San Francisco in Pictures: 48 Free Photos and a Short City Guide
San Francisco in 48 free photos: the Golden Gate Bridge from the hills and from below, Alcatraz and the Bay Bridge, cable cars on the steep streets and the bends of Lombard Street, Fisherman’s Wharf and the sea lions of Pier 39, the Victorian houses and the Painted Ladies, downtown with the Transamerica Pyramid and City Hall, the views from Twin Peaks, and the coast north to Point Reyes. Each set of photos has a short note on the place.
The photos also work as a San Francisco wallpaper on a tablet or phone, and on a laptop if you don’t mind a slightly soft picture: the originals are about 1200 pixels wide.
San Francisco at a glance
- Getting there: San Francisco International Airport (SFO); BART trains reach downtown in about 30 minutes.
- Getting around: Muni buses, streetcars and cable cars, and BART; one Clipper card, or a contactless bank card, works on all of them.
- Money: US dollar. Prices are shown before sales tax, and tips of 18 to 20 percent are expected in restaurants.
- When to go: September and October are the warmest and clearest months. Summer is often cool and foggy; bring a jacket all year.
How to download: click a photo to see it large, then use Download. The originals are about 1200 × 800 pixels: right for blog posts, slides, social media, school projects and video call backgrounds.
The Golden Gate Bridge
Opened in 1937, the bridge spans the strait between the Pacific and the bay, 2.7 km long and painted International Orange. You can walk or cycle across it. The classic views are from Battery Spencer on the Marin side, from Fort Point right under the south tower, and from Crissy Field; come early, before the fog rolls in.
The bay, Alcatraz and the Bay Bridge
Alcatraz, a federal prison from 1934 to 1963, sits on its rock in the middle of the bay; ferries leave from Pier 33 and sell out days ahead. The Bay Bridge of 1936 links the city with Oakland. At the Hyde Street Pier the square-rigger Balclutha of 1886 is part of a fleet of historic ships.
Cable cars and steep streets
San Francisco’s cable cars, running since 1873, are the last hand-operated cable car system in the world, pulled along by a moving cable under the street. Three lines remain; the Powell-Hyde line passes the top of Lombard Street, the crooked block with eight hairpin bends between Hyde and Leavenworth.
Fisherman’s Wharf, Pier 39 and Ghirardelli Square
Fisherman’s Wharf is the busiest corner of the waterfront, with crab stands, sourdough bakeries and boat trips. Sea lions have lounged on the floating docks of Pier 39 since 1990, and the old chocolate factory of Ghirardelli Square still sells its chocolate.
Victorian houses, the Painted Ladies and the Mission
The city has thousands of wooden Victorian houses that survived the earthquake of 1906 or were built soon after. The row of Painted Ladies on Steiner Street faces Alamo Square, with downtown behind them. Pacific Heights has the grandest mansions, and the Mission district is known for its palm-lined Dolores Street and its murals.
Downtown: the Transamerica Pyramid, City Hall and Union Square
The Transamerica Pyramid of 1972 is the symbol of the skyline. City Hall, finished in 1915, has a dome taller than the Capitol in Washington. Union Square is the shopping centre, and the Museum of Modern Art and the old Hobart Building stand a few blocks away.
Twin Peaks and the Pacific coast
From Twin Peaks, two hills near the centre of the city, you see the whole of San Francisco and the bay. On the Pacific side, Sutro Heights and Lands End look over the rocks and the surf, and Ocean Beach runs south for miles.
Beyond the city: Point Reyes, Tomales Bay and Bodega Bay
North of the Golden Gate, Highway 101 and Highway 1 lead to the Point Reyes lighthouse of 1870, reached by more than 300 steps, the oyster farms of Tomales Bay and the fishing harbour of Bodega Bay, where Hitchcock filmed The Birds.
Tips for a first visit
- Book Alcatraz as soon as you know your dates; the night tour is the one to get.
- Ride the cable car early, from the turntable at Powell and Market, or hop on at a stop further up the line where the queue is shorter.
- Dress in layers: the weather can change from sunny to foggy and cold between two neighbourhoods.
- Walk or cycle across the Golden Gate Bridge to Sausalito and take the ferry back.
More about San Francisco
On this page you will find pictures of San Francisco’s tourist attractions, California, USA.
The colonizing of the San Francisco area (named after St Francis of Assisi) began in 1776 when a fort at the “Golden Gate” was built by Spanish colonists. The city boomed following the discovery of gold in 1848, and quickly became the largest city on the west coast. The arrival of the railroad from the Atlantic to the Pacific in 1869 made San Francisco a very important port for US trade.
