Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco

San Francisco is our favorite city in California. For us, it is considered the most European city on the West Coast of America. That's why we've traveled repeatedly to California and spent a week in the open and vibrant city.

The City by the Bay offers numerous highlights, among them, of course, the world-famous Golden Gate Bridge. This landmark is the most photographed sight in the city. Often, it disappears into the fog and is not visible at all, as it was on my first visit in 2002.

Now we were here again, and had a clear view of the bridge. No fog in sight.

You can visit and photograph the bridge from different angles.

That's why we explored the best viewpoints and photo spots for the Golden Gate Bridge.

Opened in 1937, the Golden Gate Bridge is a suspension bridge that connects San Francisco with Marin County to the north. Similar to the Oakland Bay Bridge to the east, it provides good connectivity for the peninsula to the surrounding area.

With a length of over 2.7 km, it was long considered one of the largest suspension bridges in the world, especially the approximately 1300 m span between the massive red towers stands out. Today, the Golden Gate Bridge, named after the local bay and 27 m wide, is traversed by over 100,000 cars daily, and the trend is rising.

The best and easiest way to explore the viewpoints of the Golden Gate Bridge is by bike. We took an eBike tour with Unlimited Biking. It's ideal for climbing the many hills.

You have surely received a postcard from San Francisco before. The quintessential 'postcard view' was taken from Battery Spencer on the other side of the Bay. To get here, you have to take the bridge and the Marin Headlands Coastal Route towards Sausalito, then turn onto Conzelman Road. The viewpoints are well-marked.

Battery Spencer is an old, extensive military facility with crumbling buildings. It can be quite busy here, but there is plenty of space for everyone to find the perfect sightseeing spot.

On a clear day, you have the perfect view of the bridge and the San Francisco skyline in the background.

Tip: Drive up to Hawks Hill and the View Point Marina Headlands. Here you can get an even wider view of the bridge and city.

At Fort Point, you have the best viewpoint of the Golden Gate Bridge from below. You feel the power of the waves crashing against the coast while looking up. Here, you can best admire the architecture of the bridge.

From Baker Beach, you can photograph the Golden Gate Bridge and the rugged cliffs of the Presidio - a former U.S. military base. They provide the perfect backdrop for this view.

There are numerous viewpoints here, each offering a unique perspective of the Golden Gate Bridge. Try it out. Go to the beach or stay elevated, as seen in our photo.

Here you can have a picnic in the summer with pleasant temperatures. You can stock up on food beforehand at the nearby deli (Angelinas Catering Company).

Crissy Field is a public park with a beach. The place is truly idyllic, and if you bike towards the Presidio and the Golden Gate Bridge, you'll pass through here anyway.

The view from Crissy Park gives you a waterfront-level perspective.

You can grab a bite to eat at the Beach Hut Café or the Warming Hut.

Marshall's Beach is a somewhat hidden beach in San Francisco. Here you have a spectacular view. This beach is the closest to the Golden Gate Bridge, but only a few people make the descent or even know it's there.

However, reaching the beach requires some effort. The path from the cliffs above to the beach is long. The view is worth it.

The famous landmark of San Francisco can also be seen perfectly on the way back from Alcatraz. The view from the water is particularly beautiful at sunset! The colors are stunning (when it's not foggy).

Book the last possible tour of the day. These tours are always quickly sold out.

As the name suggests, this viewpoint offers an unparalleled view of the famous landmark. The best spot is where you can photograph the bridge between two cypress trees. This spot is very popular with happy couples taking their wedding photos.

We came here for the sunset and took night shots with a tripod.

For another spot, we recommend the nearby Pacific Overlook.

The Golden Gate Overlook is located on Lincoln Boulevard. The expansive area is at the edge of the coast. You can take a break on wooden benches while waiting for the perfect moment for this panoramic view.

Parking is available in the nearby lot on Merchant Road or Lincoln Boulevard. However, we recommend getting here with UBER, Lyft, or by bike. Cars are often broken into here, as we experienced ourselves while waiting for our UBER.

The most spectacular views of the Golden Gate Bridge can be found on the other side in Marin County. Besides the Battery Spencer View Point (Point 1), we found the view from the cliffs at Hawk Hill to be the best. The Marin Headlands are elevated at the entrance to San Francisco Bay.

Another tip: The beach at Kirby Cove is somewhat hidden and only accessible on foot. Leave Conzelman Road and walk about 20 minutes from the Battery Spencer viewpoint to get to Kirby Cove. We found the view from above to be nicer since you can see more of the city's skyline.

You reach Vista Point when you drive from downtown over the bridge. Only then can you take the exit to the viewpoint (Vista Point is marked). It's much easier by bike, as you can't miss the exit.

In our opinion, it's a great view if you climb on the wall and want to photograph the roadway. This location is also very suitable for long exposure shots at night.

If you're doing a bike tour like we did, rent it from Unlimited Bike. The marina is right on the waterfront.

From here you have a great view of the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, and also the San Francisco skyline (behind you).

The marina is located between Fort Mason and Crissy Field. The former military airfield is now a great recreational area.

We had actually booked a helicopter flight in San Francisco over the bay and the Golden Gate Bridge. Due to the wildfires and thus poor visibility, the flight was canceled at the beginning of our trip. After our trip to Hawaii, we had another 2 nights in San Francisco. Due to the bad weather, we couldn't take the helicopter flight then either.

That's why we still have vouchers for a helicopter tour in San Francisco, which we will redeem on our next visit!

We booked the flight with FlyNyon.

If you want to cross the bridge in your own car, there are a few things you need to know:

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