Golden Gate Park is one of the best places to explore in San Francisco. Stretching more than three miles from the Haight to the Pacific Ocean, it is even larger than Central Park and packed with gardens, museums, lakes, walking trails, and hidden corners that feel worlds away from the city. After living in San Francisco for 18 years, I still find new parts of the park to explore. This guide covers the best things to do in Golden Gate Park, from iconic attractions to a few local favorite spots, plus tips to help you plan your visit.
Overview – East and West sides of GGP
Golden Gate Park is over three miles long from east to west. I have walked the entire length of the park many times (and biked or rollerbladed) but it is also possible to have a wonderful day in GGP while spending time in a smaller area.
The east and west sides of the park have a different feel. The west end goes to the Pacific Ocean and feels more spread out and wild towards this end. There are highlights at the end of GGP like the Beach Chalet, Tulip Garden, and Bison Paddok, you will just walk farther between them.
I love taking visitors to the area near the Music Concourse and the part of JFK Drive that is closed for pedestrians. In that area, you can find multiple museums, gardens, and unique corners of the park that can fill an entire afternoon. Read on for the highlights and free things to do in Golden Gate Park.
Map of Golden Gate Park
All the places in this blog post are pinned in this map. Save it to your Google Maps and use it on your visit to Golden Gate Park.
Outdoor and Free Things to Do in Golden Gate Park
Most of GGP can be enjoyed for free – here are some of the best things to do.
JFK Drive – The Part Closed to Cars
Part of John F. Kennedy Drive is closed to cars and the road is now filled with pockets public art, seating, outdoor games, and many small gardens and attractions you will pass if you choose to wander along this stretch of road. I recommend starting here if this is your first visit to Golden Gate Park.
Music Concourse
If you make your way to the music concourse, you will see some of the major attractions from here like the California Academy of Science Museum and the de Young Museum. There are often artists selling work on the weekends, and food trucks behind the stage selling food.
Roller Skating
If you want to watch a good show, check out the outdoor roller-skating rink at 6th Ave and JFK Dr. when they have gatherings on Saturdays and Sundays. There is a group that performs coordinated dances while others skate around. Even if you don’t like skating, it is fun to watch. If you want to skate, rent skates nearby at Skatin’ Place.
Blue Heron Lake (aka Stow Lake) and Strawberry Hill
One of my favorite places to walk is around Blue Heron Lake. There is a trail around the lake with bridges that cross to trails on an island. You can hike up to the top of Strawberry Hill, and don’t miss checking out Huntington Falls. There are paddleboats for rent at the boathouse if you want to paddle around the island.
Bison Paddock
If you make your way to the west end of the park, make sure to check out the Bison Paddock. There are bison that live in Golden Gate Park and graze in a large fenced area. If you walk (or drive) by on JFK Drive you can often see the bison out wandering. It’s always fun to see Bison living in a city like San Francisco!
Dutch Windmill and Queen Wilhelmina Tulip Garden
At the far west end of the park two other attractions to check out are the giant Dutch windmill and Queen Wilhelmina Tulip Garden. Tulips are in bloom seasonally approximately between March 15 – April 15.
Special Gardens in Golden Gate Park
Golden Gate Park has a few gardens that require tickets to access, and they are all in the east end of the park and within walking distance of each other. San Francisco residents are actually allowed to go in the gardens for free every day. Check the park website for ticket prices and events. There are several options like discounts for seniors and some times admission is free for all.
Conservatory of Flowers
The Conservatory of Flowers is one of my favorite exhibits in Golden Gate Park. It is a Victorian greenhouse that you can go inside and admire all the tropical plants.
The manicured gardens outside the Conservatory are lovely and make for some perfect photo opportunities. Once inside the greenhouse, it is tropical and there are different sections dedicated to different types of plants. It isn’t very big inside, so you can easily cover the entire thing in less than an hour. It is a unique experience inside which makes it one of my favorite attractions.
Just to the east of the conservatory, outside you will find the Dahlia Garden which is free. The dahlias are incredible when they are in bloom approximately July – September. For the best blooms, visit in August.
Japanese Tea Garden
The Japanese Tea Garden is the oldest public Japanese garden in the United States. It is not that big, but larger than the Conservatory of Flowers. I recommend spending about an hour here if you want to wander all the paths.
Inside, there is also a tea house that serves some food and gift shop. Some of the highlights include the Drum Bridge (you can actually climb it), a five-story pagoda, a Zen garden, koi ponds, and a bronze Buddha.
