San Francisco

Transamerica Pyramid

San Francisco's tallest and most famous skyscraper, controversial when it opened, but now accepted. There used to be an unusual observation deck on the ground floor with 4 big TV monitors, showing live views of the city transmitted from cameras at the top of the building. They now have a happy worker at the bottom that tells you anything and everything you want to know about San Francisco and has some great stories. Then he tells you that they no longer have the 4 big TVs and are building a restaurant where you can view the city from inside.

Mo-Sa 11:00-17:00; Su 12:00-18:00 · Wheelchair accessible

Coit Tower

Visible from much of San Francisco and the Bay Area, Coit Tower stands atop Telegraph Hill and gives an excellent view of the bay and the rest of the city. The tower was built by the Federal Works Projects Administration in 1933 with money bequeathed by eccentric San Franciscan Lillie Coit. Coit was said to have chased after firefighters as a young girl, and as an older woman sponsored her favorite fire company. A fan of the volunteer city firefighters, and local legend has it that the shape of the tower is supposed to simulate the end of a fire hose — although the architects denied this claim. The first and second floors house beautiful examples of New Deal-era idealist murals, and the top floor (reached by elevator) has featured paintings or other art. Artists put in their own signatures and messages in the murals, which interpretive plaques point out.

May–Oct: 10AM-6PM daily; Nov–Apr: 10AM-5PM daily · $8 for elevator to top floor ($5 seniors/teens, $2 children 5-11, children under 5 free); the rest is free · Limited wheelchair access · Built 1933

Telegraph Hill

Telegraph Hill earned its name in the days of the Gold Rush when it was used as a signaling post to relay messages about incoming ships to the bay. Coit Tower was erected at its peak in 1933 and rewards a weary traveler with some wonderful views over the city. Over time a quiet residential neighborhood built up along the hillside, and their magnificent flowing gardens have always been something to admire on your way up or down. Other neighbors include a colony of colorful feral parrots, predominantly red-masked parakeets, which grew up as descendants of escaped domesticated pets. One can drive to the top, but it's better to take one of the narrow steps leading up and down the sides of the hill (including the Greenwich and Filbert Steps), as they offer better views over the Bay.

91 m high

Mission Dolores Park

One of the city's most popular parks, this is one of the main neighborhood hangouts, with people regularly partying or partaking in some recreational marijuana on its grassy slopes, as well as a sunny retreat for many San Franciscans when the rest of the city gets foggy. There are plenty of recreational facilities as well as a fantastic playground built into the hillside, and the top of the park (at the corner of 20th and Dolores) offers an excellent view of the San Francisco skyline. Playground is wheelchair accessible.

10AM–6PM; restrooms 8AM–8PM · Free

Randall Museum

A small but fun children's museum with several interactive exhibits, including live animals, a science exhibit, a toddler play area, and a railroad exhibit which includes a model railroad layout which is open on Saturdays. The museum is perched on a hill, offering great views of the San Francisco skyline.

Tue-Sat 10AM-5PM · Free · Free entry · Wheelchair accessible

The LookOut

Very popular gay bar with great food, a nice balcony, and a much calmer crowd than the 440 Castro.

Mon-Fri 3:30AM-2AM, Sat-Sun 12:30PM-2AM

Battery East

This fortification was built in the 1870s, to withstand newer and heavier ordinance. You can view the earthen works and brick-lined magazines built to protect large Rodman guns and their ammunition.

Free

Inspiration Point

Perched high atop the Presidio, Inspiration Point has great views over the Presidio and the Bay and is great to visit both during the day and at night.

Wheelchair accessible

Beach Chalet Brewery & Restaurant

Brewery and restaurant featuring live music, American bistro cuisine, hand crafted ales, and a panoramic view of the ocean.

Sun-Thu 9AM-10PM, Fri Sat 9AM-11PM

Lands End Lookout

Overlooking the Cliff House and the Sutro Baths is this new visitor center, where you can find information about the Land Ends area as well as a pretty decent gift shop and cafe. The lookout also contains the statue of Diana that once stood in neighboring Sutro Heights, which was relocated inside of the lookout after it was extensively vandalized.

