Bay Bridge and Waterfront Views

Stop on San Francisco Waterfront Tour, a free self-guided tour.

While the Golden Gate Bridge gets more attention, the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge is an equally impressive engineering feat and an integral part of the waterfront vista. Completed in 1936, it actually opened six months before the Golden Gate. The bridge has two sections - the western span with its distinctive suspension design visible from San Francisco, and the eastern span which was completely replaced after earthquake damage, with a striking new design featuring a single tower and white suspension cables. At night, artist Leo Villareal's Bay Lights installation illuminates the western span with 25,000 LED lights creating mesmerizing patterns (though the installation's future has been uncertain due to maintenance costs). Views of the bridge from the Embarcadero, particularly at dusk when the city lights begin to glow, are spectacular. The bridge serves as backdrop to the entire southern waterfront and connects San Francisco to Oakland and the East Bay. Standing on the waterfront and taking in the sweep from the Bay Bridge in the south to the Golden Gate Bridge in the north, with Alcatraz Island and Angel Island in between, provides the quintessential San Francisco panorama - a perfect conclusion to your waterfront tour showcasing why this city captivates millions of visitors.