San Francisco is situated close to the San Andreas Fault, making it vulnerable to earthquakes. The earthquake of 1906 destroyed three-quarters of the city and killed several thousand people. The city was quickly rebuilt and is now reckoned to be one of the most attractive U.S. cities, although it still experiences regular minor earthquakes. In spite of its uncertain seismic situation, it has grown from a population of 400,000 at the time of the 1906 earthquake to 6.5 million in the present day San Francisco Bay Area. Chief among San Francisco’s tourist sites is the world famous Golden Gate Bridge, one of the world’s most beautiful and most photographed bridges. Completed in May 1937, its total length is 1.7 miles (2.7 km) with a clearance above water of 220 ft (67 m). The Golden Gate Bridge is part of the U.S. Highway 101, and tolls are collected in the southbound direction.
Built on more than 50 hills, the city is also famous for its cable car system. The first line started public service in 1873, and the system survived an attempt to close it down in 1947, when the Citizen’s Committee to save the cable cars began a petition. San Francisco’s cable cars are now retained mainly as a tourist attraction, and you can learn more by visiting the Cable Car Museum at 1201 Mason Street.
For shopping and dining in the historic part of San Francisco, head for Ghirardelli Square where you will find a chocolate factory offering tours; or for food outlets and farmers’ markets in an historic architectural landmark, try the Ferry Building Marketplace.
Alcatraz, a Federal Prison from 1934 – 1963 on an island in the middle of San Francisco Bay is one of the top attractions in the area. Book online for the tours which go 7 days a week. Alternatively on Thursday to Monday evenings you can join the spooky Alcatraz Night Tour, a self guided walking tour of the prison using headphones.
Finally, don’t miss the Maritime National Historic Park, which is located at the west end of the world famous Fisherman’s Wharf, itself a fascinating area of piers and boardwalks. Here you will see a fleet of historic vessels, and can visit the Maritime Museum and Library.
Choosing accommodation in San Francisco
Choice is what San Francisco is all about, and the first one to be made is whether you want to stay up on the hill overlooking the city and the Bay, or down on the shore by the Marina and Fisherman’s Wharf.
A 5 star hotel on Nob Hill, the luxurious Fairmont, may seem to offer the best of both locations: the spectacular Golden Gate Bridge is in view, but is only a 6 km drive away; it is only a 5 minute cab ride to the Ferry Building, and there is a cable-car stop just a 10 minute walk away. Among its 591 rooms in the Main and Tower Buildings there is a wide choice, ranging from King Suites with Bay View, to Standard Rooms. In fact I counted 12 separate types of room to choose from, some having their own balconies.
If you prefer to be on the Wharf, you could try the well-recommended Argonaut, part of the Kimpton group of hotels. It has 252 rooms all with a nautical theme, and its own traditional seafood restaurant, the Blue Mermaid, although much more choice is available nearby on Fisherman’s Wharf. This is a luxury but eco-friendly hotel, with a fitness centre and in-room yoga TV channel, a Business Centre and free WiFi. This hotel has its own free parking.
In a central location between the Golden Gate Bridge and the wharf is the budget Coventry Inn, in the picturesque Marina District. There may be less choice among its 239 rooms, but the beds are comfortable and a number of tourist attractions and good restaurants are close by. Here the WiFi is free, which it certainly isn’t at the Fairmont.
Those who are backpacking may prefer a Youth Hostel, not just because it is cheaper, but because they are more likely to meet like-minded people. One of the most popular is the USA Hostels’ San Francisco, in a central location just a few blocks from a cable car route. This hostel offers free pancakes and fruit for breakfast. There is a Common Room and guest laundry, as well as a mini-supermarket – in fact everything you are likely to need is there.
A close rival is Hi-San Francisco’s Downtown Hostel on Mason Street. Breakfast and WiFi are free, and there is a kitchen for guests to use, though there are plenty of restaurants and bars close by, including in Chinatown.
But if you want to be on the waterfront, Hi-San Francisco also has the Fisherman’s Wharf Hostel, in historic Fort Mason, between a park and the Bay. A bus stops outside, and the hostel puts on excursions like pub crawls and guided walks. They have rooms for up to three people, as well as shared dormitories.
More free photos
- California pictures
- New York pictures
- Las Vegas pictures
- Florida pictures
- Free bridge pictures
- Free night city pictures
- Free city street pictures and city backgrounds
- Free house pictures
- USA pictures
- North America pictures
Questions about these San Francisco photos
Can I use these San Francisco pictures for free?
Yes, for personal and commercial projects. All we ask is a link back to BigFoto.com; the box at the top of the page has a credit link you can copy.
Where is the best view of the Golden Gate Bridge?
From Battery Spencer in the Marin Headlands, just north of the bridge, for the classic view with the city behind it; from Fort Point or Crissy Field on the city side.
