10 Best Romantic Places In The San Francisco Bay Area, California

romantic places in the bay area
Tenissa
Tenissa 
Published
| 4 min read

San Francisco Bay Area is the place where you would want to be when it comes to having a romantic vacation in the USA. This region is also a popular destination that offers tourists endless opportunities to create unforgettable moments with the most important person in their lives. When you visit and explore the Bay, don’t forget to include Golden Gate Bridge, Legion of Honor, Muir Woods, Henry Cowell State Park, and Fisherman’s Wharf in your travel agenda. For the ultimate vacation, read this article to see our list of the 10 best romantic places in the San Francisco Bay Area, California.

1. Golden Gate Bridge

Golden Gate Bridge
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Cary Bass used under CC BY-SA 3.0

Connecting San Francisco Bay Area and Pacific Ocean, Golden Gate Bridge is the icon of San Francisco. While here, never miss a chance to take a picture with the famous attraction as a backdrop. Take a walk on the suspension bridge when the sun goes down, and it will be among the most beautiful walks you will have in your life. While holding each other’s hands, do not forget to also marvel at the magnificent scenery around.

Golden Gate Bridge

Address: Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, CA, United States

Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)

Price: Free

Visited this place?

2. Aquarium of the Bay

Aquarium of the Bay
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Clotee Pridgen Al... used under CC BY-SA 3.0

Enjoy a romantic moment with your beloved by interacting with underwater animals at Aquarium of the Bay. Set at the edge of Pier 39, the aquarium features more than 20,000 aquatic animals that can only be found near the shores of the Bay. In addition, you can also meet and observe species from the neighboring rivers. Some of the most popular inhabitants include garibaldi that will impress you with its bright orange skin.

Aquarium of the Bay

Address: PIER 39 The Embarcadero &, Beach St, San Francisco, CA 94133, United States

Website: Aquarium of the Bay

Opening hours: 11am - 6pm (daily)

Price: 24 USD

Visited this place?

3. Presidio of San Francisco

Chevy Bel Air in the Presidio of San Francisco
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Frank Schulenburg used under CC BY-SA 4.0

Nestled on the northern tip of the San Francisco Peninsula, Presidio of San Francisco is one of the prettiest parks in the city. This 1500-acre (607 hectares) park encourages you to take your partner on a romantic walk. You can also enjoy activities such as riding a bike and going on a picnic together. Be sure to check out the lush Crissy Field, a former U.S. Army airfield where you can marvel at Golden Gate Bridge. Other highlights of the park are Fort Point that was built in 1861 and Baker Beach, a place where you can unwind and breathe in the fresh air.

Presidio of San Francisco

Address: San Francisco, CA, United States

Website: Presidio of San Francisco

Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)

Visited this place?

4. Fisherman's Wharf

Fisherman's Wharf
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user King of Hearts used under CC BY-SA 4.0

Get lost in the middle of one of the most crowded areas in San Francisco, Fisherman’s Wharf. Here, you can make stops at many souvenir shops, restaurants, and cafes. You should also visit the museums that are located in the neighborhood. The most popular ones are Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Museum and Wax Museum at Fishermans Wharf. An interesting activity to do while you are here is joining a tour of historic ships. Also, watch out for a colony of sea lions coming out to bask in the afternoon sun.

Fisherman's Wharf

Address: San Francisco, CA, United States

Website: Fisherman’s Wharf

Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)

Visited this place?

5. AT&T Park

AT&T Park
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Kevin Hutchinson used under CC BY 2.0

If you and your other half are huge fans of baseball, another activity that you will enjoy in the Bay is watching a baseball game here. Be one with the crowd and absorb the cheerful atmosphere. See if your favorite team wins the game. The park, now called Oracle Park, is also a place that hosts exciting events such as concerts and races all year round. Before coming to the park, check out their website first for the upcoming events.

AT&T Park

Address: 24 Willie Mays Plaza, San Francisco, CA 94107, United States

Website: AT&T Park

Visited this place?

