I couldn’t spend time in my favourite city without snapping a few classic San Francisco images. My favourite is still a few years old, shot on our last visit:
The Golden Gate Bridge as seen from Marin County, looking across to the city of San Francisco.
More classic San Francisco Images:
Sitting in the middle of the bay, Alcatraz gave it’s prisoners a view of freedom out its windows. Now it is a National Recreation Area. It was once “home” to Al Capone and George “Machine-Gun” Kelly.
This Dragon Gate welcomes tourists to Chinatown along Grant Ave (at the intersection with Bush Street.) Locals tend to do everyday shopping one block to the west on Stockton Street.
Another of the classic San Francisco images: visitors (in this case, us) with an Irish Coffee from the Buena Vista Cafe
Hands down, my favourite place in San Francisco is the Palace of Fine Arts
The Cannery is now a mall with several eateries. It was originally built in 1907 (after the big earthquake) by Del Monte as the world’s largest fruit-canning plant.
Two classic San Francisco images: The Transamerica Pyramid Building (white) is the tallest building in San Francisco. The green building in the foreground is the Sentinel Building, home to American Zoetrope – the film studio founded by Francis Ford Coppola and George Lucas.
Angelic or creepy? These 12-foot faceless, hollow statues are on the 23 floor in the city’s financial district. There are 12 of them in total.
More classic than these lanterns seen in Chinatown is the drama surrounding my taking of the photo. Ignoring everything else in the alleyway including my friend’s encouragement to move on, I stopped to take a photo. As it turns out, just outside my photo to the right was a drug deal in action.
The San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge crosses the San Francisco Bay. A section of this bridge collapsed during the earthquake of 1989.
Coit Tower on Telegraph Hill is named for Lillie Hitchcock Coit. She left a substantial bequest “for the purpose of adding to the beauty of the city I have always loved.”
The world-famous San Francisco Fisherman’s Wharf is still popular with tourists and locals. It’s also home Boudin’s Sour Dough bread, a personal favourite of mine despite the sourdough mishap we had this past visit.
I think it is the cable car that comes to mind first when people think of classic San Francisco images. I was thrilled to find unlimited cable car rides on my San Francisco CityPASS.
I know we missed a few, like Lombard Street and the Painted Ladies. But overall, I think we got a good collection of the classics. We got around San Francisco on public transportation that was included on our San Francisco CityPASS.
Less classic, and more of a secret: We stayed at the Sir Francis Drake, a Kimpton property with a secret prohibition room. If you want to stay in the perfect spot, check for deals and low prices at booking.com.
For me, any visit to San Francisco will always be an around the world travel highlight.
Did I capture your favourite classic San Francisco images?
If you enjoyed these images, please share on social media, including Pinterest:
Here's the secret to packing light:
Download our free packing light checklist when you sign up for our newsletter.
Billy says
Have you seen the murals of the Mission District? If not, check them out on your next SF visit. Off the standard beaten tourist path, but they are amazing! Nearby Dolores Park and Mission Dolores are also fantastic.
Rhonda Albom says
I used to live in San Francisco, so most of what we do isn’t touristy. I will add this to my mental list for my next visit.
Villroses hage says
Oh yes 🙂 Went there and took these pictures back in 1979!
Rhonda Albom says
Yes, classic pictures. Some things really don’t change much.
TheChieftess says
San Francisco is a beautiful city!! You captured snippets of it well! Love your Golden Gate Bridge photos!
Rhonda Albom says
I took the photo of the Golden Gate Bridge on the side across from the city.
Martha Z says
Great views of San Francisco, brought back many memories.
Rhonda Albom says
Thanks Martha. It brought back memories for me too.
Trekking with Becky says
Great shots! 😀 I love seeing the classic shots (that I know) as well as the others. 😀
Rhonda Albom says
There is no shortage of photo opportunities in San Francisco. Although I didn’t get to take a shot of my sourdough rolling down the hill. I was in shock and disbelief.
indah nuria says
classic but beautiful, Rhonda..I can’t never get bored with it 🙂
Rhonda Albom says
Thanks. There is so much to see in San Francisco.
Merlinda Little ( @pixiedusk) says
Lovely photos and the Architecture ones are my favorites!
Rhonda Albom says
Thanks Merlinda.
Jay @CraftySpices says
Definitely The Golden Gate Bridge image is one of San Francisco must have shots. Not to say you did get some really nice pictures all together.
We have never been to San Francisco but it’s a place that I would like to visit one day.
