Golden Gate Bridge
The Basics
Walk, bike, or bus across the Golden Gate Bridge; sail or cruise the waters below it; or fly high above the attraction aboard a seaplane. Alternatively, combine your visit with sightseeing in the city; admission to Alcatraz; a half-day tour in Sonoma and Napa Valley; or hikes in Marin or on Angel Island.
Or, learn about the bridge’s history at the San Francisco terminus Welcome Center and explore other Marin County highlights such as seaside Sausalito, the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, and Muir Woods National Monument, home to Northern California redwood trees.
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Things to Know Before You Go
The bridge is free to walk and bike across, with a protected, shared walkway for pedestrians and cyclists.
Tours to the Golden Gate Bridge typically run from San Francisco and Sausalito, and range from leisurely outings to athletic excursions.
Choose a bike tour or a hop-on hop-off bus around the city for a scenic ride to the bridge and enjoy other stops such as Union Square, North Beach, and more.
The Golden Gate Bridge is wheelchair accessible, as are the exhibits, trails, and historic sites along the coastline.
How to Get There
The San Francisco end of the bridge is located in the Presidio and can be reached from all parts of the city by car or public transportation. The bridge forms part of US Route 101 and California State Route 1—take any bridge-bound Golden Gate Transit bus to the Golden Gate Bridge Toll Plaza. By car, take the last San Francisco exit, right before the toll plaza, and park in the southeast parking lot.
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When to Get There
The Golden Gate Bridge is striking year-round, but the best time to visit is when there are clear skies and fewer people. Stop by midweek in the early morning or late-afternoon; alternatively, visit on weekend afternoons. Avoid June through August when the infamous San Francisco fog rolls in and blocks the best views both morning and evening.
Where to Find the Best Views of the Golden Gate Bridge
Capture the bridge in its entirety on a coastal walking tour through San Francisco’s Presidio, where you’ll spot beautiful bridge views from vantage points at Crissy Field, Fort Point, and Baker Beach. To snap a photo from the north end of the bridge, choose a tour that crosses the bridge to the Marin Headlands. While Vista Point is the most popular bridge viewing spot in Marin, it can get crowded with cars, so take a short hike toward Battery Point and Slacker Hill for sweeping views of the city.
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