DH and I actuallly lived in SF for many years many years ago, but going back as a tourist is different--who knows we might even see many of the sites we never saw when we lived there--like the view from Coit Tower. I know that's one great view we should catch (if it's not a foggy day), but what are your suggestions for others? Would prefer views over restaurants with views as usually the food isn't so great in those, but I know there can be exceptions.

Thanks so much.

EasyTraveler took me to the Spinnaker in Sausalito, you don't have to dine there, get a drink with snacks in a bar. Great view of the city from an unusual angle. (The food is great there, by the way!)

Views from the Treasure Island, and there was a museum, but this was long time ago...

Places with great views
Get an AAA map

Without a car
Downtown, North Beach, Wharf areas
1. Coit tower – views west & toward financial district. Best early in the morning.
2. Jack Early Park – East of Grant between Chestnut & Francisco. Perhaps smallest park in SF.
3. Top floor of the parking garage above the Police station on Vallejo between Stockton & Powell
4. Where Vallejo ends (temporarily) just east of Jones. There is a lookout & small park for a picnic. If you arrive from Vallejo & Jones (vs. the stairs from Taylor), there is an unusual street entrance to this area. This is a public street so don’t feel like it is a private residential area & avoid it. You can also walk there from the prior view spot #3 – go up Vallejo stairs west of Mason. This is one of my favorite lookout spots.
Farther out – take Muni
5. Twin Peaks in the afternoon
6. Randall Museum – go up to top of hill. Best in the late afternoon.
7. Bernal Heights hill
8. Billy Goat Hill (off Beacon St or walk up hill from south end of Castro). Best in late afternoon
9. Kite Hill – Yukon & 19th St. Best in late afternoon.
10. Anywhere along Broadway between Webster & Lyon. Best spot is at Lyon. Two of the richest men in the U.S. live close buy on Broadway. Lots of luxurious mansions. Walk down the stairs at Lyon.
11. El Camino Del Mar & then Lincoln Blvd going East through GGNRA & Presidio – killer views of the Golden Gate and the bridge. I always take guests on this route. Stop at China Beach. No Muni available on El Camino Del Mar. Take #18 to Palace of Legion of Honor & walk El Camino Del Mar to Lincoln & then take #29, or walk entire route. Lots of places to stop. Great for biking. A perfect ½ day tour would be a visit to the Palace of Legion of Honor (great Rodin statues) and then a beautiful walk down El Camino Del Mar (It’s downhill), through Seacliff (more Mansions – Robin Williams lives there), and then up Lincoln until your legs start to holler, then get on the #29 bus. This is a spectacular area. Try to do this on a clear day. DO NOT MISS.
12. Golden Gate Bridge – late in the day.
13. South West corner of Mission Dolores Park (20th & Church). Take the J-Church there & sit on left side going outbound & right side inbound. Get out & enjoy the park & view. J-Church stops there

With a car
14. From Treasure Island early in the morning. (left lane exit off Bay Bridge)
15. Lookout at north end of GG Bridge (late in the day) – but continue on to next viewpoint (#16)
16. GGNRA north of GG bridge. This is probably the BEST view of SF. You can look through the bridge & then above the bridge to SF and all the way south down the San Mateo County Coast on a clear day. Do this late in the day. Take the first exit past the lookout (#15) off the GG Bridge going North (marked Alexander Ave). Turn left the first chance you have, & go under 101. Follow the sign back to SF, but just before getting on 101, make a right turn up the road & follow this road. It’s easier to find than this description might indicate (get a AAA map & take a road called Conzelman). Old WWII bunkers & gun turrets along the way. DON’T MISS.
17. From Sausalito – late in the day
18. From Tiburon – late in the day (or take the Tiburon ferry from Pier 1)

By Boat
19. Alcatraz - late in the day or in late June/early July

My favorites - 16, 5, 11, 14

Stu Dudley

The view from Alcatraz is great. Walk from the gate at the bottom of the exercise yard around towards the city.Bring a jacket!

Golden Gate ferry leaving/approaching Ferry Buliding, at night. Those lit silhouttes of buildings at the Financial District adds to the breathtaking overall night view of the city from the Bay.

I'd take this at night to get home from work and it always help with relieving work-related stress.

I'd agree with most of the views that Stu has provided you.

If you are planning to do #3, top of the garage on Vallejo, just don't drive into that garage - hahaha, good joke, Stu! That garage is on the edge of Chinatown and is one of the worst SF garages I've ever parked in.

