7 Romantic Things to Do in San Francisco
San Francisco is a very romantic city, as long as you’re fine with a little fog. It’s full of hilltop views, Victorian houses, hidden staircases, candlelit restaurants and a famous bridge that looks good from every angle.
In this guide
- 1. Walk the Golden Gate Bridge, then see it from Marin
- 2. Watch the sunset at Lands End
- 3. Stroll the Palace of Fine Arts
- 4. Take a cable car to dinner in North Beach
- 5. Climb the Filbert Steps to Coit Tower
- 6. Take the ferry to Sausalito for lunch
- 7. Spend a quiet morning in Golden Gate Park
- A few small extras
- Where to stay as a couple
- Common questions
The city is small, about seven miles across, so you can fit a lot into a weekend together. Here are seven things to do as a couple, from sunset walks to a lazy ferry lunch.
1. Walk the Golden Gate Bridge, then see it from Marin
Walking across the Golden Gate Bridge together is a classic for a reason. It’s 1.7 miles each way, windy and loud, but the views back to the city and out to the Pacific are incredible. Start from the Welcome Center on the San Francisco side and walk as far as you like.
For the best view of the bridge itself, drive or take a rideshare to Battery Spencer in the Marin Headlands, just across the bay. From there, you’re looking down onto the towers with the city behind. On a foggy evening, when the fog pours through the towers, it’s magic.
2. Watch the sunset at Lands End
Lands End is the wild, rocky northwest corner of the city, and it’s one of the most romantic spots in San Francisco. A trail winds along the cliffs through cypress trees, with views of the Golden Gate and the ocean.
At the end, you’ll find the ruins of the Sutro Baths, a huge public bathhouse from the 1890s. Only the concrete foundations and pools remain, right by the waves. Come at sunset and stay till the sky goes pink. Afterwards, head inland to the Outer Richmond for a cozy dinner. It’s one of the best neighborhoods in the city for cheap, excellent food.
3. Stroll the Palace of Fine Arts
The Palace of Fine Arts, in the Marina district, looks like a Roman ruin dropped into the city. It was built for a world’s fair in 1915, with a huge domed rotunda and curved colonnades reflected in a lagoon full of swans and ducks.
It’s a popular spot for wedding photos, and you’ll see why. Come in the early evening, when the lights come on and the place goes quiet. It’s free, it’s beautiful, and it’s a short walk to Chestnut Street for dinner or the waterfront at Crissy Field.
4. Take a cable car to dinner in North Beach
Yes, the cable cars are touristy. They’re also completely charming, with clanging bells and wooden seats, and riding one up and over the hills together is just fun. The Powell-Hyde line has the best views, especially the descent toward Alcatraz.
Then head for dinner in North Beach, San Francisco’s old Italian neighborhood. It’s full of cozy trattorias, old-school bars and cafes. Have pasta, share a bottle of wine and finish with a drink at Vesuvio, the old bar where the Beat poets used to hang out.
5. Climb the Filbert Steps to Coit Tower
This one’s a hidden gem. The Filbert Steps climb steeply up the east side of Telegraph Hill, and they’re lined with lush, overgrown gardens, little wooden cottages and flowers. It feels like a secret village in the middle of the city. Listen for the wild parrots of Telegraph Hill, a flock of bright green birds that live up here.
At the top is Coit Tower. Take the elevator to the observation deck for a 360-degree view of the city and the bay. It’s a lovely morning walk together, and less crowded than most viewpoints.
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6. Take the ferry to Sausalito for lunch
Sausalito is a pretty little town across the bay, with houses tumbling down the hillside and a waterfront lined with cafes and galleries. The ferry from the Ferry Building takes about 30 minutes, with great views of the skyline, Alcatraz and the Golden Gate on the way.
Have a long seafood lunch by the water, then go see the floating homes, a colorful community of houseboats on the north side of town. Take the ferry back in the late afternoon. Before you leave the Ferry Building, browse its food hall for oysters, cheese and chocolate.
7. Spend a quiet morning in Golden Gate Park
Golden Gate Park is bigger than Central Park, and it’s full of romantic corners. Start at the Japanese Tea Garden, the oldest public Japanese garden in the country. It has a pagoda, koi ponds, stone lanterns and a steep wooden drum bridge. Go when it opens to have it mostly to yourselves, and have tea in the teahouse.
Then wander over to the Conservatory of Flowers, a white Victorian greenhouse full of tropical plants, or rent a rowboat on Stow Lake. It’s an easy, slow morning together.
A few small extras
On a foggy afternoon, do what San Franciscans have done since 1952 and share an Irish coffee at the Buena Vista, near the end of the Powell-Hyde cable car line. The bartenders line up a dozen glasses at a time, and it’s a lovely, warming ritual.
On a sunny day, grab sandwiches and a blanket and join the locals on the grass at Dolores Park, which has one of the best views of the downtown skyline. And if you want something unusual, the Wave Organ on the Marina breakwater is a strange, peaceful sculpture that makes quiet music when the tide comes in.
Where to stay as a couple
For a romantic stay, look in Nob Hill, with its grand old hotels and city views, or the area around Union Square, which is central and close to cable cars. Small boutique hotels in Pacific Heights and Russian Hill feel more like home and are quieter at night.
Common questions
When is the best time for a romantic trip to San Francisco?
September and October. The summer fog lifts and it’s usually the warmest, sunniest time of year.
Is San Francisco cold?
It can be. Summer days are often foggy and chilly, in the 60s. Always bring layers and a jacket, even in July.
Do we need a car?
Not in the city. Walk, take cable cars, buses and rideshares. A car helps for Marin and Muir Woods.
Where’s the most romantic spot for sunset?
Lands End and Battery Spencer are hard to beat. Twin Peaks is great, too, if the fog stays away.
What’s a good romantic day trip?
Napa or Sonoma wine country, about an hour north, or Muir Woods and its giant redwoods.
