It has been almost a year since I last visited San Francisco – one of the most beloved cities in the USA! While I may not have spent as much time in the city as I would have liked, my experience was filled with scenic views and beautiful landmarks. Visiting this city will always be a cherished trip because this city was one of the top places I wanted to visit in my domestic travel bucket list. Everything about this city is perfect for solo girl travelers!
Since I’m all about saving money and gas, I ended up traveling all over San Francisco by touring with the Big Bus. If you’re only visiting for a weekend, I highly recommend spending a day touring around the main city area with their services, since they will take you all over San Francisco within a span of 2.5 hours. If you like traveling at your own pace with an all-day itinerary – this bus service not only achieves that, but it also helps you stay on budget. I truly believe that if you love solo traveling, you should definitely check out San Fran!
Solo Travel Girl’s Guide to San Francisco
Airport and Transportation Tips
For flights, I was able to purchase a cheap flight from HOU to SFO with Southwest Airlines for under $250! If you are planning a trip to San Fran, I would make sure to book flights at least 2-3 months beforehand so you can get a cheap deal on their site. I also use sites like Expedia or Skyscanner in order to compare flight prices from different airlines. Depending on the season and where you’re based, your booking experience/pricing will look different from mine.
In regards to transportation, I truly believe that public transportation and Uber/Lyft are the way to go. I booked a rental car for the first few days of the trip with some family members and I immediately regretted it due to the steep price. Also, parking prices are incredibly expensive and difficult to find in the main city. I personally felt uncomfortable driving/riding with the hilly landscapes, so I ended up using Uber/Lyft often.
Another note to mind: Even if you stay in a hotel, they also charge you a daily fee for your car being parked in their lot. I wish someone told me this before considering a rental car! If you’re staying for a short trip, I truly believe that it would be cheaper to just stick to transportation apps/public transport. You can view my experience of traveling around San Francisco via my IG Highlight Stories here.
Hotel Tips
I went hotel hopping during my trip and personally would not recommend where I stayed due to the subpar accommodations. If I were to change my trip planning all over again, I would’ve definitely stayed in an Airbnb instead. You can find much cheaper places to book in rental apartment sites! With the city traffic, I would recommend staying in the main city area so it will be more convenient to visit places within walking distance. Plus, if you consider my suggestion of only using public transport, drive fees would be cheaper, too. With my blog post, you can exclusively get $35 off your first Airbnb booking here.
Where to Eat
You can’t go wrong with food in San Fran – especially in the downtown area! I was personally really impressed with the Asian cuisine and fine dining restaurants. However, keep in mind that food pricing may be a little more expensive than what you’re used to. However, my food/meal budget was the same amount for my other trips, and I had no issues with finding cheaper spots to eat.
Personally, I loved dining at Home SF. First, the owners of the business are Asian, and I’m always thrilled to support Asian-owned/POC businesses. Secondly, I love their concept of making a coffee shop be a “happy place” that embodies your home away from home. They have three locations around the SF area, and my visit with the Noriega location was quite charming! If you ever visit, I recommend ordering their famous birthday cake latte – it’s a gorgeous cup of coffee with rainbow latte art! For other recommendations, this article highlights other great places to try.
Places to See
Haight Ashbury: San Francisco, CA 94117
If you love rock and the 70’s, the vibes of this place are thrilling to walk through. The area has a lot of fun antique and vintage shops along with local food restaurants. You can also view some of the most colorful Victorian homes here as well. While I had no issues visiting, I did remember locals telling me to stay in the Upper Haight area since it is more touristy there.
Golden Gate Park: San Francisco, CA 94121
Have a love for scenic nature views? You can easily stroll through Golden Gate Park – which is so large, you can easily spend half a day there. I personally loved visiting the Music Concourse! It was magical to walk through the beautiful fountain area and listen to live music playing. You can also visit gardens, but be sure to check beforehand if there are additional entrance fees to get in.
Golden Gate Bridge: San Francisco, CA 94129
I don’t think it would be a proper SF travel guide without mentioning the Golden Gate Bridge! This is probably the most popular tourist spot to visit in San Francisco. Yet, it’s definitely a place you don’t want to miss out! The drive itself is incredibly scenic and you can feel this sense of wonder when you look out at the seaside waves across of the road.
Lombard Street: San Francisco, CA 94109
This is the iconic zigzag street in San Francisco that is featured in numerous movies and television shows! Today, thousands of tourists and locals pay a visit to this beautiful street due to the amazing views. If you dare to try, you can actually set your GPS to 1099 Lombard Street for a one-way drive yourself. Just be prepared to pay a $5 drive fee when you do!
Twin Peaks: 501 Twin Peaks Blvd, San Francisco, CA 94114
If you want a nice hike that’s a little farther away from the city, then try Twin Peaks! I recommend visiting early in the morning to get the best, tranquil views of the city skyline. I feel like there’s nothing better than to take photos here with the morning sun shining! However, be prepared to wear a light cardigan since it can be very breezy once you reach the top!
Golden Gate Heights: San Francisco, CA 94116
If you want to visit and up and coming district, I truly believe that Golden Gate Heights is worth a visit. There are not a lot of tourists who walk around, so it’s much easier to take a photo against some colorful houses. Plus, this neighborhood district has the tilting colorful houses! In the surrounding streets, you can also find some beautiful cafes and local shops.
Rockaway Beach: 105 Rockaway Beach Ave, Pacifica, CA 94044
Want to get away from the city? You can take a quick 15-25 minute drive to Rockaway Beach! I loved visiting this friendly seaside town because of the fun beach views! I spent half my day visiting this beach and felt absolute bliss. You can truly experience the San Fran weather in this side of the greater SF area!
Travel Photography Ideas
A lot of the travel photos wouldn’t have been possible if it weren’t for the hop on-and-off services of the Big Bus Tour! I was lucky to have traveled by foot to many of my travel bucket list spots at my own pace. However, I was able to find friends, relatives, & use my trusty tripod to help me with making my photos come to life. I highly suggest bringing a portable tripod with you to help with independently create content – so much of the beauty of San Fran can be found in the not-so-popular tourist routes.
Great photo-ops would be in Victorian home neighborhoods (like the Painted Ladies), historic cable car rides, and the off-coast beach areas. However, I would recommend checking out the 16th Ave Tiled Steps if you’re around the central city area. This iconic staircase is open to the public for free! It is a must-see because of the beautiful mosaic design portraying a colorful, flowing sea of stars.
Let me know what you think of my Solo Travel Girl’s Guide to San Francisco! Have you been to any of the places I’ve mentioned? Make sure to let me know by commenting below and tagging me in your photos. If you want to save money, you can get $35 off your first trip with Airbnb with using my exclusive link here. I also wrote a fashion blog post about what I wore while I was in SF here – however, you can view more of my travel photos in the city here.
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Thank you for reading – until next time!
