These San Francisco Instagram spots are my go-to places when I want to take beautiful pictures in my home city. This post shares the best San Francisco photo spots that the city has to offer. Want to take iconic San Francisco pictures? Read on!
As a San Francisco local these are my top recommended photography locations. In this post you will find some of the best views of the Golden Gate Bridge, iconic San Francisco landmarks, and lesser-known photo spots.
This list is constantly growing so be sure to save it for later as I continue to add more beautiful places in San Francisco. To read more about the equipment I use for these photos check out this post that shares all of my camera gear used for travel photography.
Some of the links in this post may be affiliate links. This means that I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products, hotels and experiences that I personally use, love and spend my own money on.
The Top Instagram-Worthy San Francisco Photo Spots
Alamo Square Park
This is likely one of the most popular Instagram spots in San Francisco. Alamo Square Park is in the middle of a residential neighborhood. The park sits on a hill covered in green grass and sidewalk walking trails.
Alamo Square Park is a popular stop for locals as well as tourists, so it’s a must-see on my San Francisco bucket list. As a San Francisco resident I enjoy grabbing food or coffee and taking it to the park to enjoy the unbeatable view of the city skyline and picturesque Victorian houses.
If you are a child of the 90s like myself, it’s impossible to experience this scene without thinking of the intro to the television sitcom, Full House. While this scene is used in the show, many people think that one of these houses is the house from the show. That’s actually not the case. The house the Tanner family supposedly lived in is located elsewhere in SF.
Palace of Fine Arts
In my opinion the Palace of Fine Arts is one of our standout architectural landmarks in San Francisco. I just adore this photogenic structure and the surrounding park area. There’s something so serene and relaxing about the scene you’ll find here.
You will find the Palace of Fine Arts in the Marina District, not far from the waterfront and many Golden Gate Bridge viewpoints. Nowadays there are a number of events and shows that take place here, but the Palace of Fine Arts was originally built for the 1915 Panama-Pacific Exposition. It has stood in the same place since.
Golden Gate Overlook
The Golden Gate Overlook is a great viewpoint for photos of the Golden Gate Bridge. This spot is in the Presidio of San Francisco, right on the west side of the bridge.
Here you will notice that you are on an interesting landscape with the remnants of many former military sites. To find your favorite view and photo spot you’ll get to climb around the abandoned military ruins. This is one of my favorite places to photograph the Golden Gate Bridge. For more view and Golden Gate Bridge photos consider taking this San Francisco bay cruise.
Chinatown – Grant Avenue
I adore San Francisco’s Chinatown for a number of reasons. The history, the food, the sights, the color—it’s such an essential part of the city. I could write an entire post on the things I love in Chinatown (and I am planning to!) But for the sake of the post, I wanted to give the neighborhood a shoutout for being one of my favorite Instagram spots in San Francisco.
My favorite view is the one pictured below, with a view down Grant Avenue in San Francisco’s Chinatown. The colorful buildings and strings of red lanterns lining the street above always bring a smile to my face. I’m grateful for the access I have to one of the most historic Chinatown’s in the world, and highly recommend a visit to all tourists.
California Street View
This is one of my absolute favorite photo spots in San Francisco. Looking down the hill from the top of California Street you are able to capture the essence of the city. The cable car, city high-rises, with the Bay Bridge nestled in the background—it doesn’t get much more San Francisco than this.
The exact spot where I took this photo is the corner of California and Stockton. Here the street gets high enough that you are able to capture a lot in one image. If you are patient and have a few minutes, I advise waiting for a cable car to pass. It really completes the photo. For a closer look at the Bay Bridge check out this cruise that takes you around the city’s two famous bridges.
Lincoln Park Steps
I’m obsessed with this colorful spot! The Lincoln Park Steps is surely an Instagram-Worthy place in San Francisco. These tiled steps are located in the Richmond District. I love taking friends here when we are out in this area.
The Lincoln Park Steps is within reach of a number of other photo spots on this list. If you plan to head to the Presidio, Sutro Baths or the Golden Gate Bridge it might make sense to stop here along the way. They are all in the same general direction towards the western side of the city.
Sutro Baths
Without a doubt Sutro Baths is one of the most unique photo spots in San Francisco. Sutro Baths was a large public saltwater pool that was built in 1896. Shooting sunset photos here is my absolute favorite, just be warned it’s a constant battle with the weather. The San Francisco fog is no joke.
If you want to take photos at Sutro Baths with less concern about the weather then the daytime is your best bet. I much prefer the lighting and ambiance around the sunset hours, but this can be challenging.
Different areas of San Francisco each have their own microclimates, and this area is where it happens to get the foggiest. So while other parts of the city may be clear, I’ve often traveled out to Sutro Baths in the evening to find it covered in fog with zero visibility. Be sure to check the weather beforehand.
Fort Point National Historic Site
This San Francisco Instagram spot is one of the best opportunities to get up close and personal with the Golden Gate Bridge. You’ll be able to get unique view of the bridge from below it at sea level. It’s one of my favorite places because you really feel the massive size of the bridge from here. My other favorite way to truly feel the magnitude of the bridge is to bike across it to Sausalito.
Additionally, this is a historic site in addition to being an Instagram-Worthy place. Fort Point was used to protect San Francisco from attack throughout history. It was built in 1853 and saw activity from the Civil War through World War II—pretty fascinating!
Lands End Trail
If you visit Sutro Baths you will have access to Lands End trail. For this one there isn’t necessarily a specific photo spot, I just truly enjoy the trail as a whole. To make things easy, you can access the trail just in front of the parking lot at Sutro Baths.
