A Visitor's Guide to

Golden Gate Park

California Academy of Sciences 

55 Music Concourse Dr.

A four-story living rainforest and awe-inspiring coral reef ecosystem will delight visitors of all ages, while immersive planetarium shows will transport audiences through space and time for a new perspective on our planet. Dynamic daily programs, from penguin feedings to coral reef dives, offer a wealth of opportunities to dive deeper. In addition to general admission tickets, the Academy offers a variety of opportunities to enhance any visit, including daily Behind-the-Scenes Tours, weekly NightLife events and NightLife VIP Tours (ages 21+), and Penguins and Pajamas sleepovers. The museum is also available for special events for up to 3,000 guests. Let the wonder begin!

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The de Young Museum 

50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Dr.

Founded in 1895, the de Young museum has been an integral part of the cultural fabric of the city and a cherished destination for millions of residents and visitors for more than 125 years. The de Young showcases an extraordinary permanent collection of American art from the 17th through 21st centuries, modern and contemporary art, photography, international textiles and costumes, and art from Africa, Oceania, and the Americas. The ninth-floor Observation Level of the de Young's Hamon Tower, free to everyone, offers breathtaking 360-degree views of San Francisco and the Pacific Ocean.

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The Gardens of Golden Gate Park

Within the park are three separate gardens, each with their own collection of gorgeous plants and beautiful architecture. You can buy tickets to visit them individually or purchase a three-day multi-pass to explore all three during your stay.

Golden Gate Park Golf Course

Golden Gate Park Golf Course is a nine-hole, par-three course built in 1951 on the park's rolling western dunes near the Pacific, with holes ranging from under 100 to 200 yards. It's an approachable layout for beginners and a solid short-game test for experienced players. Nearby, a driving cage is available for $4–$6 per bucket. The course is open daily from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Prices may change seasonally, but generally vary between $16 and $30 per person.

More Golf in San Francisco

Not every experience in the park comes with a price tag. Here are some enjoyable activities that are free of charge!

Explore Blue Heron Lake and Strawberry Hill

Blue Heron Lake, which is just a short walk from the Botanical Gardens and the Japanese Tea Garden, is one of ten lakes scattered throughout the park. Cross either the Roman Bridge or the Rustic Bridge to reach Strawberry Hill, an island at the lake's center with skyline views stretching out toward the Golden Gate Bridge. It's an easy, scenic loop away from the park's busier corridors. Open daily during regular park hours.

Check Out the Windmills

Two historic windmills anchor the park's western edge. The Dutch Windmill, surrounded by the Queen Wilhelmina Tulip Gardens, is the more photogenic of the pair, especially when the tulips bloom in spring. A short walk away, the Murphy Windmill sits beside the historic Millwright Cottage. Both are free to view and photograph, and the surrounding gardens double as a picnic spot. Open daily; tulips typically peak in March.

Meet the Bison

Golden Gate Park has kept a bison herd since the 1890s, with some animals originally transplanted from Yellowstone National Park as part of a captive breeding program. Visitors can view the herd year-round from a public viewing area along JFK Drive at no cost—a quirky, only-in-San-Francisco photo opportunity. Viewable daily during park hours.

Wander the Shakespeare Garden and Rose Garden

For a free, floral detour, wander through the park's smaller specialty gardens. The Shakespeare Garden features plants mentioned in the Bard's plays and sonnets, while the Rose Garden offers rows of blooms best seen in late spring and summer. Both are easy add-ons to a longer park walk and rarely crowded. Open daily during regular park hours.

de Young Museum Hamon Observation Tower

You can visit on the most awe-inspiring parts of the de Young Museum without buying a ticket! The ninth-floor Hamon Observation Tower, with 360-degree views of the park and city, is free for all visitors. The tower is open during regular museum operating hours.

