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Top Filming locations in San Francisco, CA

SuperHost
SF Photo Studio: White Walls, Lights & Backdrops
  • $25/hr
  • New
  • 4.9 (39)
  • 39
  • Instant book
  • Responds within a day
  • San Francisco, CA
SuperHost
Sunny, Serene Dogpatch Photo Studio
  • $125/hr
  • New
  • 5.0 (11)
  • 11
  • Instant book
  • Responds within a few hours
  • San Francisco, CA
SuperHost
Newly remodeled classic San Francisco house
  • $75/hr
  • New
  • 5.0 (7)
  • 7
  • Instant book
  • Responds within 1 hr
  • San Francisco, CA
SuperHost
Studio 3 "Creative Lab"
  • $125/hr
  • New
  • 5.0 (5)
  • 5
  • Instant book
  • Responds within a few hours
  • San Francisco, CA
SuperHost
Daylight Photo Studios in SF
  • $150/hr
  • New
  • 5.0 (2)
  • 2
  • Instant book
  • Responds within a few hours
  • San Francisco, CA
SuperHost
Bright Daylight Photo Studio
  • $100/hr
  • New
  • 5.0 (2)
  • 2
  • Instant book
  • Responds within a few hours
  • San Francisco, CA
SuperHost
Converted warehouse space
  • $250/hr
  • New
  • 5.0 (0)
  • Instant book
  • Responds within 1 hr
  • San Francisco, CA
SuperHost
Bright Photo Studio near Downtown San Francisco
  • $85/hr
  • New
  • 5.0 (0)
  • Instant book
  • Responds within 1 hr
  • San Francisco, CA
SuperHost
The Gold Bar/Sky Bar
  • $741/hr
  • New
  • 5.0 (0)
  • Instant book
  • Responds within a few hours
  • San Francisco, CA
SuperHost
Beautiful & Historic Theater
  • $1545/hr
  • New
  • 5.0 (0)
  • Instant book
  • Responds within a few hours
  • San Francisco, CA

How to find Filming locations in San Francisco, CA
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Frequently Asked Questions about Filming venues

Do I need my own production or event insurance in San Francisco?
Yes. All renters are required to carry Comprehensive Liability and Property Damage insurance with liability coverage of no less than $1,000,000.
What protection plans are available for bookings in San Francisco on Giggster?
Giggster offers Damage Protection coverage that you can add to a booking at checkout. Learn more about Giggster's Damage Protection coverage.
What types of locations can I book in San Francisco?
You can choose from 42 types! Just search for locations in San Francisco at giggster.com, then click 'Filters' to look for something specific.
How many Filming locations are available in San Francisco?
Right now, there are 266 Filming locations available in San Francisco.
What payment methods does Giggster accept for San Francisco bookings?
You can pay for your booking with a credit card, or with ACH or wire transfer for bookings over $4k.
What is the cancellation policy for San Francisco guests on Giggster?
Refund options vary, based on when the booking is canceled. Learn more about Giggster's cancellation and refund policy.
What are the cleaning and safety policies for San Francisco locations on Giggster?
Now more than ever, your health and safety is our number one priority. We've outlined specific health and safety requirements for both hosts and guests. Learn more about Giggster's COVID-19 Health & Safety Measures.
What locations available near San Francisco?
You'll find up to 42 different types of locations in San Francisco. Just start a search at giggster.com and narrow things down with the 'Filter' option.
Is there an extra cost to add more attendees to my San Francisco booking?
Yes. Pricing tiers are based on group size. For example, if you booked a space for a group of 1-5 for $30/hr, the price per person is $6/hr. Each additional person would increase the rate by $6/hr.
How much are average location rentals in San Francisco?
Rental rates vary with the type and features of the location, but the average rate in San Francisco is $299 per hour.
Why should I choose Giggster over other platforms offering rentals in San Francisco?
Giggster's got your back — and we know our stuff. Our Customer Support team is knowledgeable and accessible, we offer white glove Select service to help you find the perfect location, and we're experts on the unique needs of production teams.
What is the price range for Filming locations in San Francisco, CA?
Booking prices vary with the property type, features, and rental length, but generally a 1-hour booking will be in the range of $25 to $1545.
Which Filming locations are most popular in San Francisco, CA in 2024?
How do I book a San Francisco location on Giggster?
When you find the right venue, you can connect with the host to get additional info and work out the details. Once everything is all set, you can book and pay for the location in a couple of clicks. Learn more about booking locations.
How do I cancel a San Francisco reservation request?
You can contact our team to request a cancellation. Learn more about our cancellation policy.

