Should I spend 4 days in San Francisco?

I love San Francisco and the bay area and but also like Los Angeles & area but cannot imagine being in LA without a car. San Francisco is really easy to get around either by walking, transit and if you want to venture outside the city there are lots of organized day trips depending on your interests but definitely lots to keep you busy for 4 days.

I agree with the PP. San Francisco has much to offer and is much easier to get around without a car. LA has its attractions, but you'd spend $$$$ on Uber unless you confined yourself to just one small area.

Four days in San Francisco sounds perfect.

As much as I love LA, I agree with others that a car there is essential. San Francisco is great, too, and is one of the most unique cities in the US.

I have family in the Bay Area so I will just say SF. You can get around by Muni bus, streetcar, Bart or Uber/Lyft.

I love taking a ride on the F Street Line streetcar route.

Do go on a free SF Library City Guides Walking Tours. They have ones in almost every historic neighborhood. My favorites were Chinatown, the Golden Gate Bridge and Alfred Hitchcock Tour.

Do try to get tickets to Alcatraz.

My favorite coffee is Blue Bottle coffee. They have a shop in the Ferry Building(another must see).

Enjoy the city by the bay.

Spend all four days (and more if you can) in San Francisco!! It's a very unique city and getting around using public transit is easy. Los Angeles is not unique, and getting around is not easy.

Thank you so much everyone for your tips!
I'll be staying in San Francisco only.

I'm arriving there on Nov 23 evening and leaving on Nov 27 evening.

Since it's thanksgiving weekend, will most of the attractions and activities in San Francisco be still open on those dates? Or did I make a mistake planning my travel on those dates?

Well, you really only have about 3-1/2 days, so you’re wise to just do one city. You would waste the better part of one day traveling between SF and LA, plus your first full day is Thanksgiving when most everything is closed no matter what city you are in.

Thanksgiving Day is one of the few days when things shut down in the US. But the rest of the weekend should have plenty of things to do and see. Check the website of any attraction that you want to go to for specific hours and activities over the weekend.

Be aware that MANY restaurants are closed on Thanksgiving, but others have special meals. Hotel restaurants are often open and offer a Thanksgiving feast, but there are other restaurants that do this too. You might want to search online for “Thanksgiving meals at SF restaurants” to see what might be available. Reservations are highly recommended on that day. (Many Chinese restaurants stay open on Christmas, so this might be true as well on Thanksgiving. Worth checking.)

I lived in the Bay Area from 1960 ‘til a few months ago. LA cannot compare.
SF’s geographic setting is stunning. I’ll tell you about just one of my favorite spots. If you you go to the Legion of Honor art museum, facing the building, walk down the road to the right until you can see water. You are outside the Golden Gate, with a wonderful view of the bridge and of a large expanse of the bay. I have taken many visiting friends there, and the sight never fails to thrill me.
BTW, the museum’s collection is not great.
You would NOT want a car in SF.

On Thanksgiving Day, you could take the ferry from the SF ferry building to Sausalito. It’s a wonderful ride with great views. In Sausalito there’s a very good restaurant called Poggio. It’s Italian but you can order Thanksgiving dinner or from their regular menu. You can eat inside or outside. They’re interior and outside tables area are both very nice. If interested you should make a reservation asap.

Sausalito is a wonderful town on the bay, it’s charming and fun to walk around there. Reminds me of Positano.
It won’t be closed down on Thanksgiving. Many shops will still still be open.

I love the Legion of Honor museum and go there often. But it’s not a Must See with only 3.5 days.

I also highly recommend San Francisco City Guides walking tours. No Library in their name. Check their website, lots of great walks. Free with a donation, if you want, at the end.

https://sfcityguides.org/

One of my favorite places to visit in San Francisco is the Palace of Fine Arts. It's one of the first places I go to when I'm out there. Also head to the Mission District for some fun shopping and wonderful dining. Tartine Bakery has some of the best pastries I've ever eaten. Another restaurant I love is flour + water - Italian food at its best. But make a reservation before you go.

If you have time for any day trips, Muir Woods is magnificent and is only about 30-45 minutes outside the city. I love hiking there and the giant redwoods are really something to see. And it's open on Thanksgiving. Although I forgot you won't have a car - you can get there by public transportation but it takes awhile. However, Sausalito might be an option as well - you can take a ferry over and enjoy the scenic town.

With regards to Thanksgiving, check this blog - it has a list of places that are open on Thanksgiving Day. That said, I would confirm it with the individual places so to make sure.

I agree that with only four days you should stay in one city. SF has plenty to offer for 3 1/2-4 days. Re the Legion of Honor museum, I disagree that it isn't so good. I found it charming, with a nice small sample of paintings from different eras. It is small, but worth a visit nonetheless. Also, the view from there is stunning. A city bus will get you there. And of course, Golden Gate Park has lots to offer. Just google the park and you will find enough to spend two days there alone. Ride the streetcar along the Embarcadero and visit the markets inside the ferry building. You can purchase some lunch goodies and sit outside watching the ferries come and go. Better yet, take your lunch with you on the ferry to Sausalito and find an outdoor spot to eat it there. Getting to Alcatraz might be difficult. Tickets are often sold out. You can check online. A day trip to the nearby redwoods is doable, and very California.

Enjoy your time in the US!
And welcome!

Another vote for Muir Woods. You can book tours that handle the driving ( across the Golden Gate Bridge!) to visit the park. It's a section of coastal Redwoods that are truly incredible. Enormous doesn't quite do them justice! Probably half a day trip overall but you should have time for them in addition to your San Fran major sites.

Yes, definitely! My home and I still try to spend a few days there every December revisiting my wonderful childhood memories of “Christmas in The City”.

You have received a lot of good advice, and I'm glad you've decided to focus on just San Francisco. i completely agree with Rosalyn's suggestion of the walk from the Palace of the Legion of Honor to view the Golden Gate Bridge. It is spectacular. I also agree with the suggestions to visit Muir Woods and to book your Thanksgiving dinner well in advance. I also recommend spending some time in Golden Gate Park if you have time.

I don’t like or recommend Alcatraz. It’s depressing imo, expensive, and a big time drain. You can enjoy better views from the ferry to Sausalito as i recommended upthread.

From SF by private car it takes at least 1 hour, and likely longer at Thanksgiving time, to get to Muir Woods. The traffic over Mt Tam can be bumper to bumper.

hey hey ashishjha1998
i agree with others about san francisco. so much to see and do. don't know how old you are and if you remember the " summer of love" "haight ashbury" and the "hippie era" here. something different are:
haightashburytour.com
talk a walk thru hippie history, rock n roll, architecture, tie-dye fashion, love power.
sanfranciscolovetours.com
few tours to look at, read about them. it's a small group in a hippie VW bus. stories about the city, it's neighborhoods, how to be groovy, see iconic sights and laugh.
if you're going to san francisco
be sure to wear some flowers in your hair
sffoodtours.com
chinatown or north beach or both neighborhoods. walking with a guide to show you some history with tasting along the way from the chinese and italians
sidewalkfoodtours.com
mission district food tour
airbnb.com/experiences/ san francisco mission district food and history tour
couple of different ideas of san francisco and the ethnic foods here. have a great trip
aloha