If there’s one San Francisco landmark you can’t miss, it’s the Golden Gate Bridge! So how do you get there?
A landmark of San Francisco and California, the Golden Gate Bridge spans the strait through which San Francisco Bay empties into the Pacific Ocean. Located at the northern tip of the San Francisco Peninsula, it links the great Californian city with its neighbor Sausalito, at the southern tip of the Marin County peninsula.
Famous the world over, it’s easily recognizable thanks to its emblematic orange color, « international orange », and the architecture of its two pylons. It’s even considered one of the 7 Wonders of the Modern World! A visit to the bridge offers a sublime view not only of the bridge itself, but also of the Strait, the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay.
So how do you discover San Francisco’s famous bridge and its stunning surroundings? From its history to practical information, including possible visits and viewpoints to discover, we reveal everything you need to know about visiting the Golden Gate in San Francisco!
History of the Golden Gate Bridge
Despite the 1906 earthquake, San Francisco enjoyed a degree of prosperity in the early 20th century. However, the city’s position at the end of a peninsula made it necessary to build new transport infrastructures, in particular roads, to ensure its economic development. The ferries that plied the Strait were far too overcrowded and impractical.
In 1916, the idea of a bridge across the Strait was first mooted. However, such a project represented a real challenge. The Strait is known for its strong natural constraints: dangerous currents, strong winds and corrosive salt-laden sea fog.
Nevertheless, the project gradually got under way. In 1919, the name of the bridge was chosen by engineer Michael O’Shaughnessy: the Golden Gate Bridge. In 1921, an illustrious engineer was chosen to oversee the project: Joseph Strauss.
For almost 10 years, the engineer fought to have his plans and the project accepted, despite strong opposition in California. In 1933, work got off to a rocky start. Four years later, however, the engineer’s dream came true. The Golden Gate was inaugurated on May 27, 1937. With its 2 227-metre towers, it spans the Strait over a length of 2,737 metres!
As for its emblematic orange color and lighting, we owe them to architect Irving Morrow. Like Strauss, he had to face fierce criticism in the United States. Many wanted to see the bridge in aluminum or even black with yellow stripes! Fortunately, international orange triumphed, and visitors can’t help but appreciate this superb color, which blends in perfectly with the landscape of the Strait.
What to see and do at the Golden Gate in San Francisco?
To visit the Golden Gate, you’ll need to go to Battery Lancaster, also known as South Vista Point. This is the best place to access the bridge, by bike or on foot, from San Francisco. Here you’ll find the Golden Gate Welcome Center. This is also the starting point for organized tours and discoveries of the bridge on foot or by bike.
From Battery Lancaster, you can cross and visit the Golden Gate Bridge. Spectacular views of the bay, the strait, the bridge and the ocean await you. The Golden Gate Bridge has 6 lanes of traffic and 2 lanes on each side, one for pedestrians, the other for bicycles. The latter two are closed at night.
To complete your visit to the Golden Gate Bridge, you can also take advantage of the superb viewpoints to be found in the vicinity of the two Californian cities. The most famous are Baker Beach and Crissy Field, on the San Francisco side. The former is located to the south-east of the bridge near Gibson Road, the latter to the west near Mason Street. Each has a beautiful beach, a variety of amenities in the vicinity, and ample parking: paid for at Crispy Field, free at Baker Beach.
For beautiful views of the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, you can also visit :
- Fort Point, located at the southern end of the bridge, is open to visitors free of charge every day except Tuesday and Wednesday.
- China Beach, at the end of Sea Cliff Avenue, not far from Baker Street.
- Land’s End, to be discovered on foot or by bike along the Lands End Trail. The trail starts at El Camino Del Mar, where there is a small free parking lot.
- Point Cavallo and Battery Spencer, on the Sausalito side. The former is located on Marina Road in the town of Sausalito (free parking), while the latter can be reached after a short hike from the parking lot along Conzelman Road.
- Hawk Hill, 2.5 kilometers higher and further than Battery Spencer. A breathtaking view awaits you here, with the bridge cutting across the bay and the whole of San Francisco behind it.
All these viewpoints are generally accessible by car, foot, bike or public transport. You can also admire the bridge fromAlcatraz, another iconic San Francisco landmark that’s a must-see!
If you want to see San Francisco’s Golden Gate from a different angle, you can of course take a cruise through the strait. Blue & Gold Fleet cruises are included in the San Francisco City Pass. Blue & Gold Fleet cruises depart from Pier 39.
How do I get to San Francisco’s Golden Gate?
To visit the Golden Gate in San Francisco, you’ll need to go to Battery Lancaster, located on Lincoln Boulevard at number 963.
To get to Battery Lancaster, we recommend avoiding the car. Parking is tiny and expensive, unlike other superb viewpoints in the area (Crissy Field, Fort Point or Baker Street).
We therefore recommend taking public transport to Battery Lancaster. From downtown, several bus routes take you to the « Golden Gate Bridge/Toll Plaza » stop:
Golden Gate Transit bus
- Line 10
- Line 70
- Line 80
- Line 101
San Francisco Muni bus
- Line 28
- Line 29
Schedules and prices for visiting the Golden Gate in San Francisco
SCHEDULES
The Golden Gate Bridge is open to pedestrians and bicycles every day from 7am to 9pm. Cars are allowed day and night.
RATES
By car, on foot or by bike
- Free on foot or by bike
- Paying for cars: leaving the city is free, returning is paying($7.25).
By ferry
To enjoy the view of the Golden Gate Bridge from the strait, you can take a ferry. The trip takes 30 minutes.
- Adults: approx. $11.25 per crossing
- Children (5-18 years ): approx. $6 per crossing
Guided Tours
You can also book a guided tour of the bridge, on foot or by bike. It’s a great opportunity to learn more about this marvel of the modern world! For a sublime view of the bridge, you can book a daytime or sunset cruise in advance. You can expect to pay between €30 and €75 on average for this activity.
Good to know
If you’re planning to visit the Golden Gate in San Francisco, here are a few things you should know:
– There are a number of bike rental companies based in the Fisherman’s Wharf District or Cow Hollow.
– Renting a bike costs an average of $30 for a day.
– The Golden Gate Bridge can be seen in the distance from the top of the Coit Tower or from the observation tower of the De Young Museum in Golden Gate Park.
– Don’t forget to bring a raincoat in case of rain or heavy fog in the Strait.