Carrie Green Zinn
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Looking for Instagram captions for San Francisco?
I’m happy to call the Bay Area my home and cherish the years I lived in San Francisco. I still get into the city several times per week and never tire of the energy and beauty of the town.
That’s why, like most of you, I take a million photos of our golden city by the Bay. San Francisco is everyone’s dream city. It’s got all the things you want in a vacation – iconic sites, gorgeous views, amazing food, beach fun, citylife, and wonderful people.
You’ll be very busy enjoying yourself with all the culture and activities, and no doubt you’ll post pics of it all, so everyone will be envious of your trip! You’ll want to inspire them along the way and make lasting memories for yourself.
If you’re like me, however, this is when you get stuck! A great photo of yourself at the Golden Gate Bridge, but you don’t know what to say about it! What caption will actually capture their attention and express the mood you want?
Help is on its way! I’ve got you covered. Here are 162 Instagram and social media captions for San Francisco.
The Most Fun San Francisco Instagram Captions
Each of these captions captures a different aspect of San Francisco’s allure, from its famous landmarks and scenic views to its unique culture and vibe. Whether it’s the iconic Golden Gate Bridge, the historic Alcatraz Island, or the bustling streets of Chinatown, there’s always something remarkable to caption in this vibrant city!
Table of contents
30 Best San Francisco Instagram Quotes
- Fog City vibes and Golden Gate dreams. 🌁
- Leaving my heart in San Francisco, but taking a piece of sourdough with me. ❤️🍞
- Finding my way through San Francisco one cable car at a time. 🚋
- Golden Gate adventures and city lights. 🌉✨
- Where the hills are steep but the coffee is stronger. ☕️🌆
- Just another day in the City by the Bay. 🌊
- Feeling groovy in the Haight-Ashbury district. 🌸
- From Alcatraz views to Chinatown hues. 🏙️🐉
- Sailing the Bay, the San Francisco way. ⛵️
- Painted ladies & painted skies, SF never ceases to surprise. 🎨
- Exploring the depths of Fisherman’s Wharf. 🐟
- Bridging my love for travel and San Francisco. 🌁❤️
- Where every street corner has a story. 🚦
- Union Square hustle and downtown bustle. 🛍️🏙️
- Sipping on the spirit of San Francisco in every cup of coffee. ☕️🌁
- Embracing the mist-ery of Karl the Fog. 🌫️
- In San Francisco, every hill has a view. 🌄
- California dreamin’ in the heart of San Francisco. 🌞🌴
- San Francisco – where the people are as colorful as its history. 🌈📚
- Getting my daily dose of Vitamin Sea at the San Fran bay. 🌊☀️
- San Francisco state of mind. 🤍🌉
- From Pier 39 to the stars, SF is where the heart is. 🌟🌊
- City lights and starry nights in San Fran. 🌃✨
- Where the Golden Gate welcomes and the city enchants. 🌉💫
- Lost in the lanes of Lombard Street. 🌀
- SF, you have my seal of approval – said every seal at Pier 39. 🦭✅
- Chasing fog and finding magic in San Francisco. 🌫️🔮
- Came for the views, stayed for the brews. 🍺🌆
- San Francisco – More than just a city, it’s a feeling. 💖🏙️
- Riding the wave of excitement in the SF Bay. 🌊🎉
30 San Francisco One-Word Captions
If you’re in a minimalist mood and want to be short, sweet, and to the point, then go for the one word caption. San Francisco has feature after feature that is recognizable around the world. Try these single words that, when paired with your picture, are worth 1000.
- Golden
- Foggy
- Iconic
- Hills
- Bridges
- Artistic
- Techy
- Vintage
- Seaside
- Vibrant
- Diverse
- Historic
- Charming
- The Rock
- Trolley
- Gourmet
- Bohemian
- Windy
- Panoramic
- Colorful
- Pier
- Sunset
- Nightlife
- Trendy
- Green
- Festive
- Maritime
- Cultural
- Eclectic
- Progressive
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32 San Francisco Fun Fact Captions
Fun Facts are a great way to highlight San Francisco’s top sites. Who doesn’t love a “did you know..” kind of Instagram caption? These juicy tidbits of info are fun to show your readers a different side of the travel experience. San Francisco is so rich in history, you’ll want to share all that you’re learning about the city by the bay.
