San Francisco Filming Locations from Entertainment You Love
Are you planning a trip to San Francisco and looking to visit the filming locations from some of your favorite movies and television shows? San Francisco is the city where many of our favorite movies and television shows are filmed due the city’s gorgeous backdrops.
If you’ve never been to San Francisco, you are in for an experience! San Francisco is a beautiful, jaw-dropping city, with views at every part of the city. From the Golden Gate Bridge, Colt Tower, Painted Ladies, Bay Bridge, Union Square, and everything in between. The city has so much to offer for visitors, if you’re looking for specific things to do, I recommend checking out my Ultimate 21 Things to Do in San Francisco travel guide where you are pointed to the best things to do. Even better, I used to live in San Francisco, so you can guarantee these are the top choices from a local!
Now, let’s get to the good stuff. In this blog, you’ll find the top-rated filming locations in San Francisco. From Full House, Princess Diaries, Mrs. Doubtfire, Ant-Man, The Parent Trap, and so much more. You’re guaranteed to snap a photo in front of one of the iconic filming locations.
San Francisco Filming Locations: Where Famous Movies and Shows Were Filmed in the City
Television Shows: San Francisco Filming Locations
Let’s start with television shows. In this list, you can find some of the most beloved sitcom shows from the Millenial and Gen Z generations, such as Full House and That’s So Raven. Personally, my childhood nostalgic television show is Full House. When I first arrived at the Tanner-Fuller House, my mind was blown. Growing up and seeing the Tanner-Fuller House everyday on the sitcom show, it was magical seeing it in person.
Full House & Fuller House Sitcom
Full House is a classic sitcom starring John Stamos, Bob Saget, Candace Cameron Bure, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, and so many more iconic celebrities. This classic sitcom takes place in San Francisco, California throughout all 8 seasons. The series is actually so popular, 21 years after the last season ended, Fuller House began – and fans loved it! I definitely did. Below are the main locations you can find from the classic Full House and Fuller House Sitcom:
1. Painted Ladies at Alamo Square
If you’ve ever seen Full House, you’ll recognize the Painted Ladies at Alamo Square directly from the show’s opening theme song where you see the entire cast having a picnic at Alamo Square Park in front of the Painted Ladies. The Painted Ladies are a row of Victorian-style homes with their own characteristics and color scheme. Even if you’re not a huge fan of Full House, I recommend visiting Alamo Square Park, as you can see the San Francisco skyline directly behind the Painted Ladies.
Address: Hayes St, San Francisco, CA 94117
2. Tanner-Fuller House
To presume any confusion, the Tanner-Fuller house is NOT one of the Painted Ladies at Alamo Square Park. The Tanner-Fuller House is actually located just a short walk down the street from the Painted Ladies. If you decide to choose only one of the three locations from this list, I highly recommend seeing the Tanner-Fuller house. It is a surreal experience, especially if you grew up watching the show and are a huge fan. Unfortunately, only the exterior scenes were filmed at the Tanner-Fuller house, all the interior locations were filmed in Los Angeles, California. But, it is still an awesome experience!
Address: 1709 Broderick St, San Francisco, CA 94115
3. Marin Headlands of the Golden Gate Bridge
Another infamous scene from the Full House opening theme song is of the Golden Gate Bridge view at Marin Headlands. This iconic scene is where the Full House title is presented prior to the show beginning. This is another location I recommend visiting even if you’re not a fan of the show, it is by far the BEST view of the Golden Gate Bridge in all of San Francisco, California!
Address: Conzelman Rd, Sausalito, CA 94965
Disney Channel’s That’s So Raven
1. Raven Baxter’s Home
If you grew up watching Disney Channel’s Hannah Montana, the Suite Life of Zack and Cody, and Wizards of Waverly Place, then you’re probably familiar with Disney Channel’s That’s So Raven. This classic teen show’s exterior scenes of Raven Baxter’s house is actually filmed in San Francisco’s Haight-Ashbury neighborhood. You can find the streets filled with flamboyant clothing shops, piercing and tattoo parlors, and long-loved stores mixed with hip restaurants and boutiques. I highly recommend exploring the neighborhood aside from That’s So Raven’s house.
