How to See the Best of San Francisco on $100

1. Morning | Art walk through Yerba Buena Gardens

Wander through Yerba Buena Gardens, a park filled with public art, a carousel, and lush gardens. One pathway routes behind the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Waterfall, a must-see (check the website for the current hours, which are adjusted to due to recent construction).

From there, head across the street to the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. You can visit the first two floors of the grandiose art museum for free. Current free exhibitions at SFMOMA include a work by minimalist artist Sol LeWitt, as well as a piece by Julie Mehretu, an Ethiopian-born American artist known for her abstract landscape paintings.

2. Lunch | Dim sum and fortune cookies in Chinatown

Walk just a few blocks to Chinatown for cheap dim sum and baked goods at Good Mong Kok Bakery. Order the set of three vegetable and pork buns ($2.30) and a steamed barbecue bun ($1.20) for a hearty meal.

Bonus: The egg yolk buns (order three for $2.20) are heavenly—a fragrant, slightly sweet bun with a custard-like filling.

For dessert, visit the Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory for a brief, free tour, where you’ll be treated to a sample of a fresh, unfolded fortune cookie. The real treat is watching the factory workers hand-fold the flat, vanilla cookie discs into form in just seconds.

Bonus: The free tour is also a great spot to get a delightfully cheap, personal gift for a loved one—a handwritten fortune. Write your message on a strip of paper, hand it to a factory worker, and they’ll fold a fresh cookie with your note inside ($1).

Wander the streets of Chinatown. Stop at the neighborhood’s official entrance, the Dragon Gate, and grab a photo under the glowing red lanterns hanging over Grant Avenue.

3. Afternoon | Periodicals and pizza in North Beach

The next neighborhood over is North Beach, San Francisco’s Little Italy. Pop inside the City Lights bookstore, which was made famous during the Beat era. Then walk down the adjacent Jack Kerouac Alley, a half-block alley where the walls and floors are covered with art and quotes by authors including Maya Angelou, John Steinbeck, and Kerouac himself.

Rest your feet at Washington Square, and if your glutes are up for it, climb up the nearby, quad-burning hill to Coit Tower for fantastic Golden Gate Bridge views (as long as the fog hasn’t rolled in). Budget travelers can skip the official tour of the tower ($8); the views are just as great from the exterior (read: free) area.

Snag a slice of square-shaped Sweet Grandma pizza ($6) for dinner at Tony’s Slice House. The crust is slightly crunchy—and true to its name, the sauce is sweet. By the way, that’s Tony as in Tony Gemignani, the Food Network celebrity and Guinness Book of World Records multi-record holder (for feats including creating the world’s longest pizza).

4. Evening | Cable cars and chaturanga in Nob Hill

Walk 10 minutes from Tony’s to the free Cable Car Museum to learn about the underground cables powering San Francisco’s famous transit system. But hurry over: It closes at 6 p.m. April through October, and at 5 p.m. November through March.

Then peek inside the lobby of the Fairmont Hotel, an opulent, historic landmark situated on top of Nob Hill, where Tony Bennett first sang “I Left My Heart in San Francisco.” If it’s Christmastime, you’ll witness the lobby’s spectacular holiday display, including a 25-foot-high gingerbread house (complete with miniature railway) and a 23-foot-tall Christmas tree.

For a unique physical and spiritual experience, head inside the gothic archway of the Grace Cathedral, just a block from the Fairmont. Most tourists linger outside, but as Johnny Hayes, founder of FuncheapSF, told us, the real magic is inside: Every Tuesday at 6:15 p.m. (arrive early), the public can participate in a secular yoga class held on the cathedral’s labyrinth and set to live music.

“Every week it’s different—sometimes a dude is playing a didgeridoo, and sometimes the class is set to the beat of drums,” Hayes said. “You don’t just see it, but you really experience the place.”

Assuming you didn’t pack your own yoga mat, you’ll need to rent one for $5.

