The Best of San Francisco in a Day • The Blonde Abroad

San Francisco is easily one of the greatest cities in the United States. From gorgeous landmarks like the Golden Gate Bridge to incredible food in Chinatown to historic spots like Haight-Ashbury, you could spend a lifetime exploring SF. While I would recommend spending at least a weekend in San Francisco, you can cover a lot of ground in just 24 hours.

On my latest trip, I took a private tour of San Francisco with Bin 415.

I had such a good experience, and I’d highly recommend opting for a private driver if you can — parking is crazy in San Francisco and figuring out public transport will slow you down. All of Bin 415’s Private Tours are in a Mercedes GL 450 so can hit the streets in comfort and style!

Having a driver will maximize your time, and give you the bonus of touring around with a local who can show you the best spots in town (plus they always know the prime photo op locations!).

If you’re traveling with little ones, here are the best things to do in San Francisco with kids!

Ready to leave your heart in SF? Here is how to see the best of San Francisco in a day.

1 Day San Francisco City Tour Itinerary

Lombard Street: This famously steep and twisted street deserves a spot on every traveler’s to-do list. It is famous for its hairpin turns and traffic, so it’s especially handy to have a driver here.

Coit Tower: Also known as the Lillian Coit Memorial Tower, this pretty place in Telegraph Hill tells the tale of a socialite turned rouge firefighter. It is an interesting piece of women’s history that transports you to another time and reminds you just how fascinating the story of America’s past is.

Chinatown: The oldest Chinatown in North America and one of the biggest Chinese enclaves outside of Asia, SF’s Chinatown actually attracts more tourists than the Golden Gate Bridge. While it’s definitely the kind of place you could roam around for hours, you can see a lot just by driving through and snapping pics.

Beat Poetry Stops: We stopped by the famous City Lights Books, which has an amazing history of supporting the revolutionary writers of the mid-twentieth century. Next up, we went through Jack Kerouac alley and took a break at Vesuvio Café, a famous old beat poet’s bar.

Pier 39 + Fisherman’s Wharf: When you have more time this is the ultimate tourist attraction for shopping, eating, and just admiring the shoreline. For now, just take a slow cruise down the coast. If you’re lucky enough to be in SF in January, welcome the sea lions to the pier.

Buena Vista Café: Think the best Irish coffee comes from Europe? Think again! This is the place to pop in for a quick caffeine fix.

Don’t miss more of my favorite places to eat in San Francisco!

Palace of Fine Arts: Easily one of the most beautiful historical monuments in San Francisco! We stopped by to explore and the impressive architecture made it worth the trip.

Lyon Street Steps: While the city offers some impressive vistas, the Lyon Street Steps offer my fave view of the San Francisco.

Alamo Square: Everywhere you look, everywhere you go! There’s a heart… if you grew up watching Full House, seeing the Painted Ladies of Alamo Square will melt your heart. Even if you’ve got no idea what I’m talking about, you will adore these beautiful homes.

Haight-Ashbury: Another perfect spot for cruising, you will need to plan at least a few minutes to snap a shot of the famous Haight-Ashbury intersection. Be sure you’ve got a good guide who can help you relive the glorious hippie days!

Twin Peaks: This 360-degree view of the Bay Area make it well worth driving up. You can see downtown, the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, Angel Island, and all of the best of the best.

Golden Gate Bridge: Of course you can’t leave without getting up close and personal with the Golden Gate Bridge! On the southwest side of the Golden Gate Bridge, you’ll find a jaw-dropping view.

If you have time, it’s worth a trip over the bridge but you can really get the best views without leaving shore.

Book Your Own Private Tour

Company: Bin 415 San Francisco Private Tours
Other Tours: Napa & Sonoma Valley & Carmel & Monterey

Shop my San Francisco-inspired style!

Read Next: The Ultimate Guide to San Francisco in a Weekend

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Some places are worth coming back to 🐧

Boulders Beach, Cape Town with Oliver
9 months → 21 months → 3.5 years

I blinked and my baby become a toddler…
and my toddler become a little boy. 😭

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Some places are worth coming back to 🐧

Boulders Beach, Cape Town with Oliver
9 months → 21 months → 3.5 years

I blinked and my baby become a toddler…
and my toddler become a little boy. 😭

January Wrapped 🗓️
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
We landed in Cape Town mid-January and hit the ground running.

Oliver and I packed up our life and moved abroad for a year — chasing a simple question: what’s the best that could happen?

My parents joined us for the first month — which meant extra hands, loving support, and the sweetest way to begin this chapter.

Between toddler sickness (IYKYK) and playing full-time tour guide, we somehow managed to squeeze in so much life.

A long weekend in Paternoster.
Glamping under the stars at Camp Canoe.
Summertime in the city.
Oliver starting at his new preschool.
Adventures through the Cape Winelands.
Slow weekends at the farmer’s market.
Afternoons stretched long at the beach.

It’s been messy and magical.
Exhausting and energizing.