Have a question about Filming in San Francisco, CA? Ask our City Guides

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Find Filming locations in San Francisco, CA

About San Francisco

Over the years, filming in San Francisco has given us many opportunities to see parts of San Francisco on the big screen. Hit movies like "Mrs. Doubtfire" and "The Wedding Planner," for example, have given us a glimpse at San Francisco's many charming neighborhoods, including City Hall, Leavenworth Street, Mount Davidson, and the Excelsior district. And, of course, there's the famous Golden Gate Bridge...a modern spectacle that's been in too many movies to count!

So many movies have been set in San Francisco like "Sister Act," "Rise of the Planet of the Apes," "The Pursuit of Happyness," and "The Princess Diaries" that you might think there is nowhere new to shoot your next Steve McQueen car chase sequence but filmmakers manage to find new movie locations every time!

Pacific Heights, Alamo Square, Nob Hill, and Alcatraz aka "The Rock" all have both iconic and yet-to-be-discovered angles perfect for your next project. Make sure you check them out along with less-used places like Fisherman's Wharf, The Mission District, and Vallejo.

Many influential car chases that look more like a roller coaster ride have been shot here but made to look like other locations as SF streets are the perfect location for car chases!

With so many famous sets and so many unique venues, it's no wonder that San Francisco fliming locations are a film-production company's dream, with plenty of options for sets, production companies, and attractions.

Production Options in San Francisco

Unique Venues

San Francisco has many local options for film production, including homes, film studios, standings sets, industrial warehouses, and more.

It has noteworthy places with its own unique aesthetic, glamorously modern mansions, lofts, studios, beaches, parks, and even luxurious yachts.

Caterers

In San Francisco, you can have drop-off catering - perfect for a quick on-set lunch - or even employ a full-service caterer for a post-film celebration. Many caterers will even work with you to create a custom menu.

Transportation

San Francisco has wonderful transportation options, from cabs and cars, to bikes, buses, and trains, you’ll have no problem getting from point A to B.

Equipment rental

Need equipment for your San Francisco film production? You'll find everything you need - from printers and projectors to lighting equipment and more - with San Francisco’s abundance of equipment rental options.

Production Companies in San Francisco

While many think of southern California for film producers, you can certainly find them in San Francisco, too. Here are a few well worth a mention.

Studio B Films

Studio B Films is a nationally-acclaimed video production company headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area.

They’ve produced web commercials, event videos, corporate media communications, coverage of live events, and more, and have worked with reputable clients including Adobe, Grammarly, and Facebook.

The Hive Studios

With a mission to inspire positive change through film, The Hive creates branding videos, commercials, and documentaries, for anyone with a message. They'll work with you every step of the way, from the conception of your idea, to its completion.

Purposeful Films

Having worked with clients around the world for almost 20 years, Purposeful Films has been noted as one of the leading video production and digital media companies in San Francisco.

They'll start by consulting with you on how to best captivate your audience, and work backward until they come up with something that does.

Pros and Cons of Filming in San Francisco

Filming in San Francisco is not without its own unique pros and cons. Here are a few to consider.

Advantages

  • Great weather
    The weather is nice. There aren’t many rainy days and the summers are cool. Not only does nicer weather make most things easier, but shooting several scenes outdoors in San Francisco is possible most days of the year.

