Hollywood might not be in San Francisco, but some of the most famous films have been set in California’s northern city – and that’s not even counting the TV series The Streets of San Francisco featuring a very young Michael Douglas.
Here are our five San Francisco movies to give you a slice of technicolour inspiration if you decided to head to the Golden State.
San Francisco Movies : Bullitt (1968)
Celebrating 50 years since the release of the film this year, Bullitt is best remembered for the famous car-chase scene around the streets of San Francisco, filmed without special effects over a two week period. Bullitt features a number of San Francisco spots including, the Grace Cathedral and Bullitt’s apartment in Nob Hill. The famous car chase takes viewers through a number of neighbourhoods, including Bernal Heights, Russian Hill, Mid-Market and the Marina District. Visitors can stay in the InterContinental Mark Hopkins which featured in the film, complete with the magnificent chandeliers and front desk as seen in the film.
For more ideas of what to do in San Francisco, read Six Reasons to Visit San Francisco in 2018.
San Francisco Movies : Mrs Doubtfire (1993)
The most notable film location from San Francisco in Mrs Doubtfire is the Doubtfire Home, located at 2640 Steiner Street in the Pacific Heights neighbourhood. An affluent residential enclave, Pacific Heights is known for its architecturally significant homes and the lively Fillmore Street, offering top shopping and dining. Daniel’s apartment in the film can be found in the Telegraph Hill neighbourhood, a residential area home to Coit Tower, an emblem on San Francisco’s city skyline since 1933.
San Francisco Movies : Time After Time (1979)
American science fiction, Time After Time, was filmed throughout a number of locations within San Francisco. The film displays the exterior of the California Academy of Sciences, located in Golden Gate Park, one of the largest museums of natural history in the world. Characters in the film also visit the Merchants Exchange Building in the Financial District, the Hyatt Regency San Francisco in Embarcadero and the home of Amy, in the Marina District on the city’s north shore, right across from the Palace of Fine Arts. Time After Time includes the iconic drive across the Golden Gate Bridge, where they travel to visit the magnificent nearby Redwood forests of Muir Woods, just north of San Francisco.
San Francisco’s SoMa district is one of the most rapidly changing and happening parts of the city. Read Things to Do in San Francisco SoMa District.
San Francisco Movies : Vertigo (1958)
The classic 1958 Alfred Hitchcock movie features many shots on location in San Francisco, showcasing a number of the city’s different neighbourhoods. Midge’s apartment is located in Telegraph Hill, showing the hilly streets as the backdrop and Scottie’s house is located at 900 Lombard Street, known as the “crookedest” street in the world with steep hills and sharp curves. The Presidio, the national park located at the foot of the Golden Gate Bridge, features within the film, displaying Fort Point right by the bridge and the magnificent Palace of Fine Arts. Visitors can stay at Hotel Vertigo, previously known as Empire Hotel during the time of filming, which featured within the film.
San Francisco Movies : The Maltese Falcon (1941)
One of the best classic detective mysteries ever produced, The Maltese Falcon alongside Bogie and Bacall, features many iconic images of San Francisco. Filming spots include the Bay Bridge, which is now decorated with the world’s largest light art installation, the Ferry Building and South of Market (SoMa) neighbourhood, the rapidly changing neighbourhood, encompassing several sub-neighbourhoods including, South Beach, Mission Bay and Yerba Buena. Here’s looking at you.
Time in San Francisco
San Francisco time is GMT / UTC -8 in the winter and GMT / UTC -7 in the summer when Daylight Saving is in force.
San Francisco Hotels
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Flights to San Francisco
American Airlines, British Airways, Brussels Airlines, My Austrian, United and Virgin Atlantic all have direct flights from London Heathrow to San Francisco. If looking for a distraction on your route, WOW flies via Iceland.
For more information about when to visit San Francisco,
Visit www.sftravel.com