Battery Godfrey and a handful of other gun emplacements were installed in the late 1800s and were part of the Presidio defense system until just after WWII. I do encourage you to try the bike lane / walking as the Golden Gate Bridge is surreal and a lifetime experience. And weve also got a guide for non-bridge things to do in The Presidio. Upon its completion in 1937, it was the longest suspension bridge in the world. After this stop, you will drive back over the bridge. Best time for viewing the bridge: Like Crissy field, sunrise is best for light. San Francisco is a very windy city, especially along the water, so they had to build it to hold up to these conditions. TheGolden Gate Recreational Areaprotects an astonishing 82,027 acres of land stretching from Silicon Valley to Tomales Bay, and some of its most beautiful spots are right around the Golden Gate. Where do I start the Golden Gate Bridge walk? If you want to take public transit, simply hop on BART at the airport. Here are a few more details on each one. >> Find everything you need to bike the bridge here. Copyright 2009-2023 by SFTourismTips.com. It was considered an engineering marvel and upon its completion, was the worlds largest suspension bridge. TheRed and White Fleetis great for a simple voyage, whileSan Francisco Bay Boat Cruiseshosts the areas only floating wine tasting.Hornblower Cruises, meanwhile, hosts a variety of seated dinners, brunch buffets, and glamorous parties. Decades ago, the Presidio's Crissy Field was a military airfield. The SF public transit system, Muni, offers one bus that will take you all the way to the Welcome Center on the southern end. This open top bus will take you over the bridge to Vista Point on the north side. In addition to the popular biking tours, you will also find a variety of other types of San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge tours. Hike to a hidden beach by way of the 1.7-mile Tennessee Valley Trail , see ruins of the Sutro Baths at Lands End , or get your heart rate up with a . It's a popular spot for running and walking. 17 mi from Golden Gate Bridge. In total, the cables contain around 80,000 miles of steel wire. Once called "the bridge that couldn't be built," today the Golden Gate Bridge is one the seven wonders of the modern world. Some of these are free and others are paid. 1. If youre up for a walk, we love the Batteries to Bluffs hike, which starts at Baker Beach. It's has only been fully repainted a few times since its completion. Its not a nude-beach per se, however when I was there recently, there were a few nude sunbathers. The Gold Rush started in 1848, which caused San Franciscos population to explode. In addition to 24 miles of hiking trails, you can also visit the Disney Family Museum, do a selfie at the Goldsworthy Lines near Lovers Lane or (my favorite) visit the Yoda statue at the Lucas Arts office (seriously, their lobby has the original Darth Vader costume!). Tips for visiting: The fort is rather large so leave time for wandering around. You will find plenty of things to see and do nearby. Visitors can explore its barracks, officers' quarters, and battlements. Foggy days occur frequently on the bridge, especially in the summer. That equals almost 20 million cars a year! The Welcome Center sits at the south edge of the bridge. Best time for viewing the bridge: Late afternoon or sunset will give you nice light on the west side of the bridge. Crissy Field: To the east of the bridge, you will find Crissy Field. A view of where Fort Point sits below the south end of the Golden Gate Bridge. Love Tour: This small-group tour also offers a chance for you to stop and admire it. In the mood for a little scavenger hunt? However, if you are only able to get here by car, here are a few tips to find parking. You can hike, bike or take a shuttle around the island. That way you can just go across the bridge and they will send you the bill at a later date. We found 1,606 things to do for you near Golden Gate Bridge Crissy Field Marsh 2 Reviews Golden Gate Promenade, San Francisco, CA 94129 3 minutes from Golden Gate Bridge Experiences from $89 See 3 Experiences San Francisco Bay 7,344 Reviews San Francisco, CA 12 minutes from Golden Gate Bridge Experiences from $13 See 62 Experiences Between San Francisco Bay and Marin County is the world famous Golden Gate Bridge. Walking across the Golden Gate Bridge at a steady pace will take you about 30 minutes to walk the entire route. It is amazing how beautiful it can be below and then how cold and windy it will feel on the bridge. deep. Tips for visiting: You must book Alcatraz in advance, which you can do here. The two large towers stand nearly 746 feet above