Affluent yacht-oriented community in Marin County
Located within a hilly peninsula surrounded on three sides by water, Tiburon is a coveted Marin County town where residents come to enjoy a luxurious bayside lifestyle. “Tiburon is a yacht-oriented community with signature views, showcase homes and the best schools in Marin County,” says Whitney Potter, founder of Own Marin Real Estate. “You'll find an international community here, as well as people concerned about having a short-as-possible commute to San Francisco.” Snuggled between the 101, Richardson and San Francisco bays, Corte Madera and Mill Valley, Tiburon is a 30-minute ferry ride from San Francisco’s Ferry Building. Residents flock here for its coastal community essence, with shoreline parks, sprawling hillside housing and a fishing village-style Main Street lined with quaint boutiques and restaurants. Whether it's at one of Tiburon’s many hilltop residences, dockside eateries or world-famous yacht clubs, the town offers some of the best and most panoramic views of the Bay Area — from neighboring Angel Island to the San Francisco skyline and Golden Gate Bridge.
Nature preserves and beach parks
Tiburon is abundant with outdoor recreational possibilities, from parks to nature preserves and shoreline beaches. Blackie’s Pasture, a small park known for its iconic statue of a swaybacked local horse, offers hiking and biking trails, picnic areas and a playground. More open green space, trails and wildlife sightings are possible at the 385-acre Ring Mountain Preserve or 122-acre Old St. Hilary’s Preserve, where a scenic creek runs through rolling grasslands. Residents can fish, picnic or kayak at the 19-acre Paradise Beach Park or head to Angel Island for bayview trails that display swarms of blooming native wildflowers in the spring and summer. Looking out toward the Richmond Bridge, Paradise Cay Yacht Harbor is Tiburon’s only public marina, with 200-plus berths. There’s a friendly vibe amongst boat owners here, but for a more structured social vibe, with a regular race schedule and a full events calendar, residents can join local clubs like the longstanding Corinthian Yacht Club, founded in 1886.
Stately hillside homes with waterside views
Tiburon's views, location and yachting lifestyle are highly sought-after, and its real estate is priced to match. One-bedroom condos can start at around $600,000, while three-bedroom luxury condos can go up to $3.8 million. These higher-priced options typically feature panoramic views and condominium amenities, including a community pool and spa. Single-family home prices vary widely, ranging from $1.4 million for one-level homes and up to $20 million for sprawling mansions on multiple acres of secluded land. Smaller single-level homes are often tucked away on the lower winding slopes of the hillsides, surrounded by lush, overgrown greenery. Other larger, two to three-level properties sit atop the hills and commonly feature entertainment decks and grand windows for showcasing prime waterside views. Typical housing styles in Tiburon include mid-century, contemporary, Spanish Mediterranean and modern new-builds that often feature open-concept interiors with grand floor-to-ceiling windows.
Downtown block parties and community parades
Tiburon residents participate in many annual community events, including the popular Memorial Day Parade. Taking place at Blackie’s Pasture, the event begins with a decoration station for residents to deck out their bikes, strollers and scooters before riding in the parade and ending with a community picnic. Springtime brings residents and locals from all over Marin County for the Spring Carnival and Egg Hunt at Tiburon’s prominent community center, The Ranch. The event features an egg hunt, bounce houses, face painting and a children’s music concert. On the final Friday of each month, from May through September, downtown Main Street is closed to traffic for Friday Night on Main. Here, neighbors can sit outside, enjoy food and drinks from local restaurants, and listen to live music from local performers.
Dockside seafood eateries and local markets
Tiburon’s coastal scenery is well displayed throughout the area’s many bayside restaurants like The Caprice Seafood and Steakhouse, a romantic standby for American classics. The more casual Sam’s Anchor Café is long famous for its fresh seafood, cocktails and huge dockside deck that overlooks Angel Island. Going more inland, local favorite eateries include the farm-to-table Tiburon Tavern and sustainable seafood spot Luna Blu, both owned by Sicilian-born chefs. More eateries and shopping opportunities, including vintage boutiques and local retail stores, are well-populated along Tiburon’s Main Street district. Residents can grab groceries at Woodlands Market on Tiburon Boulevard or at the family-owned and -operated Nugget Markets, which focuses on Bay Area-made products.
Top-rated public schools with dual enrollment classes
Public students have access to some of the best-rated schools in Marin County. Students can attend Bel Aire Elementary and Del Mar Middle School, both of which get an A-score from Niche. Tiburon high schoolers can attend the A-plus-rated Redwood High School, which offers advanced college prep classes. When opting for a private high school option, the A-plus-rated Marin Academy is 10 miles away in San Rafael. It’s ranked the #24 best private high school in California by Niche.com.
Ferry services and public bus options
Tiburon Boulevard is the town’s main thoroughfare that leads to Highway 101 for traveling and commuting around the Peninsula. Numerous Golden Gate Transit bus stops along Tiburon Boulevard have routes that head to nearby Caltrain and BART stations, while the Tiburon Ferry Landing is located downtown. This popular ferry service takes locals directly to and from the San Francisco Ferry Building. The closest airport is the San Francisco International Airport, 29 miles south of Tiburon. Residents can book nearby shuttle services that take Marin County locals to and from the airport.
