Golden Gate Bridge

The Golden Gate Bridge sweeps in burnt-orange steel across the strait where San Francisco Bay meets the Pacific, one of the most beautiful and recognisable bridges in the world. Nearly three kilometres long, often half-wrapped in the city's famous fog, it can be walked, cycled or driven, and admired from viewpoints on both shores.

What you'll find

• Walking the bridge - the pedestrian walk across with the bay and ocean below.
• Battery Spencer and the Marin side - the classic elevated views of the span and city.
• Fort Point - the view up at the bridge from beneath the southern end.
• The fog - the sea fog that rolls through and around the towers.

When to go

Autumn for the clearest skies, since summer often brings the famous fog that can hide the towers. Mornings are often clearer than fog-prone afternoons. It is beautiful year-round in any weather.

Things to know

The fog that makes it atmospheric can also hide it entirely, so a clear view is not guaranteed, especially in summer. The walkway is windy and cold even on warm days, so bring a layer. The best photos are from the Marin headlands, a short drive across.

Nearby

The Presidio, Fisherman's Wharf and Alcatraz are in San Francisco; the Marin headlands and Sausalito lie across the bridge.

Key facts