11 Best Things To Do in Golden Gate Park That’ll Make You Forget You’re in a City

Golden Gate Park stretches over 1,000 acres through the western half of San Francisco, and somehow still feels underrated. It’s bigger than Central Park and packed with everything from quiet forest trails to world-class museums, all bordered by city streets and Pacific Ocean wind.

Exploring the park is one of the most popular activities for visitors in San Francisco. Once you’re in, you’re forget you’re in the middle of one of the busiest cities in the country. Whether you’re entering from the Haight, the Richmond, or the Sunset, each section of the park has world-class museums and magnificent gardens.

This list breaks down the best things to do in Golden Gate Park down so you can make the most of your visit.

Brief Overview

Golden Gate Park is San Francisco’s largest urban green space and one of the most visited parks in the United States. Spanning over 1,017 acres, Golden Gate Park is so vast that it can be easily spotted from the air as you enter San Francisco. This rectangular park is 20% larger than Central Park in New York City. It is also the third most visited urban park in the United States, and an absolute must-see on your San Francisco itinerary.

Designed in the 1870s by civil engineer William Hammond Hall and master gardener John McLaren, the park was created as a response to New York’s Central Park. The park is divided into roughly three regions: east, central, and west.

11 Best Things To Do in Golden Gate Park

1. Visit The de Young Museum

• Location: 50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Dr, San Francisco, CA 94118
• Operating Hours:  From 9:30 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. Tuesday to Sunday
• Entry Fees: $20 for adults and $17 for seniors; $11 for students, and free for children under 17

The de Young Museum is one of San Francisco’s oldest institutions, founded in 1895. The museum exhibits American art from the 17th century to the present day. The de Young Museum, housed in a magnificent copper-clad structure, exhibits a vast and diverse collection of paintings, textiles, antiquities, and sculptures from around the world.

The de Young Museum is close to the famous California Academy of Sciences, so you can “museum crawl” visit multiple museums in a single day. For Bay Area residents, it is free admission every Saturday. It is open to the general public on the first Tuesday of each month.

2. Stroll Through The Conservatory of Flowers

• Location: 100 John F. Kennedy Dr, San Francisco, CA 94118
• Operating Hours: 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday to Sunday
• Entry Fee: For adults: $10 to $12. For teenagers (12-17): $7 and for children (5-11): $3

Start your Golden Gate Park adventure with a visit to the Conservatory of Flowers. Built in 1879, it is known as the oldest structure within the park.

This Victorian-era greenhouse is known for its extensive collection of over 1,700 tropical and aquatic plant species. The conservatory features five galleries, each including many aquatic and tropical plants, water lilies, orchids, carnivorous plants, and a century-old large imperial philodendron.

Pro Tip: Entry is free on the first Tuesday of each month.

3. Experience a Rainforest and Aquarium at The California Academy of Sciences

• Location: 55 Music Concourse Dr, San Francisco, CA 94118
• Operating Hours: Monday–Saturday, 9:30 a.m.–5 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m.–5 p.m.; Thursday Nightlife (for ages 21+): 6 p.m.–10 p.m.
• Entry Fees: For adults ($43.25); for children (3-17 years) and seniors $33.75

The California Academy of Sciences is recognized as the oldest scientific organization in the Western United States, and interestingly, it received initial contributions from none other than Charles Darwin himself.

Although many of the original structures were destroyed in the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, the institution was completely renovated in 2008. The new building, constructed mostly from recycled materials, repurposes rainwater for irrigation and has a 2.5-acre “living roof.” This makes it one of the most environmentally sustainable buildings in the country.

The Academy features the Osher Rainforest, a 90-foot dome filled with tropical plants and various creatures, including butterflies and tree boas. Beyond the rainforest, you’ll find the Steinhart Aquarium.

4. Explore The Japanese Tea Garden

• Location: 75 Hagiwara Tea Garden Dr, San Francisco, CA 94118
• Operating Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. from November to February; 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. from March to October.
• Entry Fees: For adults, $12-$16; For children and seniors, $3 to $7; and free for kids under 5  

The Japanese Tea Garden, a 5-acre labor of love developed by landscape architect Makoto Hagiwara, is one of San Francisco’s most well-known attractions. It was built in 1894 for the California Midwinter International Exposition and remains one of today’s most popular tourist locations.

The garden whisks visitors away to Japan with its serene koi ponds, meticulously designed zen gardens, natural Japanese flora, pagodas, and timeless architectural elements. The Drum Bridge is one of the most iconic features.

Go in the spring to see the cherry blossoms in full bloom. Make sure to visit the tea house to enjoy Japanese cuisine and, of course, tea!

Pro Tip: If you want to explore the San Francisco Botanical Garden, the Conservatory of Flowers, and the Japanese Tea Garden, get The Gardens of Golden Gate Park Pass. This pass provides discounts and the convenience of unlimited access to all three gardens for three days.

5. Tour The San Francisco Botanical Garden

• Location: 1199 9th Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94122 
• Operating Hours: 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. 
• Entry Fees: For adults: $11 to $13, and for children and seniors: $3 to $7.

