San Francisco has a reputation for high prices, and hotels and dinners earn it. Many of the city’s best sights are free, though, and a day built around walking, parks and a free museum can feel as full as one built around paid tickets.
In this guide
This guide is part of our San Francisco attractions hub. For the full list of discounted museum days, see free museum days in San Francisco.
Walk the Golden Gate Bridge
There is no charge to walk the bridge. Pedestrians use the east sidewalk, which is open in daylight hours that change with the season. The full crossing is about 1.7 miles each way. The Golden Gate Bridge guide has the hours and the best places to stand.
Hike Lands End
The Lands End trail runs along the cliffs in the northwest corner of the city, with views of the bridge and the Marin Headlands. The round trip is about 3 miles. Start at the Lands End Lookout visitor center, walk down to the Sutro Baths ruins and follow the coastal path east toward Eagle’s Point.
See the Painted Ladies
The row of Victorian houses on Steiner Street faces Alamo Square, and the park on the hill gives you the classic view with the downtown towers behind them. The houses are private homes, so stay on the sidewalk. Read more in our Painted Ladies guide.
Watch the sea lions at Pier 39
Sea lions started hauling out on the K-Dock at Pier 39 after the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, and they are still there most of the year. Viewing is free. Nearby, Musée Mécanique at Pier 45 is free to enter, and you only pay for the antique arcade games you play. See the Pier 39 guide.
Spend a day in Golden Gate Park
Golden Gate Park covers 1,017 acres, and most of it is free to wander. JFK Drive is car free through the eastern part of the park. You can walk to Stow Lake, the bison paddock and the windmills near Ocean Beach without paying anything. The Japanese Tea Garden, the Conservatory of Flowers and the museums charge admission.
Climb to the free viewpoints
Twin Peaks, Bernal Heights Park and Corona Heights each give a wide view of the city at no cost. The base of Coit Tower has 1930s murals that are free to see on the ground floor. The elevator to the top costs extra. Our guide to the best views in San Francisco lists more.
Visit the Cable Car Museum
The Cable Car Museum on Mason Street in Nob Hill is free. From the viewing gallery you can watch the wheels and cables that pull the cars up the hills. The cable car guide explains how the system works.
Use free museum days
The de Young and the Legion of Honor are free on the first Tuesday of every month for permanent collection galleries, and free on Saturdays for residents of the nine Bay Area counties. The Asian Art Museum is free on the first Sunday of the month. Special exhibitions usually cost extra on free days.
Walk the Mission murals
Balmy Alley and Clarion Alley in the Mission are lined with murals, and you can see them on your own at any time. Dolores Park, a few blocks away, has one of the best lawn views of the skyline.
Official resources: Golden Gate Bridge, Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco free admission, Lands End, National Park Service, San Francisco Recreation and Parks.
Frequently asked questions
Is it free to walk the Golden Gate Bridge?
Yes. Walking and biking are free. The toll applies only to vehicles heading south into the city.
Are any San Francisco museums always free?
The Cable Car Museum and Musée Mécanique are free to enter. Others have free days, which are listed in our free museum days guide.
What is free to do at night?
Walking the Embarcadero under the lit Bay Bridge or looking over the city lights from Twin Peaks costs nothing. See things to do in San Francisco at night.
Photo credits
Featured image: Bernard Gagnon / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0; Walk the Golden Gate Bridge: Christoph Strässler / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0; Hike Lands End: Gregory Varnum / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0; Watch the sea lions at Pier 39: Oren Rozen / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0; Use free museum days: Mark Miller / Wikimedia Commons, Public domain.