This post is in collaboration with Hilton and SF Travel, but the content and opinions expressed here are our own.

There are five broad districts and several neighborhoods within that make up San Francisco - each one showcasing different culture, charm and activities. While the official number is a bit fuzzy, there’s upwards of 36 official neighborhoods with even more minor districts within and overlapping one another.

From romping on the beach in the Presidio with the Golden Gate as your backdrop or picnicking in Alamo Park, to eating your way through the Mission District and enjoying some retail therapy in Union Square, there’s something for everyone in San Francisco (dogs included!).

This also means it can be really hard deciding how to spend a weekend in this populous city. But not to fear! We have some great tips in this article to help you plan a great dog friendly weekend in San Francisco. We’re even sharing some of our favorite spots we think should make your itinerary.

WHAT TO CONSIDER WHEN PLANNING YOUR DOG FRIENDLY WEEKEND IN San Francisco

Pick a Central Spot for Lodging

Determine the activities you’re interested in and then pick a centralized spot for lodging. While the city is dense, it’s also as hilly as they say so walking everywhere on your list could prove to be difficult. Picking a centralized location will help cut down on the cost of transportation if you plan to Uber or help make walks a bit more manageable. Renting a car is also an option. If you plan to do this, make sure you plan for garage parking and to circle the block a few times when you’re on the hunt for a spot throughout the day.

Picking a central location like the Hilton Union Square, was a great option for us when we did a weekend staycation because it put us within 10-15 minutes of all our activities. The rooms are dog friendly, they come equipped with a plush dog bed and bowl, and their balconies deliver on some killer views. This Hilton is also home to the city’s highest skybar, Cityscape. (Only service dogs are allowed.)

Consider Your Dog’s Schedule

When traveling somewhere new, it’s always good to keep your dog on their usual daily schedule. That means feed your furry companion at the same time for breakfast and dinner and offer potty breaks when they’re typically needed when you’re at home.

You’ll also want to consider the stamina of your dog when planning your daily activities. If your dog isn’t used to walking a lot of miles a day, consider a bag/backpack if traveling with a smaller pup or plan for breaks between activities for your pup to rest. Remember, you want to make sure your visit to San Francisco is enjoyable for all.

Packing Essentials

Depending on what time of year you’re visiting, will dictate the way you should pack and plan your days around the city. You always want to pack layers when visiting California, but the time of year will determine what kind of layers and how heavy. The time of year also determines how much Karl the fog hangs around during the day. If visibility of the Golden Gate is ideal for your activities, your best bet is to plan those later in the day during the foggier times of year.

Particularly for your pup, we would recommend packing paw wipes (you will be walking around outside a lot) and anything you may need to clean up after a day of adventuring outdoors, whether you hit the trail or the beach. Also make sure you pack a portable water bottle and bag for snacks as you’ll probably be away from your lodging most of the day.

RECOMMENDED ITINERARY FOR A WEEKEND IN SAN FRANCISCO WITH YOUR DOG

While we don’t live in San Francisco, we’ve definitely visited several times since moving to California in 2019 and that means we’ve explored a lot of the neighborhoods you’ll be considering for your weekend adventure. Here’s some of our favorites with activities that we think are a must when visiting San Francisco.

Map created with Wanderlog, a travel planner on iOS and Android

Fisherman’s Wharf / Marina District / Presidio / Cow Hollow

You can easily spend an entire day exploring just a few of these neighborhoods, but to get a taste of all of them here’s some top activities to check out.

Spend the morning sipping an Irish coffee from The Buena Vista while walking around the Wharf, gawk at the Palace of Fine Arts and the surrounding neighborhood homes, then hit Andy Goldsworthy’s Wood Line to walk along a canopy of greenery. Spend your afternoon romping on Crissy Field (grass or beach) and enjoy the Golden Gate views as your backdrop and then wrap up with a tasty meal along Union Street in Cow Hollow.

Tips:

Take your Irish coffee to go from The Buena Vista and don’t waste your time on the food here. Don’t miss Umbrella Alley right down the street from Buena Vista for some fun wall art and go early to beat the crowds and tours. You can also sneak down to Pier 39 if you have time and watch the sea lions.
Andy Goldsworthy’s Wood Line is a very easy, quarter-mile trail lined with eucalyptus and rows of Monterey cypress. To extend your walk, pick up Lover’s Lane and head towards Pacific Heights (our fav neighborhood for house).
Dogs are allowed to romp off-leash in certain areas of Crissy Field and shoreline; check signage to make sure you're in a legal area and always remember to pick up after your dog.
Eat at Wildseed in Cow Hollow. The menu is delish anytime of day and even if you’re not vegetarian you’ll appreciate all the flavor they bring to their dishes. Wildseed has several outdoor seating spots along their parklette and sidewalk, but this is a popular spot so be prepared to wait or make a reservation.
When you’re in Cow Hollow, check out the nearby dog boutique Rororiri for the perfect outfit and souvenir for your furry companion. Tell Rosie, Ruby sent you!

Vista Del Mar / Sea Cliff / Alamo Square / Mission District

To continue with a mix of urban and outdoorsy activities, spend your second day in San Francisco seeing some iconic landmarks. Start your morning with the Painted Ladies in Alamo Square. As you enter the park, you can grab a coffee at the top from the coffee truck and then venture over to the open dog park on the opposite side of the Painted Ladies.

Hayes Valley and Mission District are nearby and great neighborhood options for dining out anytime of day.

Spend the rest of your day walking Lands End. The full trail is a 3.4 mi loop that explores the historic Sutro Baths, the elusive labyrinth and offers great views of the Golden Gate Bridge and the Pacific Ocean. If you go on the hunt for the labyrinth, this trail can also take you down to the Mile Rock Beach. To get an even closer view of the Golden Gate, walk the trail all the way to Baker’s Beach where your furry friend can really let loose off-leash.

Tips:

The dog park at Alamo Square is an open grass area, so make sure your dog has a good recall.
We love to pair Crissy Field with Baker Beach because it gives you an opportunity to see the Golden Gate Bridge from both San Francisco sides. And if your pup loves the beach as much as I do, you’ll want to visit as much as you can.
If you have time, veer from Lands End and walk around Lincoln Park. There are decorative hidden stairs - Lincoln Park Steps - along the golf course that create a beautiful mural out of mini, hand-painted tiles.
If you’re in the Mission for dinner, dine out at Loló, a Californian Mexican inspired restaurant. They have amazing nachos and avocado tacos.

So much adventure awaits in San Francisco, so start planning your visit! We know it’s hard to pick between all the amazing sights, so let us know if you have any questions while you’re planning.