How to spend 3 PERFECT days in San Francisco for UNDER $500

A unique public art installation built in 1986 using materials from a demolished cemetery, turning bay waves into a natural symphony and offering panoramic views of the city, including the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz.

Starting point for a walk along the Bayfront Path towards Chrissy Field, offering some of the best views of the Golden Gate Bridge.

A local favorite spot for budget-friendly breakfast, offering house-made mini pancakes.

A location offering some of the best views of the Golden Gate Bridge.

Originally built for the 1915 Panama Pacific Exposition, this Greco-Roman Rotunda with a lagoon is now a local favorite for wedding photos and quiet reflection, where visitors can take photos under the iconic arches or feed the ducks and turtles.

Also known as Little Italy, this area offers a variety of dining options and sunset spots on the shoreline.

A tiny, neon-lit corner shop serving thick, focaccia-style square pizza slices since 1978, perfect for a quick bite to eat.

Offers incredible city views, accessible via the Filbert Steps through a lush urban garden; admiring it from the outside is free, but climbing to the observation deck costs $10.

A set of steps that lead to Coit Tower through a lush, tucked-away urban garden filled with singing birds and exotic flowers.

A lesser-known park featuring koi ponds and benches under big trees, perfect for resting after a busy morning.

A store across the street from Levi's Plaza Park that sells fruits and cold drinks for only a dollar.

A cozy, modern Italian spot in North Beach that serves some of the best Neapolitan pizzas in town with an emphasis on fresh ingredients and real mozzarella.

Located between 17th and 18th Street, it is best to visit around 8:00 a.m. to avoid crowds and take photos of the epic artwork.

Located on 24th Street, this is the perfect location for breakfast where visitors can try their fresh pan dulce paired with a cafe con leche.

A park where San Franciscans come to lounge, picnic, play music, and admire the skyline.

A BART station that puts you in a perfect location for the afternoon.

Offers an inside look at the winding wheels and cables that pull cable cars around, and displays old classic cars dating back to the 1870s; entry is free.

Located on Columbus Avenue, this restaurant serves fresh pasta dishes for an extremely good price, with food prepared in front of you and filling portion sizes.

A French Gothic style church with incredible murals and a replica of Gibert's bronze doors, where visitors can roam around the many different labyrinths.

A quiet garden park across from Grace Cathedral with a fountain and plenty of benches for relaxing, offering a nice view of downtown.

A cozy cafe with vintage booths and great street views of Washington Square, serving great meals for reasonable prices; a neighborhood staple for over 50 years.

The location is near Mario's Bohemian Cigar Store Cafe.

Located 13 miles south of downtown, the two best ways to get to and from the airport on a budget is either by the BART or by a SAM Trans bus.

A central location to consider when booking a hotel as it saves on spending money on public transport.

A hidden Civil War era fortress located down under the Golden Gate Bridge, offering stunning 360° views of the city from the rooftop cannon deck and historic exhibits of the US Army.

Visible from Wave Organ and Fort Point, with Chrissy Field offering some of the best views.

Location of Equator Coffees, where visitors can enjoy breakfast with a view of the Golden Gate from one of the iconic and peaceful bayfront terraces.

Located in Fort Mason, this place serves up fresh pastries and coffee where you can enjoy your breakfast with a view of the Golden Gate from one of the more iconic and peaceful bayfront terraces.

Located on Pier 45 at Fisherman's Wharf, this vintage arcade houses one of the world's largest privately owned collections of vintage arcade games; entry is free, but there's a small fee to play the games.

Location of the Museum Mecanique on Pier 45

A location for an early afternoon bite to eat, with Good Mongok Bakery on Stockton Street serving takeaway-style dim sum.

Located on Stockton Street in Chinatown, this bakery has been serving up takeaway-style dim sum for years.

A small plaza in Chinatown, the historic heart of San Francisco and the site of the first American flag raised in the city back in 1846, perfect for sitting and enjoying dim sum.

A tiny working factory where handmade fortune cookies are still folded by hand; admission is free, but a small tip is a good gesture, and they offer the option to make your own fortune cookie with unique flavors.

A traditional Italian restaurant known as one of the more authentic old-school restaurants in North Beach, with outdoor seating and even live music on the weekends, offering reasonable prices and a variety of pasta dishes.

Spend the evening in this park, where you can see St Peter and Paul's Church lit up.

A perfect sight for a photo when lit up in the evening, located near Washington Park.

Grab a gelato from here for $3 before taking one last stroll down Columbus Avenue.