Perched atop Telegraph Hill, Coit Tower offers some of the best views in the city. Take the elevator to the observation deck for a sweeping panorama of the Bay, the bridges, and the city skyline. Inside, the ground floor features Depression-era murals painted by local artists as part of a WPA project -- they are worth a look before heading up.
The tower was built in 1933 with funds left by Lillie Hitchcock Coit, a wealthy San Francisco eccentric who was passionate about the city's firefighters. Its fluted column shape has led to the popular (but disputed) claim that it was designed to resemble a fire hose nozzle.