Address: 461 Ashbury Street San Francisco, CA 94117
The OA
1. San Francisco Chinatown
Netflix’s Original Series The OA features San Francisco Chinatown during a brief scene where Karim is conversing directly on the Waverly Place street.
Address: Waverly Pl, San Francisco, CA 94108 (near Chinatown district)
Movies: San Francisco Filming Locations
Disney Channel’s Princess Diaries
The Princess Diaries is a classic Disney Channel movie starring Anne Hathaway taking place in San Francisco, California. The movie is actually filmed in various locations throughout all of San Francisco. Although you will only find exterior scenes, it is still an exciting experience to see the Princess Diaries San Francisco filming locations!
1. Musee Mécanique
The vintage arcade at Musee Mécanique is a filming location from the movie where Mia takes her grandmother to experience a “normal” life in San Francisco – from trying a hot dog and playing arcade games. The scene you’ll recognize at Musee Mécanique is with the arm wrestling mechanical arcade machine where Mia and her grandmother play an arm wrestling game with the mechanical arcade machine. Lucky enough, the arcade machine is still there, so you can try it yourself!
Address: Pier 45, San Francisco, CA 94133
2. Mia and Her Mom’s Firehouse Home
The Firehouse home is probably one of the most popular filming locations from the Princess Diaries, and one of the most popular locations fans of the movie prefer to see. The Firehouse home is actually located about 30 minutes outside of the city, so if you have a car or are renting a car, then I recommend driving out of the city to see the Firehouse home!
Address: 724 Brazil Ave, San Francisco, CA 94112
3. Anthony R Grove High School
Anthony R Grove High School is a local San Francisco high school, but it is where the exterior scenes from Mia Thermompolis’ high school were filmed for the first Princess Diaries movie.
Address: 2601 Lyon St, San Francisco, CA 94123
4. Lily and Michael’s Home
In the Princess Diaries movie, Mia Thermompolis’ best friend is Lily and Lily’s brother is Micael. Although Lily and Michael’s house are only shown a few times in the movie, you’ll still be able to recognize the beautiful house from the movie, and snap a photo in front of it!
Address: 15 Phoenix Terrace, San Francisco, CA 94133
5. Cable Car Street Scene
If you remember the scene where Mia tries to drive her blue mustang uphill one of San Francisco’s extremely steep hills, but the car slides backwards and hits a cable car. Well, the street scene in San Francisco is located at Taylor and Broadway Street. Be aware if you’re walking, those San Francisco hills are no joke!
Address: Taylor & Broadway St, San Francisco, CA 94133
Mrs. Doubtfire
The movie Mrs. Doubtfire is set in San Francisco, California, and you can find many of the exterior filming locations when you’re in San Francisco TODAY! How cool to see a classic movie’s filming location from 1993? Although some of the filming locations’ exterior scenes might have slightly changed over the years, a lot of the exteriors still remain the same from the movie.
1. Mrs. Doubtfire’s House
The most popular location to visit from the movie is Mrs. Doubtfire’s house, located in the heart of San Francisco, California. Although the interior scenes were filmed in a nearby warehouse in San Francisco, you can still admire and snap a photo in front of the exterior of the house from Mrs. Doubtfire!
Address: 2640 Steiner St, San Francisco, CA 94115
2. Daniel’s Apartment
Like Mrs. Doubtfire’s house, Daniel’s apartment’s exterior scenes were also filmed in San Francisco, California. You can find Daniel’s apartment directly above the Baonecci Ristorante. While you’re there, you might as well grab a bite to eat at the delicious Italian restaurant!
