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One Day in San Francisco with Kids: My Suggested Itinerary
by Jill Loeffler •
Do you only have one day in San Francisco with kids? Follow me as I take you to some of my favorite spots for families in the City by the Bay.
My suggested itinerary will help you plan your stay with ease and offer an enjoyable visit for your entire family. I developed it with kids of all ages in mind, but I think it will be a great place for you to start planning your vacation.
Your day will start with a visit to the Golden Gate Bridge, a cruise around the SF Bay, grab lunch and play around at Pier 39, and then end your day with a ride on one of our historic cable cars.
I skipped recommending some of our most popular kids' museums, such as the California Academy of Sciences, Disney Museum, and the Exploratorium, because they can take up most of your one day in San Francisco on your family vacation. My suggested itinerary offers you ideas that are unique to San Francisco and something no visitor should miss!
This is a view of the Golden Gate Bridge from Crissy Field, which is a popular place to photograph this San Francisco gem.Disclaimer: I receive a small commission from some of the links on this page.
1. Explore the Golden Gate Bridge
After breakfast at your hotel or at one of my favorite breakfast restaurants (here are some of my favorite breakfast and brunch spots), it's time to start exploring!
I recommend starting your day at the Golden Gate Bridge. I recommend heading over first thing in order to get your day going.
What I love about visiting in the morning is that there are fewer people around. That makes it so much easier to walk along the pedestrian paths, especially if you are with kids.
Depending on how old your kids are, you can walk just a short distance on the bridge, just to the first tower, or even all the way across.
The entire walk is 1.7 miles, so this might be a little much if you are traveling with little kids.
Most visitors only walk to the first tower, which is about one-third of the way across. Walking this distance really offers you a chance to see how the bridge is made.
This is the classic view you get looking up at the south tower of the Golden Gate Bridge. Your kids will LOVE this view!Before or after your walk, make sure you also check out some of the outdoor displays around the Welcome Center.
The displays offer some facts about the Golden Gate Bridge, a chance for you to see what the cables look like inside, and to learn how suspension bridges work.
This is the view of the Golden Gate Bridge from the Coastal Trail. There are SO many great places to view and photograph this beauty.If you love walking and exploring, take the trail that allows you to walk under the bridge. It's amazing to see this massive structure from underneath, and I know your kids will love it.
If you are a first-time visitor, I recommend setting aside a couple of hours for this part of your visit.
The weather on the bridge can be foggy at times, but it's always windy, which keeps it cool all year long. Bring along jackets and warm clothing so you can enjoy the experience even more.
It's free to visit, so you don't need tickets to visit this San Francisco gem.
More Tips to Plan Your Visit to the Golden Gate Bridge
2. Cruise Around the San Francisco Bay
This is one of the Blue and Gold Fleet boats that they use for the 60-minute bay cruise. They all have both indoor and outdoor seating. You are also free to move around the boat during the cruise, so find a good seat and then move around if you want a different view!After you finish at the Golden Gate Bridge, head over to Fisherman's Wharf to take a cruise around the San Francisco Bay.
If you are taking public transit, you will catch the 28 near the Golden Gate Bridge Welcome Center, and it will drop you off right in Fisherman's Wharf.
I love these cruises as a family-friendly option because they only last 60 minutes, and it's a chance to see some of San Francisco's top attractions from the water.
This is an example of the views in the indoor seating area. You can see the reflection in the window but the indoor area has lots of windows, so you won't miss out if you sit inside on a cool day.The cruise starts in Fisherman's Wharf, heads west along the northern waterfront, and then takes you under the Golden Gate Bridge.
Your boat will then turn around, head back under the Golden Gate Bridge, around Alcatraz Island, and return to Fisherman's Wharf.
This is a view from the western side of the Golden Gate Bridge from the indoor viewing area. It's just a couple of minutes before the cruise turns around to head back toward Alcatraz.The views from these cruises are spectacular. I love the idea of visiting the Golden Gate Bridge first and then heading out on one of these cruises because you get to see it from several different angles.
Each cruise offers narration about San Francisco, our history, and some fun facts about the places you see along the way.
