Coit Tower
Tower Art Deco tower in San Francisco with city views
Perched on Telegraph Hill in San Francisco, Coit Tower contains WPA‑era murals and an observation deck. Tourists visit for sweeping views of the Bay, the downtown skyline and the stairwayed streets below.
Coit Tower is an Art Deco tower on Telegraph Hill in San Francisco, completed in 1933 and funded by a bequest from civic patron Lillie Hitchcock Coit. The tower is a local landmark and an established viewpoint over the city and bay.
The tower was erected in 1933 using the Coit bequest and soon after became the site for a large set of New Deal-era murals completed in 1934; these murals have attracted scholarly and public attention for their social-realist themes.
Coit Tower stands atop Telegraph Hill in the Pioneer Park area of San Francisco, close to North Beach and accessible on foot from several nearby streets.
- Height and date: The tower is 210 feet (64 metres) tall and was completed in 1933 using a bequest from Lillie Hitchcock Coit to the city of San Francisco.
- Visiting notes: Interior murals are historically significant and the observation deck is best visited on clear days for long-range views; an elevator serves the top but there is often a short wait at peak times.
What to See #
- Observation deck (210 ft / 64 m tower): The circular observation deck at the tower summit, reached by elevator, provides 360-degree views across San Francisco including the Bay Bridge, Alcatraz and downtown skyline.
- WPA-era interior murals (1934): Interior murals painted in 1934 under the WPA program by a group of artists, illustrating California life and New Deal-era subjects.
How to Get to Coit Tower #
Coit Tower is best reached on foot from the North Beach/Fisherman’s Wharf area-roughly a 10-20 minute uphill walk from Washington Square Park-or by the San Francisco Municipal Railway buses that serve the Telegraph Hill area. Several scenic stairways (e.g., Filbert Steps) lead up the hill for walkers.
Tips for Visiting Coit Tower #
- Take the elevator to the observation deck for the best city views, but study the murals on the ground level first-they're often missed by visitors rushing to the top.
- Go just before sunset on a clear day-the city lights and the bay create a classic San Francisco tableau.
- Buy tickets in person at the ground floor kiosk; the tower can sell out for peak times, but there is generally walk-up availability on weekdays.
Best Time to Visit Coit Tower #
Late spring through autumn offers the most reliable views, though San Francisco's weather is famously changeable-check the day's marine layer conditions.
Weather & Climate near Coit Tower #
Coit Tower's climate is classified as Warm-Summer Mediterranean - Warm-Summer Mediterranean climate with mild summers (peaking in September) and cold winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from 6°C to 23°C. Moderate rainfall (759 mm/year) with a pronounced dry season.
January
January is the coolest month with highs of 14°C and lows of 6°C. The wettest month with heavy rain (160 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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February
February is cool with highs of 16°C and lows of 8°C. Significant rainfall (137 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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March
March is cool with highs of 17°C and lows of 8°C. Significant rainfall (116 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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April
April is cool with highs of 19°C and lows of 9°C. Moderate rainfall (43 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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May
May is cool with highs of 20°C and lows of 10°C. Light rainfall and partly cloudy skies.
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June
June is cool with highs of 21°C and lows of 11°C. Almost no rain.
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July
July is cool with highs of 22°C and lows of 11°C. The driest month with just 2 mm and partly cloudy skies.
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August
August is cool with highs of 22°C and lows of 12°C. Almost no rain and partly cloudy skies.
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September
September is cool with highs of 23°C and lows of 12°C. Almost no rain.
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October
October is cool with highs of 22°C and lows of 11°C. Moderate rainfall (41 mm).
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November
November is cool with highs of 17°C and lows of 9°C. Significant rainfall (106 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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December
December is cool with highs of 14°C and lows of 7°C. Significant rainfall (122 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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