the water, similar to the height of a 65-story building. Its free to visit the Golden Gate Bridge. When it opened, it weighed in at about 894,000 tons, and that's including the anchorages and the approaches. GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE - 7489 Photos & 2013 Reviews - Yelp This one of the tour buses takes you around SF and allows you to jump off and on at any of their designated stops. Many people are told that they paint it from end to end every year. As a globally renowned single-span suspension bridge, Golden Gate Bridge is the symbol and landmark of San Francisco. Yes, you can! The perfect place to admire downtown San Francisco is on your walk across the Golden Gate Bridge. How did it get its name? You can walk across the Golden Gate Bridge and all the way to Sausalito (on the Marin side). They have hands on exhibits about the bridge engineering which are both educational and fun. The chief engineer, Joseph Strauss, wrote a poem called "The Mighty Task is Done" after the Golden Gate Bridge was completed. 3 km from Golden Gate Bridge. With a guide, ride from Fisherman's Wharf to Marina Green and Crissy Field, and stop at Fort Point and Vista Point for photo ops of the bridge and . Copyright 2009-2023 by SFTourismTips.com. However, the bridge spans both sides of the bay and the area encompasses lot of natural beauty and historical interest. Camping. 2. Golden Gate Bridge. Look for the 114, 132, or the 154. Flying high over the San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge with downtown in the background. You can also spend as much time as you want at each stop. San Francisco high season is during the summer and over holiday weekends. Located within thePresidioand facing the Main Parade Lawn,The Walt Disney Family Museumdelights both children and adults by celebrating beloved Disney classics and more. Golden Gate Bridge | Things to do in Presidio, San Francisco - Time Out Worship for July 16, 2023 | license - Facebook Walk, run, or bike over one of the two tunnels leading to the Golden Gate Bridge while taking in bridge views plusAngel Island,Alcatraz Island, and southern Marin County. Crissy field specifically, was an airfield serving the Pacific Air Coast Defense Station during both world wars. Your walk across the Golden Gate Bridge will start near Vista Point South from the San Francisco side. San Francisco CNN . And we also have a guide for our top 5 Presidio hikes. You can learn who Karl the Fog is and also find out how many times Hollywood has destroyed the bridge. Hike north along the coastal trail, ending up at Baker Beach, where you can walk back to 25th/Geary to catch the same bus back downtown. Here are our favorite things to do that are close to the Golden Gate Bridge. Your all-day bike rental includes a mountain bike, helmet, handlebar bag, and lock. Get the scoop on finding the best Golden Gate Bridge viewpoints. It will take you about an hour and 15 minutes by public transport or about 45 minutes by car. Many US movies and TV shows have been filmed . You will also find that almost all of the Golden Gate Transit buses stop at the bridge. This is a great view of the east sidewalk. This website does not sell any personal information. I'm on the bus, so am a little higher, but this will give you a sense of what it's like to drive on it. The Welcome Center has two parking lots very close to the south end of the bridge. If you want to visit the Golden Gate Bridge, its helpful to have some historical context for how it ended up spanning the bay. You can ask questions, get advice for your upcoming stay, and then share your photos and advice with others when you return home. Yes, there is a walking path on the eastern side of the bridge dedicated to both walkers and bikers. The entire walk is about a half-mile from Vista Point to the first tower if you do this. Weird Things That Have Happened At The Golden Gate Bridge Learn more here. Visiting the San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge is an experience like no other. This open-air tour starts at The Cannery in Fisherman's Wharf. For shoes, I recommend you wear close-toed shoes with socks. Click to find out more about this and other unusual stuff that you can do in San Francisco. Walk along Crissy Field to Fort Point, up to the Welcome Center and then catch a bus back from there. You may have to walk a half-mile to a mile to get from these bus stops to your hotel. You can get off and back on at any stop along the way. You will want to leave plenty of time, though, as the walk is usually slow and steady, so plan for it to take you at least 45 minutes each way. Today, the bridge carries about 112,000 cars and 10,000 pedestrians