10 Landmarks To Sightsee At Night In San Francisco
Why Go Sightseeing in San Francisco at Night?
Many individuals end up visiting San Francisco and sightseeing during the day time. For a different experience, sightseeing at night brings a unique and crowd-less experience with amazing night views. After acting as an informal San Francisco tour guide when friends visit throughout the year, I have gained an appreciation for sightseeing iconic SF landmarks after sunset.
- Amazing night views of San Francisco
- No crowds and easy parking
- Most places are open until midnight or have no closing time
- Bring a jacket and watch out for the fog
For one, there are fewer visitors at night, which leads to more accessible parking if you are driving. I can easily find parking right in front of each destination without having to circle to find a space. With San Francisco’s iconic rolling hills, the sparkling night views are simply amazing. Be aware, fog is frequent, and temperatures drop at night, so bring a jacket along. Here is an excellent list of landmarks we recommend to check out if you’re going to sightsee San Francisco at night.
List Of San Francisco Landmarks To Sightsee At Night
- Battery Spencer
- Palace of Fine Arts
- Lombard Street
- Painted Ladies
- Bay Lights
- Ferry Building
- Ghirardelli Square
- Twin Peaks
- 16th Ave. Tiled Steps
- Grandview Park
1. Battery Spencer
First on the list is Battery Spencer, which is on the other across the bay from San Francisco. It’s a popular spot to get views of the Golden Gate Bridge at night. If you are willing to brave a short 0.25-mile walk in the dark and cold, you will be rewarded with breathtaking night views of the glowing Golden Gate Bridge and the San Francisco skyline from a bird’s eye view.
As a result of being so high up, it can get extremely windy, so have that extra jacket ready. The fog can completely obstruct the view of the Golden Gate Bridge, so be sure to check the weather before making the trip there. A flashlight or a phone light is recommended as well since it is pitch dark up there at night. At last, when you are ready to go back to San Francisco, there is a bridge toll to pay, but leaving the city is free.
2. Palace of Fine Arts
The second spot on the list of landmarks to visit at night is the Palace of Fine Arts. This massive exhibit was constructed for the 1915 World Fair. Now moved the Marina District, it is home to different fairs, exhibits, and is quite a popular destination for wedding photographs. The night views of the lit-up structure over the reflecting pool are serene. The Palace of Fine Arts is located in a residential neighborhood, so there should be ample parking right next to this beautiful structure. There is no closing time, which makes this a great destination to see after the sun sets if you’re stretched on time. You are free to explore the monumental structure all you’d like 24/7.
3. Lombard Street
The third spot on the list is Lombard Street. This street is the self-proclaimed “crookedest street”, with eight hairpin turns within a one-block radius. It is the equivalent of a car doing switchbacks on a steep hiking trail. During the day, it is a nightmare trying to navigate to the area, much less finding parking on the multiple one-ways. Trying to drive down Lombard Street is time-consuming as there is usually a line of cars as traffic backs it up. After the sun sets, the people and cars disappear, and you are left with peace, quiet, and an amazing view at the top. Ample parking can usually be found on Levansworth street, perpendicular to Lombard during this time.
4. Painted Ladies
The Painted Ladies are commonly referred to as the “Full House” Houses. It’s the setting of the iconic picture of San Francisco, the one with the multi-colored Victorian houses in the foreground and downtown San Francisco in the background. The Painted Ladies are located across the street from Alamo Square Park. During the day it’s a popular picnic spot but at night, you can grab a picturesque views without the crowds. The park does close at midnight, though so be sure to keep that in mind.
5. Bay Lights
The Bay Lights is an LED art installation on The Bay Bridge. What originally was supposed to be a temporary art installation to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Bay Bridge, has now become a permanent fixture. There are 25,000 LED lights affixed to the bridge and the lights display varying animations. It’s a beautiful sight to see as you take a nice stroll down Embarcadero. There are multiple bars and restaurants along Embarcadero which likely will have views of the Bay Lights as the backdrop.
6. The Ferry Building
The best view of the Bay Lights would definitely be at the Ferry Building which in and of itself, is worth a stop. Some merchants do close at around 6 PM – 7 PM, but some restaurants and the building itself closes at 10 PM.
7. Ghirardelli Square
Ghirardelli Square is a landmark and a public plaza along the waterfront. It is home to many small shops and most notably the Ghiradelli Ice Cream and Chocolate Shop. Although most shops close by 9 PM, the Ghiradelli ice cream shop, however, closes at 11 PM. It is worth stopping into Ghiradelli to grab a free piece of chocolate and maybe even indulge in an ice cream sundae while warming yourself up with a cup of hot chocolate.
8. Twin Peaks
Twin Peaks is at the top of the list for night sightseeing in San Francisco. Home to many iconic car commercials, Twin Peaks gives a 360ยบ view of San Francisco. This remains a popular spot for visitors at night, even with locals, because of the great night views and easy parking. As an added bonus the parking spots are overlooking the city, so you don’t need to get out of the car. The views are obstructed when there is fog and the area technically closes at midnight.
9. Mosiac Steps
The Mosiac Steps is a popular spot that showcases one of the many long staircases of San Francisco. At night, the parking is ample, and the views at the top of a short walk are amazing with the neighborhood lights glistening on the horizon.
10. Grandview Park
For a relaxing spot to linger and chat with a hot beverage, Grandview Park provides a good overlook of the Sunset District, Golden Gate Park, and Golden Gate Bridge in the foreground. The night view provides an overview of the quieter side of San Francisco as the city lights up.
Getting Around by Uber and Lyft
All of the places on this list is easily accessed by Uber and Lyft. San Francisco is only 7 square miles, so visiting a combination of these places in one evening can be easily done and relatively cheaply.