Where to go next
20+ free museums, hidden staircases, secret parks and viewpoints — hand-picked by your Free SF Tour guides.
Free museums & art
World-class art without the ticket price — just time it right.
Legion of Honor
European masterpieces in a neoclassical palace above Lands End. Free every first Tuesday of the month.
Open map →
Asian Art Museum
One of the world’s great Asian art collections, right by City Hall. Free the first Sunday of every month (normally $12).
Open map →
Cable Car Museum
Watch the actual cables that pull the cars whirring beneath the street — the whole system runs from this one powerhouse.
Open map →
Institute of Contemporary Art
A brand-new, always-free contemporary art museum in the Dogpatch at 901 Minnesota Street.
Open map →
Hamon Observation Tower
Ride to the 9th floor of the de Young Museum for a free 360° view over Golden Gate Park — no museum ticket needed.
Open map →
Diego Rivera Fresco
A 1931 Rivera masterpiece inside the old SF Art Institute at 800 Chestnut Street — then head up to the rooftop for one of the city’s best free views.
Open map →
Autodesk Gallery
Robots, design and future tech at 1 Market Street. Free to visit on Mondays and Wednesdays.
Open map →Parks & nature
Green escapes, ocean air and skyline picnics.
Golden Gate Park
Bigger than Central Park and packed with surprises — don’t miss the Conservatory of Flowers and the 100-year-old carousel.
Open map →
SF Botanical Garden
55 acres and 8,000+ plant species from around the world. Free every day 7:30–9 AM, and all day every second Tuesday.
Open map →
Crissy Field
Beachfront paths, picnic lawns and the best straight-on view of the Golden Gate Bridge.
Open map →
Ina Coolbrith Park
A secret Russian Hill hideaway of twisting staircases, gardens and skyline views. Bring a coffee and stay a while.
Open map →
Yerba Buena Gardens
A downtown oasis where you can literally walk behind a waterfall at the MLK Memorial.
Open map →Only in San Francisco
The quirky stuff that makes this city, this city.
16th Avenue Tiled Steps
163 steps of glittering mosaic climbing through the Sunset District — keep going up for a huge ocean panorama.
Open map →
Kirby Cove Swing
A rope swing on a hidden beach in the Marin Headlands, facing the Golden Gate Bridge. Worth the hike down.
Open map →
Palace of Fine Arts
A dreamy Roman-style rotunda left over from the 1915 world’s fair. Golden hour here is pure magic.
Open map →
City Hall
Grander than the US Capitol — and you can walk right in. Open Monday–Friday, 8 AM–8 PM.
Open map →
Castro Theatre
A glowing 1,400-seat movie palace from 1922, still showing films in the heart of the Castro.
Open map →
PresidiGo Shuttle
A free shuttle bus from downtown to the Presidio — the budget way to reach the Golden Gate Bridge.
Open map →
Pug Sunday
First Sunday of every month, 3–6 PM: Alta Plaza Park fills up with pugs. You’re welcome.
Open map →
Street Poetics
A Thursday-night improvised poetry and performance circle at 16th & Mission. Pure San Francisco.
Open map →Had fun on the tour?
Bring a friend on another free walking tour — or make our guides’ day with a quick review. It means the world to us.