24 hours in San Francisco

San Francisco is a feast. The city exudes so much awesomeness that cramming it into one day only gives you a taste – but you can always go back for seconds. We’ve put together an itinerary of some highlights in case you’re pressed for time.

9:00: Begin at Pier 39 and start the day with jaw-dropping views and the sounds of barking sea lions. Then look out to the famous Alcatraz prison, where only one man was able to escape, swimming through the bay’s shark-infested waters.

12:00: Hungry? Grab a bowl of the city’s best clam chowder at Boudin’s in Fisherman’s Wharf. San Francisco can be cold and foggy, even in the summer – so cozy up to a steamy bowl of this hot chunky soup to stay warm.

14:00: Time for Union Square. Stroll by the upscale shops at the Westfield Shopping Centre on your way to Little Paris for a Francophile’s dream selection of cafés. Ooh la la.

15:30: Now for the heavily populated Chinatown, the largest outside of Asia. Haggle down the price of a fake Louis Vuitton bag and pick up some authentic Chinese dumplings.

17:00: Pit stop: head over to Mission Dolores Park and get yourself a soft drink and pretzel from one of the many food stands. Grab a spot on the grass and enjoy the scenic panorama.

19:00: Go up to Telegraph Hill, where you’ll see a breathtaking 360 degree view of San Francisco and the Golden Gate Bridge. Here, you can see just how hilly the city is – and why you should be glad I didn’t recommend a bike tour.

21:00: Dinner should be at Trattoria Contadina in Little Italy, because you can never go wrong with homemade spaghetti and meatballs. Most of the staff is Italian here, so you can start to throw around some Italian words once the wine kicks in.

At the end of the day, I hope you feel stuffed from not only the amazing Italian dinner but the wholesome goodness that is San Francisco. My beloved hometown.