Try these San Francisco Fun Facts for your top tourist spots.
Did you know that…
- The Golden Gate Bridge has 10 million square feet of metal to paint, and the painters spray on the International Orange even in the fog and the 60 mile an hour winds.
- Alcatraz Island was a famous prison that hosted Al Capone, Machine Gun Kelly, and the Birdman of Alcatraz, and it was originally the Pacific Coast’s first lighthouse.
- San Francisco is the only city in the world where cable cars still operate as a public transportation method.
- The modern fortune cookie was invented in San Francisco, not China.
- Lombard Street was so steep that cars couldn’t drive down it, so 8 sharp turns were created and now it is known as the “crookedest” street in the world.
- San Francisco’s fog is so infamous, that it even has a name – Karl (like the giant in the movie The Big Fish).
- Levi’s Jeans were invented in San Francisco for the Gold Rush miners who needed durable workwear 1853.
- There are more than 50 hills in San Francisco.
- The Beatles’ Last Concert was held in San Francisco at Candlestick Park in 1966.
- Philo Farnsworth invented the first electric TV in San Francisco in 1927.
- The Transamerica Pyramid was built in 1972 as the tallest building in San Francisco, and the 8th tallest in the world.
- Golden Gate Park is actually larger than New York’s Central Park, and has a bison paddock, windmills, and several museums.
- In 1961 the drag queen, José Sarria, became the first openly gay candidate in the USA to run for public office in San Francisco.
- San Francisco has the oldest Chinatown in North America and the largest Chinese enclave outside of Asia.
- The famous “Painted Ladies,” in Alamo Square got their name in 1978 when architects coined the phrase to describe colorful Victorian homes which were actually painted in drab colors before the 1960’s!
- The phrase Silicon Valley was first coined in 1971 to describe the towns south of San Francisco where companies were building computers with silicon chips.
- Sourdough Bread, with its tangy flavor, was first used during the gold rush when the 49ers were mining for gold.
- After the San Francisco Earthquake of 1906, and the subsequent fires, over 200,000 people were left homeless and 3000 were dead.
- Fisherman’s Wharf was created on landfill from the rubble of buildings destroyed in the 1906 earthquake.
- The Gangway Bar is San Francisco’s oldest Gay bar, opened in 1910.
- Angel Island was called the “Ellis Island of the West,” and between 1910 and 1940, welcomed a half million immigrants from eighty different countries.
- Building a Cable Car takes up to 24 months to complete and requires dozens of highly trained craftsmen.
- The Asian Art Museum in San Francisco has ancient pieces of art from 221 BC.
- The San Francisco Giants moved to San Francisco from New York in 1958.
- The Haight-Ashbury neighborhood was home to the Grateful Dead, Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, and the Jefferson Airplane.
- San Francisco is a big coffee roasting town launching brands like Folgers, Hills Bros., and Pete’s.
- The Ferry Building was built in 1898 and was the primary port of San Francisco and is now a gourmet food court.
- In 1902 the city would no longer allow the dead to be buried within San Francisco. Thus, hundreds of bodies were moved to Colma between the 1920’s and 1940s.
- The Presidio former military fort, has a pet cemetery with hundreds of pets buried dating back to the 1950’s.
- The Twin Peaks hills, with their incredible panoramic views of the city, are actually, geographically, in the center of San Francisco.
- The Mission Dolores is the oldest intact building in San Francisco, built in 1776.
- The original name of San Francisco was Yerba Buena before it was changed in 1847.
30 San Francisco Funny Punny Captions
For those who are looking for the clever and funny inspo, but have a hard time being creative on the spot, here are some choices. These energetic San Francisco quotes and sayings will keep the mood light and entertaining. And afterall, isn’t Instagram all about entertaining yourself and your friends?
