for a one-way ticket to Auckland, I paid $700 for a trip to San Francisco and Auckland. Does that sound like a good deal to you? Be sure to check my post on how to book cheap flights here!
Who is this guide for?
This is perfect for new solo travelers and for those that want a day-to-day guide on how to travel in San Francisco. I say that because I’m a solo traveler that went through this exact itinerary. This guide will take you on an efficient and budget-friendly route around San Francisco. If you’re new to staying in hostels, this will also help you!
Public Transportation in San Francisco
I was a bit confused with the transportation options in San Francisco, and to be honest, there are a ton of resources out there that go further in depth like this guide by SF Travel. Instead of just repeating the same information, I want to give you my honest feedback on the public transportation and tell you what I know from my experience. So here’s a rundown of what I know about public transportation in San Francisco.
- The BART train will take you from the airport into the city center for a reasonable price, about $10.
- Pay for the BART because the police are watching (told to me by a local).
- You do not need to hire a ride-share to get around SF.
- Many locals told me that people don’t really pay for the city buses like the MUNI. You can just get on the bus.
- A clipper card is a transit card that can be used on the MUNI, BART, and other services.
- Do NOT get the clipper app. It was such a waste of time and money. It took 3 days for my money to load on the card and my trip was over. Getting a refund isn’t easy either.
Where to stay in San Francisco
HI San Francisco Fisherman’s Wharf Hostel is a fantastic place to stay for your San Francisco trip. Walking outside of this hostel, you can see clear views of Alcatraz and the Golden Gate Bridge. I saw families staying here as well so this can be a suitable stay for most kinds of travelers.
COST: $47 per night including tax for a 6 bedroom female only dorm room. Fresh towels, linen, and breakfast is included.
Transportation to the Hostel
The San Francisco International Airport is about an hour drive from the hostel. When I arrived, I called the hostel to see the best way to get to the city. The route they suggested worked really well and was very safe, which I’ve listed below.
COST: $10 from SFO Airport to Montgomery St.
BART train to Montgomery
Buy a ticket for the BART train. Check the amount that is needed for a one-way to Montgomery. At the time, it was $10. You must buy a ticket for the BART train because to get through the gates, you have to insert the ticket. I took the Yellow – Antioch train to Montgomery.
30 Bus to Van Ness Ave & North Point St
To get to this bus, you need to walk to Kearny St & Geary St.
Walk to HI SF Fisherman’s Wharf Hostel
It’s about an 8 minute walk up to this former military hospital!
PRO TIP: Use Google Maps throughout your stay in San Francisco. This will provide great walking routes and bus/train routes.
Safety as a Solo Traveler in San Francisco
Right before I left for San Francisco, I saw a ton of TikTok videos about people breaking into cars and stealing. It was commonly known that homelessness and drugs were on the rise in San Francisco. Simply put, anytime I told someone I was going on a trip to San Francisco, they would tell me that I need to be very careful.
I did not use a car in San Francisco, but I did see several cars that had broken glass and were broken into. As for myself, after 5 days in San Francisco, I can happily say that I left without any harm or any of my items stolen. Here are some of my tips to staying safe in San Francisco.
- Bring a lock to secure your belongings in the hostel.
- Do not leave any items in sight in your car.
- Be extra cautious in the Tenderloin and Mission District areas of San Francisco. Drugs and homelessness are more common in this area.
- I was able to wear my backpack on my back and not in the front, but you may want to consider doing that if you want to have more security.
- Wear a sling bag in the front with your valuables (passport, money, phone, etc.)
Day 0: Arrival
When you get to the hostel, check-in and talk to the receptionist. Get comfortable with your new living area. Hostels are different than hotels. Usually, there is a kitchen, common living area, shared bathrooms, etc. so you will want to get familiar with what’s available.
Set up your space and get acclimated to the amenities
Take the time to set up the bed sheets and organize your belongings. Get a rundown of the hostel and see what their amenities include. Take a shower and relax. It’s been a long day of traveling!
Buy food
To save money on your trip, it’s best to make your meals. First, go to the kitchen and check the free food shelf and see what is already available. These shelves are donated by other guests that no longer need the item. You can plan your meals accordingly. Safeway is about a 10 minute walk from the hostel.
COST: I paid about $14 for bread, deli meat, bananas, and apples that would last me for the entire week.
Enjoy dinner on the hill
The Great Meadow Park at Fort Mason is in between Safeway and the Hostel. It’s a great place to relax and enjoy the sunset. You can see the Golden Gate Bridge from there.
