The best scenic lookout points in San Francisco

This spot offers the best view of San Francisco from across the water (and, yes, it’s better than the vista point where all the tour buses convene). At an elevation of more than 460 feet in the Marin Headlands, you’re practically up against the north tower of the Golden Gate Bridge, and you’ll find a picture-perfect view of the city, framed by the bridge’s suspension ropes. Take in Tiburon and Angel Island to the east, and prehistoric cliffs and the open ocean to the west. Look out for the rust-colored rock face by the parking lot—this is radiolarian chert, made up of single-celled sea creatures compressed into rock under the ocean over millions of years.

This half-mile stretch of beach at the western edge of the Presidio boasts an impressive view of the Golden Gate Bridge. The best time to visit is just before sunset, when the bridge is lit up in brilliant colors by the setting sun (it’s not for nothing that scores of holiday cards leaving the city have this shot as their backdrop). Walk up to the northern end and perch yourself on the large outcrops of serpentine, California’s state rock—just don’t disturb the nudist sunbathers in this corner, who are out and about even in the winter.

For another striking view of the Golden Gate Bridge—this time, of its other side—head to Crissy Field in the afternoon. That’s when the sun lights up the eastern span of the bridge and makes the Bay shimmer. Work your way west along the beach, where kiteboarders cut through the waves, floating inches above the water’s surface. (It can get windy, so come prepared.) Head to the Warming Hut’s café to escape the wind and grab a hot drink, or pick up an iconic print for your wall in the gift shop.

Pier 7 stretches 600 feet out into the Bay, and from here you can take in the entire western span of the Bay Bridge and the Ferry Building all at once. Look back towards the shore and the Transamerica Tower rises dead center at the end of the pier, flanked on both sides by old-school street lights—a superb photo opportunity. The pier exudes an old-world charm, with its wooden boards and romantic benches; if the San Francisco Belle’s docked nearby, the effect is complete. Time your visit in the late morning, for optimum lighting of the bridge and the bay. Once the Bay Lights come back on in 2016, this will be an excellent vantage point from which to contemplate the mesmerizing light installation.

The best place to stroll to after that Sunday brunch at Nopa down the street. Sit on the grass or the low stone walls of the park, and take in a view of the most famous row of Painted Ladies, against a backdrop of the downtown skyline. At sunset, the panorama is bathed in a rose-tinted evening light.

The top of Telegraph Hill is the best spot for an all-encompassing view of the city. Even from the base of the tower, you can see the full, magnificent spans of both the Golden Gate and Bay Bridges. For a full 360-degree view (without the Monterey pines and cypresses in the way), take an elevator to the top of the tower for just $7.

You don’t have to go all the way to Big Sur to catch the stunning landscape of the Central Coast. Land’s End offers all the drama of windswept cypresses and cliff faces descending into the crashing ocean surf below, all within city limits. Start at Land’s End Lookout and follow the Coastal Trail. Look out over the ruins of the 19th century Sutro Baths and spot shipwrecks emerging from the waves at low tide—and try to visit before sunset, so that you can walk the trail in daylight. Return to the parking lot, settle on a bench facing the ocean and watch the sun sink beyond the horizon.

On a clear day, the view from either of the Twin Peaks is pretty much unbeatable. From this spot at the geographic center of the city, you can see all the way to Mount Diablo in the east, the Santa Cruz Mountains to the south, the Farallon Islands to the west and the Marin Headlands to the north. On a clear night, the impression is of looking down at the city’s grid of twinkling lights from an airplane (the elevation of some 900 feet explains it). Follow the line of Market Street up to the Ferry Building to get your bearings.

Another great spot for post-brunch meanderings (and an obligatory lie-down in the grass), Dolores Park offers expansive vistas of the city’s skyline framed by palm trees. And, bonus: Ice-cream and chocolate truffles might find their way to you while you take in the views.

If you want a lookout point, but would like to stay comfortably ensconced indoors, check out the de Young Museum’s Hamon Observation Tower. Entry is free, and a walk around the observation floor will give you views of surrounding Golden Gate Park, downtown San Francisco, the Bay and even the Marin Headlands. The advantage of being relatively close to the buildings–but still high—is that you can appreciate some of the city’s best architecture, like the Grace Cathedral on Nob Hill, in a broader context.