Bonus: Although the class is free, donations are accepted (the recommendation is about $15).

Cost of day one:
Food: $9.50
Activities: $5
Transportation: $0
Bonus picks: $18.20
Total: $14.50 ($32.70 including bonus picks)

1. Breakfast | Ferry Building

The Ferry Building is multifunctional. It’s the terminal where ferries arrive from other Bay cities. It’s an office building. And most important for your grumbling stomach, it’s a grand food hall serving not just eye candy but also actual candy (and artisan cheese, organic donuts, and dainty pastries). It’s a foodie paradise where tantalizing treats like the Michelin-starred Slanted Door’s shaking beef ($43) or Dandelion’s decadent House Hot Chocolate ($5.75) will bust your budget. But you can still get a hearty meal: Order cheesy grits made with Wagon Wheel cheese and served with a poached egg at Cowgirl Creamery ($6.95), or choose the cheese and jam served on a soft roll with fresh chèvre.

2. Morning | Waterfront walk

Walk 30 minutes to San Francisco’s Pier 39. Some locals roll their eyes at this place (on the tourist scale, this is the West Coast equivalent to Times Square), but most locals also forget about the pier’s true gem: sea lions. Dozens of sea lions congregate on the west side of the pier, and there are plenty of viewing areas. They’re easy to find—just follow your ears toward the cacophony of barking sounds.

Head onwards toward Fisherman’s Wharf to the Musée Mécanique, a museum filled with hundreds of 20th-century penny arcade games. Admission is free, but you should play at least one game. Most machines cost 25¢.

3. Lunch | California classics

Whet your appetite with a free, self-guided tour of the Boudin Bakery, home of San Francisco’s sourdough. Walk on a 40-foot catwalk above the bakery, and ask the bakers questions live via a two-way intercom.

Bonus: Grab a fresh loaf of Boudin bread, which you can get as a basic loaf or in creative, Bay Area–inspired shapes like a crab or sea turtle (prices generally range from $4 to $20 depending on the size and shape).

It’s not a trip to California without a stop at In-N-Out, the burger chain with a cult following. Order the Double-Double burger ($3.45) and fries ($1.60).

Bonus: Upgrade to the Animal-style fries ($1.80 more than the usual fries), which gives you cheese, secret spread, and grilled onions slathered on top.

For dessert, head to Ghirardelli Square, home to shops, restaurants, a mini golf course, and not just one or two but three Ghirardelli Chocolate stores. If you’re lucky, you’ll get free samples (which means the most enterprising spendthrifts have the potential to snag three samples).

You’ll find a narrow, sandy beach just out in front of Ghirardelli Square. Let the food digest as you dip your toes in the chilly Pacific Ocean, or, if you’re a landlubber, as you lie on the lush grass behind the sand (you may also spot a couple of frolicking sea lions).

4. Evening | Oracle Park and a food-truck park

Catch the historic F streetcar ($3, or $2.50 if you buy a ticket using the MuniMobile app) back toward the way you came, past the Ferry Building and onto South Beach. If you’re lucky, you’ll catch a Giants game. As long as you don’t mind standing, the best view of the game is free, thanks to the little-known viewing site that puts fans behind a chain-link fence separating right field from the McCovey Cove boardwalk.

From there, walk over to Spark Social and Parklab Gardens, a set of adjacent entertainment venues filled with food trucks, fire pits, and a mini golf course called Stagecoach Greens. The food-truck schedule varies each day, but the budget-conscious can expect to spend $10 on dinner. Wednesday night also happens to be trivia night (starting at 7 p.m.), where you can win valuable prizes including drinks from the bar and s’mores to roast at the fire pits.

Cost of day two:
Food: $22
Activities: $0.25
Transportation: $2.50
Bonus picks: $1.80
Total: $24.75 ($26.50 including bonus picks)

1. Bathhouse ruins and Land’s End

Head to Sutro Baths, a collection of haunting ruins from the formerly magnificent early-1900s indoor swimming complex. The ruins are especially eerie if the San Francisco fog rolls in.

