San Francisco is more than just a city—it’s a vibrant canvas of cinematic, musical, and cultural history. From iconic movie scenes to legendary music venues, the city offers a glimpse into its creative legacy. Before planning my trip, I had no idea just how many famous film locations were scattered across the city. After doing some research, I discovered far more than I had ever anticipated. Below are the spots we visited during our travels.
One thing that I noticed is how many of these locations are residential, privately owned homes. So, when visiting these places, it’s important to be respectful and mindful—avoid being disruptive and always keep in mind that you’re exploring real neighborhoods, not tourist attractions.
Movies:
Mrs. Doubtfire: 2640 Steiner St
It may be hard to recognize at first—the siding is a different color now—but this is the house! After visiting the location, we couldn’t resist watching Mrs. Doubtfire that night. That’s when we noticed the color change and realized there were no trees planted along the sidewalk (they must have been removed for filming). It was so fun to watch the movie, comparing the scenes to the views we had just experienced in person. And every time we hopped on the 22 Fillmore bus, we always said, “It’s the Mrs. Doubtfire bus!”
Princess Diaries: 2601 Lyon St
If you had told me this was the High School from Princess Diaries I wouldn’t have believed you, but sure enough it is. Another private residence so we just took a quick picture and left.
Big Trouble Little China: Grant Ave & Bush St, Intersection
Majority of the movie was filmed elsewhere, but the Dragon’s Gate was featured as a magical gateway. It was a lot of fun walking around here at night, especially with all the lanterns glowing and adding to the atmosphere.
Escape from Alcatraz: Alcatraz Island
We booked the Behind the Scenes and Night Tour of Alcatraz Island, and it was an awesome experience. During the Behind the Scenes tour, we got to visit a location that still had a bench from the filming of Escape from Alcatraz, with a Paramount Productions label still visible (I’ll be posting a picture in the in-depth SF post). The Night Tour was equally fascinating, highlighting the infamous escape by three prisoners and showcasing a plexiglass doorframe that gives you a glimpse of what the jail cells looked like from the inside. While The Rock also filmed scenes on the island, none of them made it into the final cut of the movie.
Memoirs of a Geisha: Japanese Tea Garden in Golden Gate Park
During our visit to the Japanese Tea Garden in Golden Gate Park, we joined a free walking tour through the City Guide Program. The guide pointed out the bridge was featured in Memoirs of a Geisha, otherwise I would have never of known. The garden wasn’t particularly film-friendly because nothing could be moved or altered for the shoot. You can climb to the top of the bridge, where you’ll get a stunning view of the serene surroundings.
Rise of the Planet of the Apes: Muir Woods National Monument
Muir Woods plays a significant role in the Planet of the Apes franchise, with the apes escaping across the Golden Gate Bridge and finding refuge in the redwoods of Muir Woods. The stunning images of these ancient trees were used to help replicate the forest scenes on screen. Muir Woods is also featured in Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi, where it served as the setting for the forest moon of Endor. Additionally, the park’s lush landscape was used in The Lost World: Jurassic Park.
Tv Show:
Full House: Alamo Square, Painted Ladies.
This has to be the most sought out location, the park was packed, and we saw a lot of tour groups visiting this place. As a huge Full House fan, I had the theme song stuck in my head all morning, but I have to admit, the experience was a little underwhelming. We picked up coffee and pastries before heading to the park, where we relaxed at a picnic table, took some photos, and enjoyed a stroll around the area before moving on to our next adventure.
That’s So Raven: 461 Ashbury St
I never watched That’s So Raven, but when this address popped up on Google Maps, I had to check it out. We were originally heading to the area to see the Grateful Dead House, but as I zoomed in, I noticed several other notable locations nearby. Since they were all close together, we decided to snap a quick photo of each one before moving on to the next stop.
Musicians: Haight-Ashbury Neighborhood: Janis Joplin’s House, Grateful Dead, “Jimi Hendrix”
The Haight-Ashbury neighborhood is home to some legendary spots tied to music history, and it’s where Janis Joplin’s house and the Grateful Dead’s former residence are located, just a few blocks from the That’s So Raven house. These are all private residences, so we just snapped a quick photo and took a walk around the neighborhood to explore.
There’s some speculation about Jimi Hendrix’s connection to a nearby house, with many wondering if he ever actually lived there. Before our visit, I thought there was a possibility of a tour, but when we arrived, we found an eviction notice posted outside.
Notable mentions that we didn’t get photos of:
- City Hall: Indian Jones Raiders of the Lost Ark
- St. Paul’s Catholic Church Noe Valley: Sister Act
And an awesome Spotify Playlist that I found: Link
I found that I understood and appreciated the songs so much more once we returned home. The fun of planning a trip, while staying open to the unexpected, is that you never know what you’ll discover along the way. I never imagined our journey would highlight so many iconic houses and locations. While the trip was filled with adventurous hikes and historical sites, it was especially exciting to explore the origins of so many famous musicians, shows, and movies.
Capsule Customs Travel 