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Coit Tower (with elevator)

1 Telegraph Hill Boulevard, San Francisco, California

Description

Coit Tower is located in San Francisco's Telegraph Hill neighbourhood. The 64m art deco tower was built in 1932-33 using Lillie Hitchcock Coit's bequest and as a memorial to volunteer firemen from the city. The exterior is unpainted reinforced concrete and, inside, there are fresco murals in the American Social Realism style from 26 different artists. Many of the murals are on the ground floor and can be viewed without a ticket but others require lift access and can also be viewed as part of a guided tour.

Access & Transport

From the waterfront (eastern side), it a short but steep walk up Filbert St and several flights of stairs. From the West side, Filbert St again (!) - less steep this time - from Washington Square. Bus #39 goes there and there is a small parking lot (that tends to fill up early)

Instructions & Recommendations

Guided tours are available for groups (4-6 people), cost $10 per person and last ~35mins. Visitors will learn about the Tower’s inception, the Public Work of Art Projects’ influence, and history of the artists. Parking in the lot outside Coit Tower is for area residents only on weekends (with a permit). Visitors can only park for 30 minutes during the week and the wait to get into the lot can be long.

Meta review

Regularly featured in travel magazines and very popular with tourists. Reviews are good and center on the panoramic views from the top as well as the difficulty in parking there (or alternatively, warning future fellow visitors how steep it is on foot). For most people the murals seem secondary but some do state that the ground floor murals (free) warrant a trip by themselves.

Environmental & Social

We deem this activity environmentally neutral. Helps preserve the artistic heritage of the city

Conclusion

We think the murals are the real draw so, if your budget allows, take the guided tour and, if not, check out those on the ground floor. The views are certainly good but there are plenty of nice view points over the city (some with less concrete and less people around) so we would not recommend coming here solely for that

Key positive

360° views from the top of the tower

Artistic and interesting murals

Key negative

A little expensive

Not ideal to park (but central enough to walk + bus option)

Suitability

Flight of stairs to the base - not accessible for wheelchair users

About this Rating

TYPE

Desktop

RESEARCHED IN

Updated in July 2023

PROVIDER

Koreval

Included Items
None
Timing
Duration of visit

av. transport time:0h 20m

est. visit time:1h

Regulated hours

Start of Season 1:Apr, 01

Season 1

MONDAY10:00 - 18:00

TUESDAY10:00 - 18:00

WEDNESDAY10:00 - 18:00

THURSDAY10:00 - 18:00

FRIDAY10:00 - 18:00

SATURDAY10:00 - 18:00

SUNDAY10:00 - 18:00

Start of Season 2:Nov, 01

Season 2

MONDAY10:00 - 17:00

TUESDAY10:00 - 17:00

WEDNESDAY10:00 - 17:00

THURSDAY10:00 - 17:00

FRIDAY10:00 - 17:00

SATURDAY10:00 - 17:00

SUNDAY10:00 - 17:00

Pricing
Age band
Age band
Regular price / pers.
Senior
62 - 99
US$7
Adult
18 - 61
US$10
Teen & Young
12 - 17
US$7
Child
5 - 11
US$3
Infant
0 - 4
US$0
Cheaper for SF residents

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