Somewhere between pharmacy runs and beach swims, it started to feel less like a move…

and more like the start of our biggest adventure yet! 🌍
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
#capetown

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January Wrapped 🗓️
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
We landed in Cape Town mid-January and hit the ground running.

Oliver and I packed up our life and moved abroad for a year — chasing a simple question: what’s the best that could happen?

My parents joined us for the first month — which meant extra hands, loving support, and the sweetest way to begin this chapter.

Between toddler sickness (IYKYK) and playing full-time tour guide, we somehow managed to squeeze in so much life.

A long weekend in Paternoster.
Glamping under the stars at Camp Canoe.
Summertime in the city.
Oliver starting at his new preschool.
Adventures through the Cape Winelands.
Slow weekends at the farmer’s market.
Afternoons stretched long at the beach.

It’s been messy and magical.
Exhausting and energizing.

Somewhere between pharmacy runs and beach swims, it started to feel less like a move…

and more like the start of our biggest adventure yet! 🌍
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
#capetown

Sun-drenched mornings, salty air, and the kind of place that makes you instantly exhale @waldorfastoriacostarica ✌️
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Our stay at this brand-new property was truly a dream — sweeping ocean views, elevated design, and more pools than I’ve ever seen at a hotel in my entire life.

From award-winning wellness to coconuts by the pool, every detail felt thoughtful and intentional.

🧖‍♀️ The Spa
Recently named Costa Rica’s Best Resort Spa, this sanctuary blends modern wellness with local healing traditions — volcanic mud rituals, rainforest-inspired therapies, and grounding treatments that leave you floating.

🛎️ Amenities
World-class service, beachfront access, a stunning collection of pools (truly — endless), curated experiences, and those sweet elevated touches everywhere you turn. Newly opened, yet already operating like a seasoned 5-star icon.

💦 Kids’ Club
One of the coolest spaces for littles — crafts, games, toys, and outdoor play areas that made traveling with Oliver feel easy (and fun for him, too).

🥥 The Food & Coffee
Fresh, locally sourced Costa Rican flavors with elevated execution. Oceanfront bites, poolside snacks, handcrafted coffee experiences, and yes… plenty of coconuts.

🌿 Sustainability
Proud holders of the Bandera Azul Ecológica for conservation and environmental efforts — luxury and responsibility beautifully intertwined.

We truly cannot wait to come back. ✨

If you’re looking for a luxury, family-friendly escape in Costa Rica — this is your spot.

A huge thank you to @waldorfastoriacostarica for hosting us on this sunshine-soaked getaway.
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
#costarica #waldorfastoria #luxuryfamilytravel #familytravel

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A little late sharing this — but I needed time to sit with 2025. It was so much more than what made it to Instagram.
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
This was the year I stopped measuring life in miles traveled… and started measuring it in the days we weren’t promised.

Not in passport stamps.
Not in hotel check-ins.
Not in how far we could go.

But in the quiet relief of “clear.”
In small hands squeezing mine tighter.
In birthday candles and quiet camping mornings.
In laughter that came back after fear.

2025 was the plot twist year.

The year I learned strength doesn’t look like control —
it looks like surrender.
It looks like showing up anyway.
It looks like choosing joy even when you know how fragile it is.

And it looks like being surrounded by the people who love us most.

We traveled the world.
But more importantly —
we celebrated what we almost lost.

And at the end of it all?
We packed up our life and chose a new continent. 🇿🇦

2025, you were heavy.
You were also beautiful.
You changed me.

2026 — I’m ready.
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
#2025wrapped

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Open post by theblondeabroad with ID 18380851606081524

A little late sharing this — but I needed time to sit with 2025. It was so much more than what made it to Instagram.
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
This was the year I stopped measuring life in miles traveled… and started measuring it in the days we weren’t promised.

Not in passport stamps.
Not in hotel check-ins.
Not in how far we could go.

But in the quiet relief of “clear.”
In small hands squeezing mine tighter.
In birthday candles and quiet camping mornings.
In laughter that came back after fear.

2025 was the plot twist year.

The year I learned strength doesn’t look like control —
it looks like surrender.
It looks like showing up anyway.
It looks like choosing joy even when you know how fragile it is.

And it looks like being surrounded by the people who love us most.

We traveled the world.
But more importantly —
we celebrated what we almost lost.

And at the end of it all?
We packed up our life and chose a new continent. 🇿🇦

2025, you were heavy.
You were also beautiful.
You changed me.

2026 — I’m ready.
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
#2025wrapped

My favorite smart features of my old home! 🏠
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I put a lot of thought and design into my home, so I knew I had to get curated, high-tech window shades to match.

Enter @rollishades — sleek, custom motorized shades that actually elevate the space while solving the very real sunlight problem. From light-filtering to blackout options, everything is tailored to fit perfectly and controlled with the touch of a button (or app). It’s the kind of smart, intentional design that makes a home feel finished. 🪟🤍

I easily installed these in my guest bedroom and let me just say, when guests come over, they’re getting what feels like a hotel experience in my home (minus the room service).
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••⁠
#gifted #homedesign #interiorinspo #smarthome #rollishades

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