Best Views in San Francisco: A Local’s Guide to the City’s Most Stunning Viewpoints

Last updated: February 2026

TL;DR: San Francisco has some of the most dramatic urban views in the world — and most of them are completely free. Twin Peaks gets all the tour buses, but locals know the real magic is at spots like Tank Hill, Grandview Park, and Bernal Heights Hill. Here’s my honest guide to where to go (and when) for the best views in San Francisco.

I’ve lived in San Francisco long enough to have a very opinionated list of favorite viewpoints. Some of them are the classics everyone knows about. Some of them are spots I stumbled onto during a walk and now guard a little selfishly. And one of my absolute favorites? It’s technically not even in SF (more on that later).

Here’s the thing about views in this city: the fog will betray you. I cannot tell you how many times I’ve dragged visitors up to Twin Peaks only to be greeted by a wall of white. So I’m going to tell you not just where to go, but when to go — because timing is everything in a city with 27 microclimates.

The Classics

These are the viewpoints everyone knows about — and they’re famous for a reason.

Twin Peaks

Elevation: 922 feet
| Cost: Free
| Best for: First-time visitors, panoramic city views

Twin Peaks is the second-highest natural point in the city, and it delivers exactly what you’d expect — a sweeping 180-degree panorama of downtown, both bridges, Alcatraz, the Bay, and (on clear days) all the way to Mount Diablo.

I go to Twin Peaks more than I probably should. There’s something about standing up there, wind absolutely ripping through your jacket, watching the fog pour through the Golden Gate like slow-motion water. It never gets old.

How to get there: Drive up Twin Peaks Blvd to the Christmas Tree Point parking lot (free but limited). Or take the 37-Corbett Muni bus to Crestline Drive and walk up.

Pro tips:
– It is significantly colder and windier at the top than at street level. Bring a jacket even if it’s warm downtown.
– Tour buses dominate midday. Go at sunrise for the best light and fewest people.
– Summer fog can completely block the view. September and October are the clearest months.
– Check fog.today before you go.

Coit Tower & Telegraph Hill

Elevation: 285 feet
(hill) + 210 feet (tower) | Cost: Free outside, $2-$11 for elevator | Best for: Bay views, history buffs

Coit Tower is iconic for a reason — the views of the Golden Gate Bridge, Bay Bridge, Alcatraz, and the waterfront from up there are spectacular. But honestly? The walk up to Coit Tower via the Filbert Steps or Greenwich Steps is just as good as the view from the top. Hidden gardens, wild parrots, charming cottages tucked into the hillside — it feels like a secret world.

The ground floor has incredible WPA-era murals from 1934 (over 3,000 square feet, painted by 22 artists) and is free to enter. The elevator to the observation deck is $11 for non-residents, $8 for SF residents.

Pro tip: Take the Muni 39 bus if you don’t want to climb. But the Filbert Steps are one of the best urban hikes in SF — don’t skip them.

Lands End

Trail length: 3.4-mile loop
| Cost: Free | Best for: Coastal views, Golden Gate Bridge, a good walk

Lands End is probably my favorite walk in the entire city. The trail hugs the rocky coastline with views of the Golden Gate Bridge, the Marin Headlands, and the ruins of the Sutro Baths below. At Eagles Point, you get this perfect framing of the bridge that looks like a postcard but feels completely wild.

Start at the Visitor Center (680 Point Lobos Ave), walk toward Eagles Point, and decide how far you want to go. The first section is paved and ADA accessible. Beyond that, it’s dirt, rocks, and some stairs.

Pro tips:
– Allow 1.5-3 hours depending on how many photo stops you make (you will make many).
– Combine with Sutro Heights Park and the 16th Avenue Mosaic Steps for a full day.
– Can be muddy after rain, but still gorgeous.
– Check the SF weather guide before heading out.

The Hidden Gems (A.K.A. Where Locals Actually Go)

These are the viewpoints I send friends to when they ask where to go. Less crowded, often better views, and way more character.

Tank Hill

Elevation: 650 feet
| Cost: Free | Best for: Sunset, the “secret Twin Peaks”

Tank Hill is the local’s viewpoint. It’s essentially Twin Peaks’ quieter, cooler sibling — almost the same elevation, similar panoramic views of downtown and the Golden Gate Bridge, but with a fraction of the people. On a good sunset evening, you might share the hilltop with maybe five other people instead of fifty.

There’s a bench at the top that might be the best sunset bench in San Francisco. Bring a blanket, bring wine, bring someone you like.

How to get there: From the N-Judah, walk south on Stanyan, left on Belgrave to the dead end. Wooden steps lead up. Or from Twin Peaks Blvd, take the stairs at Crown Terrace.

Bernal Heights Hill

Elevation: ~450 feet
| Cost: Free | Best for: 360-degree views, dog watching, sunset

Bernal Hill is one of my absolute favorites. It’s one of the few spots in the city with a truly unobstructed 360-degree view — Golden Gate Bridge, downtown, Bay Bridge, San Bruno Mountain, the ocean, all of it. And unlike Twin Peaks, it feels like a neighborhood spot, not a tourist attraction.