Here are some punny San Francisco captions, even with emojis to add to the fun!
- I left my heart in San Francisco, but at least I still have my coffee. ☕️
- Fog in the city just means my pictures have natural filters. 🌫️
- In San Francisco, even the hills are uphill both ways. 🏔️
- Found the Golden Gate Bridge; now looking for the silver one. 🌉
- Trying to catch a cable car, or maybe just get tangled. 🚋
- San Francisco: where your Uber driver is likely a tech millionaire. 💸
- More layers than a fancy cake – that’s SF weather for you. 🧥🍰
- Here for the sights, staying for the sourdough. 🍞
- San Francisco streets: powered by Google Maps and strong calves.🦵
- Lombard Street because my life needed more twists and turns. 🌀
- A city so steep, even the buildings have to lean into it. 🏢
- Came for the fog, stayed because I couldn’t find my way back. 🌁
- Sourdough today, sourdough tomorrow, sourdough forever. 🥖❤️
- “In SF, ‘free parking’ is just an urban legend. 🚙🚫
- The only gold I found in SF was in my coffee. ✨☕
- San Francisco: where every day is leg day. 🏋️♂️
- Survived another day without rolling down a hill, success! 🎉
- Alcatraz: the only place in SF you can’t escape the rent. 🏝️💰
- Sea lions at Pier 39 – my spirit animals. 🦭
- I asked for a light jacket and ended up in a winter coat. 🧥
- This city is so cool, it’s fog-gotten. 🌫️
- SF hills: because who really needs a gym membership? 🏋️
- You haven’t lived until you’ve tried to park on a hill here. 🚗📐
- San Francisco: where the biggest waves are in the coffee cups. 🌊
- Cable cars: because gravity’s more fun with an audience. 🚞
- Tried to follow the fog but got lost in a coffee shop. 🌫️☕
- If you don’t like the weather, just wait five minutes. ⛅️
- Sea lions – the real locals. 🦭👑
- San Francisco – making me fit one hill at a time. 💪
- The Golden Gate Bridge is red, and now I question everything. 🌉🤯
30 San Francisco Song Lyric Captions
Leave a song in their heart and in yours when you use lyrics to accentuate the vibe of your pic. Everyone has heard the famous Tony Bennett tune, but may not have known about all these other songs about our beautiful city!
OK, I admit that I haven’t heard all of these songs and had to listen to a few on Spotify, but that’s why I’m giving you the name of the song and name of the artist too!
- “If you’re going to San Francisco, be sure to wear some flowers in your hair.” 🌸 – Scott McKenzie, San Francisco
- “I left my heart in San Francisco, high on a hill, it calls to me.” ❤️ – Tony Bennett, I Left My Heart In San Francisco
- “Sittin’ on the dock of the bay, watching the tide roll away.” 🌊 – Otis Redding, Sittin’ OnThe Dock of the Bay
- “When the lights go down in the city, and the sun shines on the bay.” 🌆 – Journey, Lights
- “San Francisco, open your golden gate, you’ll let no stranger wait outside your door.” 🌉 – San Francisco
- “Let’s go to San Francisco, where the flowers grow so very high.” 🌺 – The Flower Pot Men, Let’s Go To San Francisco
- “San Francisco days, San Francisco nights.” 🌙 – Chris Isaak, San Francisco Days
- “Got the Bay on my back, San Fran on the hat.” 🧢 – San Quinn, San Francisco Anthem
- “In San Francisco, where the forest meets the bridge.” 🌁 – Foxygen, San Francisco
- “To San Francisco, I will race you there.” 🏃♂️ – The Mowgli’s, San Francisco
- “I’m going back to San Francisco, I need that city by the bay.” 🏙️ – The Decemberists, Grace Cathedral Hill
- “Come on back to me, San Francisco.” 🛬 – The Magnetic Fields, Come Back from San Francisco
- “San Francisco, please wait for me.” ⏳ – Brett Dennen, San Francisco
