This waterfront town across the Golden Gate Bridge has colorful houseboats, seafood restaurants, and art galleries along its marina. The Bay views draw cyclists and walkers year-round.
Sausalito sits just north of the Golden Gate Bridge in Marin County, California. From its hillside homes, you can see the San Francisco Bay stretching toward the city skyline. Walk along the waterfront to spot seals playing near the docks, step inside working artists' studios in converted shipyards, or explore the 400 floating homes that make up the town's distinctive waterfront neighborhoods. At the Bay Model Visitor Center, you can walk around a 1.5-acre working hydraulic model that shows how water moves through the San Francisco Bay.
Getting to Sausalito
You can reach Sausalito from San Francisco by taking a 25-minute ferry ride from Pier 41 or the Ferry Building, which gives you views of Alcatraz Island and the Golden Gate Bridge along the way. Many visitors choose to rent bikes in San Francisco, cycle across the Golden Gate Bridge, and return by ferry. The town sits just off Highway 101, making it accessible by car from both San Francisco International Airport (30 minutes) and Oakland International Airport (45 minutes).
Waterfront Activities
Along Bridgeway, the main street, you'll find benches and viewing points to watch seals in the bay. Visit the Marine Mammal Center, where you can see staff treating injured seals and sea lions, and learn about marine wildlife rehabilitation. At Sea Trek Kayak & SUP Center, you can rent equipment to paddle around Richardson Bay or join guided tours to explore the shoreline and spot local wildlife.
Floating Home Community
More than 400 floating homes line the northern marinas of Sausalito. These residences range from converted fishing boats to elaborate three-story structures with rooftop gardens. Walk through Galilee Harbor or Waldo Point Harbor to see homes decorated with stained glass windows, intricate woodwork, and colorful murals. Some resemble small Victorian houses, while others showcase contemporary architecture with solar panels and modern materials.
Arts District
Inside the Bay Model Visitor Center, you can walk around a massive hydraulic model that demonstrates how tides and currents move through the San Francisco Bay and Delta. Local artists display their work in galleries along Bridgeway and Caledonia Street. Visit the Industrial Center Building, where more than 85 artists work in converted shipyard spaces. You can often watch glassblowers, painters, and sculptors at work in their studios.
Coastal Trails
From Sausalito, you can hike the Marin Headlands trails to Battery Spencer, an old military fort with direct views of the Golden Gate Bridge. The 4.8-mile Tennessee Valley Trail leads through coastal grasslands to a black sand beach. In spring (March-May) and fall (September-November), gray whales pass by during their migration, visible from Point Bonita and other coastal overlooks.
Where to Stay
The Inn Above Tide extends over the water on stilts, with each room featuring floor-to-ceiling windows facing the San Francisco skyline. Hotel Sausalito, located downtown in a 1915 building, contains 16 rooms with furniture made by Bay Area craftspeople. For a different experience, companies like Modern Sailing and Sausalito Houseboats rent floating homes by the week.
