Whether you want to cruise up and down the hills, through diverse neighborhoods like Chinatown or the Mission, or over the iconic Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco has a lot to offer. But how do you get a taste of this notoriously expensive city if you’re low on cash? The latest installment of SIXTy Bucks and a Full Tank of Gas features two comedians in a sporty MINI Cooper S showing you how to have a good time and see the sights with a budget of $60. How did they manage?
If you’d like to go on your own San Francisco adventure, get up to a 20% discount on our premium fleet at our San Francisco Mission District station and up to 10% at all other SIXT branches (for rentals longer than 5 days).
Start Your San Francisco Adventure
Stop 1: Twin Peaks
SIXT Rent a Car Mission District -> Twin Peaks: 2.5 miles
If you want a great view of San Francisco and the entire Bay Area, take the twisty drive up Twin Peaks Boulevard. At 922-feet high, Twin Peaks is the second-highest place in the city to get jaw-dropping views, after Mt. Davidson to the south.
Stop 2: Painted Ladies
Twin Peaks -> Painted Ladies: 2.6 miles
Surprise! You have to drive up more hills to get to this row of pastel-hued houses known variously as the Painted Ladies, Postcard Row, or the Seven Sisters. Snap some photos of the houses like everyone else, and then enjoy the views of the San Francisco skyline.
Stop 3: Chinatown
Fisherman’s Wharf -> Chinatown: 1.5 miles
When you venture into the oldest Chinatown in North America you can stuff yourself full of delicious food and take in all the sights and sounds. Home to the largest Chinese population outside of Asia, you can feel like you’re in China for a short time. And for a special treat, stop at the old-school Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Company to see the prophetic sweets being made and buy a bag for the road.
Stop 4: Lombard Street
Painted Ladies -> Lombard Street: 2.6 miles
Get ready for a thrill as you join other intrepid drivers in going down the steep grade of Lombard Street. The “Crookedest Street in the World” is a tourist favorite, so be prepared to deal with a line of cars waiting to drive down, as well as plenty of people on foot trying to take photos in the middle of the road.
Stop 5: Fisherman’s Wharf
Lombard Street -> Fisherman’s Wharf: 0.6 miles
Just a short drive from the bottom of Lombard Street is Fisherman’s Wharf, where you can smell the ocean air, see seals sunbathing, and eat some San Francisco cuisine all in one place. Our comedians made a stop at the interactive Musée Mécanique where you can find more than 300 mechanical musical instruments and antique arcade games. Then they checked out the seals sunbathing next to Pier 39 before trying the famous sourdough bread at Boudin Bakery Cafe.
Stop 6: Muir Woods
Fisherman’s Wharf -> Muir Woods: 15.2 miles
The drive north will take you over the Golden Gate Bridge where you can get a good view on a day without fog. The good news is you don’t have to pay a toll drive out of San Francisco on the bridge, only coming into the city. After you drive over the bridge you will enter a different world when you travel on the Panoramic Highway and Muir Woods Road. Then you can become one with nature and walk through the Muir Woods, a forest of redwood trees that are hundreds of years old.
Stop 7: Golden Gate View Point
Muir Woods -> Golden Gate View Point: 12.7 miles
The journey is almost done, but there’s one more stop to make. On the way back into San Francisco you can stop at the Golden Gate View Point where you can see the bridge at sunset in all its glory.
Stop 8: SIXT Rent a Car Mission District
Golden Gate Viewpoint -> SIXT Mission District: 7.9 miles
At the end of the day, you can make the drive back to the SIXT branch in the Mission District and return your vehicle. After dropping the car off, why not eat some more? The Mission District is known for its burritos, and luckily there are a bunch of places to get a good one just a short walk from the branch.
Intrigued? Have Your Own San Francisco Adventure!
Unless you like hiking up and down hills, you’ll need a rental car to get around the city. SIXT has four locations in San Francisco to meet your needs, including at SFO and in the city center. If you’re in a hurry, don’t forget that you can not only book your rental car in the SIXT app but also choose your vehicle 30 minutes before your scheduled pick-up.