#16 is called the Marin Headlands. As you cross the GG Bridge, take the second exit (Alexander exit, first exit goes to the Viewpoint), curve under the freeway and head back to SF. The road then splits, the right will be labelled "Marin Headlands" or there is a large "Youth Hostel" sign also. Follow this road and as you reach the top of the hill, you will see a lot of cars parked there. Park also and follow the others on foot to the old battery encirclements and to that fabulous view. You can also follow the road (called Conzelman, I believe) and continue on to further lookouts, but the best is from that first dirt parking area.

A few others that Stu didn't mention:

The Veterans Hospital -it'll offer you a fab view also.

Combine the Vets Hospital along with a visit to the Fort Miley bumpy parking lot and the USS San Francisco Memorial. This is one of the best points to watch a sunset in SF.

Go along Crissy Field to Fort Point. Park at the furtherest end that you can go. Walk to the Fort Point Pier and along that shoreline. Offers a terrific view back towards SF.

If you feel like a small hike, take the stairs that's on the other side of the road from the pier and puff your way up to several viewpoints higher up.

As for food with a view, try the revolving restaurant up at the top of the Embarcadero Hyatt.

The Crown Room at the top of the Fairmont used to be one of my favorite food with view places, but I believe it's closed now except for banquet events. If it's open, there is an outside elevator that goes from streetlevel all the way up to the restaurant. Offers one-fo-a-kind views of SF. (BTW, one of the best views at the Crown Room was from the ladies' room )

Also try a drink (expensive) at the top of the Marriott on Fourth and Mission.

If you do go to Coit Tower, go inside. The murals are fantastic.

Have a great trip!

Anyone mention Carnelian Room or the Tamalpais Room? Restaurant on the 52nd floor of the B of A building.

555 California St
52nd Floor
San Francisco, CA 94104

You are all wonderful! Thank you so much. Now we just have to hope for good weather so we can actually SEE the view! Thanks so much.

Hi easytraveler, I use to sneak our male friends from Italy into the ladies room that was at the Crown Room at the Fairmont Hotel (after checking to make sure it was empty of course). One friend has so many beautiful slides of the view from there! His mother had a fit when he told her where the photos were taken from, LOL.

The top (outdoor) level of the parking garage on Vallejo in North Beach does have a great view also. We always use that garage for parking.

I don't have anything to add, everyone has done a fantastic job of mentioning wonderful views. Well there is one easy and beautiful view. It is from the plaza behind the Ferry Bldg. at the end of Market St. artlover. You can buy a drink or something to eat if you wish but no need to. You can just go there and enjoy the bay, the ferries arriving and departing, the pleasure boats in the bay etc. There are benches so you can just sit and relax. Have a beautiful time in SF!

Add a new one to your list Stu--the tower of the de Young. Two of my favorites the view from Corona Heights above the Castro and the view from Tank Hill (Cole Valley).

There are so many views of this beautiful city that it was hard to pick just one but the most profound in my mind is from the top of Mt. Tam around 10 AM when the fog begins to recede. The GG Bridge and the tips of the tall trees puncture the clouds and the City shines in the sun. The panorama is amazing, but that's me and I like the gnarly twists and bark of the manzanita too.

Bar in the Mark Hopkins Hotel

2 or 3 east bay views-the view from Alameda Island back towards SF is awe inspiring. The little park by Jack London Square by the container cranes is nifty too.
A little known one is the regional park along the Point Richmond Shoreline. You can see everything to the south and west. Stunning.

Another vote for Twin Peaks.

My son was complaining I was taking too long at ALL the places we visited because I was snapping pics of the great views. We even almost had a wreck because I wanted to pull of side of road (101) right before tunnel at Golden Gate Bridge.

Mandarin Oriental Hotel
222 Sansome Street

Go up to the 47th floor skybridge. The view is awesome.

loveitaly: Let's just keep that as a secret among us girls + friends

More good suggestions from the others: Corona Heights and the Mandarin Oriental Hotel among them!

Oh, got one more: the upper tier seats at SBC Ball Park!

Another--The view from Fort Funston, you can see down the San Mateo Coast and up the Marin headlands and when you throw in a few hang gliders, pretty spectacular. Let's face it, we San Franciscans live in a pretty "viewtacular" place. Heck the view from the top of my house looking north over GGP to the Marin Headlands with the Bridge towers peeking up through the greenery of the Presidio ain't too bad either.

Hey, maybe we should do an inproto Fodors GT when we're in town. I feel like I know so many of you already (plus we can talk about Italy...ahhh...)

So if anyone's up for this during the week of Nov. 4-11...let's do it!

And if not, thanks again for all the great info.