Summary
- San Francisco offers many free activities in the fall, allowing visitors to enjoy the city without breaking the bank. From spending time at San Francisco Bay to visiting the Cable Car Museum, there are plenty of options for budget-friendly fun.
- Baker Beach is a beautiful and free public beach in San Francisco that offers stunning views of the Golden Gate Bridge. It's a great spot to relax and enjoy the natural beauty of the city.
- Golden Gate Park is a must-visit destination in San Francisco, and luckily it's free to access. With gardens, museums, and wildlife, there's plenty to explore and enjoy in this popular city park.
San Francisco, the fourth most populated city on the West Coast, is known for its landmarks like the Golden Gate Bridge, beautiful weather, its iconic cable cars, and its rich and diverse culture. Despite its iconic status both nationally and globally, San Francisco is relatively inexpensive in many areas. The famous Californian city has a wide range of low-cost attractions.
What's more, there are even many free things to do in the fall in San Francisco when the summer crowds have gone home, and the weather is a little cooler. So, without further ado, here are some of the many free activities in San Francisco to enjoy in the festive autumn season that allow visitors to enjoy the Golden City without stretching their purse strings.
10 Spend Time At San Francisco Bay
As a scenic west coast city, San Francisco unsurprisingly has a wide array of natural attractions that may interest travelers. One such attraction is San Francisco Bay. San Francisco Bay is a scenic body of water with plenty of awesome viewpoints that don't cost anything to visit. Among the free activities offered here include hiking, biking, and paddling.
Of course, for activities like sailing or paddling, only those with the right experience (and in the right locations at the correct times) can undertake it DIY without paying for a tour or guide. Otherwise, it's possible to book with a local company, although the trip would not be free in that case, of course.
- Location: San Francisco Bay, California, USA
9 Pop By The Cable Car Museum
Another popular destination that doesn't cost a penny is San Fran's Cable Car Museum, one of the best free attractions in San Francisco. Known for its iconic cable cars, it won't come as a huge surprise that the city has a dedicated museum. Admission to the museum is free, and it opens from 10:00am to 4:00pm, Sunday to Thursday and 10:00am to 5:00pm, Friday to Saturday. However, there are exceptions to these opening days, as the museum does not open on holidays like Labor Day.
This museum features a subterranean walkway, allowing tourists to see the cable in action. Tripadvisor recommends that tourists spend less than an hour here, so perhaps 30 to 45 minutes would be an ideal time. San Francisco's Cable Car Museum enjoys a 4.7-star rating from 5,207 reviews on Google Reviews.
8 Go To Baker Beach
Baker Beach is a popular public beach that can be found in northwest San Francisco. Baker Beach is a mile in length and is, of course, free to access. It is also one of the most beautiful beaches on the U.S. West Coast.
The beach enjoys a superb 4.7-star rating on Google Reviews. Some of the key attractions of this San Fran beach include the stunning view of the Golden Gate Bridge it provides, its rocky and sandy terrain, and potential cetacean sights off the shore.
7 Visit San Francisco's Chinatown
Another popular spot to consider visiting in the fall is San Francisco's popular Chinatown. Among the largest Chinese enclaves beyond Asia, San Francisco's Chinatown has plenty to offer, and strolling down its streets doesn't cost any money.
Key attractions of San Fran's Chinatown include the Dragon Gate, its winding back alleys, and a whole host of stores, bars, and restaurants.
6 Explore Fisherman's Wharf
While it doesn't cost a penny to visit Fisherman's Wharf, specific attractions do come with costs. With that said, Fisherman's Wharf is a great attraction all around, especially in the fall.
Tourists can take a classic cable car to reach the area in the first place. As for the key attractions of Fisherman's Wharf, these include its many scenic restaurants, shops, and art galleries. Beyond that, visitors may be interested in checking out Pier 39 and the USS Pampanito, a World War II submarine.
There are a range of tours here, including walking and bike tours, as well as a big bus tour.
5 Spend Time At Golden Gate Park
Golden Gate Park, situated four miles south of the Golden Gate Bridge, is, in fact, the third most visited city park in the US. Some 24 million visitors head to this park each year, and it's free to access; plus, many of the attractions in Golden Gate Park are free, too (although there are some paid ones, such as the Japanese Garden, Conservatory of Flowers, de Young Museum, and the California Academy of Sciences).
Along with its many gardens, Golden Gate Park comes with an array of other museums and art to take in. This city park also features plenty of wildlife. Tripadvisor recommends spending about one to two hours here.
4 Hike In Or Around The City
San Francisco is also a great area of the US for hiking, especially in the fall when the weather is a little more comfortable for hikes. Among the best hikes in San Francisco include Batteries to Bluff Trail, Seal Rocks Beach, California Coastal Trail: Lands End to Golden Gate Bridge, Golden Gate Park Loop, and Lands End Trail.
Naturally, the free trails found in and around San Francisco can range significantly in difficulty. As a result, it's important to find a suitable trail or trails to take on. Hiking or walking a trail in or around San Francisco can be a great way to take in the scenery and nature of this gorgeous West Coast area of the US.
- Top Trails in San Francisco: Batteries to Bluff Trail, Seal Rocks Beach, California Coastal Trail: Lands End to Golden Gate Bridge, Golden Gate Park Loop, and Lands End Trail
3 Visit Lombard Street
The iconic winding Lombard Street in San Francisco is another superb free attraction that can be found in Frisco. Lombard Street heads down a street slope connecting The Embarcadero to the Presidio East.
Lombard Street was built in 1922. It is named after the street of the same name in Philadelphia, with Jasper O'Farrell, a San Francisco surveyor, being responsible for this naming. If you're visiting San Francisco, Lombard Street is certainly a great spot to explore for free.
2 Hang Out At Pier 39
Among the best free spots in San Francisco to visit is Pier 39. This area features a shopping center, attractions, and dining locations.
What's more, Pier 39 is also known for its world-renowned Sea Lions. To get a sneak peek, visitors can check out a live webcam of Pier 39's Sea Lions through the Pier 39 official website. Pier 39 is a great spot by the coast to unwind on a fall afternoon. Tripadvisor recommends spending two to three hours here.
Avoid getting too close to the Sea Lions. Always be careful when near wild animals.
1 See The Golden Gate Bridge In Person
A fall trip to San Francisco isn't complete without taking in the Golden Gate Bridge. Tourists can check out this iconic landmark for free from various locations in San Francisco (e.g., San Francisco Bay). However, some visitors may want a more intimate experience.
For the latter, tourists can drive across the bridge or even walk in on a suitable day. Believe it or not, it can take around 30 to 45 minutes to walk the entire bridge! So it's important to be aware of that before crossing it.