Day 1: Northeast Waterfront of San Francisco
Breakfast at the hostel
HI Fisherman’s Wharf hostel offers free breakfast. There’s free coffee, tea, fruit, cereal, and toast with peanut butter and jam. Take fruit for a snack later. Load up on breakfast!
Walk to Pier 39
You will pass Pier 39 on your way to the Alcatraz day tour. Stop by and watch the sea lions. Explore and take note of any restaurants you may want to check out later.
COST: Free.
Go on the Alcatraz day tour
Continue east going down to Pier 33 for the Alcatraz entrance. This tour takes about 3 hours to complete include the ferry ride to the island. It takes about 20 minutes to get from the pier to Alcatraz.
I was able to book my tour on the morning of, but I was told that is rare and usually it sells out. With that said, you may want to book ahead. City Experiences is the official provider of the Alcatraz tour.
COST: $45
Visit Little Italy at North Beach
Get some food at Golden Boy Pizza. It’s a quick and affordable lunch. They offer hearty slices of pizza for about $5. There is no dining area so take your lunch around the corner to Washington Square park.
COST: Lunch $5, Washington Square Park views and vibes: FREE.
Take photos on Lombard Street
After lunch, take the bus to Lombard and Hyde. This will take you to the top of the hill. Take photos. Walk down the hill to Lombard and Leavenworth. Take even better photos from this viewpoint.
COST: Free
Fisherman’s Wharf
This neighborhood is a busy touristy area with a lot of shops and foods. Check the Musée Mécanique. It’s an interactive vintage museum that is free to walk around, but you pay to play.
COST: Free to walk around. Cost will vary if you go into shops or restaurants.
Ghirardelli Square
Ghirardelli Square has a variety of shops and restaurants to visit. For me, I just wanted to sightsee. You can learn about the history of this company as it started here in San Francisco. Stop by and get a free sample of chocolate while you’re here!
COST: Free to walk around. Cost will vary if you go into shops or restaurants.
Day 2: Northwest Waterfront of San Francisco
Visit the Golden Gate Bridge
When you are using Google Maps to get directions to the Golden Gate Bridge, look up the “Golden Gate Bridge Welcome Center” because. From the hostel, it takes about 25 minutes to get to the bridge. Walk down to Van Ness Ave & North Point St. to take the 28 Daly City BART train to the Golden Gate Bridge parking lot.
There are SO many views of the bridge. I can’t believe I spent the afternoon chasing all the different views of the bridge, but it’s quite an amazing sight to see!
Here’s the most efficient route to see the bridge at different viewpoints
- Golden Gate Bridge Welcome Center
- Golden Gate Postcard Viewpoint
- Walk the Golden Gate Bridge
- Vista Point
- Battery Spencer
Visit Lands End Lookout & Sutro Baths
COST: Free to walk around.
Day 3: Central and West Part of San Francisco
Alta Plaza Park
Alta Plaza Park is located in the Pacific Heights neighborhood. You can get breathtaking views of the city and the bay. This should be your first place to visit today because you will go south on bus 22 for the rest of the stops.
COST: Free, unless you pay a few bucks for a lemonade made by some middle school student entrepreneurs like I did.
Japantown
Japantown in San Francisco is one of three remaining Japantowns in the United States. There’s a wide range of restaurants in this neighborhood. You can visit the Peace Pagoda, which is a notable landmark in Japantown. Visit Matcha Cafe Maiko and get a matcha soft serve ice cream. They offer free samples. They make limited time ice cream flavors, and so I got the coconut pandan flavor. There is also an ube flavor that stands out with its purple color.
COST: Free to walk around. Cost will vary if you go into shops or restaurants. $6 for coconut pandan or matcha soft serve ice cream.
Painted Ladies
The “Painted Ladies” is a popular row of Victorian and Edwardian style houses in San Francisco. It is another iconic symbol of San Francisco’s history. Although there are plenty of spots to catch a photo without people in the way, there are actually a ton of people sitting around on the hill and enjoying the views. Perhaps take out your snack and take in the views like the locals do!
COST: Free.
Haight-Ashbury Panhandle
Next, you will walk through the entire panhandle in Haight-Ashbury. This is a picturesque park that will lead you into Golden Gate. It is absolutely beautiful with large trees and beautiful landscaping. Be ready for a lot walking! Starting here, you will walk nearly 4 miles to the beach.
COST: Free.
