The inside local's take
Officially known as 'Postcard Row' — six Queen Anne Victorians built between 1892 and 1896 that somehow survived the 1906 earthquake and fire.
The classic photo is taken from the grassy slope in the northeast corner of Alamo Square Park, with the modern downtown skyline rising behind the pastel roofline.
Come at golden hour for the best light on the facades, then wander the surrounding NoPa and Hayes Valley streets for more Victorian architecture and great coffee.
More landmarks
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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.
Coit Tower on Telegraph Hill
A 210-foot Art Deco fluted column crowning Telegraph Hill. Ride the elevator up for a 360° panorama and admire the Depression-era WPA murals inside.