  • Things to see
    There’s a diverse mix of architecture around this charming city. This keeps things intriguing and interesting on the shooting location. There are also tons of well-known locations like the Bay Bridge, The Presidio Potrero Hill, Coit Tower and 2640 Steiner Street, better known as Mrs Doubtfire's house. Many movie watchers love to see places they know or hear of on the big screen and this is more than doable when filming in San Francisco.

  • Great discounts
    Given the abundance of production companies and ancillary services in the San Francisco area, many businesses offer discounts to crews and production companies just to compete. You can get discounts on many film production services, flights from airlines, rooms from local hotels, and even city tours.

Disadvantages

  • Hidden Fees
    There’s often a daily fee each day for filming and parking. And application fees are often required when requesting police support--such as when booking a high-traffic spot.

  • Strict Rules
    Given San Francisco's commitment to reducing its environmental impact, there are now specific requirements in place for 'green filming,' to keep San Francisco's actual historic locations sustainable.

  • Bad Traffic
    While San Francisco has plenty of transportation services and options, traffic can get a little dense, especially during rush hour. Alas, the time it might take for you to get around needs to be considered.

Famous Film Locations in San Francisco

San Francisco is filled with tons of historical film locations, backdrop landmarks, and more.

These are perfect spots for evening get-togethers, cast outings, or general movie-buff excursions after you've finished filming on set.

The city is filled with actors all the time and you may be lucky enough to spot Melanie Griffith, Anne Hathaway, Michael Keaton, Michael Douglas, or even Tom Hardy while you are filming your own movie on Chestnut Street or Alamo Square Park!

Actors of old that have filmed here include Al Capone, Sean Connery, and Robin Williams as well. Francis Ford Coppola was fond of filming here too.

You may recognize some San Francisco locations in films and TV shows like "Pacific Rim," "Basic Instinct," "Joy Luck Club," "Dirty Harry, and "Full House," and "Fuller House," featuring the endearing Tanner family.

Look out for the San Francisco war memorial, Fort Point, Guadalupe Canyon Parkway and Steiner St!

The Golden Gate Bridge

Let’s start with an iconic landmark that’s known around the world: The Golden Gate Bridge, the bright-orange behemoth.

The Golden Gate Bridge has been around for more than 80 years and has been seen in countless movies including "Star Trek," "Dirty Harry," Alfred Hitchcock’s "Vertigo," John Huston’s crime classic "The Maltese Falcon," and of course, the opening credits of "Full House" and "Fuller House."

San Francisco City Hall

San Francisco’s elegant City Hall has been a backdrop in several hit movies. You can spot it in "The Wedding Planner" with Jennifer Lopez and Matthew McConaughey, and in the classic "Dirty Harry" with Clint Eastwood.

Chinatown

San Francisco Chinatown, the largest outside of Asia and the oldest in North America is filled with attractions, culture, and history.

It too has been in its fair share of blockbuster films including "Dirty Harry in The Dead Pool," "The Age of Adaline," and "Big Trouble in Little China."

Alcatraz

The notorious Alcatraz island penitentiary is one of the city's most well-known landmarks. With a lighthouse, fortified rock wall, and an ocean moat, this site has contained some of the world's worst criminals and is a near-perfect setting for a crime film.

It comes as no surprise that it has been featured in movies like "Escape from Alcatraz," Sean Connery's "The Rock," and "Birdman of Alcatraz."

Golden Gate Park

Museums, lush gardens, over 1,000 acres of space, and a convenient, urban location, Golden Gate Park is a top spot to shoot movie and TV show scenes in The Golden City.

This sprawling outdoor setting has been featured in several films over the years, including "Basic Instinct," "Contagion," and "Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home."

Palace of Fine Arts

Ancient Rome-themed Palace of Fine Arts is an iconic city structure that's not only a popular tourist destination but also a favorite filming location in the Bay Area.

The palace's prominent pillars and soaring rotunda, and the sparkling lagoons that surround it provide a dramatic backdrop for productions and photo shoots alike.

This larger-than-life architectural masterpiece has been shown in scenes in "So I Married an Axe Murderer," "Vertigo", "The Rock," and "Bicentennial Man."