The walk up is about 10-15 minutes from the base, and you’ll be surrounded by happy off-leash dogs the entire time (more dogs than children in this city, remember?). The golden hour up here is genuinely magical — I’ve watched the city transition from daylight to dusk from this hilltop more times than I can count.

How to get there: Walk up from Bernal Heights Blvd, or take a longer route via the Esmeralda Street staircase from Cortland Ave. About a 20-minute walk from 24th Street BART.

Mount Davidson

Elevation: 928 feet
| Cost: Free | Best for: A forested escape with views

Here’s a fun fact: Mount Davidson is actually the highest natural point in San Francisco — six feet taller than Twin Peaks. But almost nobody goes there, which is part of its charm. The trail winds through a fragrant eucalyptus forest that feels completely removed from the city, and then you emerge at the summit next to a 103-foot concrete cross.

The views are partially blocked by trees compared to Twin Peaks, but the experience is completely different — quiet, atmospheric, almost meditative. I love it for that reason alone.

How to get there: Multiple entrances on Myra Way, Dalewood Way, or Molimo Drive. About a 1-mile loop, 30 minutes.

Grandview Park (Turtle Hill)

Elevation: 666 feet
| Cost: Free | Best for: Sunset over the Pacific

Grandview Park, which locals call Turtle Hill, sits in the Sunset District and offers a 360-degree view that includes the Pacific Ocean, Golden Gate Park, downtown, and the Golden Gate Bridge. The sunset from up here — watching the sun drop straight into the ocean — is legitimately one of the best things I’ve experienced in SF.

How to get there: Stairs on Noriega Street (near 14th Ave) or from the top of the 16th Avenue Mosaic Steps. Short but steep.

Pro tip: There’s only one bench at the top. Bring a blanket. Also, car break-ins are a known issue at the base — don’t leave anything visible.

Ina Coolbrith Park

Cost: Free | Best for: A quiet, hidden viewpoint in Russian Hill

This tiny park on Vallejo & Taylor in Russian Hill is named after California’s first Poet Laureate, and it’s genuinely hidden — built on a steep hillside with flights of stairs and criss-crossing pathways through gardens. At the top, you get views of the Bay Bridge, Alcatraz, Coit Tower, and the North Beach rooftops.

It’s the kind of place you discover by accident and then keep coming back to.

Billy Goat Hill

Elevation: ~500 feet | Cost: Free | Best for: A low-key local hangout between Noe Valley and Glen Park

Billy Goat Hill is where Noe Valley and Glen Park locals go for views of the Bay Bridge and downtown skyline. It used to be famous for a rope swing (the swing situation changes — check before going). There’s a 0.8-mile loop trail and it feels completely off the beaten path.

The Best Golden Gate Bridge Views

The bridge is the star of any SF view. Here’s where to see it best.

Battery Spencer (Marin Headlands)

Best for: THE postcard shot
of the Golden Gate Bridge with SF behind it

If you’ve ever seen a photograph of the Golden Gate Bridge with the San Francisco skyline stretching out behind it, it was probably taken from Battery Spencer. This is the single most iconic angle, and it’s stunning at sunset.

How to get there: Cross the Golden Gate Bridge, take the Alexander Ave exit, go left under the highway, right on Conzelman Road. Very limited parking — arrive early, especially weekends.

Baker Beach

Best for: The bridge framed
by beach, surf, and headlands

Baker Beach gives you the Golden Gate Bridge from a dramatic below-and-to-the-side angle with the Pacific crashing onto shore. Not safe for swimming (strong currents), but incredible for photos and a sunset picnic.

Pro tip: The north end of the beach is clothing-optional. Just so you know.

How to get there: Free parking via Lincoln Blvd to Bowley St to Gibson Rd. Also accessible by the free PresidiGo shuttle.

Marshall’s Beach

Best for: The most intimate
, up-close bridge view from a hidden beach

Marshall’s Beach is a true hidden gem — an intimate beach tucked below dramatic cliffs with an up-close view of the Golden Gate Bridge that feels almost private. You access it via the Batteries to Bluffs Trail in the Presidio, descending about 400 feet of stairs to reach the sand.

Important: Check tide tables before going. At high tide, the beach is fully submerged.

Hawk Hill (Marin Headlands)

Elevation: 923 feet
| Best for: Bridge views from above, raptor watching

Hawk Hill gives you a 360-degree view looking down on the Golden Gate Bridge, the entire Bay, and the SF skyline. In September and October, it’s also home to the Golden Gate Raptor Observatory — on peak days, over 1,000 raptors fly overhead.

This one technically requires crossing the bridge into Marin, making it a perfect add-on to a day trip from SF.

