San Francisco City Hall
San Francisco City Hall
4.5
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Monday
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Tuesday
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Wednesday
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Thursday
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Friday
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
About
The dome of this venerable Government building is a replica of the one crowning St. Peter's Basilica in Rome.
Duration: < 1 hour
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The area
Address
Neighborhood: Civic Center
Civic Center is the seat of power for all things government and performance-related in the city. Although its streets are best walked during daytime, numerous cultural gems are within close proximity to one another. The symphony, opera, ballet, and jazz center offer year round entertainment within the shadow of the city’s Beaux-Arts crown jewel: the gold tipped dome of City Hall.
How to get there
- Van Ness • 6 min walk
- Civic Center • 7 min walk
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
1,060 reviews
Excellent
584
Very good
387
Average
82
Poor
5
Terrible
2
ilostmylighters
Napa, CA32 contributions
May 2020
This place is especially beautiful at night when it is lit up in different colors . The inside absolutely stunning too . Lots of homeless and drug addicts facing away from the city hall so try to avoid that area if you are a tourist .
Written June 2, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Debbie N
37 contributions
Dec 2022 • Couples
What a wonderful wedding venue! Inexpensive;
beautiful building, inside and out. Check out the SF City Hall weddings website. My son and his fiancé chose the one hour $1,000 +wedding package, where up to 60 to 100 guests can be invited. You pay $3-$7 per seat rental. You arrange your minister, photographer, and musician if desired. Weddings are from M- F 9 am to 3 pm. SFCity Hall makes excellent recommendations for photographers who are very skilled to make the photos look like you’re the only ones present, even though the place is crowded with other wedding couples and their guests. There are many restaurants closeby for the reception. We chose Fogos, Brazilian Steakhouse nearby. It was a magical day!
beautiful building, inside and out. Check out the SF City Hall weddings website. My son and his fiancé chose the one hour $1,000 +wedding package, where up to 60 to 100 guests can be invited. You pay $3-$7 per seat rental. You arrange your minister, photographer, and musician if desired. Weddings are from M- F 9 am to 3 pm. SFCity Hall makes excellent recommendations for photographers who are very skilled to make the photos look like you’re the only ones present, even though the place is crowded with other wedding couples and their guests. There are many restaurants closeby for the reception. We chose Fogos, Brazilian Steakhouse nearby. It was a magical day!
Written April 14, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Arun K
Nagpur District, India3,374 contributions
Jul 2022 • Couples
The historic landmark , popularly known as People’s Palace , the San Francisco City Hall is a seat of government & county for San Francisco.
The attractive building, elegant hall with grand staircase & lavish rotunda, north & south luminous courts are perfect venues for events, weddings , parties, get together etc.
The environment of the hall make you happy during your stay.
The 107 years old building has been nicely maintained .
Please don’t forget to visit this place during your visit to San Francisco.
The admission is free .
The attractive building, elegant hall with grand staircase & lavish rotunda, north & south luminous courts are perfect venues for events, weddings , parties, get together etc.
The environment of the hall make you happy during your stay.
The 107 years old building has been nicely maintained .
Please don’t forget to visit this place during your visit to San Francisco.
The admission is free .
Written July 20, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jurgen B
Brussels, Belgium2,870 contributions
Apr 2024 • Family
The building is interesting, architecturally and historicly, but surrounded by thousands of homeless people. And they are more than that: 99% of them are clearly in a very bad state, totally drugged. As Europeans we can't understand that this city lets something like this happen. It's a disgrace.
Written May 13, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Guide61351524825
San Francisco, CA49 contributions
Sep 2023 • Couples
City Hall is my go-to location for taking my client's photos. While it's known for weddings and engagements, the lighting and architecture at City Hall make it an ideal setting for any type of photo. The only downside is that it's closed to the public on weekends.
Written September 16, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gagan_Gupta_1975
Macau, China635 contributions
Feb 2020
This is a must stop for most of the Tourist busses and the Hop on Hop off busses. You may get down to take some good pictures with and of the hall. You can walk around the hall to visit other monuments situated around this hall.
If you have time then you must visit the place in the evening when the lights glow and the Hall is lit in Multi color lights.
If you have time then you must visit the place in the evening when the lights glow and the Hall is lit in Multi color lights.
Written May 5, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thomas V
Oakland, CA17,572 contributions
Oct 2021
This is a very grand building, but you really must go inside to see the gorgeous staircase and other interior design. Watch the newlyweds pose for photos just like I did years ago. I was here for business, but I enjoyed it anyway.
