I will be on business in San Francisco and only have 2 evenings (Thurs & Fri) and 1 full Saturday before leaving on Sunday.

My first two nights on business are at the Hotel Diva (Union Square area). My Saturday night hotel is optional.

Since my time is so limited I would like advice for the following:

1) If you only had one full day to see San Fran for the first time what would you do (Note: I’ll be alone)?
2) Can I see most of what the Union Square area has to offer in my first 2 evenings?
3) Should I choose a different hotel or city location (Fisherman’s Wharf?) for my last night’s hotel or just travel from Union Square? (my typical tastes are small boutique hotels and European travel in authentic areas that are less obviously touristy)

Thanks!

Well, as you know, you won't have a lot of time. I would think you could do Union Square after your meetings, the stores are all open to 9:00 I think, well, at least the department stores. I don't know...do you want to run around all day on Saturday or kind of like find sometning to do. You could spend the day in the Wharf/Embarcadero area...there's Ghirhidelli square, Pier 39..which is...well, OK..you could take a tour of Alcatraz or go over to Angel Island, or you could walk down the the Ferry Building which has lots of restaurants, a market, and some really nice cheese and bread shops, a Sur La Table and other shops. I think they have crafts also. There are tours of the city you could take..like Greyline or others..or you could walk to China Town from Union Square...that's always a fun place to wander around. Having such a short time, personally, if it were me and not knowing the city or the areas, if I wanted an overview of the city, rather than spending the day in one area like the Wharf, I would consider a tour. That way you don't waste your time trying to figure out which bus line goes to where, and what is there to see in this place or that. I'm sure your hotel could help you or go on line and see if you find something you would like to book ahead.

I would not go to Fisherman's Wharf, Pier 39, or Alcatraz. None of these are "San Francisco" and all are very touristy, the only one worth doing is Alcatraz, but again it is not San Francisco, it is Alcatraz.

I would go to the Ferry Building for food, take the Barbary Coast Tour, <http://sanfrancisco.about.com/cs/tou...barycoast.htm>

The Bay originally came up to the TransAmerica pyramid. There are ships underground all the way from there to the Ferry Building. Visit the Old Ship Saloon, once a real ship, now an old tavern.

Coit Tower, Filbert Street Steps, Chinatown, all can be walked in a few hours.

Then west to walk the Golden Gate Bridge. Go under it to Fort Point. Walk around the Presidio.

I like sequoia's plan - gives a good overview of SF and splits the day into morning and afternoon.

Check out this site for walking tours:

www.sfcityguides.org - we've done the Chinatown walking tour, which was terrific - took a couple hours and ended right about lunch time so it was perfect to get some dim sum afterwards.

>>my typical tastes are small boutique hotels and European travel in authentic areas that are less obviously touristy)<<

Then don't go anywhere near Fisherman's Wharf to stay, dine, shop, sightsee, etc.

Others have given you good advice. Perhaps have dinner on Sat (or Fri, for that matter), in the Union St or Chestnut St area - also lots of restaurants on Fillmore St between Union & Chestnut, and the section of Fillmore St in Pacific Heights between Jackson & Calif St. Another nice dining area is on Hyde st - around Broadway - the cable car goes right past about a half dozen restaurants.North Beachon Columbus north of Broadway) is our most active area in the City at night for dining & wandering around).

No need to change hotels, unless you want something less expensive.

Stu Dudley

Your hotel's location is fine to stay after your business is completed. You mentioned seeing what Union Square has to offer.....it's basically shopping. Major department stores, etc. I would spend one evening walking around Union Square, then perhaps spend another evening on Chestnut Street. It also has stores, but a lot of great restaurants. (If you like Italian, I HIGHLY recommend going to E'Angelos on Chestnut just off Pierce. Homemade pasta, just a tiny place, cash only, always a line, but it's fantastic!) The street is lined with white lights on the trees, lots of locals, it's a nice area to walk around.

Seeing SF for the first time, I do recommend taking a tour, (such as the Grey Line) to get a good overview of the entire city. You don't sound like someone who enjoys group tours, however. (just getting that vibe) But, if you don't mind walking, SF is a great walking city. You can easily walk from your hotel, through Union Square, to Chinatown. Walk through Chinatown and end up in Northbeach (our Italian neighbourhood. Great restaurants and cafes) Perhaps grab breakfast or lunch there (if you're HUNGRY, go to Mama's on the square in Northbeach, just past St. Peter and Paul's church) THere will be a line, but it's worth it! (They are only open until 2pm, but open early) From there, it's an easy walk to Fisherman's Wharf and Ghiradelli square. I know, they are VERY touristy, and most locals don't enjoy going there....but it is a large part of SF tourism, and you can walk around and say you've seen it. Plus, you'll be by the water and get great views of the GG Bridge and Alcatraz.

