2 days in San Francisco, between urban life and nature

The day begins with a stroll around the Embarcadero to get things off to a good start. This great hall is home to numerous small farmers' markets, making for a healthy and hearty breakfast. The next stop is Fisherman's Wharf, one of the city's most legendary districts. You can walk along the bay to get there (20 minutes) and enjoy the view. Once there, you must stop off at Pier 39, famous for its extravagant boutiques and sea lions.

After strolling through the streets of the city centre for a quarter of an hour, the North Beach district comes into view. In the distance you can see the Transamerica Pyramid, a true symbol of San Francisco's financial district. The surrounding area is well worth a visit, if only to see the graffiti alley dedicated to Jack Kerouac Alley or to discover the City Light Bookstore, one of the city's iconic bookshops.

If you take Columbus Avenue and then Kearny Street, you'll arrive in Chinatown, where the atmosphere changes dramatically. The oldest Chinatown in the United States, it's a great place to stroll and have lunch. A not-to-be-missed stop-off is Portsmouth Square, where locals play games such as chess. Further down towards the south-east of the city, you come to Union Square and its luxury boutiques: shopping time! To relax a little after this busy morning, you can take a Cable Car. This historic tramway is not only a useful way of climbing the hills of San Francisco, it's also one of the city's must-see attractions. Get on at Powell station on the Powell/Hyde line, enjoy the view, then get off at Lombard Street in the Russian Hill district.

Another iconic San Francisco landmark is the Coit Tower in the Telegraph Hill district, opposite Russian Hill. To reach it, you'll need to walk for around 20 minutes and cross Washington Square, one of North Beach's liveliest squares. Once at the foot of the tower, you'll be able to enjoy a beautiful view of the Golden Gate Bridge. If you feel like it, you can visit the tower and climb to the very top by buying a ticket($9).

Presidio Park offers a beautiful panorama to end the day. To get there from the Coit Tower, take bus line 30 or 45, and allow around 30 minutes for the journey. Once in the park, you'll have a magnificent view of the bay, the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz Island. If you fancy one last visit, the Palace of Fine Arts is one of the city's most beautiful monuments and well worth seeing.

The village of Sausalito

On your second day in San Francisco, head to Fisherman's Wharf to hire bikes from Blazzing Saddles (2715 Hyde Street). Once you've got your bikes, it's time to head for the Golden Gate Bridge. The hour-long ride to the village of Sausalito takes you through some very different landscapes: the city gradually disappears, giving way to beaches and stretches of forest. Once you reach Sausalito, you'll find a timeless atmosphere far removed from the hustle and bustle of San Francisco: a few fishermen on the water's edge, sea lions putting on a show and a divine tranquillity.

This charming little town is famous for its fishing port and its Houseboats district. These 400 floating houses, once inhabited by the hippy communities of the 70s, are the haunt of many artists and Silicon Valley bosses. Strolling through this floating village is a memorable experience, away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Going in the morning is ideal for enjoying the peace and quiet without too many tourists. The floating houses are all different, from the most modern to those cobbled together over time with a lot of elbow grease, exuding a bohemian spirit.

Other places worth visiting include Point Bonita Lighthouse, which can be reached by taking the Conzelman Road and crossing a suspension bridge. Perched on a rock above the sea, the site gives you the feeling of being at the end of the world. Now it's time to head back to San Francisco, either by bike for those who have the energy to do the 13 km again, or by taking a ferry and putting the bikes on it. Once back at Fisherman's Wharf, there are plenty of restaurants offering delicious dishes. Another option for lunch is to take a picnic lunch and wait until you reach your next destination to eat.

Muir Woods National Park

Around 30 minutes' drive from San Francisco lies Muir Woods National Monument, a 295-hectare park declared a national monument in 1906 and named after the famous naturalist John Muir. This unique sanctuary is home to one of the last remaining forests of yew-leaf coastal redwoods, also known as redwoods. Some of the trees are over 1,000 years old and stand 150 metres tall.

The mist that is usually more prevalent in the morning gradually dissipates, while retaining a peaceful, mysterious atmosphere. To make the most of the solitude, avoid visiting at weekends, preferring mornings or the end of the day. You can arrive at the site by car park, shuttle bus or hire car, after making a compulsory reservation at least 90 days before your visit.

The park has almost 6 km of trails, all of which are equipped and accessible to people with reduced mobility and pushchairs. The easy walks start from the Visitor Centre and are divided into three loops of 30 minutes, 1 hour and 1.5 hours. Whichever you choose, you'll be able to shorten the journey time thanks to the shortcuts in the form of bridges. Depending on how much time you want to spend in the park, there are also more advanced hikes such as the Ben Johnson Trail and the Canopy View Trail.

For the more adventurous, there are other options, such as medium-to-high difficulty trails into neighbouring Mt Tamalpais Park. These are completely untamed routes that will delight even the biggest hiking fans, with higher gradients in a misty, forested landscape. Be sure to bring rainwear and water, depending on the weather.

Practical info

📍 Location: Mill Valley, CA 94941, United States

⏰ Times: every day from 9am to 6pm, plan to leave 30 minutes before closing time to avoid a nasty surprise

👛 Price: $15 per person aged 16 and over, plus the cost of parking ($9 per vehicle), which must be booked at least 90 days in advance, or the cost of the shuttle bus.

👉 O ther info: Remember to take a fleece and a windbreaker, as temperatures can change very quickly and it's often cold there even in summer. Please note that there is no WiFi or network.

The Golden Gate Recreation Area

What better way to end the day than enjoying the sunset with one of the most magnificent views of the Golden Gate Bridge and the city. With this in mind, we head north to the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, an urban national park and one of the largest in the world. The Conzelman Road offers numerous views of the bridge and the bay in an unsuspected natural environment. The car parks are small and fill up quickly, so finding a space can take a little time. However, you can park at the North Tower Golden Gate Car Park and walk to one of them (15-20 minute walk).