San Francisco is not considered cheap—in fact it’s quite expensive to visit. But don’t let the hotel and food prices deter you from visiting this fascinating city! There are lots of fun free things to do in San Francisco.

Some experiences are in walking distance from downtown, so you don’t need to pay for transport if you’re staying in that area and you enjoy walking. However, if you need to travel far or quickly, San Francisco has one of the best public transportation systems in the US, so it’s a cheap way to get around the city.

1. Experience the Golden Gate Bridge

You absolutely cannot visit San Fran without witnessing the Golden Gate Bridge in all its golden glory. There are quite a few options to see/experience the world’s most photographed bridge.

If you’re up for a trek, the best option is to walk or bike across the bridge. The views of the bay with the city in the distance are spectacular if you visit during good weather. You can also gaze out to the Pacific Ocean and try to comprehend its vastness.

Be aware that the total length of the bridge is about 1.7 miles and there are no nearby buses back from the northern side, so if you plan to walk across and back it’ll take over an hour and a half. I originally planned to walk across both ways, but I had already walked 7+ miles when I started and was so physically exhausted by the time I got to the other side that I bit the bullet and got a $20 Uber just to get back to the starting point. Yeah, it’s expensive, so have a game plan in mind.

There are quite a few less strenuous ways to view the bridge. The easiest way is to simply take the bus to the south vista point and take in the bridge from there. There are a few other great viewing points within walking distance from there. If you walk a little west of the bridge from the south vista point, you can walk a coastal trail along old military battery structures and enjoy a less-common view of the bridge, along with a breathtaking scene of the expansive ocean.

For views east of the bridge, you can get a stunning, up-close scene from Fort Point. It’s a little bit of a walk down a hill from the south vista, but it’s worth the leisurely stroll. Alternatively, if you can’t make it all the way to the bridge due to time constraints or whatever reason, you can see distant views of the bridge from Crissy Field, which is also a lovely place to relax for a little while.

No matter how you see the bridge, it’s the top must-see attraction in the city.

2. Golden Gate Park

If you’re looking to get away from downtown and be engulfed by parkland, Golden Gate Park is the place to go. Spanning 3.5 miles from the city to the Pacific Ocean, Golden Gate Park has so much to explore. There are paid activities sprinkled throughout the park like the de Young Museum and the Japanese Tea Garden, however there’s plenty to see without paying a cent. It’s a great way to spend a few hours and take a leisurely stroll.

3. Coit Tower

Coit Tower is a tall structure that can easily be viewed from the piers/Embarcadero. There’s a road to drive or take the bus up to it, but if you want an excellent leg workout, the hike up Telegraph Hill to the tower is quite the endurance test. My legs were burning after climbing to the top. But, it was worth it for some unique 360 degree views of San Francisco and an up-close view of the tower. Inside the concrete Art Deco tower, you can view fresco murals painted by 25 different artists. Admission to the ground floor of the tower is free, however you have to pay for tours or to go up the tower.

4. Pier 39 Sea Lions Dock

Pier 39 is host to numerous tourist shops and restaurants, but in my opinion, the best attraction at the pier is the sea lion viewing area (K-Dock).

The sea lions like to relax there voluntarily. In fact, hundreds came to the area after the 1989 earthquake and have stayed since. On any given day, you could see 20+ sea lions soaking up the sun. They’re fun to watch as they sleep, scratch themselves with their flippers, bark at each other, and—if you’re lucky—pee. Yes, it’s quite a sight to behold as a sea lion scoots its behind off a dock to do its business in the water. But just look at how cute they are!

5. Palace of Fine Arts

The Palace of Fine Arts is a stunning performing arts venue with Greco-Roman architecture. While you can book tickets to see a show, this European-esque structure is a magnificent sight to see on its own. While you walk along its towering columns and through its ornate arches, it feels like you’re transported back to Ancient Rome or like you ended up in some sort of fantastical book. Pair your visit with golden hour and it feels like a literal dream.

6. Wave Organ

The Wave Organ is exactly what it sounds like—it’s a sculpture that produces musical sounds with waves and pipes. According to reviews, this is really neat to experience—when you can actually hear the sounds during high tide, that is. Unfortunately, when I visited it must have been low tide so there were no organ sounds, and I got caught in the middle of a downpour with little shelter. Still, it was neat to check out as the structure is very unique in its design, and you get lovely views of the Bay and the rainy downpours as they move across the water.

7. Lombard Street

If you have some extra time and want to check out the twistiest street in the world, Lombard Street is a neat place to visit. With eight hairpin turns on a downward slope, it’s fun to watch as cars slowly navigate themselves around the bends. In all honesty, it’s not the most exciting place to visit and you aren’t able to actually walk on the road (you can walk along the side on the stairs), but you get a nice view of a residential area and Coit Tower in the distance. I’ve also heard the road is beautiful in the summer when it’s decorated with flowers. I went in late February so there were no flowers, but it still looked lovely.

8. Free Walking Tours

I was shocked to come across free walking tours when I was searching for things to do in San Francisco. San Francisco City Guides offers a wide variety of free daily walking tours, including on the history of the city’s prominent Chinatown, a walk through Nob Hill, and the low-down on the Ferry Building and Embarcadero area. I joined a tour on the 1906 earthquake, and it was quite fascinating, especially being able to see how the quake impacted the future of San Francisco’s downtown architecture. It seems tours change depending on the day/time of year, so be sure to check around the dates you’re visiting to see what’s available.

They do ask for a donation of $10 if possible to support the tours (the guides are solely volunteers and don’t accept tips), however that is completely optional. It’s a great way to orient yourself with the city and its history while on a budget!

Despite San Francisco being one of the more expensive US cities, there are so many intriguing, free things to experience. I would be remiss not to mention the countless hiking areas in the Bay Area, including Twin Peaks, Golden Gate National Recreation Area, Lands End Lookout, etc. I unfortunately didn’t have time for any hikes so I can’t speak on what those areas are like, but definitely try to fit in at least one hike if you’re able. Next time I visit, I am for sure finding a few trails to explore.

If you want some ideas for the best paid things to do in San Francisco, stay tuned for the next upcoming post!