The inside local's take
Built in 1933 with funds bequeathed by Lillie Hitchcock Coit to beautify her beloved city. The lobby murals are a national treasure of Depression-era social realism.
The elevator to the observation deck is small — expect a wait on summer weekends. The 360° view sweeps from the Golden Gate to the Bay Bridge.
Skip the parking chaos: climb the Filbert Steps up through cottage gardens and wild parrots for one of the great urban walks in America.
More landmarks
See all →
Golden Gate Bridge
The 1.7-mile International Orange span opened in 1937 and still steals every San Francisco skyline. Walk it from Battery East for the classic view.
Alcatraz Island
The federal penitentiary that held Capone and Machine Gun Kelly. Ferries leave Pier 33; the cellhouse audio tour is one of America's finest.
Painted Ladies of Alamo Square
The famous row of pastel Victorians on Steiner Street, with the downtown skyline framed perfectly behind them from the park's east lawn.