The San Francisco Botanical Garden is home to over 8,000 different plant species from all over the world. The climate of San Francisco is ideal for growing plants from the Mediterranean and mild temperate zones.

The garden has many beautifully designed open spaces and gardens, such as the Rhododendron, South Africa, Magnolia, Andean, Ancient Plant Garden, and Cloud Forest. You’ll see Australian Banksias and spear lilies, a beautiful forest of California redwoods, towering wax palms from the Andean Cloud Forest, and winter’s bark trees from Chile.

6. Take a Paddle Ride On Stow Lake

• Location: 50 Stow Lake Dr, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, CA 94118
• Snack Bar Hours: From 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.
• Boat Rentals: Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Stow Lake Boat Rentals Rates: Rowboats (for up to three people): $26 per hour; Pedal boats (for up to four people): $32.50 per hour

Stow Lake is an artificial lake at a scenic location for picnics and wildlife viewing. Picnic tables are scattered around the lake, and you can, make your way to the manmade Huntington Falls on Strawberry Hill. Standing at the park’s highest point, you’ll be rewarded with spectacular views of Mt. Tamalpais, the Transamerica Pyramid, and the Golden Gate Bridge.

The Stow Lake Boathouse, adjacent to the lake, rents paddle boats for some relaxing time on the water.

7. Enjoy The Melodies at The Music Concourse

• Location: 50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Dr, San Francisco, CA 94118

The Music Concourse, located in the museum sector of Golden Gate Park, was originally built as the Grand Court of Honor for the Midwinter Exposition of 1894. After the exposition’s closing, park administrator John McLaren transformed it into a public venue for musical events. The concourse features an elliptical plaza on a southeast-to-northeast axis with statues and monuments honoring historical personalities such as Giuseppe Verdi and Ludwig van Beethoven.

At its center, you’ll find three lovely fountains. A 150-foot SkyStar Ferris Wheel was recently added to the concourse, providing fantastic city views.

The Spreckels Temple of Music, often known as the “bandstand,” is a significant landmark that hosts music events, including free Golden Gate Park Band concerts every Sunday from April through October.

8. Meet The Bison at Bison Paddock

• Location: 1237 John F. Kennedy Dr., San Francisco

Bison in San Francisco? Yes! The story dates back to 1890 when two bison were brought to San Francisco from Kansas and Wyoming. Over the years, additional bison arrived. Some were from Yellowstone, and others were gifted by the husband of Dianne Feinstein. (She was the former mayor of San Francisco.) 

Today, the San Francisco Zoo keeps a small herd of wild American bison in a fenced paddock on the western edge of Golden Gate Park. These bison have a large grassy area where they can freely roam and graze. Visitors can observe these bison from a distance.

Pro Tip: Bison may attack, so keep your distance and avoid disturbing them.

9. Stroll Through The Shakespeare Garden

• Location: 335 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, San Francisco, CA, 94118

Known as the Shakespeare Garden, this magnificent area is a must-see for all Shakespeare fans. It’s a lovely garden packed with flowers and plants referenced in William Shakespeare’s plays. You’ll discover over 200 plants in this garden, many of which have plaques with phrases about flowers from Shakespeare’s works.

Don’t miss the Shakespeare bust, a gift from the English town of Stratford-upon-Avon, or the eye-catching sundial in the garden. Though the garden can be reserved for weddings and other big parties, it’s also a great place for a quiet picnic.

10. Visit The Dutch and Murphy Windmills

• Location: 1691 John F. Kennedy Dr., San Francisco, CA 94121

Located at opposite ends of the park, you’ll find two distinctive structures: the Dutch Windmill and the Murphy Windmill.

During the early 1900s, these windmills played a crucial role by pumping water into the park’s irrigation system. They have subsequently withdrawn from water pumping duties as more efficient electrical pumps have taken their place.

These windmills are officially designated San Francisco Landmarks and are worth a visit. Each of them has four sails and adds to the overall charm of the park.

Pro Tip: Don’t forget to explore the tulip garden beside the Dutch Windmill, a gift from Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands.

11. Beach Chalet

• Location: 1000 Great Hwy, San Francisco, CA, 94121

One of the park’s attractions is a stop at Ocean Beach, with a spectacular view of the Pacific Ocean.

The Beach Chalet is a Spanish Colonial-style building with stunning waterfront views. The building was completed in 1925 with its main purpose of serving beach visitors. It initially served as restrooms and a city-operated restaurant. Several murals were painted inside the building during the Great Depression as part of a job creation project, similar to the murals in San Francisco’s Coit Tower.

After a day of exploration, enjoy dinner at the Beach Chalet Brewery & Restaurant. It is one of the best oceanfront restaurants in the city.

For more fun, extend your California vacation to the charming coastal towns of Mendocino and Fort Bragg after exploring the wonders of Golden Gate Park in San Francisco. These lovely locations, only a short drive to the north, provide a sharp contrast to the urban attraction of the city.

This article originally appeared on Wealth of Geeks. 

Steve Cummings

Founder and Journalist at The Frugal Expat | Website

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