The Urban & Unexpected

Hamon Observation Tower (de Young Museum)

Cost: FREE
(no museum ticket needed) | Best for: A view on foggy or cold days

This might be the most underrated viewpoint in San Francisco. The 9th-floor observation tower at the de Young Museum in Golden Gate Park offers 360-degree views of the park canopy, the Pacific Ocean, downtown, and the living roof of the Cal Academy below. And here’s the kicker — it’s completely free. No museum ticket needed. Just walk in, ride the elevator up, and enjoy.

It’s also climate-controlled and sheltered from wind, making it the only viewpoint on this list that works perfectly on a foggy, rainy day.

Hours: Tue-Sun, 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM.

Dolores Park

Best for: City skyline
+ vibes

Dolores Park isn’t really a “viewpoint” in the traditional sense — it’s more of a feeling. From the upper southwest corner, you get a palm-tree-framed view of the downtown skyline (Salesforce Tower, Transamerica Pyramid, City Hall dome) that’s become one of the most photographed spots in SF.

On a sunny day, the park fills with thousands of people, tamale vendors, dogs, musicians — it’s the San Francisco experience distilled into 16 acres. And because it’s in the Mission, it’s one of the sunniest spots in the city even when the west side is socked in with fog. Great date night potential if you bring a blanket and a bottle of wine at sunset.

16th Avenue Mosaic Steps & Grandview Park

Cost: Free | Best for: Art + views combo

The 16th Avenue Tiled Steps are 163 steps covered in over 75,000 glass tile fragments depicting a “sea to sky” scene. They’re beautiful. And when you reach the top, you’re a short walk from Grandview Park (see above) for some of the best sunset views in the city.

How to get there: Corner of Moraga Street & 16th Avenue (Sunset District). N-Judah to 19th Ave, then walk.

Treasure Island

Best for: The full SF skyline
from bridge to bridge

If you want to see the entire San Francisco skyline in one sweeping shot — Bay Bridge to Golden Gate — Treasure Island is it. Panorama Park on the west side of the island delivers the defining “postcard” view.

How to get there: 8-minute ferry ride from the Ferry Building, or Muni 25 bus, or drive via I-80.

My Secret: Mussel Rock (Technically Not SF, But Trust Me)

I have to include this even though it’s technically in Daly City, just south of the SF border. Mussel Rock Park sits on dramatic coastal bluffs with jaw-dropping views of the Pacific that feel completely untouched. Hang gliders and paragliders launch from here, and on a clear day, the coastline stretches endlessly in both directions.

Almost no tourists know about it. The parking lot is small and unassuming, and then you walk out to the edge and your jaw drops. It’s one of those places that makes you remember why living in this part of the world is special.

How to get there: Drive south on Skyline Blvd past Fort Funston, continue into Daly City. Turn right on Westline Dr to the small parking lot at the end.

When to Go: The Fog Factor

This is critical. San Francisco’s fog can (and will) ruin your viewpoint plans if you don’t time it right.

Best months for clear views: September and October, hands down. Temperatures hit 70-75°F, fog is minimal, and the light is gorgeous. April-May and November are also good.

Fog season: June through August. Locals call it June Gloom, No-Sky July, and Fogust. The fog rolls in from the Pacific, gets funneled through the Golden Gate, and blankets the western half of the city.

The Twin Peaks rule: Twin Peaks acts as a natural fog barrier. Viewpoints on the east side of the city (Bernal Heights, Dolores Park, Corona Heights) are often clear even when the west side (Lands End, Grandview Park, Ocean Beach) is completely fogged in.

Daily pattern: Fog is often present at dawn, burns off by 10 AM-noon, and returns around 4-6 PM. Midday is your safest bet for clear views.

Pro tip: Check fog.today or just look at the real-time webcam feeds before heading anywhere elevated.

FAQ: Best Views in San Francisco

What is the best view in San Francisco?
It depends on what you want. For the most iconic Golden Gate Bridge view, go to Battery Spencer in the Marin Headlands. For a 360-degree city panorama, Bernal Heights Hill or Twin Peaks. For a coastal trail with multiple jaw-dropping viewpoints, Lands End. For a hidden, crowd-free sunset, Tank Hill.

Where can I see the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco?
Baker Beach, Lands End, Twin Peaks, Crissy Field, Fort Point, and the Presidio all offer great bridge views from within the city. For the classic overhead angle, cross the bridge to Battery Spencer or Hawk Hill in the Marin Headlands.

Is Twin Peaks worth visiting?
Yes, but time it right. Go at sunrise or on a clear fall day (September-October) for the best experience. Avoid summer afternoons when fog is likely. And bring a warm jacket — it’s always windier up there than you’d expect.

Are there any free viewpoints in San Francisco?
Almost all of them! Every viewpoint in this guide is free except the Coit Tower elevator ($2-$11). Even the Hamon Observation Tower at the de Young Museum is free — no museum ticket needed.

What is the highest point in San Francisco?
Mount Davidson at 928 feet, followed closely by Twin Peaks at 922 feet. Mount Davidson is less visited and surrounded by eucalyptus forest, making it a more peaceful experience. Twin Peaks has the wider, more unobstructed views.