There are famous bridges—and then there’s the Golden Gate. Painted in its signature International Orange, connecting San Francisco and Marin County, it’s not just one of the most photographed bridges in the world—it’s one of the most photographed places, period.
On this PhotowalksTV adventure, I explored the bridge from every angle: on foot, by boat, and even from the sky. Here’s how you can do it too.
Stop 1: The Golden Gate Bridge Welcome Center
Start your day at the Golden Gate Bridge Welcome Center, the perfect launchpad for history, souvenirs, and an up-close look at the bridge’s art-deco design.
Pick up coffee or a snack at the next-door Roundhouse Cafe, an architectural marvel in itself. Spoiler alert: we’ll be back here again, so stay tuned.
Stop 2: Walk or Bike to Crissy Field
From the Welcome Center, follow the paved path down toward Crissy Field, a former Army airfield turned waterfront park. With wide beaches, picnicking lawns, and east-to-west views of the bridge, this is one of the best spots for wide shots that include the San Francisco skyline.
Tip: step out onto one of the fishing piers for a panoramic view that captures both the bridge and the city behind it.
Stop 3: Fort Point – The Underside Perspective
Continue along the bay to Fort Point, the 1861 brick fortress that once guarded the harbor. From beneath the bridge, you’ll see its massive steel underbelly rise into the fog—one of the most dramatic views in San Francisco. Film buffs will recognize the spot from Alfred Hitchcock’s Vertigo.
Take your time here: the echo of footsteps and the geometry of the arching cables make for striking compositions.
Stop 4: Round House Café and Bridge Walk
Climb back up to the Round House Café near the visitor center for a coffee and chat with locals. Manager Elias told me, “There’s no perfect time to see the bridge—the weather changes by the hour.” True words. Mornings often bring fog, but if you’re lucky, it burns off by midday.
From here, walk onto the bridge itself. Photographer Jake Ricker did this every day for six and a half years, documenting everything from weddings to whales. Even if you only go halfway, stop to touch the massive cables, look down at the water 220 feet below, and take in the 360-degree view of the bay, Alcatraz, and Angel Island.
Stop 5: Vista Point and Marin Headlands
If you’ve got the energy, walk all the way 1.7 miles across the bridge to Vista Point, the first lookout on the Marin side, for a classic head-on shot of the towers. On a clear day, the skyline gleams behind the bridge; on a foggy one, it feels like a ghost ship.
Most people drive here, but if you can do it, walk across the way for a hefty uphill 0.6 mile climb up the Battery Spencer Trail. Here you will get one of the all-time great views of San Francisco, looking down at the Bridge. Highly, highly recommended, and remember–you can drive up here or take an Uber. Higher still is Hawk Hill, famous for sunrise light cutting through the fog. Pack a jacket; it’s almost always windy.
Stop 6: See It From the Sky – Seaplane Adventures
One of the great, if very expensive, outings is a ride on a seaplane from Marin, over the Bridge. Look to spend $300 a ticket to ride with the Seaplane Adventures. They’ve been flying over the Golden Gate for more than 30 years—the last commercial seaplane operator in California.
Your pilot might even take you right over the bridge’s midspan for a perspective you’ll never forget. “There’s nothing safer than a seaplane over San Francisco,” Seaplane owner Aaron Singer told me. “The runway’s everywhere.”
Stop 7: See It From the Water
For the opposite angle, book any Bay Cruise from Fisherman’s Wharf or Sausalito—every route sails under the bridge. The play of sunlight through the red latticework is pure magic, especially near sunset. You can board a boat for as little as $25.
Combine it with a stop at Alcatraz Island or Angel Island for even more views.
- Plan your Photowalk:
Start: Golden Gate Bridge Welcome Center
Distance: ~2 miles round-trip (more if hiking Headlands)
Time: 3–5 hours, or a full day with the seaplane or cruise add-ons
Bring: Layers, tripod, ultrawide lens or iPhone, and curiosity
Top 10 Photo Spots for the Golden Gate Bridge
- From a boat beneath the bridge
- Crissy Field beach and lawns
- Fort Point, directly under the south tower
- South Vista Point (by the visitor center)
- Walking on the bridge itself
- Baker Beach, for the classic beach-to-bridge shot
- Lands End, across the city for a distant panorama
- North Vista Point, on the Marin side
- Battery Spencer, the iconic postcard angle
- Hawk Hill, for that fog-breaking sunrise glow