- “Hello San Francisco, goodbye heart.” 💔 – American Music Club, Hello Amsterdam
- “From the city, the city by the bay.” 🌁 – Train, Save Me, San Francisco
- “It’s Christmas in San Francisco, what a lovely place to be.” 🎄 – Vic Damone, Christmas In San Francisco
- “Golden Gate, I’m gonna see you shine.” ✨ – Al Di Meola, Electric Rendezvous
- “Take me back to San Francisco, to the land of the free.” 🌈 – The Disco Biscuits, Home Again
- “All the way to San Francisco, to start my life anew.” 🚀 – Sun Kil Moon, Carry Me Ohio
- “I lost my mind long ago, down that yellow brick road.” 🛤️ – Starship, We Built This City
- “The bay calls me back home, it’s calling me ‘Come home.'” 🏡 – Zion I, The Bay
- “San Francisco, you’ve been good to me.” 👍 – Gregory Alan Isakov, San Francisco
- “Driving over Golden Gate, San Francisco Bay.” 🚗 – Van Morrison, Snow in San Anselmo
- “By the San Francisco Bay, the ocean floor is calling my name.” 📞 – The Head and the Heart, Down in the Valley
- “In the city of San Francisco, they shake the buildings in their dance.” 💃 – The Airborne Toxic Event, The Fall of Rome
- “Meet me down by the pier, San Francisco is waiting for us.” 🎡 – The Welcome Matt, San Francisco
- “San Francisco’s calling us, the Giants and Mets will play.” ⚾ – Scott McKenzie, San Francisco
- “And I’m gonna make it to the pier, just to throw my memories of you away.” 💌 – NOFX, I’m Telling Tim
- “City by the bay, yeah, you stole my heart away.” 💖 – The Steve Miller Band, Jet Airliner
- “Golden sun rising over the Golden Gate, I’m feeling so down, it’s hard to create.” 🌅 – John Vanderslice, White Dove
10 Bonus Famous Quotes About San Francisco
- Mark Twain: “The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco.”
- Rudyard Kipling: “San Francisco has only one drawback – ’tis hard to leave.”
- Tony Bennett: “I left my heart in San Francisco, high on a hill, it calls to me.”
- Maya Angelou: “To San Francisco, I can walk down the street and meet people who are not like me, who do not think like me, who do not look like me. And yet, we can walk down the street together.”
- Oscar Wilde: “It is an odd thing, but everyone who disappears is said to be seen in San Francisco.”
- Jack Kerouac: “San Francisco is the golden handcuff with the key thrown away.”
- Paul Kantner of Jefferson Airplane: “San Francisco is 49 square miles surrounded by reality.”
- Larry Ellison: “The only way to get rid of temptation is to yield to it… I can resist everything but temptation.”
- Dianne Feinstein: “San Francisco is poetry. Even the hills rhyme.”
- Willie Brown: “San Francisco is a city where people are never more abroad than when they are at home.”
Quick & Easy Links
🌍Flights & Hotels: I recommend Expedia
🏠Vacation rentals: I recommend VRBO
🚘Car Rental: I recommend Hertz
🌐Tours: I recommend Viator
🛍Gear: Check out my Travel Stuff
📷Create Your Travel Memory Books with MILK
Now you’ve got all the Instagram Captions for San Francisco that will make your pictures pop!
In a nutshell…
You’ve wrapped up your fun adventure in the captivating city of San Francisco, and soaked up all the sites of the iconic Golden Gate Bridge to the bustling streets of Chinatown. And now you’re ready to share the fun with all the great photos you took.
These 162 San Francisco Instagram captions can be your bridge to connecting with your friends and fellow wanderers. Inspiration for everyone to visit the city by the Bay!
So go ahead, choose your favorite, snap that perfect shot, and let your Instagram feed be a testament to the unforgettable experiences that only San Francisco can offer.
xx,
Carrie
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