Are you looking for things to do in the early morning in San Francisco? Whether you are jet-lagged, have an early-rising kid, or you are just an early bird – one of the most beautiful times to explore San Francisco is in the early morning!

Next time you are in San Francisco with kids and are wondering what to do early in the morning, get out there and enjoy these activities before everyone else wakes up!

Updated October 2019

Are you interested in things to do around San Francisco? Read more here:

• 200+ Free and Fun Things to Do in San Francisco
• 30+ Weekend Getaways and Day Trips from San Francisco
• Top things to do in Santa Cruz with Kids – a weekend itinerary

1. Watch the sunrise over the Golden Gate Bridge at Crissy Field

Take a nice stroll or go for a run by Chrissy Field, and take in a gorgeous sunrise to start the day! You can walk through the Presidio, or head towards Fort Mason by the sailboats and end up in the Marina district for breakfast (or mimosas)! I’m always willing to do some morning exercise if it means that I get to have a mimosa afterward. 🙂  The area is stroller friendly, and there are actually a bunch of people running or attending weekend activities early in the morning usually. As you can see in the photo above, it’s one of the best places to take in the views of the Golden Gate Bridge!

2. Check out Fisherman’s Wharf before the crowds

Before this place becomes one of the busiest tourist spots in San Francisco, it’s a quiet place where you can catch the sea lions waking up, fishermen loading up today’s catch, and watch the sunrise at Aquatic Park. If you dare, take a dip in the water! You will be accompanied by other swimmers from the local swim association, Dolphin Club. They discourage the use of wetsuits – can you do it!? It’s one of the ‘coolest’ ways to wake up in the morning! The crowds start showing up around 9:30 am, so the earlier, the better. Do you want to know all the things you can do at Fisherman’s Wharf early in the morning? Check out this post here – and for free things to do at the Fisherman’s Wharf check out this post too.

3. Eat at Lori’s Diner in Union Square

Surprisingly, there aren’t that many 24 hour diners available in San Francisco. Lori’s is one of few places open 24 hours in San Francisco, and it’s in Union Square! There’s something magical about being at Union Square when it’s quiet and dewy from the morning fog. After you walk around the square, hop into this 50’s style diner. Your kids will love the cars and other fun decorations around the restaurant!

4. Ride the cable cars

Getting out in San Francisco early in the morning is the best time to ride the cable cars. The lines to get on the cable cars in SF can take hours. That isn’t the case at 6 am, though! Check out this link for how to go on cable cars and how to pick the right one for what you want to do! Generally, the California Street Line is the least popular line, but you might want to take your chances on the Powell lines starting at Union Square early in the morning. There’s a good chance you will be one of the first to ride!

5. Have a sunrise photoshoot at a local beach

With gorgeous views and backdrops all over the city, you can capture beautiful moments in San Francisco! Have you been meaning to update your family album? Do you want maternity photos or engagement photos with gorgeous lighting? How about a BFF photoshoot on the beach with the Golden Gate Bridge in the background? Sunrise photo sessions are the perfect time! I highly recommend Emily Jenks Photography – yes, that’s me. 🙂 As you can see from this blog, I know A LOT about San Francisco and the best spots for photos. I even have makeup & hair artists that can show up before the sun to make sure you’re looking your best at the crack of dawn! Seriously, I love the peaceful beauty of sunrise sessions! Check me out and mention this blog to receive 10% off your session. 

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6. Hit the Golden Gate Park early

Golden Gate Park is another place that has a special quality early in the morning that you can’t experience mid-day. Music Concourse has early morning runners and walkers, as well as Tai Chi groups regularly. Or, take a stroll around Stow Lake. The park is open 24 hours, but various parts of the park have different hours, so be sure to check out this site before heading to a specific location. For more ways to spend time in Golden Gate Park, check out our post on how to spend an entire weekend in Golden Gate Park here!

 

 

7. Go to the San Francisco Botanical Gardens

The San Francisco Botanical Gardens are always free to San Francisco residents, but it’s also free to everyone from 7:30 am-9 am! If that’s not an early morning perk, I don’t know what is! The Botanical Garden is mostly stroller friendly, with lots of trails leading into one of the most diverse botanical gardens in the world. It’s known for its magnolias, so make sure to check them out!. Grab your reusable water bottle and get a workout in bright & early by walking around these beautiful gardens!

8. Go have breakfast at Louis’ – with panoramic ocean views – and take a walk through Lands End for an awesome view of the Golden Gate Bridge

Louis’, which is on the water overlooking the Sutro Baths and the ocean, opens at 6:30 am. (As of now, they are cash only, so be prepared for that.) The views from the restaurant are unreal.

You can catch the sunrise before heading to breakfast by going to the Look Out point where you can see the Golden Gate Bridge. For more info on where to go and what to do in Lands End – check out this post.

Are you interested in things to do around San Francisco? Read more here:

• 200+ Free and Fun Things to Do in San Francisco
• 30+ Weekend Getaways and Day Trips from San Francisco
• Top things to do in Santa Cruz with Kids – a weekend itinerary

There you have it!

Did we miss your favorite early morning activity in San Francisco? Let us know in the comments or contact us!

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