These cruises leave several times every day of the year.
I recommend booking your tickets in advance for this one, so you can plan out the time you want to take it.
You will want to time your arrival to get in line at least 15 to 20 minutes before the cruise leaves.
Additional Cruises Around the SF Bay
More Tips for Traveling with Kids
3. Lunch and Play at Pier 39
Check out one of the performances at the stage on Pier 39 during your visit. All shows are for kids such as magic shows.Once you finish with your cruise, walk east toward Pier 39. This entertainment pier is a great place to spend a few hours during your one day in San Francisco with kids.
You can grab some lunch first. Some of my favorite spots for kids include the Eagle Cafe, Wipeout Bar and Grill, and the Players Sports Grill and Arcade.
You can then spend some time checking out all the family-friendly activities on Pier 39.
A kid favorite on Pier 39 is the sea lions. You will find them all year long, but the platforms are most crowded in the spring and fall months.Your kids will love a ride on the historic carousel or a chance to test their skills in the mirror maze. It's also fun to check out the 7D Experience or the Flyer.
Pier 39 is full of fun shopping, so you can pick up some gifts for yourself or family members.
This was my breakfast the last time I was at the Eagle Cafe on Pier 39. It's an excellent family spot for breakfast or lunch.Don't leave Pier 39 without stopping by to see our famous sea lions. They are fun to watch for a few minutes.
They are on the western side of Pier 39, and you never know how many you will find hanging out there (find out more about them and when the largest numbers are at Pier 39).
You could spend anywhere from two to five hours here.
Fun Ideas on Pier 39
- Aquarium of the Bay: A fun place to check out the plants and animals that live in the SF Bay with a walk through Aquarium, hand on experiences, and more. Check for availability.
- 7D Ride: Part theater, part video game, this interactive experience includes interactive zombies, werewolves and more. They offer games at all levels, so even your little ones can enjoy this one! Check for availability.
- The Flyer: This theme park type ride will have you looking at San Francisco from above! See iconic attractions and landmarks as you "make your way" around SF. Check for availability.
4. Ride a San Francisco Cable Car
Your final activity for the day is to hop on one of our unique and historic cable cars. I recommend taking the Powell and Hyde line, which starts with a dramatic ride up one of our famously steep hills.
This line starts across the street from the Buena Vista Cafe at Hyde and Beach Streets.
The Powell and Hyde line starts with a ride up the steep Hyde Street hill.
You will then pass by Lombard Street, turn a corner, and head down into Chinatown, through the Financial District, and end your journey at Powell and Market Streets in Union Square.
The Powell Mason Line is another cable car route that runs between Fisherman's Wharf and Union Square.San Francisco's cable cars are the only ones in the world run in the traditional method or by hand. It's fun to watch the drivers manually pull on the levers to slow down and stop these historic gems.
If you are staying at Fisherman's Wharf and need to return, I recommend jumping right back in line and taking the second route, the Powell and Mason line.
This one takes you through North Beach on your way back to Fisherman's Wharf.
The final stop on this line is on Taylor at Bay Street. This stop is just a short walk to some of this district's top hotels, including the Hotel Riu Plaza, the Hotel Zephyr, and the Hyatt Centric Fisherman's Wharf.
SF Tourism Insider Tip: Kids 18 and under can ride for free on San Francisco's buses, streetcars, and light rail trains, but they must pay to ride the cable cars. The cable cars cost about $8 per ride, so if you plan to take the cable car both ways, make sure to pick up a one-day Muni passport through the Muni or Clipper Card app for everyone in your family. It will save you time and money on SF's public transportation system. Visit the official Muni site for details.
Other Top Picks for Visiting with Kids in San Francisco
- Top museums in San Francisco for kids
- Free things to do in San Francisco with kids
- Perfect Weekend in SF with kids
Comments? Questions? Suggestions?
I would love for you to join me in my private Facebook group!
It's a great place to interact with me and others who know the area well.
You can ask questions, get advice for your upcoming stay, and then share your photos and advice with others when you return home. It's a great community and the fastest way to get answers to those nagging questions about your visit!