San Francisco's Best Beaches

Some of Northern California's most beautiful and popular beaches are located within the city limits of San Francisco. While the cool waters and cool temperatures discourage swimmers, San Francisco's beaches are still ideal for picnicking, beach volleyball, sunset watching, exploring, photography, kite flying, surfing (with a wetsuit) and other beach activities. The best time to visit San Francisco's beaches is during the cooler months of the year. While the rest of Northern California is donning sweaters and jackets in response to the cooler weather, San Francisco seems relatively warm since their moderate temperatures remain constant year round.

Ocean Beach

At five miles long, Ocean Beach is San Francisco's largest beach. Beginning at the Cliff House at the north end of the beach as stretching all the way to Fort Funston at the southern end, Ocean beach runs along the entire west side of San Francisco. Ocean Beach is popular for picnicking, sand castle building, and beach volleyball. The slight slope makes Ocean Beach a great place for wading. When the surf is up, surfers can also be seen along Ocean Beach.

Baker's Beach

Baker's Beach is located in the Presidio, just west of the Golden Gate Bridge and is one of San Francisco's most scenic beaches. Bring along a camera for shots of the Golden Gate Bridge and the Marin Headlands. Baker's Beach is a local favorite for sunbathing, picnicing, and sunset viewing. Note: the far north end of the beach is a popular nudist sunbathing area, so families tend to stay on the central and southern expanses of the beach.

China Beach

China Beach is named for the Chinese fishermen who used to camp there during the Gold Rush era. Located on Seacliff and 28^th Avenue, China Beach is a small, isolated beach. The presence of lifeguards in the summer makes China Beach the safest beach for swimming and its sheltered location make it an ideal location for sunbathing.

San Francisco East Beach (Crissy Field Beach)

Located on the northern edge of San Francisco on Crissy Field in the Presidio, San Francisco East Beach is the only beach on in San Francisco on the Bay. Views of the San Francisco skyline, the Golden Gate Bridge, teh San Francisco Bay, Angel Island, Alcatraz Island, and Sausalito make San Francisco East Beach one of the city's most scenic beaches. A walking trail along the edge of the beach is another popular alternative for beachgoers.