Cable Cars, Murals & Candlelit Tables: A Slow San Francisco Romance
See it in NavoyFive unhurried days based near Union Square, mixing San Francisco's icons with its neighborhood flavors. You'll ride a cable car, visit Alcatraz, walk the Golden Gate Bridge, eat your way through North Beach, and explore the Mission's murals and taquerias. Long lunches, late starts and romantic dinners set the pace.
1Cable Cars and Bayside Candlelight
$458Ease in with a classic cable car ride from Union Square down to the waterfront. Spend a lazy midday at Ghirardelli Square and Aquatic Park, then have a special first-night dinner a few steps away.
Cable Cars and Bayside Candlelight
Powell-Hyde Cable Car Ride
Board the Powell-Hyde line at the Powell & Market turnaround, a few blocks from Union Square. Ride over Nob Hill and down Russian Hill to the bay, with views of Alcatraz and Lombard Street on the way. Lines are shortest in the morning, and tickets can be bought on the MuniMobile app.
Ghirardelli Square and Aquatic Park Stroll
Have a relaxed lunch of clam chowder or a casual bite, then share a hot fudge sundae at the historic chocolate factory. Walk down to Aquatic Park's curved pier for bay views and a rest on the lawn before dinner.
Romantic Dinner at Gary Danko
Finish the evening with a polished prix-fixe dinner at one of San Francisco's best-known fine dining rooms, a short walk from Ghirardelli Square. Reserve well in advance. Afterward, take a short rideshare or cable car back to your hotel near Union Square.
2The Rock and the Ferry Building
$305Spend the morning on Alcatraz. After a long lunch among Embarcadero food stalls, finish with an old-school San Francisco dinner.
The Rock and the Ferry Building
Alcatraz Island Ferry and Audio Tour
Take the ferry from Pier 33 to Alcatraz and tour the cellhouse with the excellent included audio guide. Book the official tickets weeks ahead, because they sell out. Bring a light jacket for the ferry ride.
Lunch at the Ferry Building Marketplace
Wander the artisan stalls and pick oysters, cheese, fresh bread and pastries for a leisurely lunch. Eat on the waterfront promenade with Bay Bridge views. Take your time and rest before the evening.
Dinner at Tadich Grill
Dine at one of California's oldest restaurants, which dates to the Gold Rush. Order the cioppino or the seafood classics in a wood-paneled booth. It's an easy walk or short ride back to Union Square.
3Espresso, Beat Poets and North Beach Flavors
$354Spend a day in Little Italy and the Beat Generation's old haunts. Start with a panoramic view from Telegraph Hill, then take a slow food tour, and end with a classic bar dinner.
Espresso, Beat Poets and North Beach Flavors
Coit Tower and the Filbert Steps
Take the elevator up Coit Tower for 360-degree views and a look at its Depression-era murals. Then wander down the garden-lined Filbert Steps, where wild parrots often perch. This is a pleasant, mostly downhill walk into North Beach.
North Beach Food Tasting Walk
Join a guided tasting walk through Little Italy for focaccia, pizza, pasta, cheese and cannoli. The route passes Washington Square, Saints Peter and Paul Church, and City Lights Bookstore with Jack Kerouac Alley. Afterward, browse the bookshop at your own pace.
Dinner and Drinks at Tosca Cafe
Settle into the red leather booths of this bohemian bar for a Italian-American dinner and a house cappuccino, which is made with brandy. Vesuvio Cafe next door is a good stop for one last drink. Afterward, it's a short ride back to your hotel.
4Golden Gate Views and the Presidio
$260Spend the day in the Presidio's green hills and on the Golden Gate Bridge. End with dinner at a bayside restaurant at Fort Mason.
Golden Gate Views and the Presidio
The Walt Disney Family Museum
Visit this quiet museum in a restored Presidio barracks, which traces Walt Disney's life and the art of animation. Original drawings, models and films make it an easy, engaging cultural stop at a gentle pace.
Presidio Lunch and Golden Gate Bridge Walk
Have a relaxed lunch at the Presidio Main Post or a picnic at Crissy Field. Then walk or rideshare to the Welcome Center and stroll onto the bridge for views of the bay and the city skyline. Allow time for photos at the overlooks, and add a rideshare back to the center at the end.
Sunset Dinner at Greens Restaurant
Have a seasonal vegetarian dinner in a warehouse dining room with big windows over the marina at Fort Mason. Request a window table at sunset. Take a rideshare back to Union Square afterward.
5Murals, Tacos and a Farewell Film Dinner
$270Spend your last day in the Mission District with its murals, taquerias and parks. End with a candlelit courtyard dinner.
Murals, Tacos and a Farewell Film Dinner
Precita Eyes Mission Mural Walk
Take a guided walk with a local mural organization through Balmy Alley and the neighboring streets, where you'll learn the political and community stories behind the murals. Wear comfortable shoes. Tours usually run on weekends, so confirm the schedule and reserve ahead.
Mission Taqueria Lunch, Bi-Rite and Dolores Park
Have a Mission-style burrito or tacos at La Taqueria, then walk to Bi-Rite Creamery for ice cream. Eat it on the grass at Dolores Park, a popular local spot with skyline views, and relax for a while.
Farewell Dinner at Foreign Cinema
End the trip with a Mediterranean-inspired California dinner in a candlelit courtyard, where classic films are projected on the wall. Reserve a table in the courtyard. Afterward, take a rideshare or BART back to Union Square.