It is situated on the coastline, along Bramble Bay part of Moreton Bay. The western border of the suburb is marked by the Gateway Motorway. The town became a popular destination for the people of Brisbane in the early 20th century and remains popular due to its coastline, including Lovers Walk along the bay between Sandgate and neighboring Shorncliffe as well as Moora Park and Beach.
The Shorncliffe railway line (part of the Queensland Rail City network) enters the suburb from the southwest (Deagon) and exits to the south (Shorncliffe) with Sandgate railway station in Chubb Street off Rainbow Street serving the suburb.
Dowse Lagoon is in the centre of the suburb was officially named on 15 November 1975 after Thomas Dowse who settled in the Sandgate area in 1853. Einbunpin Lagoon is a smaller lagoon to the southeast of Dowse Lagoon.
Sandgate has a number of heritage-listed sites which includes 1 Bowser parade the former Sandgate Post Office, 5 Brighton Road the former Sandgate Town Hall, Sandgate War Memorial park, Broadhurst Sandgate, and 6-8 flinders parade the former Sandgate baptist church.
There is Sandgate State school and Sacred Heart Primary school.
Most of Sandgate's facilities are located along Brighton Road, the main street in Sandgate, which includes numerous banks, shops, services, and a small shopping centre anchored by a Woolworths supermarket. The Sandgate railway station is a short walk from these facilities. In 2009, the Sandgate Post Office was relocated to other premises and the heritage-listed building was sold. It was subsequently renovated and is now operating as the 4017 Bar & Grill.
Recreational facilities in Sandgate include numerous parks, walking and bike tracks, and a municipal swimming pool on Flinders Parade.
A number of sports teams represent the local area, including the Sandgate-Redcliffe Gators and Sandgate Football Club.
The Police and Citizens Youth Club (PCYC) is located next to playing fields at the western end of Kempster Street. It runs regular Blue Light Discos and other social events and is a centre for gymnastics, martial arts training, and other sports.
Operating out of the PCYC is the Shorncliffe Pottery Club which started in nearby Shorncliffe over 30 years ago, and after some years at Sandgate Town Hall relocated to the PCYC. The Shorncliffe Pottery Club holds an annual exhibition named Expressions at Sandgate Town Hall each October, as well as participating with other local arts organisations, such as Sandgate Art Society (SasArt) and the Deagon-based Artrageous, in staging other art and culture events, including those which are part of the Bluewater Festival in the week before Easter each year.