Naysayers once insisted this bridge "couldn't be built." In defiance, it opened in 1937 to become the most photographed man-made structure in the world. Its distinctive International Orange (the name of the paint color) spans 1 mi/2 km between San Francisco and the Marin Headlands, conveniently linking the city (via U.S. Highway 101) to the rest of northern California. The suspension-bridge design permits a sway of 27 ft/8 m at midspan. A pedestrian sidewalk provides one of the most dramatic and beautiful views anywhere in the city. For those inclined to go farther, there are plenty of options, including the Marin Headlands, where the view of San Francisco is one of our favorites.
Try to do your walk on a sunny day and dress warmly regardless of the weather—it can be very windy on the bridge with the pervasive onshore wind. Pedestrians and bicyclists can use the bridge only from sunrise to sunset (5 am-6 pm). To get there, take a cable car from Union Square, then Muni Bus 28. Access to the bridge is free for pedestrians and bicyclists, US$6 toll for southbound vehicles, free for northbound vehicles. Phone 415-921-5858 or 415-455-2000. http://www.goldengatebridge.org.