It's a pretty safe city, but do watch for pickpockets, esp. around Union Square and the Wharf.

You can catch a cable car from Fisherman's Wharf back to Union Square to get that experience too.

If you want to wander from your hotel, stick to wandering towards Union Square, down to the Embarcadero and Ferry Building area. If you head the other direction, you will be in "the tenderloin", our "dicey" area.

SF is famous for our restaurants and food....so, make sure you have time for a few fabulous dinners. (And, no, they don't all have to be expensive!)

Hope this helps a little. Please post back if you have more questions.

Also, you didn't mention when you are arriving. Keep in mind, SF is a windy city, so make sure you have a light jacket. It can get a bit cold too, if the fog rolls in, or if you are by the water.

Have a great visit, and enjoy SF! I can almost guarentee, once you get a taste of SF, it won't be your last visit here!

Andiamo

Don't miss the Presidio! I would also add North beach, Golden GAte Park and my favorite touristy thing: Have a drink at Equinox... 14th floor of the Hyatt on the Embarcadero... the views of the Golden Gate bridge and the city are amazing and although I've been to the City more times than I can count, I still love that!

Enjoy!

I'd go to Faina's place and get hammered. O

There's only one answer. Take the trolley. They have great guides and you will get a very good overall idea about S.F. The rest of your day I would spend around Fishermans wharf.Paul

Thanks for the great advice everyone! I'll be there in early November and will bring a jacket. And andiamo is correct - I don't like organized tours too much but I may not have enough time to explore by myself...Thanks for the advice on special unique places (e.g., the view from Equinox and restaurant recommendations, etc.)

Hope you haven't left yet. Here is my reply.
I was raised in San Francisco and I took a bus tour with my grammar school when I was 10. I saw things that I have never been to before and one gets a great overview of the city. I highly recommend spending Sat. morning taking the 4 hour tour from www.sftours.com that includes a one hour Bay Cruise. The Golden Gate and the Bay are the dominant features of the city and one needs to experience them. They are the #1 must. If you are a visitor I cannot imagine how you can do this without a tour. I am going back to the city on November 7 for my 60th birthday and I am taking one of the tours with a friend. Don't be a snob.

Get a map of the city or go to www.usatourist.com and go to the SF section. They have a nice overview map.
Must sees:
Ocean Beach and the Pacific Ocean
Golden Gate Park
Chinatown
North Beach
Ride a Cable Car up or down Nob Hill
Coit Tower (great view)
Crab at Fisherman's Wharf.

Sure the Wharf area is touristy. Don't get involved in that. Just eat some fresh crab even though it may now be from Alaska. Clam Chowder in a rounded out loaf of SF Sourdough French Bread is a local treat if you don't like crab. The sourdough is not a toursit thing. We live on it in a 50 mile radius of delivery.

The Castro is the gay community. Hop a trolley on Market that goes West to the Castro on Friday night. Go to the local cinema which shows art films if you don't want to cruise the bars and area. Soak it in.

Thurs night you will be tired. Walk. Walk after dinner around Union Square. You will be only 2 blocks from the Square. Go the St. Francis and look around. Take a cable car to Nob Hill. Take the elevator on the outside of the Fairmont Hotel (back side) and go up to the revolving bar which overlooks the city. Or go downstairs and have a mai tai in the Tonga Room where a boat floats back and forth in a pool which was literally an olympic pool in earlier years but now looks like a tropical garden pool. I ate frogs legs here for the first and last time when I was in junior high. But this is about creating memories is it not? You can go to Nob Hill on the Cable Car on Thurs night or it is a nice 6 block walk up hill from Union Square. Most of all OBSERVE. SF is a city where people look you in the eye, not like NYC. It is made up of small neighboorhoods which each have their own flavor.
Experience the majectic Bay and Bridge. See a few hills. Experience some ethnic culture. Have fun. Relax. It the greatest city.
ex-san fran pat in Napa wine country

i'd jump over the bridge to marin - stay in mill valley for a non-touristy feeling, tiny euro village feeling town. views of mt. tamalpais are amazing.

Stay at Union Square and travel by cable car, cab and foot. It's only 21/2 miles to Fisherman's Wharf, though you need to remember that the city is hilly. I'd vote for a climb above Levy Plaza up Filbert and on to Coit Tower for spectacular views, followed by a night of dining, drinks and strolling in North Beach.