$8 admission to see a spectacular one of a kind San Francisco view... I'm in! Plus, an adorable I heart SF stamp to boot, extra bonus! You ride up in a tiny elevator that slowly creeps to the top. Once you're up there you climb a couple more windy stairs and bam, 360 views of all of SF. I love the windows that have the glass panels open so you can lean out and feel the cool ocean breeze. Just don't lean out too far with your phone.... I foresee some tragic things happening then! The employees there are so nice too! Happy to chat with you about the history of the place, or even small talk with you. Beautifully maintained building too. Looked brand new. I recommend a walk up here as well as the trip to the top. read more

Coit tower has a great view of the city, as well as East Bay. I recommend walking here or not going on a weekend to avoid the crowd. When I lived in North Beach I always parked my car here. It's free parking and you can leave your car all day and even overnight. Watch out for street cleaning. I have never actually paid to go in the tower I've only walked around it. Maybe because at the time my house was 3 blocks away with almost the same view. Overall Coit Tower is worth checking out. Even if you don't pay to go in the tower the view it self is worth the visit. read more

It's a big phallic symbol "erected" in honor of firemen. That's hot. Take the elevator up and check the acoustics when you get out ( I think it costs 5$?) at the bottom of the stairway. It is absolutely the best place to hear yourself sing. I was alone so I felt no inhibition when I busted out a few bars of "I still haven't found what I'm looking for," followed by the chorus of Stevie Wonder's "Isn't she lovely." It's pretty gratifying visually once you get into the top of the tower - through the plethora of windows which are equidistantly spaced along the perimeter of the tower, one can really see and feel the lay of the land below - the undulating flesh of the city spreads out like the flesh and bones of a wild beautiful beast, one whose physical allure overpowers the viewer and renders all other beasts inconsequential. read more

If you like climbing and walking stairs... yup! This place is absolutely perfect for you to burn some fat and sweat like a crazy. I probably lost 5 pounds after this climb. So, I started from the very, very bottom. By the piers and started to climb from there... dude, it's like death! Not in great shape, so had to sit around for a bit and climb again. All worth it at the end! Beautiful landscape of the whole of SF! Compare to twin peaks, which is much more of a whole view. But... Coit Tower... a 360 degree view from all angles! So, it's not extremely high, but high enough to see some roof tops of buildings. LOL! To get to the very top... you'll have to buy tickets from the gift shop. It's about $7 for adults. My opinion... errr... I would rather go to twin peaks. But, a very good experience. **OVERALL: A good work out, a good climb, a good view... 4 stars! read more

Sometimes it takes the eyes of a tourist to help you appreciate the beauty of where you live. You live your life day to day, never stopping to see the world around you. But then when you do, everything changes and you appreciate everything you have. I had never been to Coit Tower until today. Everyone left the office early to start the 4th of July weekend and instead of returning home to the East Bay, I decided to get a pastry from Golden Gate Bakery http://www.yelp.com/biz/golden-gate-bakery-san-francisco#hrid:6cHAaMNposCaLZ-5IyNqGA and walk up to Telegraph Hill because it was the first warm, clear, beautiful day I'd seen in about 2 weeks (June gloom and all that). I didn't go up to the observation deck. I'll save that experience for a time when I'm with friends or family. But I did walk around the base of the tower and it was still breathtaking. You can see the transamerica pyramid, the clouds rolling in engulfing the golden gate bridge, and all the the East Bay: how insignificant it looks from this distance. I ate my delicious egg tart and read a book in the shade of the tower I once scoffed at, thinking it was nothing more than a 210 foot phallic symbol and a terrible tourist trap. There may be tourists, but I got a chance to practice my french, take lots of photos on other peoples' cameras, and appreciate the beautiful area where I live. Only tourists have this sort of appreciation of a place... and it really is a treat to see through their eyes. I saw the parrots. I smelled the sea breeze wafting through the trees on the gentle wind. I gained a greater appreciation for the lovely city of San Francisco. I just wish I had a camera with me while I was up there... and that I hadn't been wearing work clothes. Note to self: Walking up Filbert (from Columbus) in high heels to where it bends with Kearny was a VERY BAD idea... Note number 2: Trying to walk down the filbert steps to Embarcadero in heels is an even WORSE idea. Next time I'll bring sneakers. read more

Not 4.5 stars. No way. Telegraph hill is a nice walk, true, but you will be paying $5 to wait for an elevator, and once at the top there will be hazy, small windows preventing you from soaking up the view. San Francisco has some of the most beautiful city views ever, and this is NOT one of them. Here are 3 better views, and they are FREE! Twin Peaks Corona Heights Marin Headlands read more

