Grab your camera and head to the Port for the city’s most gorgeous views. There’s no shortage of wide-open vistas and photogenic landscapes on the waterfront, and these locations are picture perfect backdrops for your next impromptu selfie, professional portraits or special occasions.
Cupid’s Span
This iconic art sculpture is a popular spot for picnics, people watching and taking selfies on the waterfront. The bow and arrow provide an ornate backdrop to the Bay Bridge and the water or the Downtown San Francisco skyline, depending on where you’re standing.
Pier 7
Pier 7’s charm comes from its wooden pier and patina-covered railings leading towards one of the best views of the Bay. A popular place for fishing, the pier is a great location for photography and portraits.
Ferry Building “Great Nave”
The Ferry Building serves tons of local and artisan foods and gifts, but the real treasure is its historically renovated second floor. The “Great Nave” is a beautiful combination of restored mosaics, arched beams and windows, and bright skylights illuminating the marketplace below.
Onboard a ferry
The waterfront is an unmatched backdrop, and the ferry is an ideal way to experience it. Climb aboard a local ferry and view the city and the bay from the outdoor deck. Between the skyline, bridges and natural beauty of the bay, any photo from the ferry deck is an instance memory.
On the water
Some areas of the waterfront are best accessed from the water. Kayaks, water bikes and paddle boards can maneuver into areas like Islais Creek or around Pier 70 to see these waterfront areas up close.
Crane Cove Park
The Port’s newest park is full of quintessential waterfront views. The park’s industrial design is inspired by its maritime and shipbuilding heritage, evident by the crane towers and historic Pier 70 nearby.
Sea Lions at K-Dock
There’s no bigger celebrity on the waterfront than our beloved sea lions. Those playful pinnipeds are always hanging out at Pier 39’s K-Dock, and they’re not bashful about putting on a show and talking back!