Coit Tower is the white concrete column on top of Telegraph Hill, above North Beach. It was finished in 1933 with money left to the city by Lillie Hitchcock Coit, a wealthy patron of San Francisco’s firefighters. Inside the base are Depression-era murals, and an elevator goes up to an observation deck with views over the bay and both bridges.
In this guide
This guide is part of our San Francisco attractions hub. For more viewpoints, see the best views in San Francisco.
Coit Tower at a glance
- Hours 10am to 6pm April to October, 10am to 5pm November to March
- Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day
- Elevator, adult $11, or $8 for San Francisco residents
- Elevator, child 5 to 11 $3, or $2 for residents
- Ground floor murals Free
- Last tickets One hour before closing
The murals
The murals on the ground floor were painted in 1934 by artists working for the Public Works of Art Project, a forerunner of the WPA. They show life in California during the Depression, from farms and factories to city streets. Some of the content was considered radical at the time, and the tower stayed closed for months before the murals opened to the public that fall. You can see the ground floor murals for free. Docent tours of the full set of murals, including the second floor, cost extra and run for small groups.
The observation deck
Buy elevator tickets in the gift shop. The deck at the top has 360-degree views of the city, the Golden Gate Bridge, the Bay Bridge, Alcatraz and the hills of the East Bay. The elevator is close to 90 years old and sometimes breaks down. When it does, the only way up is 13 flights of stairs.
Getting there
Parking at the top of Telegraph Hill is very limited, and on busy days cars queue for a long time to reach the small lot. Muni’s 39 Coit bus runs between the tower and Fisherman’s Wharf. You can also walk up from Washington Square in North Beach, which takes about 15 minutes and is steep.
Walk up the Filbert Steps
The Filbert Street stairs climb the east side of Telegraph Hill from Sansome Street, near the Embarcadero, and pass the Grace Marchant Garden and small cottages along the way. The Greenwich Street stairs are another option. Listen for the wild parrots that live on the hill.
Combine it with North Beach
Coit Tower pairs well with lunch or dinner in North Beach, the old Italian neighborhood at the foot of the hill. Washington Square has a monument to the city’s volunteer firefighters, paid for from the same Coit bequest. See the San Francisco neighborhood guide for more on the area.
Is it worth it?
The view from the deck is one of the best in the city on a clear day, and the murals alone justify the walk up. If you only want a view and the line is long, the free terraces of Pioneer Park around the tower still look out over the bay.
Official resources: Coit Tower, San Francisco Recreation and Parks, Pioneer Park.
Frequently asked questions
Do you need tickets for Coit Tower?
Only for the elevator to the observation deck. The ground floor murals and Pioneer Park are free.
Was Coit Tower built to look like a fire hose nozzle?
No. The city’s parks department says that is a popular myth. The tower was designed by the firm of Arthur Brown Jr., who also designed City Hall.
How long should I plan for Coit Tower?
About an hour, more if you walk up the Filbert Steps or take a mural tour.
Photo credits
Featured image: Pavel Špindler / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0; Combine it with North Beach: InSapphoWeTrust from Los Angeles, California, USA / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0.