Visit the Polo Fields

The Polo Fields, opened in 1906 as the historic Golden Gate Park Stadium, are best known today not for polo but for hosting massive open-field events—most famously Outside Lands, the annual summer music and arts festival that draws huge crowds each August. The fields also carry counterculture history, having hosted the 1967 Human Be-In and free concerts by the Grateful Dead and Jefferson Airplane. For visitors, the appeal is two-fold: on quiet days, it's an open, grassy expanse perfect for jogging, picnicking, or tossing a ball; during festival season, it's the beating heart of the city's live-music culture.

Golden Gate Park Disc Golf Course

Golden Gate Park is home to San Francisco's first disc golf course. After a successful nine-hole trial in 2005, the course expanded to its current wooded, 18-hole layout. For visitors, it offers a scenic, low-stakes way to try a quirky sport amid the trees, with a mix of open and wooded holes that's forgiving for beginners but still a fun challenge for experienced players. The course is free, with no tee times required. Players should expect to spend up to 2 hours total for all 18 holes. Visitors can bring their own frisbee; Golden Gate Park Bike and Skate, near the course, rents discs for visitors who don't. Regulars from the San Francisco Disc Golf Club are also often around and happy to lend a hand (or a disc) to newcomers.

Bay to Breakers

San Francisco's celebrated 12K race returns every May. Throw on a costume and be part of the race, or be one of the tens of thousands of folks watching from the sidelines. Either way, you're in for a real treat. The Bay to Breakers race runs west through the city and finishes along Ocean Beach. Participants run along iconic streets and hills and through Golden Gate Park before reaching the finish line.

Flower Piano

Every summer, twelve pianos are nestled throughout the San Francisco Botanical Garden for anyone to play. Special events for families include Flower Piano at sunset, a community sing-along, free piano lessons, and three evenings of Flower Piano At Night. Watch, listen or play during this highly anticipated event. Elevate your experience with a Lounge Pass!

Outside Lands

Outside Lands is one of the country’s most popular music and arts festivals. The festival is usually held at the beginning of August. Past artists who have performed at the festival include Paul McCartney, Radiohead, Pearl Jam, Stevie Wonder and many others. 

Hardly Strictly Bluegrass

A San Francisco and Golden Gate Park tradition since 2001, Hardly Strictly Bluegrass is a free music festival held during the first weekend of October. This is a truly special outdoor event to experience during San Francisco’s best weather. 

Public Transportation

Various Muni bus lines run along and through the park. The 5 and 5R buses make numerous stops along Fulton Street on the north side of the park. The Muni Metro N Line travels south of the park, stopping throughout the Sunset neighborhood along Irving and Judah streets.

Parking

Limited free parking is available throughout the park, and there is a parking garage near the Music Concourse with varying prices. The entrance to the garage can be found at 10th Avenue and Fulton Street.

JFK Drive is closed to vehicle traffic on the eastern side of the park, further limiting parking spaces.

Bike

There are various access points throughout the park for cyclists. Park roads feature safe, bike-friendly lanes.

If you've worked up an appetite venturing through Golden Gate Park, there are many places to eat nearby. 

Within the park you can stroll over to the café at Blue Heron Lake Boathouse, which offers a variety of healthy foods, coffee, and beverages.  Don't forget to treat yourself to some pink popcorn, a Blue Heron Lake classic.

Located in the Inner Sunset neighborhood, Pacific Catch Restaurant (1200 Ninth Ave.) offers fresh seafood just steps from the San Francisco Botanical Garden and California Academy of Sciences. You can also explore the many restaurants found along Irving Street, which is just a block away from the Park's entrance.

If you're on the western side of Golden Gate Park near Ocean Beach, Beach Chalet (1000 Great Hwy.) serves a variety of delicious meats and seafood, as well as some of the best ocean views.

On the eastern side of the park near the Conservatory of Flowers, you can walk to Velo Rouge Cafe (798 Arguello Blvd.), best known for their sweet and savory bites and sandwiches.

Where to Stay

If you want to stay near Golden Gate Park, you're in luck. There are several great hotels, hostels, vacation homes, and bed and breakfasts located near the park.

Find a Place to Stay Near Golden Gate Park