My date (now husband) brought me here on our first date and we talked for hours seated inside his car while the unpredictable SF weather was drizzling outside. Later, we had our vows read up there for our friends who were unable to attend our marriage ceremony. This is still one of those places everyone brings their out of town guests to view the spectacular San Francisco skyline -- if you can get a parking spot as you wrangle with the myriad of tourists who flock here in humongous tour buses. read more

it's been a long time since i've been here. it was free access when i went, not surpried there were lines. besides the great view of the city, one has to be weary of the other people there. they may not all have benevolent intents. read more

Step 1. Find time of sunset: http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/astronomy.html?n=224 Step 2. Pick up your sweetie and arrive at Coit Tower ~20 before sunset Step 3. Enjoy the views, go to the top of the tower, hold hands, and make out read more

First of all, the views from Coit Tower are very beautiful. But good views are easy to come by in a beautiful city like San Francisco, so it's not crazy impressive. Since this city has so many large hills, you could just go to the top of any one of them and be amazed for free, really. I guess what's special about Coit Tower is that you get a 360 view of the entire city plus the bay, from the Golden Gate and back around to the Bay Bridge. Yeah, it's pretty. But for $7? No. For $3, yes. But 7 is just asking too much. There's only so much you can do up there. You basically go around in a circle and take pictures from the different angles, then you are ready to head back down the elevator. Come to think of it, from the bottom of the tower you can already get an awesome view of the bay from any of the lookout points. You don't really need to go up. Well, I'm a tourist, so of course I went up. But I've come here today to tell you that it is really not necessary. Oh yeah, and we are lazy, so we drove all the way up. There are about ten to fifteen stalls I believe. & like I said earlier, there's not much to do there, so stalls open up fairly quick. We saw other people trekking up the stairs, and I applaud them. It looked like a pretty good workout. But I was on vacation, so exercising is out of the question! :) All in all, if you're on vacation and have to choose between Coit Tower and another tourist location, do your research first! If you happen to be nearby, then definitely roll on through, at least once. Oh! I almost forgot. The windows are a little high, so kids really wouldn't benefit from a trip up. Unless you are willing to hold them up to the window the entire time. But I really don't see how it would even be worth paying for them to go up. read more

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I was born and raised in the Bay Area, so the only time I went to Coit Tower was when friends/family were visiting from out of town. I've been missing so much. Locals and tourists take note! If it's a sunny day in San Francisco, cruise over to Coit Tower with a sandwich and watch the sunset in 360 panoramic glory. read more

This is a nice tourist destination, once you get to the top you can see San Fran from every angle. It is very cold up there. There are two downsides to visiting the tower. 1. They only have 1 elevator, and no stairs, therefore you have to wait a long time going up and coming down. It is not that bad on non touristy days. Just expect a 30 min wait going up on slow days. 2. They have closed off most of the windows, so you can only look through the glass. It is hard to get a good picture since you can't stick out your hand. They keep 2 windows open so people can stick their heads out. It would be awesome if they opened more windows. read more

When feeling incredibly guilty about having that double portion of gelato, a walk to Coit Tower is necessary. Very necessary. Lose the food-guilt, enjoy the view. Nice life philosophy. That said, I liek it for all of its Great Depression-era glory, and I really wonder what the City itself looked like in those days. I think it would've been a place of hope, confusion, and craziness all at once. Oh, and Columbus statue: Fuck you. read more

After consuming lots of calories from our very tasty lunch and gelato, we decided on some light exercise and head up towards Coit Tower. I had never been here and it was quite a walk up the hill. Doing in wedges was pretty precarious but somehow, I made it up. Coit Tower was built to honor Lillie Hitchcock Coit. It offers some scenic views and I wish we had our mini picnic here. We went inside to looked around and read about Lillie Hitchcock Coit and her love/support for the SF Firefighters when she was a child. I didn't go up to the top since I wasn't really in the mood to pay. But if I came with my out-of-town friends, I might pay. Maybe. read more

During a free day of hiking the Streets of San Francisco, I made it a point to point myself toward the Coit. I've seen this landmark plenty a time, but I've never actually gone to it. Let me just say this first---you can have one heck of a workout getting up to the tour. It's perched atop on of SF's many hills. So if you want your quads to burn, you'll be in heaven. The walk up was one of my favorite things about the Coit. Once I made it to the top, I circled the tower. It was just closing as I arrived, and it looked like they were prepping for an evening event. There are some amazing views of the bay from here. You can see the Golden Gate, Marin, Alcatraz, East Bay, and the like. If you're a photog, it's definitely drool-inducing. I can only imagine how much better the views are from the top of the tower. Come here for the views, but savor the hike up---don't drive! read more

