Coit Tower Observation Deck — tickets, height & honest verdict
Also searched as: coit tower san francisco observation deck
Can you go up today?
| Mon | 10am – 6pm |
|---|---|
| Tue | 10am – 6pm |
| Wed | 10am – 6pm |
| Thu | 10am – 6pm |
| Fri | 10am – 6pm |
| Sat | 10am – 6pm |
| Sun | 10am – 6pm |
Times are local to San Francisco. Holiday closures and private events can override this — the deck page's tips cover the ones we know about.
Worth it if…
Yes for the composition: hill plus tower puts you ~485 ft over the water with the postcard set — Golden Gate, Alcatraz, Bay Bridge — arranged around you. Ten dollars, a 1930s elevator, and the free WPA murals downstairs make it the city's honest 'deck' since downtown has none.
Pick another deck if…
You expect a modern deck — the viewing gallery is small, windows not floor-to-ceiling, and midday tour-bus waves pack the elevator. On a fogged-in day the ticket buys you the inside of a cloud; check the bay webcams first.
Book Coit Tower Observation Deck tickets
Buy direct from the official site, or book through Viator below — same-day cancellation policies and combo bundles are often only available there. Viator links earn this site a commission at no extra cost to you.
Tickets are sold on the official site.
Prices last checked 2026-08-11.
Best time to visit
Within two hours of sunset — Alcatraz and the bridges hold light on the bay while the North Beach grid dims below.
Hours: Daily 10am–6pm Apr–Oct, 10am–5pm Nov–Mar; closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's Day. · Pricing note: Adult $11 non-resident / $8 SF resident (elevator only — lobby and WPA murals free); sold on-site up to 1h before close. The ~90-year-old elevator goes out of service periodically — the fallback is 13 flights of stairs.
Tips from the deck
- Walk up via the Filbert Steps from the Embarcadero — the garden staircase is half the attraction; ride down after.
- The murals in the rotunda are free even without an elevator ticket — Depression-era San Francisco painted by Rivera's students.
- Parking at the top is a famous trap (tiny lot, long queue) — arrive on foot or by rideshare.
- Morning fog often burns off the northeast corner first; Coit clears before Golden Gate viewpoints do.
Where Coit Tower Observation Deck is — and the other San Francisco decks
Coit Tower Observation Deck — quick answers
Elevator tickets run about $10 for non-residents (discounts for SF residents, seniors, kids); the lobby murals are free.
On a clear day, yes — the hilltop position beats its modest height, delivering Alcatraz and both bridges in one sweep. In fog, no — check visibility before buying.