Best Views in San Francisco

San Francisco is a city to admire. From the spectacular views of the Golden Gate Bridge to the unique postcard of sea lions resting on Fisherman's Wharf, this city gives you images to remember.

Obviously when you think of things to see and do in San Francisco, one of the first things you think of are the places where you will find the best views. That's why I want to tell you which are those favorite places to admire the city.

Located in Sausalito, Battery Spencer is the first place I want to show you because it is right here where you can take the real and most famous picture of the Golden Gate. If you are looking for the perfect spot to appreciate the bridge and above all to take the best pictures, Battery Spencer is the place.

It is one of the protection points of the San Francisco Bay that was operated by military forces during the 20th century. Today it is just a perfect place to have a panoramic view of the most famous bridge in the United States. Of its military uses only abandoned buildings remain.

On clear days you can see how the bridge connects to the city of San Francisco at the other end of the bay, while on cloudy days the spectacle is to see how the bridge merges with the clouds, leaving an imposing figure from all angles.

Parking is a bit limited at this location, but once you arrive and check that there is room to park, you can continue on foot to the viewpoint at the top. It is a few meters that you will have to walk. The entrance is completely free.

Details of interest

• Location: Conzelman Rd, Sausalito.
• How to get there: Bus 130 will drop you off at the Hwy 101 & Alexander Ave station which is about a 15 minute walk from Battery Spencer.
• Price: Free.

These are two identical peaks located in the heart of San Francisco. The reason why this place is special for having the most beautiful views of the city is because of its height. Once you get to Twin Peaks you can clearly see the whole city, from the tallest buildings to each of its streets.

It is a true visual spectacle. With a height of approximately 280 meters, they are considered the second highest hills in San Francisco, after Mount Davidson. They are located in the geographic center of the city, which makes them a greater spectacle.

At the foot of these hills are located some picturesque houses that will surely remind you of the Painted Ladies. I recommend the climb on foot, although it is a bit tiring, I assure you that the scenery you will see at the top compensates for any fatigue.

But in case you do not want to walk up, you can go up by private bus, with companies that take care of taking you to the top, or you can go by public transport. With this last option you will also have to walk but it will be considerably less than going up from the beginning.

When you get to the top you will find the viewpoint, a busy place if you go in high season, but from where you can take spectacular panoramic views of the city in all its splendor.

Details of interest

• Location: It is located in the geographical center of San Francisco.
• How to get there: To get to the top I recommend walking. But you can also use route 37 Twin Peaks to get there.
• Price: Free.

It is a white concrete lighthouse that stands like a giant on the top of Telegraph Hill and has been an emblem of the city since its inauguration in 1933. It is one of the places that offers the best views of the city thanks to its great height and its strategic location.

Its construction was inspired by a lady firefighter of San Francisco who died in 1929 and left a large monetary legacy in order to build something to further beautify her city. It was then decided to build Coit Tower.

Many believe that this tower was built with the intention of making the top look like the nozzle of a fire hose, but others claim that this theory is false. Regardless of which theory is correct, it is definitely a site not to be missed if you want to admire the entire city from the top.

To access the tower you will have to buy a ticket at the bottom, right at the gift store. If you go up during a clear day, you will be able to have 360º views of the entire city of San Francisco, but if you go up on a cloudy day you might see a lot of fog.

That's why I recommend you to include the climb to the Coit Tower among the things to see and do in San Francisco in summer. A good way to climb the tower and learn a little more about its history and the relationship it has with the city, is to go on a tour guided by professionals in the field.

Details of interest

• Location: Telegraph Hill Blvd.
• How to get there: You can use route 39 by bus to get to the tower.
• Price: From 7 euros for general admission.

The well known Alcatraz Island is one of my favorite spots on the list. I suggest you visit Alcatraz Island mainly so that you can appreciate breathtaking views of the San Francisco Bay, but also to nourish yourself with the stories that often haunt the contemporary history of this island.

On its surface lies what was once a military prison and then a federal penitentiary, home to the most dangerous criminals of its time during their final days. Known as "The Rock," it was considered an impenetrable place from which escape was truly impossible.

In addition to the island being isolated, the prison walls were elaborately built to prevent a possible escape and security inside the prison was ridiculously tight. If an inmate managed to break through all these barriers to escape, he would encounter another problem, the cold waters of the Pacific.

Beyond all the terrible stories of what is known to have been going on inside, the island is now in the custody of the National Parks Conservation Association, giving the public the chance to visit the place. That 's a great gift for tourists, because the view of San Francisco from this place is one of the few beautiful things you can see on the island.

Details of interest

• Location: Across the bay from San Francisco.
• How to get there: To get there you need to take a ferry from the pier in the bay. You can hire a guided tour to get to know the place better.
• Price: Between 25 and 40 euros for general admission. To go on a private excursion, you can take a private tour.

This is the most famous street in San Francisco. It is a winding and ridiculously steep street from the top of which you can see the whole city with its buildings and all the contrasts that characterize it.

Although it is not the highest street in all of San Francisco, it is known as such, and it is one of the iconic views that I like the most because of its really beautiful appearance from beginning to end. One of the angles to best appreciate the view of Lombard Street is to look at it from below.

When you look at this street in the opposite direction, you realize how spectacular it is and what a visionary piece of engineering was put in front of it. It is really fun to watch the vehicles go down the street like a roller coaster.