6. San Francisco – Oakland Bay Bridge

San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge- New and Old bridges
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Frank Schulenburg used under CC BY-SA 3.0

Other than Golden Gate Bridge, another famous bridge that you must visit is San Francisco – Oakland Bay Bridge. You can admire a group of bridges that span over San Francisco Bay such as a suspension bridge, a truss bridge, a self-anchored suspension bridge, a segmental bridge, and a cantilever bridge. It will take approximately two hours if you want to walk the long bridge.

San Francisco – Oakland Bay Bridge

Address: San Francisco – Oakland Bay Bridge, San Francisco, CA, United States

Website: San Francisco – Oakland Bay Bridge

Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)

Price: Free

Visited this place?

7. Alcatraz Island

Alcatraz Island viewed from the north
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user RL0919 used under CC BY-SA 4.0

From the 1930s to the 1960s, Alcatraz Island was famous for one thing—a federal prison. After 30 years, the prison was closed down and now serves as one of the island’s most popular tourist destinations in the USA. Gain insights into the history of American justice as you are exploring the military fort along with its prison cells. A ferry will take you to the island with a variety of tour packages to choose from: Alcatraz Day Tour, Alcatraz Night Tour, and Alcatraz Behind The Scenes Tour.

Alcatraz Island

Address: San Francisco, CA 94133, United States

Website: Alcatraz Island

Price: 40 USD

Visited this place?

8. Alhambra Creek

Ducks in Alhambra Creek
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Cheryl Reynolds, ... used under CC BY-SA 3.0

Situated adjacent to Lafayette, Alhambra Creek is the place to go if you wish to enjoy some time with your partner without having to deal with crowds. Plenty of outdoor activities can be done along the trail of Alhambra Creek including mountain biking, hiking, running, and horseback riding. Also, watch the birds and discover pretty flowers throughout the place. In the small river, you can see swans and ducks swimming.

Alhambra Creek

Address: San Francisco, CA, United States

Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)

Price: Free

Visited this place?

9. Baker Beach

Baker Beach
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Daniel Schwen used under CC BY-SA 4.0

A visit to the beach is a must for romantic couples. In the San Francisco Bay Area, Baker Beach is a public beach that is ideal for having a picnic and getting a nice tan. You are more than welcome to spread a blanket on the soft sand and indulge in delicious snacks that you bring with you. Aside from that, there is also another picnic area equipped with tables and barbecue grills. If you want to cook light fares while being surrounded by sea views, then a visit to this public beach sounds like a lovely idea.

Baker Beach

Address: San Francisco, CA, United States

Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)

Price: Free

Visited this place?

10. PIER 39

Shopping
Source: Unsplash

Complete your romantic vacation in the San Francisco Bay Area by going on a shopping spree. Search for your favorite items and feel how much fun you actually get from shopping together. The most popular shopping center is no other than PIER 39 which was built on a pier. After you are done checking out all the shops, satisfy your cravings in one of the available restaurants. Then continue with your other activities that can be enjoyed in the complex such as taking a virtual 3D ride, getting entertained by street performances, and playing games in a video arcade.

PIER 39

Address: The Embarcadero, San Francisco, CA 94133, United States

Website: PIER 39

Opening hours: 11am - 6pm (daily)

Price: Free

Visited this place?

Enjoy a romantic vacation in the Bay

During your vacation in the San Francisco Bay Area, explore as many places as possible. If you still have time, surprise your loved one with a trip to the abovementioned places for a more memorable experience.

Visited this place?
Any must-sees we missed? Tell us about them in the comments section or write a post here to help out fellow travelers!
Disclosure: Trip101 selects the listings in our articles independently. Some of the listings in this article contain affiliate links.

History


Get Trip101 in your inbox

Unsubscribe in one click. See our Privacy Policy for more information on how we use your data

Tenissa is a content writer, translator and editor. She enjoys being a globetrotter and has traveled to many countries around the world. So far, her favourite destination is Switzerland. She looks...Read more

 Want to contribute as a Local Expert?
Explore San Francisco
Looking for accommodation?
x
Good things are meant to be shared!
Back to top
Visited any of these places? Click this button to activate our "Add a Tip" feature to share your experience.