Best day trip: San Francisco

View of the Bay Bridge down California Street in San Francisco, Calif. on March 6, 2026. (Jenna Lee / Aggie)

How to spend the perfect day in the city

While Davis is a beautiful college town, students sometimes yearn for some fun outside of what the small town has to offer. San Francisco was voted the “Best Day Trip Spot” for UC Davis students, according to the results of the 2026 Best of Davis survey. Just a little over an hour away from Davis, San Francisco offers a wide variety of tourist destinations and activities to do solo or with friends. For anyone looking for ways to spend the day in the city, we've got you covered!

For a picture-perfect coffee spot, try a coffee or matcha at Round House Cafe, a circular Art Deco building with a perfect view of the Golden Gate Bridge. You can grab a bite to eat and get a drink to go and walk around the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.

Want to take in the San Francisco scenery? Golden Gate Park offers many free sights, including themed gardens, the Bison Paddock, Blue Heron Lake, hiking trails and many more activities.

Pier 39 is a fun tourist attraction, where you will probably spend a lot of money. It is a two-story shopping center that has dozens of stores and restaurants. It is also the home to the iconic sea lions on the pier dock, and it shows a clear view of the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz.

From Pier 39, you can hop on a boat and travel to Alcatraz Island and tour the famous California landmark. Alcatraz was the most famous maximum security federal prison in the United States, at one point housing more than 1,500 inmates.

If you are looking for some indoor activities, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art has a large collection of paintings, photographs, sculptures and more, featuring artists like Frida Kahlo, Andy Warhol, Jackson Pollock and many others. The Photo Booth Museum by Photomatica is another popular spot to take vintage photobooth strips.

Catching a Golden State Warriors or San Francisco Giants game is another fun activity. You can see four-time NBA Warriors icons Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and Steve Kerr at Chase Center, or you can catch a Giants baseball game at the infamous Oracle Park and see star players Logan Webb, Jung Hoo Lee and Matt Chapman.

Visiting Baker Beach is also one of the best ways to end your day in the city. This spot offers a close-up view of the Golden Gate Bridge and is perfect for watching the sunset. So, whether you're catching a game, grabbing a coffee or exploring the city, San Francisco is the perfect day getaway for UC Davis students.

Written by: Alexia Navarro — sports@theaggie.org