Drive up or hike up the stairs. I've only drove up before and never had issues with parking. Nice view of the bay bridge especially during night time. Although there are lots of tree in the way. I actually never realized you would have to pay to go up lol. I just circled around coit tower and had a decent view...besides you can get a much better view else in the city. read more

There are definitely better options if you are looking for views of San Francisco and the overall experience isn't too memorable but if you're already in the area and there's not a huge wait, it's worth going up to check off the bucket list. Just be warned, there's extremely limited parking and a small charge to go up if you are not a student. read more

Coit Tower is one of the best places to view the city. Perched atop Telegraph hill, you can see both the Golden Gate Bridge and the (San Francisco-Oakland) Bay Bridge, the TransAmerica Pyramid, Alcatraz, the Marin Headlands, and the beehive of houses that is San Francisco. You can ride a bus to the top, or walk up the hills and steps. Be warned, it is quite a workout. As with San Francisco in general, avoid driving. Cars are often lined up for blocks waiting for the next available parking spot. Instead, walk up and smirk at the foolish drivers. read more

I almost forgot that I went here. On my first attempt at visiting Alcatraz, it was sold out for several days. So I look upwards and decide, "I'll just head to Coit." I had never been before and figured it was about time. From Pier 33, I walked toward Sansome St to the Filbert Steps. If you're going to visit Coit Tower, you should do it right. The Filbert Steps really aren't that strenuous, but definitely a nice way to get up to Telegraph Hill. The views from Telegraph Hill are pretty sweet. Also, at this point, San Francisco was still cooling down from a heat wave, so the breeze up there was a welcome feeling. Now for Coit Tower itself. I was a little disappointed. The space up there felt very small and all of the windows looking out into the city are covered in Plexiglass. I suppose that's a necessary safety measure. Still, for $5, you might as well go up the tower. It's probably worth doing once in your life. After that, just enjoy the view (and the breeze) from Telegraph Hill. read more

Oh Coit Tower...such a great spot to catch a good view of the bay. There are a lot of good things about this SF landmark: 1) It's a prime destination to watch the fireworks every July 4th, also for Fleet Week, and during other large SF events. 2) The view is great. 3) It's an amusing trek to reach, with tons of stairs. With such a hill, it's great exercise! And then there are a couple negatives... 1) $7 to go to the top of the tower. 2) The bushes are quite large in some spots, so it blocks your view. 3) The place can become REALLY packed during SF festivals, such as during the 4th of July fireworks. read more

We schlepped up here from the wharf area, and it was a great way to burn off 5 years worth of meals. Once you get up to the tower, you enter the cramped gift shop to get a $7(adult) ticket to ride the elevator up. The elevator is clearly original to the structure, and you'll definitely want to watch out for your kids if you bring some, as it is just a metal gate between you and the shaft of the elevator. The bathroom situation is minimal here, too, so make sure and take care of any of those needs before you head up. The view from the top is fantastic, provided it is a sunny day, but on a cloudy day, you cannot see forever. read more

This is a must see in San Fran. Breathtaking 360 view of the city and bay. Every angle was another view and it was amazing. Great hike up there. read more

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I was all prepared to write about how much I love it up here and how there is an awesome stair path though housing where people have set up this awesome garden (complete with a bench that has a parking meter) that my friend Ben and I found by chance this afternoon, but now after reading every ones reviews I see that people have already covered: a) how beautiful it is b) how the view is worth the hike c) how awesome it is to make out up there Now all I can think of is finding a boyfriend so I can go make out up there. Geesh... I don't care if all of it has been covered, I have been here numerous times and I am reviewing it damn-it! I need elite status STAT! read more

Good view of the city from all directions. After hours the Tower and tours maybe closed, but the road leading up to the tower lot is open at all hours and great if you want to drive up in the middle of the night. Be warned tho, because it's open, there maybe all manner of weirdos hanging out in the dead of night and may not be the safest place to get unescorted. Also for photographers, sadly not the best view of the Bay or the city because a lot of it is obscured by trees and brush at the parking lot level. You really need to go up the tower to get the full unobstructed views. read more

