San Francisco, My First Time: Golden Gate, Alcatraz, and a Lesson About Power Plugs

The 17-hour flight

I had no idea how I'd fill 17 hours in the air. In the end, having no one in the two seats beside me solved that problem better than any plan would have — I slept more than expected, and the regular snack service gave the hours some shape. Somewhere over the ocean it actually sank in: this was my first trip to the US, a place I'd wanted to see for a long time.

The plane landed at dawn, the light soft and calm over everything outside. Immigration asked enough questions to make me genuinely nervous, but the stamp came through, and I was in.

Getting around with BART

BART — the Bay Area's rapid transit system — was right outside the terminal, and it's a cheap, efficient way to get into the city (fares scale with distance). If you're staying more than a day or two, get a Clipper Card; it works across BART and the rest of the transit system and you can top it up easily. Pack comfortable shoes regardless — San Francisco's hills are not a rumour.

The Golden Gate Bridge

First stop once I was free to explore: the Golden Gate Bridge, by bus tour. Seeing it in person is a different thing entirely — far bigger than I'd pictured, that deep red structure hanging across the bay like it's daring you to look away. It was once dismissed as "the bridge that couldn't be built," and now it's considered one of the modern world's great engineering feats.

There's a dedicated pedestrian path if you want to walk across it, which I hadn't expected until I saw it from the bus. The wind picks up fast and hard out there — strong enough that a fellow tourist lost his hat and scarf to a gust mid-crossing, to a mix of gasps and laughs from everyone nearby. A good reminder that the elements out on that bridge are not to be underestimated.

Alcatraz Island

Alcatraz had been on my list for a long time, and it's eerie in exactly the way you'd want it to be. Walking the old cell blocks, once home to some of the country's most notorious prisoners, you feel the weight of the place settle in. The ferry ride over and back is its own reward too — proper views of the San Francisco skyline and the Bay Bridge along the way.

Fisherman's Wharf

Fisherman's Wharf closed out the day — seafood and sourdough in the air, the streets genuinely buzzing. A bowl of clam chowder served in a sourdough bread bowl hit exactly right, but the real highlight was the sea lions sprawled out on the docks, barking and lounging like the whole wharf belonged to them. Their energy matched the neighbourhood perfectly.

What to pack

• Comfortable shoes — sneakers or similar, for the hills
• Layers — a cardigan or light jacket for when the fog rolls in
• A windproof jacket, especially if the Golden Gate Bridge is on your list
• A reusable water bottle
• Sun protection — sunglasses, sunscreen, a hat
• A decent camera; the city gives you plenty of reasons to use it
• Relaxed, "California casual" clothing works almost everywhere, even nicer restaurants
• A plug adapter if you're coming from outside North America — see above

My takeaway

The flight alone was exhausting, but everything that followed made it worth it. San Francisco's energy, the people I met along the way, and the views I didn't expect to find as striking as I did — it left a mark. I'm already thinking about what I missed for next time.

How I know this

This is a first-hand account of my own first trip to San Francisco, written up from what I actually did and saw over those days.