Golden Gate Bridge

There are plenty of ways to experience the Golden Gate Bridge: Walk, bike, or bus across the 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.

You can also 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.

• The bridge is free to walk and bike across, with a protected, shared walkway for pedestrians and cyclists.

• Golden Gate Bridge tours 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.

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.

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.

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.

Walking or biking across the bridge is ideal. Vista points on either end offer panoramic views of the bridge, San Francisco, Marin County, and the bay. Alternatively, take a bay cruise underneath the bridge or see it from the Presidio, Crissy Field, and Fort Point. You can drive it, too.

The Golden Gate Bridge is often shrouded in fog, especially in summer—to increase your chances of clear views, visit in the afternoon after the fog has likely burned off. Consider visiting on weekdays, late mornings, and early afternoons to avoid crowds. On clear days, sunrises and sunsets are unbeatable.

Many types of tours visit the Golden Gate Bridge. Walking and bike tours cross the bridge. Segway tours approach but can't cross. Bay cruises travel underneath. Hop-on hop-off bus tours pick up walkers from Vista Point. While wine country tours cross the bridge on the way to Sonoma and Napa.

Yes, walking across the Golden Gate Bridge is a highlight of visiting San Francisco and worth it. On the relatively short 1.7-mile (3-kilometer) walk each way, visitors can see the iconic bridge close up, catch unparalleled views of San Francisco Bay, and continue to Marin County by bike, bus, or car.

Parking in the south side lot of the Golden Gate Bridge nearest the main visitor areas requires paying a parking fee via metered machines or a mobile phone app. In the north side lot, parking is free with a 4-hour limit. Parking anywhere near the bridge is extremely limited.

Yes, there are public restrooms at Golden Gate Bridge. On the San Francisco side, there are restrooms near the Golden Gate Bridge Welcome Center on the southeast side of the bridge. On the Marin County side, the restrooms are near the Lone Sailor statue at Vista Point.