Outdoors · San Francisco · United States
5 best outdoor things to do in San Francisco
Parks, viewpoints and open-air sights for the dry, bright days.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Ryan Schwark, CC0
Quick answer
Start with Golden Gate Park, California Academy of Sciences and Presidio and Crissy Field. Together the 5 picks below take roughly 13–16 hours across 4 areas; 4 are free.
Key facts
- Places in this guide
- 5
- Free entry
- 4
- Time to see them all
- 13–16 hours
- Areas
- Golden Gate Park, Presidio and Mission District
Outdoors in San Francisco
.jpg){kind=link}
Park · Golden Gate Park
1.Golden Gate Park
Rent a bike near the eastern end and ride west along the car-free JFK Promenade to the Dutch Windmill and Ocean Beach.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Outdoors
- Kids
- Nature
- Active
.jpg){kind=link}
Museum · Golden Gate Park
2.California Academy of Sciences
Go to the rainforest dome first, then up to the living roof for a view across the park; adults-only NightLife evenings run on Thursdays.
- Time needed
- 3 hours
- Cost
- Expensive
- Kids
- Rainy day
- Nature
Park · Presidio
3.Presidio and Crissy Field
Picnic on the Tunnel Tops lawns, where food trucks often gather on weekends in the warmer months.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Outdoors
- Kids
- Views
- Nature
Park · Mission District
4.Mission Dolores Park and the Mission murals
Walk 24th Street and Balmy Alley for murals, then pick up a burrito and eat it on the park's upper slopes.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Outdoors
- Art
- Views
- History
Nature · Outer Richmond
5.Lands End and the Sutro Baths
Start at the Lands End Lookout visitor centre, explore the Sutro Baths ruins, then walk the trail east for bridge views; it is about 5 km out and back.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Outdoors
- Views
- Off the beaten path
- History
- Photo spot
Grouped by area
| Area | Places | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Golden Gate Park | Golden Gate Park and California Academy of Sciences | Half a day + 3 hours |
| Presidio | Presidio and Crissy Field | Half a day |
| Mission District | Mission Dolores Park and the Mission murals | 2–3 hours |
| Outer Richmond | Lands End and the Sutro Baths | 2 hours |
Booking and timing
Of these 5, 4 free, 1 expensive. Book ahead for California Academy of Sciences. The longest visit is Golden Gate Park; group the rest by area to save travel time.
- California Academy of Sciences: Buy timed tickets online in advance for weekends and holidays.
How to fit them into 4 half-days
Grouped by area and kept to about four hours each, so you walk more than you ride.
- Half-day 1 (Golden Gate Park): Golden Gate Park, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 2 (Golden Gate Park): California Academy of Sciences, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 3 (Presidio): Presidio and Crissy Field, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 4 (Mission District and Outer Richmond): Mission Dolores Park and the Mission murals → Lands End and the Sutro Baths, at least 4 hours.
The best months to be outside
- August: highs of 22°C (72°F), about 0 rainy days, very busy crowds. Still foggy at times, with summer crowds at their peak; a big music festival in Golden Gate Park fills hotels.
- July: highs of 21°C (70°F), about 0 rainy days, very busy crowds. Peak tourist season but often grey, cool and windy near the ocean; bring a jacket and plan sunny afternoons in the Mission.
- September: highs of 23°C (73°F), about 1 rainy days, busy crowds. Often the warmest, clearest month as the fog retreats; large conventions can push hotel prices very high.
The neighbourhoods they are in
- Mission District — Murals, taquerias and Dolores Park in the city's sunniest neighbourhood
More of San Francisco
All things to do in San Francisco · Where to stay · When to go.
Questions travellers ask
+Where should I start in San Francisco?
Golden Gate Park. Larger than New York's Central Park, Golden Gate Park runs about 5 km from the Haight to Ocean Beach.
+Which of these are free in San Francisco?
Golden Gate Park, Presidio and Crissy Field, Mission Dolores Park and the Mission murals and Lands End and the Sutro Baths.