Sausalito, California: Perfect Day Trip from San Francisco
Sausalito is a quaint enchanting town located directly across the Bay. It was first recognized by artists directly after WWII. This waterfront town is reminiscent of a Mediterranean village. Even the houses are etched into the hills! It’s the perfect place for a peaceful escape from San Francisco City. From the waterfront, you have views of the San Francisco skyline, The Bay Bridge, and even Alcatraz.
How to Get to Sausalito
It’s fairly easy to get to Sausalito and you can either take the ferry from the city or drive across the Golden Gate Bridge. Either way, you’ll have beautiful views!
Blue & Gold Fleet Ferry
This ferry departs from Pier 41 in San Francisco and is roughly 30 minutes of travel time. It runs daily from 9:45 am to 6:45 pm but you’ll want to check the schedules before planning your trip to Sausalito! Tickets cost $13 each way and you can head here for the schedule!
because of Covid-19 this service is currently unavailable for traveling to Sausalito (updated August 2020)
Drive across the Golden Gate Bridge
If you want to be in control of your own schedule you can drive across the Golden Gate Bridge to get to Sausalito. It’s only a 10-15 minute drive from the San Francisco side of the bridge to Sausalito. If you’re feeling up for a little adventure stop by Battery Spencer Park for the best views of the Golden Gate Bridge
Things to do in Sausalito
Visit the Houseboats
image via travelandleisure.com
This is the most popular thing to do in Sausalito. The houseboats are well known over here and Shel Silverstein himself used to live on one! It’s a great free activity to do on Sausalito.
Pro tip: If there is a dock with a rope attached please do not enter as it’s private property but if not you’ll be fine to check out the dock!
Biking in Sausalito
The best way to cover a lot of ground in Sausalito is by renting a bike. There a couple of places on the island that rent bikes and you can bike along the bay for beautiful views of the city.
Grab Lappert’s Ice Cream
This local ice-cream shop has such a cute backstory. Walter Lappert wanted to turn his regular ice-cream shop into an ice cream shop that made and sold ice cream in Kauai as well. Since that was his favorite place to visit! It’s a local legend that you need to try out!
Shopping Downtown
There are a number of local artisan shops to check out on the main street in downtown. It’s a great place to shop for unique clothing, art, and souvenirs! Not only that but the facades are so charming.
San Francisco Bay Model
The San Francisco Bay Model visitor center has an entire model of the city of San Francisco. If you’re into that type of thing then this is a cool exhibit to check out!
Best Restaurants in Sausalito
Barrel House Tavern
A modern eatery with stunning views of San Francisco. They have craft cocktails and delicious seafood. The “I can’t drive” cocktail was a favorite of ours!
Address: 660 Bridgeway Sausalito, CA 94965
Bar Bocce
Address: 1250 Bridgeway, Sausalito, CA 94965
Hotels in Sausalito
While all opinions and recommendations are always my own, my content on this blog post may contain affiliate links for hotels I’ve traveled to, tours I’ve completed, and products I recommend. This means I get a small commission if you book a stay or purchase a product after clicking one of these links. As always, I am so thankful for your support and will continue to share the best properties, things to do, and items I love!
Casa Madrona Hotel & Spa
An 1885 mansion converted into a hotel, this hotel is another great option! It’s located on the water and offers a full-service spa ladies!
Waters Edge Hotel
An upscale boutique hotel that is only a 2-minute walk from downtown. The location is beautiful since it’s directly located on the water. They even have free bike rentals so you can roam around!
Hotel Sausalito & Suites
Built in 1915 this hotel is a Mission-style boutique hotel that boasts loads of charm. It’s only a one-minute walk from the ferry terminal and has a beautiful terrace.
What to Pack for Sausalito
- A light jacket for the evenings since it gets VERY cold in the bay area at night.
- These Madewell Sandals are my favorite since they’re timeless and comfortable. The perfect combo for desert escape. Also, you could use a sturdy pair of flip-flops that are great for the pool or walking around town (they’re so comfy). These Olukai Sandals are my go-to and have lasted me years.
- Sunscreen: This GOOP FACE SUNSCREEN BRUSH is perfect for traveling because it adds SPF to your face all while not messing up your makeup. It’s my new holy grail product and you need to add this one to your packing list! Also, my daily moisturizer with SPF is incredible for traveling + every day!
- Flowy Dresses: These really come in handy when the temperatures are high in the spring/summer. My favorite white dress for photos is linked here, here + here.
- Shorts: Abercrombie has the best shorts for all sizes and shapes. Check my favorite pairs that have lasted multiple seasons here and here. I also love these classic Levi Shorts.
- Basics: I always find the best basics at either Free People & Abercrombie. It’s nice to have some neutral tees and tanks handy during your stay.
- A large sun hat. Nothing screams vacation more than a large sun hat. Shop my favorite affordable straw hat here!
So there you have it! Thank you for reading my “Sausalito, California: A Perfect Day Trip from San Francisco” blog. If you’re looking for the Top Photography Spots in San Francisco you can check out my other post linked here! And make sure to check out more of my California travel guides here!
XX, Courtney
pin this post for later!
What a perfect spot to roam around and spend the day in calm reflections. Love the Ice cream shop trivia and I would definitely visit it 🙂
Isn’t it so cute? Thanks for the read!
Such a gorgeous place! We visited briefly last year enroute from Muir Woods. We walked around a bit and I really like the place. Hope to stop by another time with more time.
I didn’t get to a chance to go to Muir Woods when I was there! Now I need to go back too lol
This neighborhood looks beautiful! I’ve gotta check it out 🙂 Love the houseboats!
Those are my favorite!
Some super tips for a day trip to Sausalito! Just the opportunity to drive over the Golden Gate Bridge will make the trip worth it for me.
I couldn’t agree more with that one!
This looks like a great place to spend the day! I haven’t been to California before but I can’t wait to go!
Califorin is mine place
Am almost enjoy all the beautiful things and places here
You choose amazing place too
Thank you so much