One of the most iconic landmarks in America, hands down, is the Golden Gate Bridge located in the beautiful city of San Francisco, California. The bridge was constructed in the 1920s and is filled with history, achievement and literally takes our breath away from every viewpoint. Even when the dense heavy fog is rolling over it (oh, did you know the locals call the fog “Karl” lol). If you’re dreaming of visiting San Francisco, take a look at this list of the best places to photograph the Golden Gate Bridge! 🌁
Fun fact: The Golden Gate Bridge color is called International Orange.🧡
Kirby Cove
📍557 McReynolds Rd, Sausalito, CA 94965
Get a full panoramic shot of the Golden Gate Bridge right on the beach at Kirby Cove! So how did this hidden location become known? Besides its private beach feel, tourists and Instagrammers from all over the world visit Kirby Cove for a chance to get a pic on the infamous swing! Unfortunately the swing wasn’t there when we went.😞 We heard from some locals that sometimes its there and sometimes its not, but either way Kirby Cove is still worth the hike down the long winding dirt road to check out these stunning views of the Golden Gate Bridge on the beach!
Battery Spencer
📍Conzelman Rd, Sausalito, CA 94965
Located in the Marin Headlands, you’ve probably seen this exact scenery on many postcards from San Francisco!😍 If you want to get as high and close as possible (on land) to the bridge, you’ll want to head up to Battery Spencer. Once used as a concrete military fort, this hilltop offers a stunning birds eye view of the bridge that’ll make your jaw drop! But you’re going to want to get there early during peak season if you want to beat the crowds. And make sure to layer up to withstand the breeze from the Bay, it get’s very windy up there!💨 There are limited parking spots, so we suggest getting an Uber or getting on an electric bike with Basically Free Bike Rentals! 🚴♂️
Hawk Hill
📍Mill Valley, CA 94941
Also in the Marin Headlands, Hawk Hill shares a similar scenic view of the Golden Gate Bridge overseeing the Pacific Ocean with the city of San Francisco as the backdrop.🏙😍 What sets Hawk Hill apart is that it shows more of the other side of the peninsula and sights of hawks soaring in the area (hence the name Hawk Hill). There’s also other bird species like eagles flying around! Make sure to pack your walking shoes and binoculars for some cool bird sightings as they soar over the Bay on a fog-less day! 🦅
Presidio
📍210 Lincoln Boulevard San Francisco, CA 94129 (Visitor Center)
This 1500 acre National Park is where locals and visitors spend time taking in the beauty, nature, and history of San Francisco! Once a military post, now there are now over 24 miles of trails with a scenic view of the Golden Gate Bridge.🌁 The Presidio holds some of San Francisco’s most popular spots like Crissy Field, Marshall’s Beach, Baker Beach, and The Walt Disney Family Museum. If you’re looking for outdoor fun and activities with a clear view of the Golden Gate Bridge, spend an afternoon under the California sun exploring the Presidio!☀️🍉
Crissy Field
📍3699 Yacht Rd SF (Parking Lot)
Escape from the hustle and bustle of downtown but still enjoy an epic view of the San Francisco skyline and the Golden Gate Bridge at Crissy Field! There’s an inner path along the beach (that’s dog friendly!) and a popular shared walking and biking path that leads up to the Golden Gate Bridge. Make sure to bring the selfie stick for a group photo with the bridge!