Golden Gate Park
You’ve made it through the panhandle and now it’s time to trek through the Golden Gate Park. There are more than 1,000 acres in this park with attractions, activities and natural beauty. One of the locals told me they have lived here for more than 20 years and still haven’t seen all of this park. For me, my goal was to walk through and get a feel for the park. Most attractions were closed in the evening.
COST: Free.
Ocean Beach Sunset
Once you’ve made it through 3.5 miles of Golden Gate Park, it’s time to enjoy the beauty of the Ocean Beach sunset. I almost missed out on the sunset and I ran almost 10 minutes to get there in time. Haha, it was rough but definitely worth it.
COST: Free, but perhaps some sore feet from running.
Burmese Superstar Restaurant
To reward yourself for a job well done, treat yourself to some Burmese food. Burmese Superstar is on the way back to the hostel. The receptionists at the hostel recommend this place. I’ve never had Burmese food so I was really excited to try this. There was so much flavor in each bite. It took nearly an hour to get back to the hostel so you may either want to eat at the restaurant or heat up the food when you get back.
I tried Nan Gyi Dok. It’s a coconut chicken curry with Burmese rice noodles. There’s egg, split yellow pea powder, fried wonton chips, lime leaf, roasted chili, and fried onion.
COST: $20 including tax.
Day 4: Mission District and Twin Peaks
Mission District Street Art
Today, you’re going to visit the Mission District. This area is known for its vibrant street art scene. When I went, I brought a new friend that I met when I was in the hostel. As we were walking through the Mission District, we could tell a noticeable difference between this neighborhood and the other parts of San Francisco. This had a very unique vibe. We went to visit the art in Clarion Alley.
Street Art in the Mission District:
- Balmy Alley
- Clarion Alley (this one is the closest one to the restaurant that we visited)
- The Women’s Building MaestraPeace Mural
- Carnaval Mural
- Precita Eyes Mural Arts and Visitor Center
COST: Free.
La Oaxaqueña Restaurant
I’m a foodie that likes to try unusual foods. Near Clarion Alley is La Oaxaqueña Restaurant. To my knowledge, it is the only place you can get grasshopper tacos in San Francisco. This was my first time trying this and it was not bad! You can definitely tell they are grasshoppers with their little legs sticking out. They seasoned it very well and there was a good amount of crunching. Haha. There was almost an airy feeling to each bite. I felt like I was just chewing on tasty shells.
COST: $8 grasshopper taco, $4 for a pupusa
Dolores Park
Dolores Park is an urban park in the Mission District. The vibes I got contrasted with the feelings I had in other parts of the Mission District. This park felt similar to other areas that I explored in the bay. The scenic views are very welcoming and it’s quite spacious.
COST: Free.
Day 5: Check out, Cable Car Ride, and more!
The last day in San Francisco will most likely consist of packing your belongings and checking out. I spent most of my morning saying goodbye to a new friend I met at the hostel. Carla is a traveling painter from Spain. She came to the United States with goals of traveling the country with her bicycle and sell the art she paints while on the road!
Cable Car Ride
The cable cars is an iconic symbol of San Francisco. Nearly 10 million people ride this unique transportation each year. It was developed back in the late 19th century as a solution to traveling up the city’s steep hills.
There are three lines you can choose from:
- California Line – This line runs from California Street at Drumm Street, near the Financial District, to Van Ness Avenue.
- Powell-Mason – This line also starts at Powell Street and Market Street but terminates at Taylor Street and Bay Street in the Fisherman’s Wharf area.
- Powell-Hyde – This line runs from Powell Street at Market Street to Hyde Street and Beach Street near Fisherman’s Wharf. It offers stunning views of the bay and Alcatraz Island.
Powell-Hyde is the closest one to the hostel. Taking this route will end near a BART station which will take you back to the San Francisco Airport!
COST: $8 for a single ride. It doesn’t matter if you get on or off early or late, it still costs $8.
Mashallah Halal Pakistani Food Restaurant
The cable car ride ends at Powell and across the street is a Pakistani restaurant. I’ve never had this cuisine before so I was really excited to discover it. I did not plan this at all! It was my last meal I ate in the United States, and it was quite delicious!
Location: 865 Market St, San Francisco, CA 94103, United States
COST: $20
Conclusion
That’s it! This is how you can spend 5 days in San Francisco on a budget. It’s an absolutely beautiful city, and I hope this guide helps you so that you can enjoy this wonderful city without fear of breaking the bank.