From there, you’ll see signs for the Land’s End Hike, which starts where Sutro Baths ends. At just 1.5 miles to Eagle’s Point, it’s more like a leisurely stroll (though there is one hill with steps), hugging the coast and providing views of the Golden Gate Bridge nearly the whole time.

Getting there: Sutro Baths is on the far west end of the city, so you’ll need wheels to get there. It makes sense to buy a Muni day pass, which pays for itself after two rides (purchase one on the MuniMobile app for $5), as you can use it again later (today’s plan calls for three rides).

Bonus: Depending on where you’re staying, taking the bus may require a transfer. You might want to save time and headache by splurging on an Uber or Lyft ride instead. UberPool and Lyft Line, cheaper versions of the respective ridesharing services, pair you up with another rider going to a nearby destination. UberPool and Lyft Line fares typically run about $10.

2. Brunch | Breakfast sandwiches at Lou’s Cafe

At this point, you’ve probably worked up a huge appetite. The breakfast sandwiches at Lou’s Cafe are more than big enough to satisfy. From Land’s End, it’s a 30-minute walk to Lou’s on Geary Avenue (or you can catch the 38 bus if you bought the day pass on the MuniMobile app). At $7.49, the Corned Beef Hash Breakfast Sammie is a fan favorite.

3. Afternoon | Golden Gate Park

Meander a few blocks into Golden Gate Park. This is the West Coast version of New York’s Central Park—most people don’t realize Golden Gate Park is even bigger. You could spend days here between the multiple gardens, windmills, and museums. There’s even a live buffalo paddock.

Route toward Stow Lake and, upon crossing Stow Lake Bridge, you’ll find one of the park’s secret treasures, Strawberry Hill, which affords a panoramic view of the city and a waterfall. Another great view is a 15-minute walk away and will take you up even higher: The Hamon Observation Tower is part of the DeYoung Museum. Tickets for the museum run $15, but budget travelers can skip that and instead head straight to the top, no ticket required. From the DeYoung Museum’s observation tower, you’ll enjoy a glass-walled, 360-degree panoramic view of downtown, the water, and the Marin Headlands.

4. Dinner | A food tour through the Inner Sunset

For dinner, snack your way through the Inner Sunset. The neighborhood’s main drag, Irving Street, is loaded with choices. Start with a pizza slice ($3) at the employee-owned Arizmendi Bakery. It serves one flavor of pizza each day (always vegetarian). If you’re lucky, you’ll get something a bit avant-garde, like mushroom pizza with a sesame-ginger-garlic vinaigrette, or brussels sprout pizza topped with feta cheese and balsamic vinaigrette.

Head onward to The Taco Shop at Underdogs, a modern taqueria famous for its crispy tacos. Order the Chorizo Taco ($5.95) Nick’s Way, which entails a grilled crispy corn tortilla wrapped in another soft corn tortilla served with cheese, beans, pico de gallo, and guacamole.

For dessert, grab a pastry from Taiwanese bakery Sheng Kee. A massive Yudane Choco Bun (yudane is a method of baking that results in softer, airier bread) costs just $1.65.

5. Night at the museum

Head back into Golden Gate Park for a dance party with a dinosaur. Every Thursday night, the California Academy of Sciences museum hosts NightLife, an adults-only, after-hours party (tickets start at $14; we recommend buying them online in advance so you don’t get burned if they sell out). You can drink a cocktail in the aquarium and walk through the four-story rainforest, home to free-flying tropical birds and butterflies.

The big bonus here is that one regular adult ticket for the Academy of Sciences can cost as much as $40, so you’re paying about a third of that to get the same experience (kid-free).

