I grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area and for a while my husband and I lived in the heart of San Francisco’s downtown district. Although nowadays we have replaced the city for family suburbia life in Sacramento, we visit San Francisco often and we have extensive knowledge of photo locations for shutterbugs.

I first started my blogging career back when I lived in the bay, and we spent pretty much every weekend looking for new San Francisco photography spots for the blog and Instagram. Over the years we covered every corner of the City by the Bay and captured memorable pictures on my camera.

In this guide I’ve got over 45 San Francisco photography locations. Some of them are familiar iconic landmarks and others are hidden gems known by locals. Both San Fran newbies and veterans will find inspiration for your next urban photography adventure, I promise!

Twin Peaks

In a city filled with steep hills, Twin Peaks is the second highest summit spot. It’s one of the most popular lookout spots to see the San Francisco skyline because of the clear and unobstructed views. To get to Twin Peaks you’ll drive through a residential area to a hilltop park where there’s parking and hiking trails. Photographers should be aware of foggy days, sometimes the fog is so thick that you can’t see the skyline.

Lombard Street

Lombard is a long street that runs the length of the city in San Francisco, but it’s the very small one block section between Hyde and Leavenworth Streets that really draws interest. This notoriously “crooked” street has some extremely sharps turns down a steep hill creating a zig-zag effect. Photographers have been capturing this unique city feature for decades, but there’s still so many new angles to photograph.

Marina District

San Francisco’s Marina District is a ritzy waterfront area with a bustling main strip and plenty of sightseeing. The residential neighborhoods have well-maintained houses with the classic San Francisco architectural features. Chestnut Street between Fillmore and Divisadero is filled with trendy restaurants, boutique shops, a vintage movie theater and more.

Palace of Fine Arts

On the border between the Marina District and the Presidio is the grand architectural splendor known as the Palace of Fine Arts. This large scale outdoor structure is characterized by bold greek-style columns and ornate carved details. This spot is popular for portrait and wedding photography and is open and free to the public.

Popular Attractions & Views from the Embarcadero

The Embarcadero is a 3-mile long paved walking trail along the waterfront bay. Popular attractions along the Embarcadero are:

Bay Bridge - There’s photogenic daytime views and a nightly light show.
Oracle Park - Home of the San Francisco Giants baseball team.
Cupid’s Span - Large scale romantic art installation, popular for couple’s portrait photos. I took this photo of Cupid’s Span from afar in a parking garage located a few blocks away.
Ghirardelli Square, The Ferry Building and Fisherman's Wharf - Keep reading because I cover these Embarcadero spots in more detail.

Fisherman’s Wharf & Pier 39

Fisherman’s Wharf is one of the most visited destinations in San Francisco, especially for first time visitors. While it is a very touristy area with a lot of foot traffic, photographers can still find plenty of gems. I recommend visiting on a weekday if possible to try and avoid the crowds. See my First Time Visitor's Guide to Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco.

Picnic with friends on the grass at Crissy Field with the Golden Gate Bridge in the background.

Ferry Building

The Ferry Building has an impressive 245 feet tall clock tower located at the halfway point on the Embarcadero. It’s an exceptionally photogenic building with old world charm. There’s multiple viewpoints where you can capture the angles, both from far away and up close. This is my own personal favorite photo I took of the Ferry Building standing across the street on closer to Market Street.

Ghirardelli Square

At the very end of point of Embarcadero next to Fisherman’s Wharf is Ghirardelli Square. This area is an entire block long and is known for a mix of modern infrastructure and vintage red brick buildings. These former factories are now retail shops and restaurants, and of course the Ghirardelli chocolate factory is there as well.

Hyde Street Pier

Nautical enthusiasts would enjoy a visit to Hyde Street Pier. Permanently docked on the pier are historical ships which have been converted into floating museums. Guests are welcome to board the ships and walk along the pier and surrounding beaches.

Telegraph Hill & Coit Tower

There’s multiple ways to go about photographing Coit Tower. You can either find a far away viewpoint to photograph the actual tower, or you can go up into the tower itself and take city skyline photos from the observation deck.

There’s a hidden staircase called Greenwich Steps which starts on a hill behind Levi’s Plaza (231 Greenwich St). This staircase takes you up all the way to the top of Telegraph Hill and the Coit Tower plaza (be prepared for a serious workout!). On the way up you’ll see some excellent city views.

Queen Wilhelmina Tulip Garden & Windmill

A trip to the tulip gardens feels like you’ve been transported out of San Francisco into Holland itself. The garden is located on the outskirts of Golden Gate Park across from Ocean Beach at Fulton St and the Great Highway. In the spring the colorful rows of tulips are in full bloom and there’s a large scale Dutch windmill in the background.

