San Francisco's Popular Landmark Has A Scenic Observation Deck With Panoramic Views

Reaching up to the sky like an elegant Italian bell tower, Coit Tower has been standing watch over San Francisco since 1933 and is almost as familiar a part of the skyline as the Golden Gate Bridge. The iconic tower, which sits atop Telegraph Hill in Pioneer Park in the northeast of the city, is named after Lillie Hitchcock Coit, a wealthy socialite and patron of the arts. When Lillie died, she left a large part of her fortune to the city where she was a well-known and much loved local figure.

Built on the site of a former signal station, the 210-foot-high Art Deco style Coit Tower, designed by architects Henry Howard and Arthur Brown Jr., rises out from the trees and landscaped slopes of the surrounding park. If you look out from the observation deck at the top of the tower, you'll be rewarded with some of the best 360° views of the city, taking in both the Golden Gate and Bay bridges, the wider Bay Area, and the sometimes fog-obscured skyline. (Make sure you check out this under-the-radar San Francisco viewpoint as well.)  As magnificent as the view is from the top, there's another reason to visit Coit Tower which is just as visually stunning.

In 1934, a series of murals were painted on the circular interior walls, representing life in California during the Great Depression. Funded through the Public Works of Art Project, artists were commissioned to depict city living and industrial scenes, leaving behind a lasting portrait of the difficult times endured during that period. The artworks (as well as the building's historical significance) led to it being added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2008.

Walking is without doubt the best way to reach Coit Tower if you want to make the most of the views on the way up and you're prepared for a bit of a climb. Accessed from both sides, it's either a short 15-minute walk from North Beach, which brings you through the narrow streets and terraced gardens of the Telegraph Hill neighborhood to arrive by the Greenwich Street steps. Or, if you're heading up from the Embarcadero, pass by the landscaped courtyard of Levi's Plaza before climbing through the fragrant garden-lined paths of the Filbert Steps to the west. This is also one of the best places in the city to see, and hear, the iconic wild cherry-headed conure parrots as they flit through the trees. Either way, stopping to catch glimpses of the Bay on the way up makes the effort well worthwhile.

If you're driving, there's a small carpark at the top, accessed by Telegraph Hill Boulevard, but spaces are limited, so plan the time of your visit wisely. Otherwise, if you want to save your legs for the climb to the top of the tower, make the most of San Francisco's transportation system and take the 39-Coit bus from Pier 39 and North Beach, which stops near the top of the hill.

Coit Tower is open daily from 10 a.m. until either 5 p.m. or 6 p.m., depending on time of year. Taking the old, and somewhat unpredictable, elevator costs $11, with discounted rates for kids, seniors, and California residents. The original elevator is pretty small, making access difficult for those with reduced mobility. If you're feeling fit, you can take the 13 flights of stairs up to the observation deck.

To just stop by and see the murals, there's no entry fee, but to delve further into the history of the artwork, San Francisco City Guides run regular walking tours of Coit Tower. At the time of writing, these run at 10 a.m. on Wednesdays and Saturdays. The tours need to be reserved and, although free, a small donation is appreciated.

As a visit to Coit Tower won't take more than a couple of hours, locals recommend combining your visit with a self-guided walking tour through nearby neighborhoods. Chinatown is a must visit on your first trip to San Francisco and is only a short walk away. Redditor u/antiDote313 recommends, "We just spent an entire day in North Beach as tourists in our own city. Started with lunch at Tony's Pizza Napoletana, from there walked up to Coit Tower (not inside, just to enjoy the hike and views), walked back down to go to the shops on Grant, visited City Lights, got mochas at Cafe Trieste and finished with pastries at Stella's. It was fantastic, make a day of it!"