Start at Ferry Building Marketplace around 8:30–9:00 a.m., when the waterfront is lively but not yet crowded. Grab coffee and breakfast from Blue Bottle Coffee, Acme Bread, or one of the market’s bakeries and food counters; allow about an hour and budget $10–25 per person. Most vendors open around 8 a.m., though individual hours vary. From the building, walk north along the Embarcadero or take Muni a few stops toward Chinatown, then spend roughly an hour wandering Grant Avenue, ducking into herb shops and small markets, and pausing at Portsmouth Square. Wear comfortable shoes—the streets become steep quickly as you approach Nob Hill.
Walk to the Powell–Hyde cable car line near Powell Street and expect a queue, especially on a Saturday; arrive by about 11:00 a.m. A single cable-car ride costs roughly $8, with transfers not included, and the ride plus waiting usually takes 45–60 minutes. This is the scenic choice: you’ll climb over Nob Hill, rattle down Hyde Street, and finish near Fisherman’s Wharf. At Fisherman’s Wharf and Pier 39, allow about 90 minutes to browse the waterfront, watch the sea lions gathered by the docks, and take in views across the bay. It is touristy but worth seeing once; keep valuables secure in the busiest areas. Finish at Ghirardelli Square, a short walk west along the waterfront, for a sundae or chocolate dessert—budget $8–20 per person—and use the plaza’s upper terraces for a particularly good look toward the Golden Gate.