cross the bay every day. This is what it looks like as you are driving on the bridge. I then bring along a jacket to add or remove as I walk across. This resource will tell you everything you need to know about Golden Gate Bridge parking. The towers are tall, but they are both hollow. Go for the history of the prison but stay for the views. Other nearby stuff: Hawk Hill is so named because of the many hawks living in the area. How to Have a Dog-Friendly Stay in San Francisco, 8 Great Places for Camping in San Francisco and Beyond, Explore San Francisco's Newest Park, The Presidio Tunnel Tops, Everything You Need to Know About the Castro Street Fair, Everything You Need to Know About San Francisco's Sea Lions. Fort Point National Historic Site: This San Francisco attraction is right below the bridge. Standing in bustling Union Square, its hard to imagine that expansive, untouched public lands are a few short miles away. Inn at the Presidio: 3-star hotel inside the Presidio, quiet peaceful and wine/cheese reception at night, find out more about the Inn at the Presidio, Cavallo Point Lodge: 4.5-star hotel, great views of the bridge, wonderful restaurant, on the north end of the bridge in Sausalito, learn about Cavallo Point Lodge and book rooms, Travelodge by Wyndham: 2-star hotel, free parking, pets allowed, free wifi and breakfast, read reviews and book at Travelodge by Wyndham, Cow Hollow Inn & Suites: 2-star hotel on Chestnut Street in the Marina, free parking and wifi, great budget friendly option, find guest reviews and book at Cow Hollow Inn & Suites, >> Find additional hotel recommendations all around SF. We hope this guide has been able to answer your questions about visiting the Golden Gate Bridge. Camp underneath the stars at one of our four sites in Marin Headlands. You then continue to Sausalito, a small coastal community just across the bay from San Francisco. I don't recommend heels as the pavement is not 100% flat on the walkway. This green space offers a walking trail, a couple of places to eat and a beach. Its towering presence makes you realize just how amazing this iconic structure is up close. The ferry ride back to the city takes around 30 minutes. Entrances to the East Sidewalk. The Bridge does not have a physical address but it can be easily found on Google Maps or other online map services. 8 Things to Do Near the Golden Gate Bridge | San Francisco Travel Be alert because you dont get a lot of warning for the exit. Heres a table of contents if you want to skip around or just scroll down for all of the good stuff: Yes! It's often windy even at the look-out point and is usually even windier on the walkways. The perfect outing for everyone, visit the newly-completed Presidio Tunnel Tops located just south of the Golden Gate Bridge and within the Presidio national park. They have both commuter buses and hourly buses that will take you from the Financial District, the Civic Center, and places in between to the bridge. I would love for you join me in my private Facebook group! Check out the Sausalito Gourmet Delicatessen for reasonably priced sandwiches. 6 Things You May Not Know About the Golden Gate Bridge There are plenty of ways to enjoy your time at this historic attraction. They designed it to sit at the level of the bay, the better to shoot enemy ships at the water line. Its dog friendly and it offers great ground-level views of the Golden Gate Bridge in the distance. Note: The west sidewalk is reserved for those riding their bikes. Fort Point dates to the American Civil War. All rights reserved. The military presence continued until the end of the Cold War. Enjoy a steaming cup of coffee with beautiful views! However, some of the nearby parking lots cost from $1.00-$1.90 per hour. The walkways have gates that automatically open and close at these times. Tips for visiting: The exterior of the fort can be visited anytime and the interior is open Friday-Sunday 10am-5pm. Also, be sure to check out the new Golden Gate and Pacific Overlooks near the Bridge. You can continue along the coastal trail through Lands End. How do the tolls work? It opened to pedestrians just one day earlier. Golden Gate Bridge bike ride distances: Fisherman's Wharf to the Golden Gate Bridge: 4 miles. A view of the Golden Gate Bridge from Marshall's Beach in October. Best time for viewing the bridge: Anytime until late afternoon. They pick up along North Point Street. It also has a mind-boggling 360 spin of the San Francisco bay and the bridge. But you can amaze your friends with arcane nuggets like how the lead Engineer for the bridge was also a romantic poet, and how there were tap dancers on the bridge on the first day it opened. Fort Point 3. You will run into some hills as you walk the last 2.5 miles to Sausalito, but they aren't too bad. In total, there are just over 250 spots in these lots. They don't automatically stop at every stop on the route. 