Is San Francisco always foggy? NO! San Francisco sees some foggy days, but its sunsets are some of the most colorful in the world. For proof, just scroll through this gallery of the best San Francisco sunsets of 2023.

Our sunsets are magic! Each one is a unique masterpiece. Sunset chasing has become my daily ritual and 2023 was the year I decided to start taking it a little more seriously. (I finally got a camera.) Here’s a collection of my favorite photos from the past year, some taken with my phone and some with the Fujifilm X100V.

All photos in this post were taken by me except for my witchy moment above, which was captured by my talented friend Mandeep. (Follow her on IG @ mcshakkar and while you’re at it, follow my blogstagram @ californiawitchcraft and my personal account @ unicornface!)

All aboard the sunset lovers express!

A city full of beautiful sunset views awaits!

San Francisco’s legendary Cliff House is the perfect place to watch the waves:

I caught my favorite sunset of the year at the Cliff House! Check it out:

Here’s the sunset view over Seal Rocks:

San Francisco is a great place for birdwatching. We are located next to the Farallon Islands National Wildlife Refuge, which is home to the largest seabird nesting colony in the contiguous U.S.!

By the way, if a bird poops on you, it brings good luck! Some say that when a bird poops on you, it means you are about to receive an unexpected windfall. I can confirm this is true – it has happened to me twice!

Snowy plovers are some of our most iconic residents.

POV: you’re watching the sunset with three little birds.

This bird is a paid actor and model:

There are always plenty of birds to keep you company here:

Speaking of the Farallon Islands: on a clear day, their silhouette can be seen from San Francisco.

I am physically incapable of seeing them without saying, “Arr matey, thar be the Devil’s Teeth!” (That’s another name for the Farallons.)

Every year San Francisco gets approximately one week of summer weather, usually around October. This year did not disappoint, and I took full advantage of it with a beach bonfire!

During San Francisco’s summer I hiked south from Ocean Beach to Pacifica and was rewarded with epic views!

Back to Seal Rocks – here’s another summer sunset view!

With dramatic views like this, it’s easy to see why the area is a hotspot for sunset chasers.

Here’s the view from another local landmark, the Giant Camera:

Nearby Lands End is an iconic San Francisco sunset spot.

Lands End boasts popular hiking trails, scenic beaches and sweeping views of the San Francisco Bay.

The Golden Gate Bridge can be seen from Lands End:

Mile Rock Beach is one of San Francisco’s hidden gems.

Even on foggy days there’s a lot to see at Mile Rock Beach. If you’re lucky you might see starfish!

Hiking closer to the Golden Gate Bridge, I caught some pretty sweet views.

It’s possible to walk around the entire edge of San Francisco for views of the coast!

Fisherman’s Wharf has beautiful views (and In-N-Out).

Here’s the wackiest sunset I saw this year in the Sunset District. For a second I thought the clouds were UFOs!

The Sunset District has a well-deserved name.

The Sunset District has its foggy days, but not as often as most people seem to think.

Golden Gate Park has excellent sunset views too.

Street lights look like works of art when the sun sets here.

This is a sign to stop and appreciate the sunsets more often.

I love seeing tree silhouettes surrounded by dramatic sunsets!

Our sunsets can even make a chain link fence look pretty:

Golden hour is pure magic in San Francisco.

Here’s a view of the moonrise during the super blue moon!

When the moon is full, it lights up the sky.

The moonrise is my favorite part of the sunset.

I couldn’t choose a favorite photo of this sunset.

I love it when the sky glows a soft shade of pink.

Pink clouds are my favorite!

More of my favorite moon moments:

I never get tired of seeing the moon over the ocean.

Sometimes our sunsets are soft:

Sometimes the whole sky lights up with neon colors:

Sometimes the sky turns orange:

Pink clouds are my favorite sight at sunset!

Purple sunsets are an ethereal sight to see!

Sometimes the skies turn into perfect pastels.

The waves make trippy patterns in the sand.

The soft sand on Ocean Beach often reflects the clouds above.

San Francisco sees lots of cool clouds.

Ocean Beach often sees dramatic god rays shining through the clouds.

Look at these lovely waves!

Ocean Beach is also a great place to watch talented surfers.

You might even see a paraglider! It looks fun (if you’re brave).

California sunsets create beautiful gradients when the sky is clear.

In springtime, flowers pop up all over the sand dunes to add extra color.

The sun can be bright when there’s no fog.

Even the foggy days are beautiful.