Golden Gate Park

Whether you’re new to the city or simply exploring your own backyard, there are a plentitude of attractions in San Francisco that won't break the bank! In addition to a robust list of free places to visit, San Francisco offers discount days for residents throughout the year which offer free admission to various venues. San Francisco is known for its diverse population, its decadent summers, countless landmarks, architecture, fog and rolling hills. You are sure to enjoy this list of 25 destinations and activities that will entertain your family for free while exploring the City by the Bay.

1. Hop on a cable car and ride over to the Cable Car Museum! Learn about the mechanics behind a typical ride throughout the city, including the tools and machinery such as the gears, pulleys, and active sheaves are housed and used below the streets of San Francisco. Check out the array of antique cable cars and photographs on exhibit throughout the museum.
2. Stop over at the Fishermans Wharf check out the playfulness and noisy barking of Sea Lions at Pier 39. While there has been a rise and a fall with the the plentitude of sea lions sunning themselves on the pier during their migration, it is worth a look to see if they are basking in their glory on the docks. Check out the live video cam on the link above to see if the seals are active before you visit!
3. Learn about San Francisco's rich Chinese history at the Chinese Cultural Center. Enjoy contemporary art exhibits and cultural performances which highlight the vast and ever expanding community of Chinese artists.
4. Spend your Sundays at Golden Gate Park in the months of April through October and enjoy free Band Concerts at the Music Concourse. While at the park, you are sure to find some thing to do on the 1,017 acres of gardens, playgrounds, lakes, picnic groves, hiking trails, frisbee golf course and monuments available for you and your family to explore.
5. Embark on a volunteer-led guided tour of San Francisco. Choose from over 30 different 1-2 hour tours that are offered. With all of the time slots available and spots to explore, you are sure to find something that suits your interest on a regular basis.
6. Enjoy free samples on Tuesdays and Saturdays while your explore the Ferry Building Marketplace. Saturdays are a prime time to increase your chances of running into some of San Francisco’s best known chefs, and most famous farmers, throughout the marketplace. Learn about food and agriculture.
7. Expand your scientific mind at the California Academy of Sciences. This grand facility is home to the world's largest all digital planetarium, a four-story dome which explores the rainforests of the world, an aquarium and a natural history museum. The Museum offers two programs with multiple opportunities to enjoy free admission: 1. the Neighborhood Free Weekends provides all San Francisco residents with free admission on two designated weekends each year in fall and spring, determined by zip code of residence thanks to generous support from Target. 2. Quarterly Free Sundays offers free admission to the general public four Sundays a year.
8. Fort Point Built in 1861 to protect the city from - get this - Confederate attacks that never came, Fort Point is now more famous as the spot where Kim Novak lept into the frigid waters of the bay in Hitchcock’s Vertigo. It’s an ideal vantage point for views of the Golden Gate Bridge if you aren’t up to the walk across.

1. Heard of Buffalo at Golden Gate ParkHere you can visit a roaming herd of buffalo that have been in the park since 1892.

2. Musée MécaniqueVisit this location to see a broad array of different arcade games all gathered into one location. Have fun watching others try to beat the games or bring a few quarters to give them a try yourself.
3. Walk the Golden Gate BridgeIf you want to experience going across the bridge but want to avoid the hefty toll this is a great option. This walk is going to be about 1.7 miles in length.
4. Wave OrganVisit the giant Wave Organ that makes music based on San Francisco Bay’s movements. The sound comes out of pipes and concrete.

5. Golden Gate Park When weather cooperates, the 1017-acre park of redwood, green meadows, and museums is an unreal setting to laze half a San Francisco day. Plus a lot is free, including weekly concerts and events like Hardly Strictly Bluegrass and Shakespeare in the Park. But better yet there are free lawn bowling lessons every Wednesday at noon. Yes, some dreams do come true.

6. Asian Art MuseumThis museum is free on the first Tuesday of each month. It offers a wide array of different collections of Asian art, ceramics, textiles, paintings, and more.
7. de Young MuseumVisit this sculpture garden that is located in Golden Gate park. The museum is free the first Tuesday of each month.
8. Oakland Museum of CaliforniaThis gallery has different exhibits exploring the different ecosystems throughout California. It also has different art exhibits and artifacts from the history of the state. Entrance is free the second Sunday of the month.
9. The Wave Organ is a sound system of PVC tubes and concrete pipes capped with marble from an old cemetery built right into the tip of the Marina Boat Harbor jetty. Tones shift depending on waves, winds and tide - sounding alternately like spooky breathing on a phone to nervous humming of a dinnertime line chef.
10. San Francisco Maritime National Historic ParkVisit this park to see historic ships that are docked with a view of the Golden Gate Bridge. It is free to visit all year round.
11. Lombard StreetIf you have a car on your trip this is a great thing to do. Many people have seen this street in the movies, why not experience it? Have fun driving down the extremely crooked road.
12. San Francisco Railway MuseumThis museum focuses on the history of transportation in San Francisco. The museum is only open Wednesday – Sunday from 10am-6pm.
13. Grabhorn InstituteIf you are a book lover this is a must while in San Francisco. Come and see a free gallery including rare books, printing facilities, and typefaces.
14. Museo ItaloAmericanoThis museum focuses on the Italian American culture and lifestyle. It includes different works of art and is free Tuesday – Sunday from noon until 4 pm.
15. Mocha Museum of Children’s ArtThe gallery has free admission but if you are interested in going into the studio for the young artists you will need to pay $5.
16. Chabot Space and Science CenterTake a 180 degree look at the evening sky for free. Come on Friday or Saturday evenings for this free show. It is open from dusk -10:30pm April to October and 7:30pm -10:30pm November to march.
17. San Francisco ZooVisit your favorite animals for free on the first Wednesday of each month.
18. Steinhart AquariumCome and visit all the different sea life at this aquarium. Admission is free on the first Wednesday of each month.
19. Bay Area Discovery MuseumThis museum is geared toward children including a bunch of different hands-on attractions for the kids. Admission is free on the second Saturday of the month between 1 and 5 pm.
20. Go SailingYou can go on a free introductory boat ride with the Cal Sailing Club on certain Sundays about once a month between 1 and 4pm. See site for schedule.
21. San Francisco Botanical GardensCome view the beautiful plants that cover over 55 acres of land. Tours are offered Monday through Friday at 10:30 am and 1:30pm. Weekend tours are only offered at 1:30pm.
22. Yerba Buena GardensThis garden has a waterfall, art display, and memorial to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Admission is always free between the hours of 6am and 10pm.
23. Lindy in the ParkAttend a free swing dance party every Sunday between 11 am and 2pm at the Golden Gate Park.
24. Pier 39Walk to the end of the Pier made famous for the Sea Lions.
25. Coit TowerVisit this historic landmark created in 1933 at the top of telegraph hill. The tower is 210 feet tall and has different murals inside it.
26. Jelly Belly FactoryIf you love Jelly Beans this is a great tour to go on. Go inside the inner workings of this famous jelly bean company and even receive a free Jelly Belly sample for going on the tour. All tours and visits to the factory are free.
27. Anchor Steam FactoryTours of this brewery must be scheduled 3-6 weeks in advance of your planned visit. The tour will take 2 hours and is completely free including samples.