Mission Dolores Park

My husband’s company always had an annual picnic at Dolores Park and I always enjoyed the city skyline views while we sat on the grassy hill. This 16 acre park in the Mission District is especially known as a hangout spot for locals so you’ll see the quintessential San Francisco crowd.

San Francisco City Hall

In most counties the city hall is just another boring government building, but the San Francisco City Hall is especially spectacular. My husband and I got married at San Franciscos’s City Hall and we had our vow’s ceremony at the top of the Grand Staircase of the Rotunda. The building is open for the public to take photos during business hours as long as it hasn’t been reserved for a wedding. See our wedding album photos taken inside San Francisco City Hall.

Union Square

Union Square is a central shopping hub in downtown San Francisco, but it really comes to life during the holiday season. A large scale Christmas tree is erected in the center block with an ice skating rink and twinkling lights. Throughout the year you’ll find colorful public art displays and flower gardens.

Golden Gate Bridge

Probably the single most iconic landmark of San Francisco is the Golden Gate Bridge. This prominent feature can be photographed in all kinds of ways, all of which are outlined in my dedicated Golden Gate Bridge photography guide. Needles to say, there’s more than one Golden Gate overlook to be discovered and the photography possibilities are endless.

Battery Spencer

My single most favorite place to photograph the Golden Gate Bridge is at Battery Spencer. Located on the Sausalito side of the bridge, you’re perched up on a hill and the span of the bridge is so close and prominent. Your camera can easily capture panoramic views of the bride from this viewpoint, and it’s a great place for scenic portrait photography.

The Presidio

The Presidio is a 1,500-acre park on the northern tip of San Francisco. The landscape in the Presidio is an escape from the urban jungle with with an abundance of forested and lush green areas. This unique scenery makes for memorable photos and is a popular destination for wedding photography. The tree-lined Lover’s Lane Trail and Andy Goldsworthy's Wood Line natural sculpture in the Presidio are two of the most captured areas of the park.

Crissy Field

Also inside the vast Presidio park is the large open grass area known as Crissy Field. This large recreational area has sweeping views of the Golden Gate Bridge (as long as it’s a clear day without foggy skies). Right next to the field is a small sandy beach and a long walking trail that takes you right to the base of the bridge. You can see some Crissy Field photography examples in my Galentine’s Day picnic blog post.

Alamo Square Park & The Painted Ladies

The colorful row of houses dubbed The Painted Ladies is the best place to find San Francisco Victorian-style architecture on full display. Made famous by the opening credits of popular TV show Full House, these homes are a well known tourist attraction. Alamo Square Park is on a hill across the street and you can get some excellent viewpoints for panoramic photos.

Maiden Lane

In the middle of the hustle and bustle streets of downtown San Francisco is a quiet alley way known as Maiden Lane. This street is blocked off to cars and only accessible on foot which makes it a great place for photography. Photographer’s love to photograph Maiden Lane because they permanently have strings of twinkling lights on display which gives it a sense of magical whimsy.

Painted Ladies Victorian houses in Alamo Square.

Ina Coolbrith Park & Vallejo Street Steps

There are city streets in San Francisco that are so steep that they actually install steps onto the sidewalk so that you don’t go tumbling down. Walking up Vallejo Street from Columbus Ave is one of these notorious streets and the city views along the up and at the top are very rewarding.

Ina Coolbrith Park has beautiful panoramic cityscape views with the Transamerica Pyramid Building in the background.

North Beach view of Transamerica Pyramid & Sentinel Building

The Transamerica Pyramid Building is the second tallest skyscraper in San Francisco and can be easily recognized by its unmistakable triangular shape. When you’re walking along Columbus Avenue in North Beach you can get some great shots of the Transamerica Pyramid adjacent to the Sentinel Building (also known as the flatiron Columbus Tower).

Coastal Pacific Ocean views at Land's End Park.

Land’s End & Sutro Baths

Heading to the furthest west side of the city, Land’s End Park is suitably named so because it does tend to feel like you’ve reached the ends of the earth. The Pacific Ocean meets with rocky shores providing vast coastline views. The Sutro Baths are abandoned ruins at the bottom beach which are popular subjects for photography.

San Francisco Cable Cars

It wouldn’t be a trip to San Francisco without riding the famous cable cars. There’s several lines and routes you can take on the cable cars, but my personal favorite is the one beginning at Powell Street heading over the hills on Hyde Street towards Ghirardelli Square. It feels a bit like a rollercoaster ride with the steep inclines and there’s excellent panoramic city views along the way.

Conservatory of Flowers

San Francisco’s Conservatory of Flowers is comprised of both an ornate white greenhouse and surrounding botanical gardens. Inside the building you’ll find a lush green oasis with vibrant tropical flowers and rare plants. The outside grounds have rows of colorful flowers which are in full bloom in the springtime.

