By early I mean arriving at 8am for 8:45am departure from Pier 39 to Alcatraz. The audio guide is great, and you can experience first-hand the magnificent history of ‘The Rock,’ from the graffiti of native Americans to the sounds of the cell doors closing, it truly brings history to life.
Returning from the tour, which you can easily do in two hours, it is time to come back to the mainland. Grab some coffee and fresh bread from the mouth-watering and famous Boudin Bakery Café.
The absolute must to do is to hire a bike and cycle across the Golden Gate Bridge, although be aware of the hills! If Karl the fog (as locals call it) is not out you can get the most beautiful views of the city and explore Sausalito, a small place on the other side of the bridge. Here you can get the most amazing ice cream and gaze across the river at the landscape of San Francisco and the bridge.
This should take you into the afternoon when you can get the ferry back over and do a free walking tour seeing famous sites of the city such as; Lombard Street, Palace of fine arts and even the house from Mrs Doubtfire over on Steiner Street!
To finish the night, get a quick bite to eat on the famous Fisherman’s Wharf and soak in the atmosphere of this vibrant city full of life.
Feature Image Credit: Wikimedia.com