Thanks for sharing !
Rhonda Albom says
I agree, that’s why I added the older shot.
Kathe W. says
one of my favorite places- we’ll be there in August!
Rhonda Albom says
Have fun, and remember a jacket. The fog rolls in on August afternoons.
Deb Nance at Readerbuzz says
You did great! Hope you stopped by City Lights Bookstore, though.
http://readerbuzz.blogspot.com/2016/07/reflechi-et-reveur-at-roman-ruins-in.html
Rhonda Albom says
Missed it this time.
Brooke of Passport Couture says
Your photos made me miss San Francisco! It must have been wonderful to photograph a city with so much color and vibrant designs. I always have a special place in my heart for this city.
Rhonda Albom says
It’s a wonderful city for just about everything. I miss living there.
Sharon says
One of my favorite cities! You’ve captured it well! My last visit, we rented bikes and rode across the Golden Gate Bridge. Such a fun adventure! Thank you for taking me on a photo journey to lovely San Fran!
Rhonda Albom says
Bikes across the bridge, I haven’t done that since I was single. Quite a long time ago.
Stacy Uncorked says
Awesome shots, Rhonda! Brought back so many memories of my visits there – it’s been waaaaay too long since we’ve been there, might have to talk the hubby into revisiting all our favorite spots! 🙂
Rhonda Albom says
That was how I felt, way too long. Yet for us it was only a few years.
Buckeroomama says
We were just there a few weeks ago and looking through your pictures brings back memories. 🙂
Rhonda Albom says
Good memories, I hope.
Parent Club says
San Francisco is on my bucket list
Rhonda Albom says
I hope it moves to the top quickly.
Kristin Aquariann says
Awesome photos! I hope I get to visit San Francisco again some day with a digital camera – the last time I was there I was still using film.
Rhonda Albom says
LOL – was that a really long time ago, or did you hang on to your favorite technology?
Teresa Kindred says
You make such great pictures! Wish I had your talent!
Teresa
Rhonda Albom says
Thanks Teresa 🙂
Karren Haller says
Beautiful shots, I had the opportunity to vacation in San Francisco and had a wonderful time including Lombardie Street, that was when it was still open to drive down. Have a great week! And stop by and share if you would like.
Rhonda Albom says
Without a car, climbing the hill to photo Lombard Street just felt like too much.
stevebethere says
Brilliant shots Rhonda and I agree with Alex 🙂
That Green Sentinal building is amazing, whenever I see photos of San Francisco it always reminds me of that series “Tales Of The City” from the 80’s
Have a santastic day and I like that photo of you both too …cheers 🙂
Rhonda Albom says
{Blushing} Thanks
Terri Vanech says
great shots!
Rhonda Albom says
Thanks Terri
image-in-ing: weekly photo linky says
Great shots of some San Francisco icons!
Rhonda Albom says
There are so many icons in SF.
Amila @Leisure and Me says
Beautiful views from San Francisco.The bridge is really wonderful!
Rhonda Albom says
It is a beautiful city 🙂
Patrick Weseman says
Very shots of the place I was born in and the place I work in.
Rhonda Albom says
Thanks Patrick.
Carola Bartz says
Wonderful images of this beautiful city. Crossing the Golden Gate Bridge still gives me goosebumps every time – after 15 years! My favorite image is the one of the Chinese lanterns. The red really pops.
Rhonda Albom says
That’s what I was trying to explain to my friends who were trying to pull me away, the lanterns were a shot to be taken.
L. Diane Wolfe says
You captured it beautifully. That Sentinel Building has so much personality.
Rhonda Albom says
Such a cool building, with the added fun of wondering what is going on inside.
Tanja (the Red phone box travels) says
great photos! they’re classic for a reason:)
Rhonda Albom says
Very true.
Comedy Plus says
I love any shot of the Golden Gate Bridge. It’s a beautiful sight from the land and especially on the water. Been under it in our boat several times.
Have a fabulous day Rhonda. 🙂
Rhonda Albom says
I have been directly under it in a boat, but never crossed completely. Our insurance only covered us to the center.
Janie Junebug says
My favorite place in San Francisco is City Lights Bookstore, but I also love the Museum of Modern Art.
Love,
Janie
Rhonda Albom says
Two that I missed. MOMA only just reopened after three years being closed, so I just imagined the queue to be too long.
Alex J. Cavanaugh says
Awesome shots! You need to make your own book on traveling through San Francisco.
Rhonda Albom says
Wow Alex, thanks. I am blushing.