Best Places to See and Photograph San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge

We can all agree that the Golden Gate Bridge is iconic. It links San Francisco to the Marin Headlands, stretching across the bay in sturdy, red-orange, fog-separating glory. Since it’s construction, the Golden Gate Bridge has appeared repeatedly in movies, TV shows, and logos. It’s a symbol of the city!

Even after several years of living in San Francisco, the Golden Gate Bridge still enthralls me every time I glimpse it. If you have the opportunity to visit the Bay Area, here are some of my favorite locations to view and photograph the Golden Gate Bridge.​

Fort Point

For the best view of the San Francisco side of the Golden Gate Bridge, I recommend viewing it from Fort Point. It allows you to get much closer than the Welcome Center and also provides the unique perspective of the underside of the bridge. There are far fewer tourists and the fort is pretty cool too, so take a peek inside and climb to the roof to get even closer. The echo of bridge traffic from the fort's courtyard is an auditory treat.

Walk the Bridge

Not surprisingly, if you want to intimately experience the Golden Gate Bridge, get close enough to touch it! It is approximately 1.7 miles long which is perfect for biking or walking on a nice day. Be prepared for chilly weather with a jacket! Park at the Welcome Center.

Marin Headlands

The view from Battery Spencer is unbelievable (my photo does zero justice). On a clear day, you can see the Golden Gate Bridge with all of San Francisco in the background. On foggier days, you can see Karl (the fog) roll in through the red-orange trusses. You’ll have to drive to this location; note that parking near these photo spots is limited.

Baker Beach

For a less touristy experience of the Golden Gate Bridge, I love Baker Beach for it's surprising view! It's all sun and sand until you look east and see a golden hour Golden Gate Bridge- not too bad, right? This beach is easily accessible by public transit and car. Beware, you might also see a few "full moons" as nudity is permissible at Baker Beach and the adjacent Marshall’s Beach.