Colorful hillside neighborhoods, ocean views, and iconic bridges make this one of America’s most instantly recognizable cities. But part of its appeal lies beyond the city itself, with countless scenic escapes scattered around the surrounding bay.
Set between the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay, San Francisco is perfectly positioned for day trips to nearby towns, hiking trails, and coastal scenery. One of the most popular escapes is Sausalito, a picturesque waterfront town just across the bay.
Known for its sunny weather, relaxed atmosphere, and beautiful marina views, Sausalito feels worlds away from the energy of San Francisco despite being only a short trip from the city.
Catching the Ferry
By far, the best way to get to Sausalito is taking the ferry, which is not only convenient but also the most gorgeous way to travel. A few lines operate between the two locations, including the Golden Gate Ferry and the Blue and Gold Fleet. The schedule differs depending on the day of the week and season, with vessels traveling back and forth between the cities from 7:05 a.m. until 7:15 p.m.
Ferries depart the city from either Pier 41 or the San Francisco Ferry Building. The Blue and Gold Fleet operates from Pier 41, while the Golden Gate Ferry operates from the Ferry Building in the Embarcadero. Both ferry trips take around 30 minutes and cost $14 if you purchase them on board. To save some cash, pay with your Clipper card and receive a significant discount for a total of $7.75 one way.
One of the most recommended ways to experience Sausalito is to cycle one way over the bridge and catch the ferry in the other direction. The ferries are bike-friendly, with a special section to store your bikes.
Dress warm. Even when the sun is shining, temperatures plummet when traveling across the exposed section of the bay. On the note of weather, Sausalito experiences banana belt weather, which means it is usually warmer than San Francisco (and not as windy).
Walk The Bridgeway Promenade
On arrival in Sausalito, the first thing you’ll want to do is walk through the city. Small and easy to explore on foot, distances between the main attractions aren’t far, and when they are, the views will surely keep you occupied.
Start by walking along the Bridgeway Promenade. This stretch of coastal road is the town’s main thoroughfare, lined with shops, galleries, and restaurants on the one side and the bay on the other. The ferry drops you off in the middle of the town, so to see most of the promenade, I recommend you cut back and start at the beginning around Tiffany Park. If you catch the bus, you’ll be dropped off close to this park.
Walking north, you’ll pass by a few of the best restaurants in the city – to be discussed later. I recommend walking all the way through Downtown Sausalito towards Dunphy Park, which passes the iconic floating houseboats of Sausalito.
Dunphy Park is also a few minutes’ stroll from Sausalito Beach, which is a gorgeous protected area with golden sand overlooking the docks and bay towards Belvedere Island.
Galleries and Boutiques
Sausalito has long been a haven for artists and creative minds, and once you see the stunning town and views yourself, you’ll understand why. Artistic inspiration will strike even the least creative here.
There is no shortage of art galleries and pop-up exhibitions throughout the town. You’ll find everything from contemporary art exhibits to handcrafted jewelry to antique stores hosting an eclectic mix of art, hand-blown glass, and carved wooden furniture from the last century.
Lunch with a View
One of the major highlights of any trip to Sausalito is the food scene. Like its neighbor San Francisco, Sausalito is lined with incredible restaurants serving world-class seafood and Californian cuisine.
Bar Bocce and the Joinery Beerhall are two of my favorite spots for lunch. The two restaurants are located next to one another by the houseboats and have a relaxed, casual feel to them. Other than craft beer, Joinery is known for its rotisserie chicken. I can recommend the fried chicken sandwich with chili aioli. Pair that with fried brussel sprouts or the burrata and English pea starter ($14.50) for the perfect midday meal.
If you’re in the mood for pizza, Bar Bocce is your place. Do yourself a favor and go for the sweet pear pizza with candied walnuts and gorgonzola cheese. For dessert, Lappert’s Sausalito is the town’s most famous gelato shop. With Hawaiian roots, this ice cream and frozen yogurt shop is always buzzing when the sun is out.
Parks of Sausalito
Other than Dunphy Park, there are a few other gorgeous green spaces worth checking out if you want a bit of quiet time within the buzz of the town.
Gabrielson Park is a small green space between the Yacht Club and the ferry dock. It has a few benches and excellent bay views, especially of the ferry arriving and departing. It’s right next to the Plaza Vina Del Mar Fountain and Park, which is a triangular-shaped grassy area known for its fountain and elephant statues.
That said, there aren’t too many big parks in this small town. If you’re in the mood, you could catch a cab to the surrounding Marin Headlands and follow one of the hiking trails the area is famous for.
Slacker Hill via Morning Sun is a moderate 4.4-mile hike through the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. It’s known for its unrivaled views of the Golden Gate Bridge across into San Francisco. The Bobcat Trail Loop is a three-mile loop closer to Sausalito that takes around an hour and a half to complete.
For an easy, flat, but long walk, you could walk from Sausalito to Mill Valley, nine miles along the waterfront. Stopping to check out different sites along the way, this walk should take around three hours in one direction.
Dinner on the Sea
If you’re still around for dinner, Scoma’s of Sausalito is one of the most sophisticated places for an early bite. Open for lunch and dinner between 11:30 a.m. and 8 p.m. (9 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays), it is located on a dock that juts out into the bay.
Fresh seafood caught in the surrounding area is the highlight of this old-school restaurant, which is most well known for its gorgeous views of the bay and Bridgeway promenade.
I like to indulge in a house cocktail made fresh at the bar, which is so aesthetically pleasing that I recommend you arrive early and enjoy a drink before taking your seats. For dinner, choose from sesame ahi tuna to salmon and Pacific cod.