Cj and I were driving around the other day – and I was in awe of this city. I’ve been here for over 7 years and I’m still so amazed by the hills that lead to the most stunning ocean views and the vibrant bougainvillea stretching across some of the most beautiful homes I’ve ever seen. San Francisco is truly a beautiful city with so much charm, and there is no better way to commemorate your trip than taking a few breathtaking photos. In this post, I’m sharing the best (but not always well known) spots to get the shot in San Francisco.
If you’re planning a trip to San Francisco, be sure to check out the app Cj and I have been working on, LocalFriendTravel. There is a chat feature on the site that lets you chat with a local instantly. We aim to connect with you a local in real-time, allowing you to feel a sense of community in a city that may seem foreign – think of it as you’re very own personal tour guide. Right now we’re only available in San Francisco, but we will gladly guide you through the best things to do, see, and eat. 🙂 You can also download our iPhone app here.
Contents
- 1 The Essential San Francisco Photo Spots
- 1.0.1 1. Pier 7 & Pier 14 on the Embarcadero
- 1.0.2 2. Golden Gate Bridge Overlook
- 1.0.3 3. 16th Avenue Tiled Steps
- 1.0.4 4. Painted Ladies
- 1.0.5 5. Baker Beach
- 1.0.6 6. Twin Peaks
- 1.0.7 7. Conservatory of Flowers
- 1.0.8 8. Japanese Tea Garden
- 1.0.9 9. The Golden Gate Bridge Overlook & Vista Point
- 1.0.10 10. Palace of the Fine Arts
The Essential San Francisco Photo Spots
1. Pier 7 & Pier 14 on the Embarcadero
These are two piers on either side of the Ferry Building. From Pier 14 you can get amazing photos of the Bay Bridge, downtown San Francisco, and the Ferry Building. I would arrive close to Sunset as the city lights up and you can really get the most out of your photos. From Pier 14, you can walk through the Ferry Building to get to Pier 7. If you’re in need of a snack, grab a coffee from Blue Bottle or an empanada from El Porteño while you stroll through. Pier 7 also lines up perfectly with the Trans-America building.
2. Golden Gate Bridge Overlook
This is a beautiful viewpoint overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge from the San Francisco side. This overlook allows you to get the bridge between two large trees, giving it an even greater sense of awe. You can get the perfect angle by standing in the middle of this structure. In order to get the bridge to look as big as possible compared to the trees, move back a bit and zoom in (if needed). It’s all about perspective!
3. 16th Avenue Tiled Steps
San Francisco has a wealth of “secret” tiled steps but the 16th Avenue ones are my favorite by far. They are also one of the more popular steps, but for good reason! If you are really dedicated, get there right before Sunrise to capture the steps in their full glory, with great lighting and no one in the photo. Otherwise, it will be a bit difficult to get a shot with no one else in it. One of the tricks is to position your body in a way that blocks the other people on the steps. Sometimes you have to get creative to get that unique photo!
4. Painted Ladies
The painted ladies are a true gem of San Francisco. These are the houses featured in the opening credits of Full House and one of my favorites spots. They are beautiful, and they give you a sense of San Francisco’s rich history through their Victorian style. They are set up right next to Alamo Square Park, which is perfectly situated on a hill that gives you a great view of San Francisco. Go 30 minuets before sunset to get a picture of the Painted Ladies with a golden hue. If you’re lucky there will be a few low hanging clouds that turn bright red at dusk.
5. Baker Beach
This may be one of the best spots on this list, and should probably be #1. As usual, sunset and sunrise are the best times to take a picture here because the lighting is stunning. Although, I don’t think there is a bad time to grab a photo from this location. Arrive prepared and pack layers. It’s about 1/2 mile down the beach to get to the best spot to take photos. I promise it’s worth the trek.
6. Twin Peaks
You can’t miss this view of the skyline of San Francisco. The windy road takes you up to the top of one of the tallest hills in San Francisco, and the view is phenomenal. It’s windy up there so layer up so you can stay for a bit. I’d recommend going right before Sunset as you can get the sun setting and casting a warm, orange hue on the city. You can then stay and get some night shots of the skyline. Do some long exposure shots to give the cars those really cool light trails.
7. Conservatory of Flowers
The conservatory is great for photos both inside and out. It’s a beautiful building with a large lawn and lush garden out front. Inside, which requires a $9 entrance fee, are exotic flowers from all around the world. When we first got our new camera, CJ spent 2+ hours taking photos – the possibilities here are endless.
8. Japanese Tea Garden
This is one spot that will make you feel like you are very far away from San Francisco. This Japanese style garden is a perfect spot to get a few portrait photos with an oriental theme. The garden was built in the 1800s and maintained as a gift to the city for prosperity. The whole place aims to create an aura of Zen. If you have some time to explore Golden Gate Park, I would also recommend checking out The Dutch Windmill and Huntington Falls waterfall in the park, they aren’t very popular and are both stunning spots.
9. The Golden Gate Bridge Overlook & Vista Point
There are hundreds of places you could go around SF to get a great photo of the GGB, but this overlook is one of my favorites. You get the unique vantage point of looking down on the Golden Gate Bridge, with the city in the background. It does get busy, and parking can be a little difficult. I recommend having one person wait in the car until a spot opens up, typically no more than 10 minutes. People are coming and going all the time. Once a spot opens up, grab it and take the small trek up to the overlook. Don’t let the parking situation deter you from going. It’s undeniably worth it.
10. Palace of the Fine Arts
The Palace of the Fine Arts is a greek-style structure built-in 1915 for the worlds fair that was hosted in San Francisco. Through a few rebuilds, it has withstood the test of time and still stands as an iconic monument in SF. The palace itself is great to photograph, and you can always go in deeper to get some great shots between the columns. There is also a lake in front of the Palace so the opportunities for an iconic photo are limitless.
I hope this list helps to make your trip to San Francisco unforgettable! If you have any questions, feel free to download the LocalFriend App, or chat with a local instantly. You can also download our iPhone app here. We can’t wait to help you experience the best things to eat, see and do in SF.