Cute. I let off my brother-in-law somewhere on some side street, since he seemed keen on hiking the steps on the way up here. I drove the elder folks up and let them off while I waited for a parking spot. After checking out the murals, they ventured up the elevator for a view of the city and the bay. Tons of friendly tourists everywhere, limited parking spots, but always a pleasant time. Bring layers. read more

Worth the walk (preferred method) or bus ride up to Coit Tower on a clear day. The admission for an elevator ride to the top is $7.00 for an adult, but the 360 degree view is probably pretty unparalleled. Shoot for off times to make your ascent because if crowded, you might have to throw some elbows to get a spot up against the windows. It would have been fun to walk to the top, but elevator was only option read more

I am a San Francisco native and this is one of my favorite places in the city. Sure, a lot of the time it is busy and packed with tourists. Sure, the price went up. Sure, parking is insane. But the views. The views. Coit Tower is a perfect location for a reflective moment for everything you love about San Francisco, whether you are a tourist or a native. The 360 degree views are stunning whether you know what it is your are looking at or not. I just love this place. Pros: -the views! -while you are waiting in line to get up the elevator, take a look at the murals and read about their history -generally I've had encounters with pleasant people while I am up there -a chance to view SF all at once - a great place to visit for adults and (patient) kids alike Cons: -PARKING. It is bad. How bad? Pretty bad. It is going to seem like you'll never make it, but you will. If you are really in the mood for some stairs you can take the Telegraph steps which will take you right to the top -Stairs. I don't personally mind taking a lot of stairs up narrow corridors, but there are those who HATE it. If you are one of those people you may not want to go up. Even though an elevator takes you most of the way, you still have to climb a bit TIPS: -Don't go on a foggy day if you can help it. You're views will not be nearly as good. -Bring a windbreaker. If you know anything about San Francisco it is that the weather can change in an instant- this location is no exception. -Send one person in to get the tickets and have everyone else get in line, especially if you have kids or a group of more than 2 people. You get tickets in the extremely cramped gift shop and it will make the wait shorter if the rest of your party gets in line. Enjoy the splendor of Coit Tower. read more

Although I've been to Coit Tower before, I've never actually been up the elevator. Five dollars strikes me as a bit much, but it's a lovely view. The only downside is the looooooong wait to get to the elevator. At least you can look at all the paintings and murals while you're in line. Some of the slaughterhouse pictures were not that appealing though. :/ The Chinese guy at the front of the line kept telling us to "keep moving, please, keep moving" but there was no where to go. That was irritating. read more

Great view of the bay, golden gate bridge and Alcatraz. Definitely worth $9.00 for the pictures I captured.

When you come to visit San Francisco and have seen all the sights and have time to kill - I recommend Coit Tower. Then you will enjoy it and its simplicity. If you have it as one of the first sights you see you may be underwhelmed. First go see the views from a ferry leaving SF or Marina Highlands or the tower at deYoung museum.. then, then you can come to Coit Tower and appreciate the art and the enclosed view it has. Also make sure it's during the week when its not as busy because if you have to wait for more than 10-15 mins for the elevator you are reeeeally not going to appreciate it. Site: 3/5 Service: 3/5 read more

A beautiful and historic landmark not to be missed for the visitor of San Francisco. Lots of great restaurants and shops in the surrounding neighborhood, as well. Take your kids to see it - day or evening it's a beautiful thing. read more

Tower looks nice, the view is meh, the wait is even more meh As much as ppl say you can see a lot from the tower, its probably better to go to those locations (GG Bridge, Lombard St, Embarcadero) and see them in person. Taking pics from up top in the tower really makes it feel like you're not really there. The glass used to shield the wind is also not the cleanest glass. The tower took 20 minutes of wait time each way because the elevator itself takes about 3 minutes and can only hold ~12 at a time. Without paying $5 to get to the top of the tower, you can already see magnificent views of the Bay Bridge at the bottom of the tower. The statue at the foot of the tower and the tower itself makes for good postcard photo pics. read more

Coming up here felt like reliving Twin Peaks in a more confined area. I did not go up to the top since the Yelpers recommend against it. Seeing the Tower up close made it look smaller, like a giant cigarette or thimble. The gift shop inside on the ground floor is ridiculously priced! Do not buy souvenirs there. A pack of Japanese gummy candy is $5 when it's really worth $2 or so. A keychain for $5?! Admission is $5 for adults (ages 18-64), $3 for seniors (ages 65+) and youth (12-17), and $1.50 for children (ages 5-11) to go up an ancient elevator. There's a line for tickets in the already cramped gift shop and also another longer line for the elevator to go up. There are no camera tripods, pets, smoking, food, drinks, nor touching-of-murals allowed! Parking is not too much of a hassle but at least it's free for 30 minutes. Make sure to check out the Greenwich Stairs and Filbert Steps afterward. read more

