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San Francisco has something for everyone, including incredibly beautiful beaches. Some are located right on the ocean, while others lie along the bay. We have visited them all, took good notes, and wanted to share with you the gorgeous Bay Area beaches. On your next trip to San Francisco, these are the ones to see.

Here is our list of the top 12 beaches in San Francisco.

1. Baker Beach

Located near the Golden Gate Bridge (and with awesome views of it to boot), Baker Beach is one of the many popular spots in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Baker Beach isn’t safe for swimming, but you’ll have the Battery Chamberlin, a large historic military gun installation from 1904, to entertain you.

2. China Beach

China Beach is visually stunning, facing north toward the Marin Headlands with a great view of the Golden Gate Bridge. The rock walls on both sides create a small protected area that was once a camp for Chinese fishermen, which is how it got its name. The area just south of the cove is called Lands End and has some excellent hiking trails and a hidden surprise.

3. Fort Funston Beach

Unless you’re very familiar with the Northern California coast, you may not have heard of Fort Funston Beach. It’s the southernmost beach on the Pacific Coast side of the city, and it gets windy here… so windy, in fact, that we’d recommend skipping it if the forecast calls for heavy winds. Horses and dogs are welcome here, so it’s a great place to go with your furry friends.

4. Sutro Baths

Once upon a time (in 1896) the Sutro Baths, elaborate privately-owned saltwater and freshwater pools, opened for public use. They eventually shut down after some financial struggles, and in 1966, they burned to the ground. Their remains are now a historic site, and they happen to be surrounded by a beautiful beach.

5. Mile Rock Beach

Located in a small cove below the Lands End Viewpoint in San Francisco’s portion of Golden Gate National Recreation Area, Mile Rock Beach is small and rocky – but it’s a lovely beach to visit. In addition to the nearby hiking trails, you’ll find picnic tables, a shipwreck, a lighthouse and plenty of beach to explore here.

6. Kirby Cove Beach

With stunning city views and sandy shores, Kirby Cove Beach is a great spot to relax. You’ll find this beach at the base of the Marin Headlands north of the entrance to San Francisco Bay. Getting there requires a mile-long hike down the old Kirby Cove Road from the parking lot on Conzelman Road, which is part of the reason it’s rarely crowded.

7. Rodeo Beach

This wide sandy beach sits on the sand spit that separates Rodeo Lagoon from Rodeo Cove on the west side of the Marin Headlands in Golden Gate National Recreation Area. The beach is made up of small colored pebbles that give it an incredibly unique look. Walk to the south end of the beach to see majestic rocks in the surf, and take your binoculars so you can see the birds on Bird Rock.

8. Muir Beach

The tiny town of Muir Beach features this unique shoreline, which is part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Redwood Creek flows down to the ocean here, stopping near the beach and forming a lagoon. People mainly come here to hike, fish, sunbathe and watch for birds.

9. Bolinas Beach

Often referred to as Brighton Beach (because the main access road to the beach is Brighton Avenue), this quiet beach is located in the small town of BolinasBolinas Beach is at the mouth of Bolinas Lagoon in a spot where waves wrap around the point, so it’s a wonderful spot for surfing.

10. McClures Beach

McClures Beach is a remote stretch of surf and sand on the northwest coastline of Point Reyes National Seashore. You’ll find a parking lot at the end of Pierce Point Road that leads to a wide hiking trail that descends for a about 1/3 mile to the beach. This is a beautiful place to check out the tide pools during low tide.

11. Montara State Beach

Imagine playing a game of beach volleyball here. Montara State Beach is located just north of Montara along the San Mateo County Coast, and it features sculpted sandstone cliffs perfect for photographing. Fishing, hiking, beachcombing and surfing are all popular here.

12. Dunes Beach, Half Moon Bay

If walking on pristine sand and gazing out at crystal clear blue waters sounds like your ideal beach experience, you’ll love Dunes Beach, one of the northernmost beaches in Half Moon Bay State Beach. Getting to this beach requires a short, steep, sandy hike down through the dunes. Luckily, this tends to to deter some of the crowds, and you’ll have a good chance of enjoying your time there with very few people. Just be careful next to the bluff – it’s eroding.