Best photo spots in San Francisco

Looking for a day trip in San Francisco, but not sure where to start? In this post, I am sharing my favourite photo spots to inspire you.

Baker Beach

There are many different angles from which you can take a picture of San Francisco’s iconic Golden Gate Bridge, but the one from Baker Beach is my favourite.

We visited Baker Beach for a photoshoot an hour before sunset, and it was surprisingly quiet. Of course, we stayed to watch the sunset, and it was absolutely gorgeous.

Lombard street

As if the flowers everywhere do not make Lombard street picturesque enough, it also has a steep road for cars with eight hairpin turns. Just have a look at the position of the cars behind us.

Pier 39

My favourite photo spot in Pier 39 is the bench surrounded by flowers next to one of the many bay cruise shops. The rest of the Pier is picturesque as well, but very crowded. Maybe you have some luck if you wake up early in the morning, although I haven’t tried it. While you’re at Pier 39, make sure to say hi to the sea lions that live there.

Palace of fine arts

I was very impressed with the beautiful architecture of the Palace of Fine Arts. Originally built for an art exposition, it is now a symbol of San Francisco’s creative spirit. I enjoyed strolling through its surrounding gardens.

Golden Gate park

Golden Gate Park has a lot of hidden gems when it comes to photo spots. My favourite part of the park is the Japanese garden, followed by the Dutch windmill of course. While walking around in the park, we even spotted a raccoon – how cool is that?!

Coit Tower

The San Francisco views from the Coit Tower on Telegraph hill were stunning. However, if you’re looking to take selfies, then this place may not be for you. When we went the background in our selfies was all white because of the lightning. It was 2015 when we went though, so maybe the latest smartphones will handle the lightning a bit better.

Alcatraz boat tour

Apart from being San Francisco’s notorious and infamous former federal prison, Alcatraz is also very picturesque. Many Alcatraz boat tours depart from Fisherman’s Wharf, but only a few let you enter the island.


When we went, the boat tours with access to Alcatraz island were already fully booked for the next month, so make sure to book this well in advance. We took a boat tour around the Alcatraz island instead. It was still very enjoyable with some fantastic views.

Chinatown

No matter to what city I go, I always find the Chinatown part of town great for beautiful pictures – San Francisco is no different! And while you’re there, why not have some nice food in one of the many restaurants…

Map to plan your day trip

To make planning your day trip in San Francisco even easier, I have put my favourite photo spots in one map for you:

Add to your bucket list:
Book now:

If you prefer to book a San Francisco sightseeing tour, check outΒ ViatorΒ for organised group and private tours:Β 

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