Address: 516 Green Street, San Francisco, CA 94133
Marvel’s Ant-Man & Ant-Man and the Wasp
1. Scott Lang’s Apartment
Scott Lang’s apartment is probably one of the most recognizable buildings from the movie. You can recognize the apartment from the movie when Scott Lang was on house arrest, as the movie follows Captain America: Civil War. If you visit any locations from Marvel’s Ant-Man movies, I highly recommend visiting Scott Lang’s Apartment! However, you won’t be able to go inside, you can still snap a photo in front of the building’s exterior.
Address: 1400 18th St, San Francisco, CA 94107
2. Hank Pym’s House
The movie creates a flashback to Hank Pym’s life with his wife Janet before she disappeared into the Quantum Realm. Although Pym’s house is briefly featured in the movie, you’ll be sure to recognize it once you see it in person.
Address: 601 Buena Vista West, San Francisco, CA 94117
3. Lombard Street
How can any car chase through the city avoid the famous switchback curves? The second Ant-Man movie, Ant-Man and the Wasp, creates thrilling car flips along the curvy Lombard Street.
Address: Lombard Street, San Francisco, CA 94133 (1000 Block between Leavenwrth and Hyde Streets)
Always Be My Maybe
1. Musee Mécanique
Like the Princess Diaries, Always Be My Maybe also filmed a scene in Musee Mecanique located on Pier 45. However, you might recognize it from the movie where a flashback is shown of Sasha and Marcus as kids taking photos in the photo booth located in Musee Mecanique.
Address: Pier 45, San Francisco, CA 94133
2. Palace of Fine Arts
Another popular filming location from multiple movies is the Palace of Fine Arts, such as Twister and The Five Year Engagement. However, in Always Be My Maybe, you’ll recognize the beautiful park where Sasha takes Marcus as her date to a red carpet event.
Address: 3601 Lyon St, San Francisco, CA 94123
3. Pier 7
Pier 7 is the exact location where Macrus teaches Sasha how to fish. However, during their fishing experience, Marcus receives terrible news about his mother.
Address: Pier 7, San Francisco, CA 94105
The Parent Trap (1998)
1. Administrative Building on Treasure Island
From the movie The Parent Trap, the fictional Stafford Hotel was actually an Administrative Building located on Treasure Island. However, only the exterior scenes for the fictional hotel were filmed here, all interior scenes were filmed in a Ritz-Carlton hotel in Los Angeles. If you’re in San Francisco, I recommend visiting Treasure Island, and while you’re there, you can snap a photo in front of the “fictional” hotel from the movie!
Address: 1 Avenue of the Palms, San Francisco, CA 94130
Rise of the Planet of Apes
Rise of the Planet of Apes creates a modern twist on the cult sci-fi classic. Throughout the movie, you’ll see the San Francisco, California downtown skyscrapers and the San Francisco Zoo. However, if you’re looking to join Caesar’s group, the Muir Woods, located right across the Golden Gate Bridge, is where the Apes form their prosperous community.
1. Muir Woods
Located right over the Golden Gate Bridge from downtown San Francisco is Muir Woods. You’ll recognize Muir Woods from the scene in Rise of the Planet of Apes, where the Apes form their team.
Address: Mill Valley, CA 94941
2. San Francisco Zoo
At the San Francisco Zoo, you’ll recognize this location from the movie where the Apes free their fellow primates during the uprising. If you want to enter the San Francisco Zoo, you will have to purchase tickets for entry.
Address: Sloat Blvd &, Upper Great Hwy, San Francisco, CA 94132
Final Thoughts
San Francisco, California is such a beautiful city with so many things to do and see! From infamous filming locations, sight-seeing, attractions, and so much more! Which of these listed television shows or movies are your favorite? Based on your favorite television show or movie, what exterior location are you looking forward to seeing most from your favorite show or movie? Let me know in the comments, I’d love to hear from you!
If you’re planning a trip to San Francisco, California, be sure to check out my Ultimate 21 Things to Do in San Francisco travel guide, where you’ll find all the fun things to do from a former local!