For some reason I am in love with the trees out there. I don’t know what it is, but the entire vibe just brings me joy. There’s something about it, where the ocean runs into what feels like a forest. It’s a beautiful mix of scenes and landscapes and a gorgeous places for San Francisco photos.
Treasure Island
If you cross the Bay Bridge between San Francisco and Oakland you will notice that you pass over an island about halfway across the bridge. This is Treasure Island.
The San Francisco island is artificial and was built for the 1939 Golden Gate International Exposition. Treasure Island is pretty quiet but is the perfect place to snap a photo of the San Francisco skyline. As long as the sky is clear, this angle cannot be beat. The only way to get a better view of the city skyline would be this dreamy scenic helicopter flight over SF. I want to do it so bad!
Ocean Beach
I love Ocean Beach. It’s funny because many people I meet who are not familiar with San Francisco tend to assume we either have no beaches, or we are like the rest of California with a ton of sandy, sunny beaches.
San Francisco doesn’t live up to the sunny beach scene California stereotype. Regardless, Ocean Beach is the one beach we do have that fulfills that vision. It’s super long and full of soft sand, while most of our other “beaches” are rocky. When San Francisco has its few hot weather weeks per year, Ocean Beach is magical. Some of the best sunsets I’ve seen have been out here.
Camera Obscura
This giant Camera Obscura is located in the Outer Richmond area of San Francisco. It’s a quick walk from Sutro Baths and overlooks Ocean Beach, so you can hit a number of San Francisco’s best photo spots at once.
Isn’t it neat? It opened in 1946 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2001. I love how unexpected it is when you stumble upon it. For me it fits so well with the quirky character of San Francisco.
Torpedo Wharf
I was a San Francisco resident for years before stumbling upon this spot. Torpedo Wharf is a great San Francisco photography location because you are able to take advantage of two different views.
In one direction, while standing on the wharf, you have a front-and-center view of the Golden Gate Bridge. If you face in the other direction, you have a glowing view of the San Francisco city skyline. There are also great walking and bike trails to explore the waterfront.
West Bluff Picnic Area
Just next to Torpedo Wharf is an area that I prefer for photos of the city skyline. The West Bluff Picnic Area has grass with some hills if you want to try different angles. I like wandering on the rocks along the waterfront and snapping shots from there.
Instagram-Worthy Hotels in San Francisco
It felt appropriate to dedicate a section of this post to some of the beautiful hotels in San Francisco. These hotels are some of my favorite in the city and all of which have characteristics that make it a great San Francisco photo spot.
Hotel Del Sol, a Joie de Vivre Hotel
The bright and bold color palette makes Hotel Del Sol one of San Francisco’s most unique Instagram-worthy hotels. This fun property is in the city’s Marina District. The hotel itself is a former 1950s motor lodge with a fresh renovation and design.
I often recommend it to travelers because it tends to be more affordable than the average. I also love the location and I feel that it provides visitors with a more local SF experience. The Marina District is a great neighborhood for walking with tons of shops and restaurants, as well as easy access to the waterfront and Golden Gate Bridge views. Want to stay at Hotel Del Sol? You can check pricing and availability here.
The Laurel Inn, a Joie de Vivre Hotel
This is one of my new favorites in the city when it comes to hotels. I recently discovered this place and it’s now one of my top recommendations when people ask me where to say. Much like the previous, The Laurel Inn is in a quieter neighborhood away from the chaos of the busy tourist areas.
But don’t let “quiet” steer you away. The hotel is on a major bus line that will get you downtown in 20 minutes; it couldn’t be easier. But at the end of the day you can unwind at this gorgeous, mid-century modern property with stunning views of the city skyline. Want to stay at this stylish boutique hotel in Pacific Heights? You can check pricing and availability here.
Laureate Bar & Lounge
Speaking of the The Laurel Inn, don’t overlook the Laureate Bar & Lounge. This space is so incredibly stylish and cozy. The interior design is beautifully executed and the fireplace is the perfect touch.
Besides being a dreamy setting, the Laureate Bar & Lounge has an amazing selection of craft cocktails and bites. It’s a great setting to meet with a group of friends or take a date.
The Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco
If you are looking for a luxurious hotel that is centrally located, look no further than The Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco. The property is immaculate and every inch of the experience feels like you are being pampered.
The architecture is gorgeous and made me feel like I was in a dreamy, far away place, when in reality I was on a weekend staycation in my home city. The building dates back to 1909 so it provides a sense of historic relevance amongst the modern luxury. I particularly enjoy the exterior of the hotel for classic San Francisco photos. Looking for a 5-star getaway? Check out pricing and availability here.
Loews Regency San Francisco
This downtown San Francisco luxury hotel occupies that top 11 floors of a 48-story building. With guest rooms that high off the ground smack in the middle of the city, you are bound to experience amazing, Instagram-worthy views of San Francisco.
At the 40th floor Loews Regency San Francisco has a small, simple outdoor bar that looks out over the Transamerica Building, to the bay and beyond. I’ve heard that the bar space, named Spirits in the Sky, opens seasonally and is closed for the winter. Be sure to check the hotel website for opening hours before visiting. If you are able to visit during the open season, the views are unbeatable. Want to stay here? Check out pricing and availability here.
Staying Connected in San Francisco
If you are visiting from an international location and need to stay connected, look into Tep Wireless for a travel WiFi device. I live in the US, so of course I don’t use this at home. But when I travel to Europe and Asia I rent an easy-to-use portable WiFi so I can stay online to use maps and manage my travel plans.