814 Reviews. Second is that the reddish-orange color and graceful design of the bridge stand in striking visual contrast to the green open spaces and national park land located on either side of it. license | 40 views, 1 likes, 0 loves, 1 comments, 1 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from Hope LBC: Good morning and welcome to worship this Sunday. The latter two are part of our locals only guide to unusual things to do in SF. Golden Gate Bridge Guide: How To Reach & Best Time To Visit Or you can soar high above the bridge in a private helicopter tour. Learn more about downtown SF here. Taking to the trails is a fantastic way to discover all that the GGNRA have to offer. The Golden Gate Recreational Area protects an astonishing 82,027 acres of land stretching from Silicon Valley to Tomales Bay, and some of its most beautiful spots are right around the Golden Gate. Just shy of two miles long, the bridge makes for a thrilling but super-manageable bicycle ride. Other interesting stuff nearby: You can wander the trails up from Fort Point to the bridge Welcome Center. From the San Francisco Bay on a Boat Tour14. Learn more about these walking tours here. This gives you almost 10 hours to explore the city, the Golden Gate Bridge, and Sausalito. Biking across the Golden Gate Bridge or around Golden Gate Park Your ticket back on the ferry is included in the price. Don't forget to bring your camera too during your walk. Simply park at the Golden Gate Park and walk to the Golden Gate Bridge, if you'd like to do some touristy sightseeing. Learn more here. Some of the businesses featured in this video may now be closedeither temporarily or permanently. I would love for you join me in my private Facebook group! As of 1986, that figure dropped to about 887,000 tons because of a redecking project. During spring and summer, take one of the companysAlive After Fivehappy-hour cruises, which offer up cocktails and small plates as the ship glides past the bridge,Alcatraz, and other city sights. Everything here is grab and go, so you can pick-up something quickly for your visit. You can park once and do Crissy Field, Torpedo Wharf and Fort Point all in one go. Bay Cruise: Instead of walking or driving, how about cruising under it? Here are more tips on what to wear by month--and remember take off a few degrees for each one when thinking about what the weather might be like at the San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge. You can ask questions, get advice for your upcoming stay, and then share your photos and advice with others when you return home. Take the bus from downtown to Baker Beach (for the Batteries to Bluffs trail to the bridge): The 38BX or the 1 to 25th St. Construction was started on the bridge in 1933 and was completed four years later. (Ed. If you're interested in the history of the Golden Gate Bridge, twice-weekly (Thursdays and Sundays) free walking Bridge tours are offered by San Francisco City Guides, a non-profit organization associated with the San Francisco Public Library. Not far from the Welcome Center is the Lucas Arts building where you can see a statue of Yoda and original costumes from the Star Wars movies. This part of the journey takes you up and down a few hills, but nothing too steep. Fort Point was constructed in 1853 and pre-dates the civil war. You can go under the bridge with a sunset cruise (highly recommend- drinks + sea spray). The other great news is that the pedestrian walkway is open every day of the year and free for all visitors. Can you see it from Alcatraz? Do you have a long layover at SFO and want to check out the San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge? Joseph Strauss wanted the San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge built to connect Marin County with the city. You should also check out this article with facts about the Golden Gate Bridge and learn things like how and when it was built, and why it moves like Jagger. What is the distance? Most people don't realize that it's windy on the Golden Gate Bridge and usually a bit cooler than San Francisco or the surrounding areas. That equals almost 20 million cars a year! For a virtual version of these exhibits, go to the Exhibits section of our website. Bring a picnic or purchase food and drinks from food vendors in the park. You will awe at its beauty and you might even get a little tingle of excitement in your legs as you look down at the water on your walk across. Hop On/Hop Off Bus Tour: The Hop On/Hop Off Bus includes around 20 stops throughout the city. >> Find more of my favorite restaurants all around SF. Find out more about visiting here. It has a map and will tell you which lots are free. It is written on the bridge. The Headlands are famous for their views of the Bay . It drops off at the SF Ferry Building. You'll want to leave a little extra time as well since you will probably walk slower than you think over the bridge (there are so many great things to stop and admire!). Due to these variations, I recommend you wear layers. 