The Bay Lights
The Bay Lights
4.5
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The area
Address
Neighbourhood: Bayview
How to get there
- Carroll • 6 min walk
- Williams • 7 min walk
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4.5
37 reviews
Excellent
25
Very good
10
Average
2
Poor
0
Terrible
0
Thomas V
Oakland, CA17,813 contributions
Nov 2020
Coming back to the East Bay at night, these lights along the Bay Bridge are splendid, a fabulous feature of the new span. Art in the form of street lights.
Written 9 December 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.
Richard R
Westminster, CO891 contributions
Apr 2018
In March, 2013, Leo Villareal unveiled an art project that captivated the world for two years. Then it faded from view. Villareal had placed a light art piece on the deck support cables of the San Francisco Bay Bridge and turned the structure into a captivating kinetic art light display. The display was so well received that a new foundation, Illuminate, brought the piece back to life in January, 2016 and now the Bay Lights will burn forever, dawn to dusk. There is no charge. The display runs from Treasure Island to the Embarcadero. You can see the display from nearly any place on the north side of the Bay. Your best views are from the Embarcadero, Treasure Island and many of the East facing hills in the city of San Francisco. From these locations you can see the flow of the lights moving across the bridge spans, capturing your imagination. Take the time to stop and really immerse yourself in what you are seeing. Stop and see the lights. Every so often a person or a city does something that is iconic. The Bay Lights is one of those things. Don't just see it in passing. Make the Bay Lights a destination and experience it. The experience will stay with you at some level for the rest of your life. Things can be done that have a positive effect on everyone who experiences it. Villareal and San Francisco got this one right. Stop and see the light the next time you are inn San Francisco. Cheers.
Written 23 May 2018
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.
lastword2016
Edinburgh, UK532 contributions
May 2018 • Couples
We took the City Sightseeing bus night tour. Our guide, Joseph, was full of fascinating information. What we were particularly looking forward to was a view of the Bay Bridge at night, lit up in all its finery! It was a magnificent sight, and provided us with some of the very best photos of our holiday. Although the bridge looks amazing during the day, it really comes into its own at night. It was a real thrill to drive over it in an open top bus, but the view of the bridge from the Oakland side back towards San Francisco was fabulous at night. Try not to miss it. Would definitely recommend.
Written 27 May 2018
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.
Belgo96
Brisbane, Australia3,446 contributions
Apr 2018 • Couples
During the day the San Francisco Oakland Bay Bridge is a highly functional, very busy, multi lane bridge transporting around 270,000 cars a day. It generally takes second place to people's 'favourite bridge' in the city, to the Golden Gate. However, at night, the Bay Bridge shines the brightest. The Golden Gate pales in comparison. View the Bay Bridge up close from the walkway along the Embarcadero. The lights glisten at night and it is really attractive.
Written 16 April 2018
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.
mini
Fremont, CA212,257 contributions
Jan 2015 • Couples
The Bay Bridge light show is a stunning show of lights. It was done as a celebration of the new Bay Bridge that was being built. There are more than 48,000 LED lights, that do a synchronized light show. The light show was designed by Moffat & Nichol and built by Nebraska-based Valmont Industries. It is lit at night. The original light show was planned to be lit up for s few years. Since everyone likes it so much, they plan to keep it and necessary funds of $4 million were raised so the lights can shine on.
We have enjoyed the Bay Bridge light show from restaurants at the Embarcadero area. Its also possible to see just by walking in some of the areas.
Its one of the stunning and in a way "must see" things to see at night. It has made the Bay Bridge area much more popular in San Francisco to see.
Some of the restaurants to see the Bay Bridge light show from are Chaya Brassirie (we once had dinner here with a stunning view - not all seats however have a view of the Bay Bridge), Epic, Waterbar, are among the places to see the view from.
We have enjoyed the Bay Bridge light show from restaurants at the Embarcadero area. Its also possible to see just by walking in some of the areas.
Its one of the stunning and in a way "must see" things to see at night. It has made the Bay Bridge area much more popular in San Francisco to see.
Some of the restaurants to see the Bay Bridge light show from are Chaya Brassirie (we once had dinner here with a stunning view - not all seats however have a view of the Bay Bridge), Epic, Waterbar, are among the places to see the view from.
Written 18 February 2015
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, CA17,813 contributions
Jul 2022
Never get tired of viewing these lights. I have seen them from a friend's apartment, but I think my favorite is just while driving on the bridge at night. A nice feature of the re-built bridge.
Written 4 August 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.
mini
Fremont, CA212,257 contributions
Dec 2019
At night, we enjoy seeing the Bay Lighs of the San Francisco Bay Bridge. This time we enjoyed the show from our seat at the Top of the Mark at the Mark Hopkins Hotel.
Written 8 January 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, CA17,813 contributions
Dec 2019
We were lucky to be able to see these gorgeous lights on the new bridge from our friend's apartment. You should go up to Twin Peaks or find a good bar with a view. Just lovely.
Written 30 December 2019
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.
Philip H
London, UK24 contributions
Aug 2018
With night closing in around 8.30pm / 9pm; I grabbed a quick Starbucks at the Wharf and sat at a bench to enjoy the Bay Lights - these were stunning to watch with a variety of display pieces. For free, it's great!
Written 12 August 2018
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.
Bahrain reviews
Manama, Bahrain3,260 contributions
Apr 2018 • Couples
We started our walk from pier towards embrocado and the views of the bridge and lights was really nice
Written 2 April 2018
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.
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