1. Twin Peaks — the best free view on Earth
360° of the entire Bay Area. Open until midnight. Drive up or hike. Our Twin Peaks audio guide explains the geology.
2. Walk the Golden Gate Bridge
Pedestrian path open daily 5am–9pm. Free. Park on the Marin side (also free). Audio guide →
3. Golden Gate Park
Bigger than Central Park. Japanese Tea Garden free 9–10am. Bison paddock free always. Audio guide →
4. Coit Tower murals
The WPA murals on the ground floor are free. The elevator to the top costs $10. The murals are better anyway. Audio guide →
5. Sutro Baths ruins
Remains of an 1896 swimming palace on the ocean. Free, open always, best at sunset. Audio guide →
6. Lands End coastal trail
1.5 miles of cypress groves and ocean views. Shipwrecks at low tide. Free. Audio guide →
7. Sea lions at Pier 39
Hundreds of sea lions, barking and shoving each other. Free. They have been here since 1989.
8. Musée Mécanique
Free entry to a collection of mechanically-operated arcade machines from the 1890s-1970s. Games cost quarters.
9. Mission District murals
Clarion Alley and Balmy Alley — living galleries, repainted regularly. Free. Audio guide →
10. Fort Point
Civil War-era brick fort directly under the Golden Gate Bridge. Open Fri-Sun. Free. Climb to the roof.
11. Salesforce Park
1.3km elevated park on top of the Salesforce Transit Center. Gardens, lawn, free yoga classes. Free.
12. Ghirardelli Square free sample
Walk in, get a square of chocolate. Free. The sundae costs $16 — also worth it.
13. City Lights Bookstore
Free to browse. Poetry room in the basement. Literary history on every shelf. Audio guide →
14. Alamo Square — Painted Ladies
Sit on the grass facing the six Victorian houses. Free. Our audio guide explains how they survived 1906.
15. Watch the cable cars turn around
The turntable at Hyde and Beach — watch operators manually spin the cable cars on a wooden turntable. Free. Audio guide →
Every one of these has an audio guide
2-minute stories with free 60-second previews. Walk, press play, learn something the plaque does not say.