The Classic Route — 6 landmarks, 3 hours
Start at the Ferry Building — coffee at Blue Bottle. Walk through Chinatown (fortune cookie factory, dim sum), into North Beach (lunch at Molinari's), up the Filbert Steps to Coit Tower (free murals, parrots), west to Lombard Street, then down to Fisherman's Wharf for sea lions and clam chowder at sunset. This entire route is pre-built: one-click Google Maps export, audio guides at every stop. 3 hours of walking, 3.2 km. $1.99 for the whole route.
The Wild Side — Lands End to the Golden Gate
Morning: Golden Gate Park. Rent a bike, hit the Japanese Tea Garden (free 9-10am) and the bison paddock. Lunch in the Inner Sunset. Afternoon: drive to Sutro Baths — the ruins of an 1896 swimming palace. Walk the Lands End coastal trail north (1.5 miles, cypress groves, shipwrecks at low tide, Mile Rock Beach). Continue to the Presidio for the Andy Goldsworthy Spire. End at the bridge for sunset — Battery Spencer on the Marin side has zero crowds at golden hour. This is the Hidden SF route with audio guides at every stop. $1.99.
What to book before you go
- Alcatraz: if you have time, swap Day 2 morning for the Alcatraz night tour. Book 2-3 weeks ahead.
- Muir Woods parking: required. Book ahead if you want to substitute it for Golden Gate Park.
- Hotel: North Beach or Nob Hill — walking distance to Day 1 route. Avoid Fisherman's Wharf for accommodation.
Both routes, pre-built
Classic + Hidden routes — audio guides at every stop, Google Maps one-click. $4.99 for both.