Written October 16, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
CCPHOTOS
San Francisco, CA74 contributions
Aug 2022
Highly, highly recommend San Francisco City Hall for the lighting, architecture, and services. I was hired by a couple to capture their special moments during a civil ceremony. As you can see from the photos, the lighting was epic. Great place for elopements but just as great for taking individual, couple, and family photos! Chris
Written September 7, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ElvisAndrus
Arlington, TX912 contributions
Mar 2024 • Couples
I love this place. A big beautiful dome to behold. We went on a Friday and saw several people doing their wedding photos. It’s just kind of neat to walk around and each time I have been there. There has been an interesting set of exhibits including famous wedding certificates, some challenging contemporary art and more. Tours are available and I imagine they are wonderful, but I have not taken one.
Written May 18, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Cynthia F
Fair Lawn, NJ3,356 contributions
Nov 2021
You must visit this building if you're in the area.
Gorgeous interior.
Chosen as wedding venue by many couples, including my daughter.
We parked in the underground parking lot called Civic Center Garage right across from the building.
Gorgeous interior.
Chosen as wedding venue by many couples, including my daughter.
We parked in the underground parking lot called Civic Center Garage right across from the building.
Written November 4, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
When is the best day and time for a ceremony wedding here? Also how can you check the website for events so we don’t do it on a day of a event. We want to get married on top of the stairs :)
Written March 11, 2018
Call the city hall. you do have to make appointment with them.. the day we were there there was only 46 weddings that day.. I am told they have 100's in a day..
Written March 12, 2018
There is an underground parking lot across the street in SF..cost is a couple dollars an hour - very affordable!
Written March 6, 2018
What are some nice nearby cities to stay at for hotels when eloping? Looking for something nice but also something that has free parking
Written March 6, 2018
I agree that 'free parking' and "San Francisco" do not belong in the same sentence, sadly......
Written August 20, 2018
Are most weddings done at the top of the staircase??
Written December 2, 2017
actually weddings can be held all over the main floor and second floor. top or bottom of the main staircase, under the rotunda in front of the main council chambers and just about anywhere on the second level looking out over the main hall. it is a magnificent and spectacular space for the big day
Written December 2, 2017
Are most weddings done at the top of the staircase??
Written December 2, 2017
From what I recall some of the weddings were being done in the judges chambers but others were going on all over. I guess the best thing to do is to check with the individual judge.
Written December 2, 2017
A Tripadvisor member
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Hola chicos, ¿Cómo obtuvieron el tour gratis al City Hall? Gracias
Written March 3, 2017
Sorry for late reply.
There are tours at no costs. But you better walk around on your own. It's easy.
Written April 14, 2017
Hi there -
My fiance and I are getting married at City Hall this April. I am curious is anyone knows if the judges personalize the ceremony at all? We had a (short) reading we were hoping for, but didn't know if that was allowed. If not, it's not the end of the world - just trying to understand what to expect.
Lastly - we were hoping to request the 4th floor. Does anyone know how likely it is to get a special request granted? We're getting married on a Monday.
Thanks for your help and guidance!
Written January 14, 2017
Sorry but we were only there to visit and take pics. Did not ask any questions.
Written January 17, 2017
ShikhaSwaroop
San Francisco, California
Hi, I am a CA resident and have been married for some time but had a very simple court marriage in PA. My Wedding Anniversary is in Feb and I want to get a wedding photo shoot done in the beautiful SF City Hall, do I need any especial permissions or are there any restrictions that I need to be mindful of?
Thanks,
Tia
Written December 17, 2016
we found no issues, save for security kinda like tsa in that they checked bags and the like...very easy overall...good luck.
Written December 21, 2016
Hi, I am from Singapore and am researching on getting married in San Francisco City Hall this year. I understand from the SF County website that there are two appointments to be made 90 days in advance - first being the marriage license, and the latter being the civil ceremony. I am planning for a 2-weeks vacation in SF as this is the maximum number of days that I can get away from work. This is an important milestone in both my boyfriend's and my lives and we are a little disappointed that we are only able to obtain copies of the marriage certificate 2 to 4 weeks after the request. Is there any opportunities that we can get the marriage certificate before we leave the city? Also, I read that we will need to get the certified original "apostilled". Is it necessary to get this?
Please advise.
Liz
Written March 2, 2016
Do a internet browser search for the the web page of the SF City & County Government and go to County Clerk FAQ, Marriage Licenses & Ceremonies. Read through it and go to connected links for further information. I do not have legal advice for you. If you are in Singapore, go to the US Embassy, or the US Consulate Information Office and ask them for more information.
Written March 4, 2016
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