San Francisco punishes itineraries that zig-zag: the city is only seven miles across, but the hills and the fog make a badly ordered day feel like twenty. This planner groups stops by zone — Wharf and Northeast, Parks and West Side, Central and Mission — fills each day against your pace, and says so plainly when a day is overpacked.
Set your pace, toggle what you care about, and click any stop to bench it. The full stop list with time estimates is at the end.
Three days is enough for San Francisco if the days respect geography — the city punishes itineraries that zig-zag. This planner groups stops by zone, fills each day against your pace, and tells you honestly when a day is overpacked. Every stop is swappable: click one out, click a benched one in.
| Stop | Time | Zone | Good For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Golden Gate Bridge walk | ~1.5 h | Parks & West Side | views,walks |
| Land's End trail | ~2 h | Parks & West Side | walks,views |
| Golden Gate Park & de Young | ~3 h | Parks & West Side | museums,walks |
| Japantown | ~1.5 h | Central & Mission | food |
| Alcatraz — book weeks ahead | ~3 h | Wharf & Northeast | history |
| Fisherman’s Wharf & sea lions | ~1.5 h | Wharf & Northeast | views |
| Lombard Street | ~0.5 h | Wharf & Northeast | views |
| Coit Tower | ~1 h | Wharf & Northeast | views,walks |
| North Beach cafés | ~1.5 h | Wharf & Northeast | food |
| Chinatown walk | ~1.5 h | Wharf & Northeast | food,history |
| Ferry Building food hall | ~1.5 h | Wharf & Northeast | food |
| Cable car ride | ~1 h | Central & Mission | history |
| SFMOMA | ~2.5 h | Central & Mission | museums |
| Exploratorium | ~2.5 h | Wharf & Northeast | museums |
| Painted Ladies | ~0.5 h | Central & Mission | views |
| Haight-Ashbury | ~1.5 h | Central & Mission | history |
| Mission murals & tacos | ~2.5 h | Central & Mission | food,walks |
| Dolores Park | ~1 h | Central & Mission | views |
| Twin Peaks | ~1 h | Central & Mission | views |
Times are typical-visit estimates (~), not opening hours — check current hours before you go, and book Alcatraz well ahead. Prose companions: the full travel itinerary · one day only · a Golden Gate Park half-day.