After arriving in San Francisco, head to your hotel where you can freshen up before heading out to explore the city. Take an easy first walk around Union Square, the city’s central shopping and theatre district, a good way to get your bearings.

Head back towards Fisherman’s Wharf for an early dinner, with plenty of seafood restaurants and casual eateries to choose from right on the waterfront. Round off the evening at Pier 39,  a lively place to be in the evening and a chance to see the resident sea lions.

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Book an early ferry slot to get the most from your first day in San Francisco. Depart from Pier 33 to start your journey to Alcatraz Island for your Alcatraz Tour. As you sail to the island, enjoy skyline views of the city and the Golden Gate Bridge before arriving and starting your self-guided tour.

To this day, Alcatraz is still known as one of the world’s most legendary prisons, with the presence of infamous inmates like Al ‘Scarface’ Capone and the ‘Birdman’ Robert Stroud establishing the island’s notoriety. Explore the Civil War era buildings dotted around the island, along with visible reminders of the American Indian Occupation, which began in 1969 after the prison closed.

Once back from your Alcatraz visit, pick up your included hop-on-hop-off bus near Pier 35/Cruise Terminal and spend the afternoon exploring the city. Stay on board to Columbus/Ghirardelli Square. This stop is home to the Maritime National Historical Park and Hyde Street Pier, worth a wander if you have time before hopping back on. Continue to North Beach/Chinatown, passing Coit Tower and Washington Square along the way.

Hop off here to explore Chinatown on foot, the oldest in North America and the largest outside Asia. Take a photo at the Chinatown Gate, stop by the Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory to buy a fresh fortune cookie with a personal message pressed inside, and watch locals gather to play Chinese chess and practise tai chi in Portsmouth Square, also known as the ‘heart of Chinatown’.

If you still have time and energy, stay on the bus a little longer to take in Union Square or Civic Center, home to the Painted Ladies and Alamo Square Park, before making your way back to your hotel . In the evening, head to the Mission District, widely considered to have one of the best food scenes in San Francisco. Known for its murals, taquerias, craft beers and a growing wave of trendy cafés, bars and restaurants.

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Spend today exploring the iconic, most photographed landmark, the Golden Gate Bridge. Start at the visitor centre on the south side to learn about the history and construction story of the bridge. Explore Crissy Field, in San Francisco’s Presidio neighbourhood, and enjoy waterfront walking paths and sandy beaches with lookouts toward the bridge before you actually cross over.

Walk or cycle across the bridge to fully appreciate the enormity of the bridge and for some unique photo opportunities along the way. Once you reach the other side, head to Battery Spencer in the Marin Headlands for classic postcard views. Continue on to Sausalito, a laidback town with an almost Mediterranean feel, famous for its colourful floating homes. Stop for a bite to eat on the main waterfront street, lined with boutique shops, art galleries, cafés and seafood restaurants, most of which enjoy bay views.

After enjoying the escape from the city’s hustle and bustle, head to the dock and catch a ferry back to the city. Tickets can be bought at the docks and bikes are permitted on board. The crossing provides views back towards the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz and the city skyline.

Round off the day with dinner back in the city, perhaps in the Marina or Cow Hollow neighbourhoods, and enjoy some food and drinks in their upscale restaurants and bars.

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Make the most of your time in San Francisco before your journey home or continue your journey. Head into town to ride a cable car; the Powell-Hyde line is the most historic and scenic route, running past the famous Lombard Street, known as the ‘Crookedest Street in the World’, which features eight hairpin bends on a single, steep street. Travel up and over Nob Hill and Russian Hill, enjoying spectacular views of Alcatraz along the way.

If you’d rather explore a neighbourhood you haven’t reached yet, Haight-Ashbury offers a dose of 1960s counterculture history, while the Castro is known for its vibrant character and strong sense of community.

Enjoy a leisurely late lunch before making your way to the airport for your evening flight home or onward journey.