Nice view (but Twin Peaks is better)... Cool history and pretty when lit up at night. I saw it from the Oakland bridge as the sun set.. absolutely breath taking. Inside, you can walk around the base for free and look at the working people murals (farmers, rail workers, firefighters). There is a gift shop inside, but you have to pay to go up. You can drive or take a bus up.. I learned this after hiking 200 steps to get there. Lots of tourists driving thru to take pictures. read more

It's a really touristy spot but I still love coming up here for the views of The City, The Bay and the East Bay Hills. I always bring my out of town friends up here and they have a field day just taking pictures from all 360 degrees of the top of the hill. Also handy to know is that there is a free public restroom if nature calls while you're driving around North Beach since there are a few parking spots up here. If you're up for a walk up one steep hill and some stairs, its a good workout. But for the faint at heart, take the 39 Coit Tower bus up here or drive up here. But just remember that non-residents are only allowed to drive up the tower on weekdays. read more

Saturday, 1:00 PM. We had some friends visiting from abroad and Coit Tower was on their list. Quickie: + Organized + Customer service * Cleanliness And then...? The walk from the East, up the hill, was part of the fun. We took a quick tour of the premise, checked out the art mural. We were in line for 15 minutes before catching the elevator to the top of the tower. Coit Tower is cool but be sure to plan other activities before/after the visit. read more

Coit is cool, and I don't think I have much more to add based on touristic value. I do, however, feel the need to recount a few of the more unexpected elements of my adventure to the top of the hill today. 1) There are no less than 2 signs that indicate they will flash when the Coit parking lot is full. I saw no flashing. I experienced a pud-packed line of cars waiting to get into a full parking lot. What is up with that? 2) Once parked, I stepped onto the lot and narrowly missed a used condom with my left toe. Yo. Coit Tower, not Coitus Tower. 3) Each person in my group of 4 separately remarked to me about a young kid who looked like he had stepped from the pages of "American Street Death Gang" magazine who was walking around blubbering on about the gorgeous scenery in a Swedish accent. Since when did the Swedes stop schlepping pop music and start exporting the Optimistic Hoodlum? 4) I found what appeared to be 1/3 of an unsmoked joint sitting on one of the ledges. Not sure if it was paired with the used condom, but someone was having a hell of a better time than I was up there recently. Add these up, and I think it's time to get yourself to Coit Tower. Go by foot, but make your way directly to the pot-selling Swedish gang member in packed parking lot and see if you can get yourself a little of the good lovin' while you're there. read more

This is definitely something to do at least once when you are in SF. On a clear day, the 360 degree views from Coit Tower can be quite amazing. You don't realize just how hill-like SF is until you see it from this high up! Great views of the Bay Bridge, high-rises, the piers and ships that are docked, and you can even see the famous section of Lombard Street. Not much space at all to park. There is a bus stop here however, and you can park on the neighborhood below the tower. Just make sure not to leave it there past the alloted time because they are strict about parking tickets. Murals cover the walls of the bottom level of Coit Tower. Various city and farm scenes from the early 20th century. Once you look at all the murals and buy your ticket, you take a elevator ride to the top, then climb up the steps to the viewing area. It is 360 degrees of view, however there are only small windows up there to look through. You usually have to wait, 1 person at a time, to look out each window. They seem to control the amount of people up there so it is never too crowded. I would say its a must-do, once. read more

Great view of the Golden Gate Bridge from the surrounding area of the Coit Tower, no need to actually pay the $7 bucks to go to the top to enjoy the view. Save your money, it's not worth it. Stroll the grounds and keep your eyes peeled for parrots. The parrots are rumored to hang out here in the morning hours. Take the Filbert Steps to get up here. Its more rewarding when you lounge about and enjoy your moment of peace after you've hiked up a billion stairs. If you're coming from the Embarcadero pack a snack from the Ferry building and enjoy it here. Perfect spot for an impromptu picnic. read more

I LOVE running up to Coit tower...getting there is hilly, getting back is hilly...you cant avoid getting your ass kicked on this run. But to look over the water from up there is well worth the effort. Everyone should make it up there at least once, especially in the early morning hours as the sun is just coming up. read more