Golden Gate Bridge

Travelers to the “City by the Bay” will find no shortage of things to do. From wine tastings to Alcatraz to the California Academy of Sciences, there are plenty of things to do in San Francisco. However, if you’re traveling on a tight budget, things can add up pretty quickly. To help you make the most of your time, as well as help you save some money, we’ve put together this list of some of the best free things to do in San Francisco for the next time you book cheap flights to San Francisco.

Free museums: That’s right, San Francisco has numerous museums that are open to the public free of charge. A favorite museum among many is the Cable Car Museum, which is free year-round. Visitors can learn more about San Francisco’s famous cable cars and experience a ride for themselves afterward. While many of San Francisco’s best museums aren’t free, many of them have free museum days that are one weekday per month. On these days, make sure to arrive early, as tickets often go quick.

Hike the Lands End Trail: The Lands End Trail often gets overlooked, primarily because as the name suggests, it’s literally at lands end in San Francisco. Nonetheless, Lands End offers some of the best scenic views in San Francisco, including the Golden Gate Bridge and one of the best spots to view the sunset. You can also explore the Sutro Baths, which is San Francisco’s very own historic ruins.

Golden Gate Bridge: This is a no-brainer. The Golden Gate Bridge has long been one of America’s greatest icons. There are a couple different ways to experience the bridge, including walking and driving across. However, for a small fee you can also ride a bicycle across it and continue on down into the beach town of Sausalito. Make sure to stop on both sides of the bridge for great photo opportunities, including views of the city.

Off the Grid at Ft. Mason: Off the Grid is a weekly street food event that takes place every Friday night at Ft. Mason. While you’ll have to pay for your food and drinks, the event is a great social event with a couple different live bands playing each week. Not to mention Friday nights at Ft. Mason offers great views of the sun setting behind the Golden Gate Bridge. Come with an empty stomach, as nearly 30 of San Francisco’s best food trucks and push carts gather, offering everything from empanadas to fish tacos to steamed buns to crème brûlée to cupcakes.

San Francisco walking tour: That’s right; you can take a tour of San Francisco for free. However, if you’ve never been, make sure you have a really good pair of walking shoes, as many of the tours can include steep walks up San Francisco’s infamous hills. There are a wide-variety of tours available, depending on which part of the city you want to explore, including Sutro Forest, Chinatown, the Mission, Pacific Heights mansions, the Marina, and much more.