Lands End Trail
📍680 Point Lobos Ave, San Francisco, CA 94121
To get a different perspective of the Golden Gate Bridge, head over to Lands End. Here you’ll see treacherous waves crashing into rocky cliffs that’ll give you a sense of calmness and connection to nature. You’ll also get a great view of the Marin Headlands and don’t forget to check out the Sutro Baths and Mile Rock Beach while you’re here! 🌊
Battery East
📍Lincoln Blvd, San Francisco, CA 94129
If you’re spending the day outdoors, rent a bike (with the Sports Basement/Basically Free Bike Rentals) and take the San Francisco Bay Trail, a shared walking/biking path that leads you up to the Golden Gate Bridge. Along the way, you’ll end up here at Battery East for a clear view of the bridge!😍 There are plenty of viewing points along the way which is something to keep in mind, especially if you come at a popular time of day (typically noonish). So don’t worry about dodging bicyclists and tourists, you can capture your epic photo of the Golden Gate Bridge at various viewing points here!🚲🌁
Point Lime, Fort Baker
📍411 Moore Rd, Sausalito, CA 94965
For an up close and less crowded viewing point, head to Point Lime/Fort Baker on the Sausalito side of the bridge to capture the entrance point of the Golden Gate! This military reservation is on the opposite end of Battery East, with a fishing pier to walk on so you can see beautiful views of San Francisco to your left and the Golden Gate Bridge to your right. And since there’s less chances of running into a mass amount of tourists, you can snap away for as much as your heart desires without having any interruptions! 🙌🏼📸
Baker Beach
📍Gibson Rd, San Francisco, CA 94129
Baker Beach is one of the best and most crowded beaches in SF for clothed or unclothed (yes, its clothing optional 🤪) people of all ages. This is definitely the beach you head to when you’re looking for some fun, whether it be joining a volleyball game with a lively mix of people or just spending some time soaking up the sun. And if you keep your eyes peeled, you may even spot a pod of porpoises (a mammal that looks pretty much like a dolphin)!🐬
Marshall’s Beach
📍Marshall’s Beach, San Francisco, CA 94129
Nearest parking lot – 1206 Ralston Ave, San Francisco, CA 94129
This long narrow beach is a secluded spot off between Crissy Field and Baker Beach, and is the closest beach to the Golden Gate Bridge! It’s only a mile long with rock formations to grab a seat on and take in all the views!😍🌁 Hidden between the cliffs and the ocean, Marshall’s beach is one of the city’s best kept secrets. It also doesn’t get much foot traffic compared to the others, making it the perfect location (and one of the best in city) to watch an epic sunset over the bridge and the Marin Headlands!🌅 This beach is also clothing optional!🤪
Fort Point
📍Long Ave & Marine Dr, San Francisco, CA 94129
For a different perspective of the Golden Gate Bridge you’ll want to check out Fort Point, which is a pretty impressive fort completed right before the American Civil War in 1853 (on top is the cutest little lighthouse!). And if you’re a history buff and you have some free time after you grab your shots for the ‘gram, go in for free and listen to the history of Fort Point with one of their tour guides! You can even get right on the roof for a pretty amazing view of under the Golden Gate Bridge!
Golden Gate Overlook
📍Langdon Ct, San Francisco, CA 94129
If you’re limited on time and need to grab some shots of the Golden Gate Bridge, grab the car or Uber to the Golden Gate Overlook and grab a free parking space! (Expect to drive around for one during heavier traffic, especially on the weekends.) Here you can capture photos and take in all of the beauty of the Bay and the Golden Golden Bridge just steps from your car! This is also the best parking lot to park at if you’re visiting Marshall’s Beach.
Vista Point
📍US-101, Golden Gate Bridge, Sausalito, California, USA 94965, USA
If you’re heading into San Francisco from Sausalito on Highway US-101, you’ll want to stop by this vista point for an epic view of the Golden Gate Bridge right before riding through it! There isn’t any places to stop along the bridge so the vista point is the best opportunity to get a photo. On a clear day you’ll be able to see both the Golden Gate and the Bay Bridge, Alcatraz, and the city of San Francisco skyline glimmering in the distance!🏙
On the Golden Gate Bridge
📍Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, CA
There’s nothing like driving across the Golden Gate Bridge and seeing it up close and personal.🤩🌁 You can experience being on the bridge by driving, walking, or even biking across it. And the sights are unlike any other! The Golden Gate Bridge is only a mile long so bask it all in while you can!
Tip: Be aware that on the weekends the bike and foot traffic gets pretty intense especially in the bike lane. There’s little resting points and areas to stop and grab a snapshot, but you could get yelled at by a few serious bicyclists! ⚠️
Above the Bridge
Experience SF from the sky and take a helicopter flight with FlyNYON. But not just any helicopter ride, they offer a completely unique experience.. a helicopter ride with the doors off! Yes, you read that right! DOORS OFF! Imagine taking in all the Bay breeze with your feet dangling in the air above one of the most iconic landmarks in the world!🌁 What’s cooler than that?!
Book a flight with FlyNYON through their website here!
It’s safe to say this bridge doesn’t have any bad angles! Not only is it gorgeous, but it’s one of the biggest landmarks in the world and holds a significant part of California History! You’ll want to make sure your phone’s charged and you’ve packed extra camera batteries so that you can get as many epic shots of the bridge as possible!🤩🌉🌁
Check out our other San Francisco blog posts here!
