Bucket list #3: Biking the Golden Gate Bridge

The first time I biked over the Golden Gate Bridge, I was blissfully unprepared for the absolute a$$ kicking that was in store. The second time I biked the bridge, I was hooked.

As I sit here nearly five years after moving away from San Francisco, I realize that those strenuous, epic bike rides were some of my fondest memories of the city. From getting lost in Muir Woods and nearly missing the ferry home to stumbling into a cozy, Sausalito art gallery to escape the pouring rain – each ride came with its very own adventure.

If you’re planning to spend some time in San Francisco, it is well worth allocating a day to biking over the Golden Gate Bridge.

Booking a bike rental

There are many companies that offer daily bike rentals throughout the city, particularly in heavy tourist areas like Fisherman’s Wharf and Golden Gate Park.

I rode with Blazing Saddles (what an incredible name, honestly). The rental cost includes two ferry tickets for the ride back to San Francisco from Marin County, which is a GOD SEND. After biking over the bridge, it’s all downhill from there baby. Sausalito is waaaay back down at sea level, and there was no way mere human thighs would have the strength to power me back up the mountain after a day of biking. You’ll be glad to have the ferry tickets to tow you back to the start line.

San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge Bike Ride Itinerary

1. Fisherman’s Wharf

Kick off your bike route at the famous Pier 39, in Fisherman’s Wharf. Pier 39 is your basic ‘Bubba Gump Shrimp’, ‘Hard Rock Cafe’, etc. kind of tourist location. But, hey. It’s worth a visit.

The main recommendation here is to check out the Sea Lions that have taken ownership of the pier. If you’re lucky, you can spend some time watching them “sumo” each other into the water. 

In Fisherman’s Wharf, you can also check out the famous Ghirardelli Square and snag yourself some chocolate

2. Musee Mecanique

If you sunk far too many hours of your childhood watching The Princess Diaries like I did, then you may recognize this iconic machine that Queen Clarisse Renaldi challenged with corn-dog in hand.

The actual machine, in all its glory, sits in The Musee Mecanique, an antique arcade filled with carnival machines that date all the way back to the 1920s. It’s absolutely worth a stop-in before heading off on the rest of the ride.

Conveniently not pictured here is me overcoming my fear and playing the horrifying fortune telling machine from the move Big.

3. Grab a Philz coffee and hang at Marina Green

As you continue along the bay front, you’ll eventually pass by a handful of food trucks parked near the boat harbor. One of which… is Philz Coffee. I truly believe that, long ago, some Philz wizard cast a spell over me because I am incapable of walking past a store location without buying something. Is it overpriced? Yes. Does that even stop me one bit? Nope, sure doesn’t.

My recommendations: Jacob’s Wonderbar with Cream (add sugar, if you prefer) or the Mint Mojito – nice and refreshing on a warm day!

My friends and I spent so many lovely hours at Marina Green playing soft music from our speaker, soaking in the sun, and watching the wind surfers zip around the water with their painted kites.

4. Take a loop through the Museum of Fine Arts

San Francisco’s Museum of Fine Arts is one of the most beautiful structures in the entire city. You can see its domed arches from high atop the hills. Even more breathtaking than the structure itself is the gardens and ponds that encircle it. This is the perfect “mini detour” from the route.

BONUS: Across the street from the Palace of Fine Arts is Lucas Studios – as in the Star Wars Lucas. Not a must see – but another fun place to check out if you are a big Star Wars nerd like me.

6. Visit the Wave Organ

Did you know San Francisco has its very own musical instrument powered entirely by the ocean? If you time this correctly (usually at higher tides) you can hear the wave organ play a tune through its pipe-like structure. 

Even if you miss the optimal time for listening to the organ, this is still one of the best views you can grab of Alcatraz. Well worth a quick stop-by.

7. Stop by the Warming Hut

The Warming Hut is a tiny little gift shop tucked against the water in the Presidio. It’s a great spot to stop off for a quick treat or cup of tea. (Can you sense a theme here? Already my itinerary has not one, but two coffee stops. As it SHOULD).

Fair warning: the route immediately beyond the Warming Hut is entirely uphill – so rest up those legs!

8. Take a picture at the Golden Gate Lookout Point

Just before entering the path to cross the Golden Gate Bridge, there is an amazing vantage point with the best ‘full view’ of the bridge you’ll get in the city. The pictures from this lookout basically take themselves.

For some perspective: my photography skills are LACKIN’, but I still managed to snag the pic below.

9. Journey over the Golden Gate Bridge

Well well well. We are on stop 9 and we are JUST getting to the bridge. But this is the moment you’ve been waiting for. When it comes time to cross the bridge, zip up those jackets. It is COLD up there. Also – be careful on your bikes. You’ll have to dodge a lot of tourists walking in the same direction.

At the end of the bridge comes my favorite part of the entire bike ride. A HUGE 1.5 mile corkscrew straight down toward Sausalito. You don’t even have to use your pedals. Just let gravity take over and zoom your way down.  

10. Spend some time in Sausalito

Marin Country, where Sausalito is located, is perhaps one of the most gorgeous parts of the entire Bay Area. Spend some time boppin’ in and out of shops, artist studios, and cafes. 

It’s a relatively small town, so you likely won’t need more than an hour or so here before you’ll be ready to continue on.

From Sausalito, you can catch the ferry back to San Francisco OR continue on to Old Mill Park and Tiburon first!

11. Bike through Old Mill Park

Continue straight north from Sausalito, and you’ll eventually start to see the famous redwood trees! They are scattered all over the Bay Area, but Old Mill Park is within peddling distance of Sausalito. 

12. Catch the ferry at Tiburon

Holy moly. I bet at this part of the journey your buns are on fire. Mine sure were. Your ride ends in Tiburon, a town directly across the bay from Fisherman’s Wharf. Here, you’ll catch the ferry back to the city.

Be sure to know the ferry schedule before taking off so you can be sure not to miss the last boat. On TWO different occasions, my friends and I just barely squeaked our way onto the final ferry back to the city. We entered that boat like grateful swamp rats. It was not lost on us that the ride back up the hill and over the Golden Gate would be absolutely brutal. 

13. End with a coffee at the Buena Vista

Once you’re back in the Wharf, drop your bikes back off and head on over to the Buena Vista for an old fashioned Irish Coffee. Take a seat at the bar and watch as the waiters, decked out in suits, mix together a scrumptious blend of sugar, coffee, Jameson, and cream (kind of like Bailey’s, but homemade and much better).

BONUS: Catch a bite at the Fort Mason

If you plan your bike ride on a Friday, you might be lucky enough to pop over to Fort Mason at the end of the day. The food trucks pop up on select Friday nights. There is usually a ton of live music and incredible eats. They even have fire towers for those cold, foggy nights. 

That’s all, folks!

Even as a local living in San Francisco, biking around the Bay was still one of my most favorite activities. And biking over the Golden Gate Bridge is the very best route you can take.

Have you biked in San Francisco? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!

For more San Francisco itinerary ideas, check out my San Francisco bucket list.

OR check out the rest of my bucket list here!