Suggested Itineraries

Sample 1: Golden Gate Bridge, Golden Gate Park, and Haight-Ashbury

9:00 a.m. Take a public bus to the south end of the world-famous Golden Gate Bridge. Enjoy the views at the Vista Point, then go for a stroll across the bridge for more panoramic views of San Francisco, the Bay, and Alcatraz.

10:30 a.m. Hop back on the bus and take a ride south to Golden Gate Park. Rain or shine, this park has something for everyone.

11:00 a.m. Pay a visit to the de Young Museum, one of San Francisco’s architectural highlights, with a groundbreaking design that dramatically presents the de Young’s diverse collections of American painting and decorative arts, and arts of the Americas, the Pacific Islands, and Africa. If you’re not in the mood to visit the galleries, you can enjoy the gardens and tower views free of charge.

12:30 p.m. How about a picnic lunch? Cafe Franco at our San Francisco Fisherman’s Wharf Hostel can provide box lunches.

1:30 p.m. Head over to the Botanical Garden at Strybing Arboretum for a free docent-led tour. The San Francisco Botanical Garden aims to provide a place of exceptional beauty and natural sanctuary, and inspires visitors with the extraordinary diversity of rare and unusual plants that can be grown in coastal California.

2:30 p.m. Stop in at the historic Conservatory of Flowers, a small but spectacular museum featuring immersive, living displays that showcase almost 2,000 plant species. Re-opened in 2003 after a $25 million restoration, the conservatory is part of a distinctive circle of modern American horticultural museums that are on the cutting edge of botanical interpretation and conservation education.

3:30 p.m. Need a break? Relax and enjoy a meditative cup of tea, overlooking the peaceful waters at the Japanese Tea Garden. One of the city’s most visited attractions, the 110-year-old garden boasts not only beautiful landscapes, but also imposing gates, charming bridges, statues, and buildings.

Want more outdoor activity? Rent paddle boats on Stowe Lake, or head west through the park out to Ocean Beach on bicycles or rollerblades.

4:30 p.m. Ready for a change of scene? Head to the world-famous Haight-Ashbury District, which borders the park to the southeast. If there's any area of San Francisco that evokes the city’s '60s hippie heydey, the Haight is it. From exclusive boutiques and high-end vintage clothing shops, to thrift stores, record stores, and hip bars, cafes, and restaurants, the home of the Summer of Love is the perfect place to wrap up a day in the park.

Have a great time!