Cost of day three:
Food: $18.09
Activities: $14
Transportation: $5
Bonus picks: $5
Total: $37.09 ($42.09 including bonus picks)

1. Morning | San Francisco’s classic architecture

Start at Alamo Square for a view of the Painted Ladies, the postcard-perfect Victorian homes that you might recognize from the credits of Full House (you may want to purchase another Muni day pass to get there). Then, walk down the hill on Hayes Street into Hayes Valley, a neighborhood teeming with swanky boutiques and hip cafés. You can find plenty of good breakfast options, but you can’t go wrong with the maple bacon cinnamon roll ($4.75) from Hayes Valley Bakeworks.

If you have the energy, walk a few blocks over to San Francisco’s City Hall, an architectural marvel. Go inside and gaze up at the dome—which is a full 42 feet taller than the US Capitol’s dome—from the sweeping grand staircase.

From there, either walk about 30 minutes or catch the bus into San Francisco’s Mission District, a neighborhood with roots in Latino culture that has rapidly gentrified in recent years and adopted a hipster vibe.

Bonus: Grab a tea from Boba Guys Hayes Valley. The locally owned boba shop is beloved among devout bubble milk tea fans. If you’ve never had boba (chewy balls made from tapioca added to tea drinks), stick to the milk tea ($4). Boba connoisseurs should try one of the more unique (and often seasonal) flavors like Korean Banana Milk, Rosanthemum, or Ube Halaya.

2. Lunch | Mission burritos

Ask any San Franciscan what the best, cheap Mission burrito is, and you can expect a heated debate. La Taqueria’s carnitas burrito ($9.65) was the winner of Nate Silver’s America’s Best Burrito challenge. Wirecutter’s San Francisco team likes the burritos ($8.95 for a regular burrito with meat) at Pancho Villa Taqueria. Budget travelers can get a great deal at Taqueria el Buen Sabor ($7.35 for a regular burrito with meat).

While in the Mission, admire the many murals, which help turn the neighborhood into a vibrant, living art gallery (this mural guide is handy). The neighborhood’s main drag, Mission Street, has more authentic Mexican bakeries and taquerias, while the parallel Valencia Street caters toward the hipster crowd with thrift stores, succulent shops, and trendy cafés.

Rest your feet in Dolores Park, a people-watching spectacle that hosts many of the city’s characters and provides a terrific view of the city skyline.

3. Experience Castro pride

It’s just a couple of blocks to the Castro, one of the country’s first gay neighborhoods. There are rainbow flags and rainbow sidewalks. Historic spots include Harvey Milk’s home and camera store, and a Rainbow Honor Walk honors famous gay men and women throughout history.

Bonus: Buy an R-rated cookie ($8.50) from Hot Cookie, the Castro’s most iconic bakery.

4. Dinner | Burgers and beers at Super Duper

The Castro location of California burger chain Super Duper holds what Johnny Hayes of FuncheapSF called one of the best happy hours in San Francisco—even if you don’t drink. Between 4 and 6 p.m., order any burger (a burger with a 4-ounce patty is $5.75), and you get a free ice cream cone (worth $2.75). The ice cream comes from Straus Family Creamery, the dairy that Cowgirl Creamery cheese uses.

Bonus: Happy hour doesn’t end with ice cream—there’s booze too. If you order a beer ($5), wine, or spiked shake, you get a free order of fries (worth $2.75).

5. Evening | One final hill

Cap off your four days in San Francisco with a hike up one final hill, this one to Corona Heights Park. The park straddles the border of the Castro and Corona Heights, and it’s a stunning place to watch the sun set over the city.

Cost of day four:
Food: $17.85
Activities: $0
Transportation: $5
Bonus picks: $17.50
Total: $22.85 ($40.35 including bonus picks)

Cost of four days in San Francisco:

Food: $67.44
Activities: $19.25
Transportation: $12.50
Bonus picks: $42.50
Total: $99.19 ($141.69 including bonus picks)

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