The scenery on each side of the avenue is another feature to admire of this place that becomes one of the most dedicated and most photographed postcards of the city. What's impressive is that this curving road that runs down from Presidio to Fisherman's Wharf has no less than a 40-degree incline.

When you find out how much of a slope the terrain is, you find out what the logic was for building this street this way. One of the best ways to discover this street is to hire one of the most complete and best bike tours in San Francisco.

Details of interest

• Location: From Presidio to the Embarcadero.
• How to get there: If you have enough time, I recommend you hop on the streetcar on the F line which will take you right to Lombard Street. This is definitely the most pleasant ride to the steepest street in San Francisco.
• Price: Free

It is a housing complex of Victorian houses that has become a real attraction thanks to its colorful appearance. From here you can have breathtaking views of the entire city, until the bay merges into the Pacific. It is also a particularly nice place for people who love the vintage lifestyle.

Currently the area is inhabited mostly by young people attracted by the design of the houses and the stylish atmosphere they emanate. Painted Ladies is definitely a destination that I would not fail to include in a visit to San Francisco.

If you go in the spring period you can even appreciate the colorfulness of the city thanks to the flowers, but above all you can see the flowers that are located in the surroundings of the Victorian houses, giving them a much more beautiful aspect to the place.

Interesting details

• Location: Haydes Street in front of Alamo Square.
• How to get there: You need to take the blue, green or yellow route and then take route 22 from By Street to Filmore St. & Grove St. From there you will have to walk for about three minutes to Painted Ladies.
• Price: Free.

The Golden Gate Bridge not only looks wonderful from the heights, but it is also possible to see it in all its splendor from the ground. And this panoramic view can be seen precisely at Baker Beach.

It is a public beach that borders the Pacific Ocean, so its waters are really cold, especially in winter time. But the main objective is not to swim in the beach, but to appreciate one of the best views you can find in the whole city, of the Golden Gate Bridge.

Of course, if you go to San Francisco in the summer, going to Baker Beach is the most authentic beach experience you can get in the city. From this place you can have a beautiful view of both the Golden Gate Bridge and other equally impressive places like the Marin Headlands and Lands End.

Keep in mind that this beach is open 24 hours a day, so it's a great option if you want a panoramic view of the Golden Gate at sunset. Although stargazing or taking a leisurely stroll along the sand is an ideal activity to do at night at Baker Beach, I wouldn't recommend it among the list of things to do in San Francisco at night, because parking is not available after sunset.

Details of interest

• Location: South Bay next to the Royal Presidio of San Francisco.
• How to get there: You can go by private car or take the route 29 bus to the beach.
• Price: Free.

Located in the Presidio of San Francisco, this park is one of the most visited entertainment areas of San Francisco, thanks to the amount of activities that can be done in it, such as picnics or biking. It is in fact one of the places chosen as the best bike tours to tour the city on two wheels.

The park offers exceptional views of part of the city and the famous Golden Gate Bridge. As you have already noticed, the bridge is one of the places that most tourists want to see, and there is definitely nothing that represents San Francisco more than its red bridge.

Returning to Crissy Field, the place will also leave you incredible postcards of the whole city, its buildings and how they blend into each other. If you want to take panoramic pictures of the city, this is a good place to do it.

The park has several recreation and leisure areas, which makes it an ideal place to include among the places to visit in San Francisco with children, because not only you can take amazing pictures, but also they can run around and enjoy the park without restrictions.

Interesting details

• Location: In front of Golden Gate Beach.
• How to get there: By public transportation using routes 101, 130 and 150.
• Price: Free.

The Golden Gate Bridge Welcome Center is the first building you will come across when you visit the Golden Gate Bridge, and it is a place that is very interesting not only because of the close-up view of San Francisco's most famous bridge, but also because it is an information site to learn a little more about the iconic bridge.

Upon entering the site you will be able to see some photographs of the bridge through time, as well as get detailed information about it, the architecture and engineering behind it, the minute details that have to do with its construction and its history.

But back to the view that you can appreciate from this place, it is undoubtedly one of the most imposing angles of the Golden Gate Bridge. You can see it in all its splendor and color. It is one of the most recommended places to take the picture you are looking for along with the immensity of the great red bridge.

As you are right at the entrance of the Golden Gate, you can not miss this plus, so it makes sense to go up to the bridge, where you can have a breathtaking view of the entire bay and its different shades.

Interesting details

• Location: On Coastal Trail.
• How to get there: By public transportation using routes 130 or 150.
• Price: To pass through the Golden Gate you must pay a fee depending on the capacity of the vehicle. This fee can be as low as 8 euros.

It is not a place where you can see the whole city, but I recommend it because I think it is one of the best places to see one of the most fun sides of San Francisco. It's the postcard of the sea lions that hang out on the pier of the wharf.

Pier 39 is the place these animals choose to rest and soak up some sun. If you are a lover of marine wildlife, it is a must visit if you want to have some time to contemplate the tranquility of the bay. At Pier 39 you can also find multiple places to eat while enjoying one of the best views of San Francisco.

Other piers on the pier also offer good views of the Pacific and the pier itself, so you can take different pictures. One of the attractions you will like most about the pier is the many historic ships from which you will also be able to see interesting views of the pier.

Interesting details

• Location: Fisherman's Wharf.
• How to get there: Take Route F to Fisherman's Wharf.
• Price: Free.