San Francisco’s Chinatown

Chinatown is another area of San Francisco where you feel like you’ve instantly taken an international trip. Established in 1848, San Francisco’s Chinatown is one of the oldest Chinese neighborhoods in the entire US. The neighborhoods are filled with opportunities for noteworthy photography subjects including alleyways with hanging lanterns and the iconic Dragon’s Gate.

Coastal walking trail inside Land's End Park.

Golden Gate Park

Golden Gate Park is a massive urban oasis that covers over 1,00 acres and 50 city blocks. Inside its borders you’ll find walking trails, ponds, grassy meadows, picnic areas, playgrounds and even a heard of bison. The scenery is ever changing with the seasons - in the spring you’ll find blooming blossoms and in the fall there’s trees with colorful fall foliage.

de Young Museum

The de Young is one of the most prominent fine arts museums in San Francisco. Located inside Golden Gate Park, the museum boasts 293,000 square feet of exhibits. Growing up the bay area I’ve taken several tours of the de Young, but by far my favorite ones were with Museum Hack tour company. During your visit don’t forget to check out the top floor observation deck for scenic park views.

Architectural details of the Spreckels Temple of Music in Golden Gate Park.

Music Concourse & Spreckels Temple of Music

Right outside the de Young Museum is a spacious plaza known as the Music Concourse. The Spreckels Temple of Music is an outdoor musical venue with an impressive half dome adorned with grand architectural details. On either side of the half dome are large scale Greek columns and amphitheater steps. You’ll also find large statues and water fountains in the Music Concourse plaza.

Japanese Tea Garden

Upon entering the Japanese Tea Garden you’ll feel a calming wave of zen wash over you. The gardens are lush green and you can hear the gentle flow of water in the pond. The tea house has traditional Japanese architecture in a bold shade of red and the dramatically round Drum Bridge makes for eye catching photos.

16th Avenue Tiled Steps

These ornately designed mosaic tile steps are an Instagram favorite. Located on Moraga Street between 15th & 16th Avenue, this staircase has 163 steps with colorful scenes depicted in mosaic tiles. The tile steps are designed with multiple themes ranging from under the sea to celestial stars and moons.

Pacific Heights Neighborhoods

Pacific Heights is one of the most upscale neighborhoods in San Francisco with posh mansions and manicured streets. Within the sections of Divisadero Street between Vallejo Street and Jackson Street are some very steep hills which provide great city views for photos.

Greek style columns inside the Music Concourse plaza in Golden Gate Park.

Lyon Street Steps & Lyon Step Podium

Right at the border between the Presidio and Pacific heights are the Lyon Street viewpoints. Head to the corner of Lyon Street and Broadway to find the famous staircase, garden and balcony terrace. At this high elevation you can see sweeping city views and the top dome of the Palace of Fine Arts.

The Palace Hotel

The Palace Hotel is best described as old world luxurious with high ceilings and ornate gold crown moldings. Centrally located in the Financial District, it’s walkable from Union Square, Maiden Lane and even Chinatown. The Palace Hotel is a popular spot for holiday themed photos because they create a merry scene with Christmas trees and twinkling decor. Several years ago we took some New Year’s fashion themed photos inside and outside the hotel.

Portrait photography with coastal Pacific Ocean views at Land's End Park.

Fort Mason

For over 100 years Fort Mason was an active military post but is now an event and cultural center. I’ve been to several creative conferences inside the building and I’ve done photography in the outside surrounding area. The main buildings sit right next to the bay with scenic harbors and shoreline walking trails. I took photo of Fort Mason at sunset many years ago.

San Francisco Zoo

The San Francisco Zoo is a great place to take casual and candid family photos. The grounds are well manicured and make for a nice photography session backdrop. You can also use a telephoto lens to capture images of the wildlife. The lions and tigers are always ready for their close-up!

Steps inside Land's End Park down to Sutro Bath ruins.

Cow Hollow Neighborhoods

Cow Hollow is another affluent and fancy area of San Francisco where you’ll find beautiful homes and pristine neighborhoods. Union Street is the main hangout area with trendy shops, restaurants and salons. This is a fun area to do street photography and take foodie photos.

Sausalito & The Marin Headlands

If you cross over the Golden Gate Bridge to the Sausalito side, you’ll find new photography opportunities. Sausalito is a small picturesque coastal community with cute harbors and local restaurants. See photos from our sailing adventure in Sausalito.

If you keep driving west after you cross the bride, you’ll enter the wild nature scene of the Marin Headlands. You’ll find rocky coastal shores, black sand beaches, abandoned military ruins and hiking trails.