Transamerica Pyramid
A 48-story spire completed in 1972, the most recognizable landmark on the San Francisco skyline and a must-photograph in the Financial District.
The Transamerica Pyramid stands about 260 meters tall and was designed by architect William Pereira. Its slender four-sided pyramid shape and the two “wings” on either side, which house the elevator and stairwell shafts, make it instantly recognizable from any angle. It was long the tallest building in San Francisco.
The building is an office tower, and its top-floor observation deck is not open to the public. Visitors mainly take photos from below or relax in the free Transamerica Redwood Park green space beside the building. The best vantage points include the junction of Columbus Avenue and the North Beach area, Telegraph Hill where Coit Tower stands, and the top of Lombard Street, where you can frame the pyramid together with city streetscapes. It sits at the intersection of Montgomery Street and Columbus Avenue in the Financial District, a 10-minute walk from Chinatown and North Beach, so it's easy to combine with other sights. Allow 20 to 30 minutes for a visit.
Opening hours
Exterior viewable all day; interior not open to visitors
Nearby sights
- Chinatown, San Francisco
- San Francisco Cable Cars
- Exploratorium
- Coit Tower & North Beach
- Union Square
- Ferry Building Marketplace
- San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA)
- Fisherman's Wharf & Pier 39