9AM-5PM daily

Yerba Buena Ice Skating Center

The only permanent indoor ice skating rink in San Francisco, and perhaps the most beautiful, with floor-to-ceiling windows giving a superb panoramic view of the surrounding area. Open year-round. Check the Ice Center schedule online for public skating hours.

Hours vary; check schedule · $10 adults, $8 children/seniors, children 5 and under/military $6. Skate rental extra $4

Mount Sutro

Mount Sutro is a hill in central San Francisco, California. It was originally named Mount Parnassus.

278 m high

Bay Cruises

Bay cruises are very popular 60- to 90-minute boat tours that usually take you underneath the shadows of the Golden Gate Bridge, around Alcatraz, and along San Francisco's historic 150-year-old waterfront. They also offer great views of the city's skyline. Some of them come with lively guides, others with headphone audio equipment. Some cruise providers have extended routes that take you past Angel Island and close to the shores of Tiburon and Sausalito. Others provide alternate routes that sail under the Bay Bridge as far as Oracle Park, along the San Francisco skyline, around Treasure Island, and along Alcatraz Island. Several operators provide specialist cruises of all descriptions including 'Sunset Cruises' and 'Dining Cruises' among others.

Nob Hill

Nob Hill is a neighborhood of San Francisco, California, United States that is known for its numerous luxury hotels and historic mansions. Nob Hill has historically served as a center of San Francisco's upper class. Nob Hill is among the highest-income neighborhoods in the United States, as well as one of the most desirable and expensive real estate markets in the country.

113 m high

Mount Olympus

Mount Olympus is a hill located on Upper Terrace in the Buena Vista neighborhood of San Francisco. It was once considered to mark the geographical center of the city, and was topped off by a statue given by Adolph Sutro, the Triumph of Light, now lost. Only the statue's pedestal remains, and the view from the top is obstructed by trees and condominiums.

171 m high

Top of the Mark

The Top of the Mark is a penthouse level bar located on the nineteenth floor of the Mark Hopkins Hotel on Nob Hill at California and Mason Streets in San Francisco, California. Located at the highest point of downtown San Francisco, on fog-free days the Top of the Mark has views of the financial district, Chinatown, North Beach, The San Francisco Bay, and of Grace Cathedral and Huntington Park.

We-Sa 17:00-21:30 open "appetizers available" || We-Sa 16:30-23:30 open; Su,Mo-Tu off · Wheelchair accessible

Lone Mountain

Lone Mountain is a neighborhood and a historic hill in west-central San Francisco, California. It is the present site of the northern half of the University of San Francisco's main campus. It was once the location of the Lone Mountain Cemetery, a complex encompassing the Laurel Hill, Calvary, Masonic and Odd Fellows Cemeteries.

128 m high

Potrero Hill

Potrero Hill is a residential neighborhood in San Francisco, California. It is known for being one of the sunniest neighborhoods in the city and having view of the skyline, Sutro Tower, Twin Peaks, and the bay. A working-class neighborhood until gentrification in the late 1990s, it is now an affluent area and home to some of the highest-income residents in the city according to the United States Census Bureau.

94 m high

Rincon Hill

Rincon Hill (Spanish Rincón, meaning "corner") is a neighborhood in San Francisco, California. It is one of San Francisco's many hills, and one of its original "Seven Hills". The relatively compact neighborhood is bounded by Folsom Street to the north, the Embarcadero to the east, Bryant Street on the south, and Essex Street to the west.

35 m high

Russian Hill

1019 Vallejo St

97 m high

Bay Lights Viewpoint

Widened sidewalks provides photo opportunity of Bay Lights on the Bay Bridge and of downtown SF

Presidio Hill

118 m high

The View Lounge

39th floor bar with city views; enter through hotel

Mo-Su 16:00-24:00

Corona Heights

Roosevelt Way &, Museum Way

158 m high

Laurel Hill

251 Euclid Ave

99 m high

Tank Hill

Twin Peaks Blvd

182 m high

Kite Hill

Yukon & 19th Street

99 m high

Buena Vista Heights

173 m high

Ignatius Heights

108 m high

Noe Peak

274 m high