San Francisco Botanical Garden
The San Francisco Botanical Garden is large; you could spend hours wandering here if you wanted to. It is divided into many sections with different types of plants from all over the world.
Some of the highlights to check out include the Cloud Forests, California Native Garden, Ancient Plant Garden, and Garden of Fragrance. They even have a redwood grove and a succulent garden.
Museums in Golden Gate Park
Some of the best museums in San Francisco are inside Golden Gate Park, and even have some free things you can acess.
De Young Museum
The de Young is my favorite museum in San Francisco. From the architecture by Herzog and De Meuron to the art, the entire visit is an experience and they often have rotating special exhibits. If I have an art loving friend coming to town, I am taking them to the de Young.
The museum has a lot of free things you can access like the observation tower and the sculpture garden. Even if you don’t go in the museum, make sure to check out the James Turell Skyspace in the garden. For a more extensive list of things to see at the de Young Museum, check out this blog post about how to visit the de Young Museum.
California Academy of Science
The California Academy of Science is a science museum along the Music Concourse that is well worth a visit. Even just the architecture of this museum is impressive. The original building still stands, with an addition and green roof designed by Renzo Piano. You can even go up to the green roof on a viewing deck.
Inside, you can find a natural history museum, rainforest, a planetarium, and an underground aquarium. The aquarium with all the tropical fish and coral is my favorite place to wander inside the California Academy of Science.
Where to Eat at Golden Gate Park
There are many options for food inside (or nearby) Golden Gate Park. Of course, you can bring your own picnic and there is plenty of space for that, but if you need to find something to eat while you are in the park, there are plenty of options.
Food Trucks & Hot Dog Stands
There are a few hot dog stands scattered throughout the park for a quick bite. Behind the stage of the music concourse, there are some rotating food trucks. There are more trucks on the weekends.
De Young Cafe
Even if you don’t buy a ticket, you can access the museum café and outdoor seating in the garden at the de Young. It isn’t the most affordable choice, but the setting is lovely if you want to sit down for a meal inside the park.
The Haight
If you want to wander outside the park, I like taking visitors over the Haight-Ashbury neighborhood which is a short walk if you are on the east end of Golden Gate Park.
Cha Cha Cha is known for their small plates of Caribbean food and sangria. Magnolia is a brewery with a full menu. Alembic is a craft cocktail bar with a delicious bar menu. It is entirely possible to have entire meal here despite it being a “bar menu”.
9th & Irving – Inner Sunset
If you are near the 9th and Irving area and craving pizza, I love Fiorella. They have a few locations in San Francisco and serve pizza from a wood fired oven and also have an entire spritz menu.
Beach Chalet
If you are at the west end of the park, I love visiting Beach Chalet. You can sit upstairs at the bar for a cocktail overlooking the ocean. I usually opt for the back patio at Park Chalet. It is the perfect location for a scenic brunch on a nice day.
Logistics
A few logistics to help you plan your time in Golden Gate Park.
Parking & Public Transportation
There is plenty of free parking in Golden Gate Park, although on busy weekends you could drive around a bit to find parking. There is also street parking in the nearby neighborhoods. Most of the street parking will have hourly limits of 2-4 hours so make sure to check the times. If you don’t like searching for parking, there is a paid garage at the de Young Museum.
For public transportation, there are different ways to get to Golden Gate Park depending on where you are coming from. I recommend checking routes from the SFMTA or Google. You can now pay for Muni with a contactless credit card, so you no longer need to have exact change or purchase tickets ahead of time to ride public transportation within San Francisco.
Bikes
Riding a bike is a wonderful way to explore Golden Gate Park. Just be aware, GGP seems relatively flat, but you will be going slightly downhill as you head west to Ocean Beach so if you bike back it will be slightly uphill the whole way.
Weather
Golden Gate Park can sometimes be colder and windier than other areas of the City. Bring a jacket, even if it is warm and sunny on the other side of San Francisco.
Dogs in Golden Gate Park
Dogs are allowed in most areas of Golden Gate Park. The exception being inside museums and ticketed gardens. I love taking my dog Pepper on walks in Golden Gate Park with visitors. My favorite is walking along JFK Drive and around Blue Heron Lake.
Enjoy Your Visit to Golden Gate Park!
Golden Gate Park is one of my favorite places to take visitors and one of the places I return to again and again as a local. There is so much to see here, from museums and gardens to lakes, trails, and hidden corners that make the park feel much bigger than just another city green space. Whether you want to spend an afternoon wandering or plan a full day of sightseeing, Golden Gate Park is always worth a visit. I hope this guide helps you make the most of your time there and maybe even discover a few spots you will want to come back to.
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