25 Best Things to Do in San Francisco You can simply park near the bridge and stroll over it, but there are also some cool trails that lead up to the bridge which are worth doing. The bridge gets really crowded during the high season, on weekends, and holidays. Its now been reverted back to a natural dune and tidal marsh habitat with a dog-friendly beach. You can also explore more of the bridge by taking a tour. You can only enter this side if you are on a bike. 5. For a completely different vantage point, check out one of the bay cruises. The bridge is 1.3 miles from one end to the other. It's another 1.7 miles to walk across, so the total is around 4 to 4.5 miles. These are the best experiences near Golden Gate Bridge: These places are best for gift & specialty shops near Golden Gate Bridge: The most popular attraction types near Golden Gate Bridge are: Which are the best experiences near Golden Gate Bridge? Nerd alert! Although it no longer holds that distinction, you will find it's a fantastic attraction to visit. You will also get the chance to take some pictures of the amazing landscape and SF Bay attractions. Plus, you can get some breathtaking views of the bridge from the top level. Experiences from C$228. 12 Tips to Walk Across the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco This is a beautiful stretch of road and take your time enjoying the views. This bus drives along Mission Street, one block south of Market Street. This is the best time to explore this place as the fog dissipates and the temperature becomes warm and enjoyable. ), During Pacific Daylight Time, the East or West sidewalks may close one hour early at 8 pm, but one sidewalk will always remain open to cyclists. This long, narrow stretch of green space is easy to see from the bridge. However, you can go as far as you want. But midday is better for getting into the fort. Although most of it wasn't filmed here, they included plenty of shots around town. There are no longer any human toll takers at the toll plaza, so you have a few ways to pay for your toll. The total walk is about a mile to get there and back. Tips for visiting: Dont be in a hurry. So, there are many different ways to view the bridge and all of them are Instagrammable. The narrow Golden Gate Straight is the only geographical break in hundreds of miles of rugged California coastlines and mountains. With its gently curved cables and deep orange hue, the Golden Gate Bridge is a total showstopper. Also, I don't recommend skirts. To maintain it, they do touch ups all the time and have a full-time maintenance crew. The story ofCavallo Pointis even older than the Golden Gate. Before travel writing, her professional background included working internationally in business, nonprofits, and government. Fort Baker Its worth visiting the bridge at dawn if you want nice light for your photoshoot. This is one of the park's beaches near the Golden Gate Bridge, so make sure to arrive early on warm days and weekends. Due to its location, you will find it's cool and windy up at the bridge most of the year. What many people dont know, is that the bridge and the land surrounding it are serviced by the National Parks Service. Most people go to the Welcome Center on the south bridge. Prior to the bridge being built, you would either have to drive a considerable distance or take the car ferry. It was also February and 55 F outside so I dont know how that could have been comfortable for them. This peaceful park shoreline leading to the Golden Gate Bridge by foot, bike, or car is once again alive with birds, fish and countless native plants. Both ends of the Bridge touch the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. It has a full FAQ and answers logistical questions about when and how to visit, where to park and different ways to access the bridge. One of the things to keep in mind is that once you leave Golden Gate Bridge View Vista Point (on the Sausalito side), there are no services until you reach Sausalito. In fact, one of the most spectacular things about the Golden Gate Bridge was that it opened ahead of schedule and under budget in 1937.