Traveling Solo in San Francisco

Sometimes traveling solo can be a welcomed reprieve. San Francisco is one of the best cities for traveling alone, with different districts to discover, comfortable spots to people-watch, and the best vistas in the country. Here are some travel ideas for your own kind of trip to SF, where you’re free to explore at your own pace.

Go on a bike ride

Grab a Blix electric or Albion bike from Stanford Court Hotel and cruise around one of the most bike-friendly cities in America. Check out our local bike routes and see if you can find where the buffalo roam in Golden Gate Park.

Find your fortune (cookie) in Chinatown

Chinatown is packed with businesses, tea houses and restaurants to explore. Sometimes it’s nice to just walk around and window-shop or buy trinkets for friends back home. Visit the Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory to see how the iconic fortune cookie is made. It’s located on Ross Alley between Washington and Jackson streets and has been around since 1962. Read more using our Chinatown guide.

See the view from the Golden Gate Bridge

What better way to explore solo than by taking a walk? The beauty of San Francisco is around every corner. Make sure to plan a walk across the Golden Gate Bridge during your stay. It’s best visited around noon after the morning fog has lifted and before the evening fog creeps in. Enjoy views of the city skyline, the Marin Headlands and the Pacific Ocean during this meditative walk.

Hobnob with Nob Hill

Established by railroad tycoons, Nob Hill is one of San Francisco’s oldest and most well-preserved neighborhoods. It’s maintained a posh status in San Francisco ever since, and today you’ll still find plenty to do. See a show at The Masonic, tour the Cable Car Museum, and walk the indoor labyrinth at Grace Cathedral. Read more using our Nob Hill neighborhood guide.

Tour the city in a historic cable car

You can cover a lot of ground using the city’s iconic cable car system, with stops at Lombard Street, Fisherman’s Wharf, Chinatown, Union Square, and North Beach. Best of all, Stanford Court Hotel is situated just in front of the California & Powell stop of the California/Van Ness line. You have to pay for each ride, but if you buy a passport ticket for the day or week, you can hop on and off as you please. Read more about navigating the most invigorating public transportation in the country using our cable car guide. 

Browse the bookshelves at City Lights

Legendary because of its impact on the Beat Generation writers, this longtime bookstore and publisher was founded in the 1950s by poet Lawrence Ferlinghetti. Aside from its historical and cultural significance, you’ll find that it’s a wonderfully curated bookstore. Purchase a book to enjoy during your evening downtime. City Lights is located at 261 Columbus Ave., right on the edge of Chinatown.

Grab a seat streetside at one of Little Italy’s charming cafés

The nearby North Beach neighborhood is home to Little Italy, one of the prettiest neighborhoods in the city. It’s an ideal spot to have a coffee and a pastry and take in the scene. Visit the pristine Washington Square Park – which is so beautiful it seems fictional – and grab a seat at a nearby restaurant or order something to-go to enjoy in the park. If the weather isn’t ideal, cozy up to the historic writer’s hang out, Caffe Trieste, located precariously at 601 Vallejo St. and Grant. Order a pastry and espresso, read up on the news, and enjoy the good life.

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Traveling alone gives you a chance to treat yourself and relax. Check out our casual unwind package at Stanford Court Hotel to enjoy quiet time during your stay.