20 Free Things To Do In The Bay Area That Aren’t Hiking

San Francisco is one of the most expensive cities in the United States, and sometimes we need a refresher on how to have some good ol’ free fun! If you’re looking for a way to leave house without pulling out your wallet, read on for some inspiration.

Recurring free events

1. Weekly activities and events at Salesforce Park

Did you know that Salesforce Park hosts a ton of free activities every week? Free events include yoga classes, bootcamps, live music, bird walks, garden tours, drum circles, and much more. If you have yet to visit this fascinating rooftop escape, consider participating in their events for a one-of-a-kind experience in a beautiful environment.

2. Community events at Grace Cathedral

San Francisco’s Grace Cathedral is one of the city’s most iconic churches, famous for its gorgeous stained glass windows, mosaics, floor labyrinths, and overall French Gothic design. Each month they host both free and paid events open to all, including art installations and concerts. Keep a close eye on their event calendar for some great events, or just stop by for a peek inside the gorgeous building.

3. Art and performances at Fort Mason Center

When’s the last time you paid a visit to San Francisco’s amazing Fort Mason Center? The popular art center hosts numerous exhibitions, displays, musical performances, improv shows, and more throughout the year. Some of them are paid, but many are free.

4. Seasonal activities with SF Rec & Parks

San Francisco is full of amazing activities and resources for just about any hobby you can think of – and SF Rec & Parks knows it! If you’re looking to try a new sport or learn a new skill, they have excellent programming every season. Most of the activities require a course fee, but there are always some free ones sprinkled in for group dance classes, drop-in workouts, and more for all ages.

5. Free telescope viewings at Chabot Space & Science Center

Make sure to put Oakland’s Chabot Space & Science Center on your radar, as they’ve just brought back their free telescope viewings! Every weekend, visitors may explore the stars through Chabot’s historic telescopes, free of charge. Weather permitting, the viewings happen from 7:30-10:30pm on Fridays and Saturdays.

Free museums

6. Play with coin-operated arcade games at Musée Mécanique

Musée Mécanique is one of the world’s largest private collections of coin-operated mechanical instruments, and one of the most unique museums in San Francisco! The collection was started by SF native Edward Galland Zelinskey, who bought his first coin-operated game when he was just 11 years old in 1933. Since then, it’s grown to include over 300 antique arcade artifacts, coin-operated pianos, slot machines, animations, and more.  Zelinskey passed away in 2004, but his magnificent collection is still free for the public to enjoy at Pier 45 in San Francisco. Admission is completely free, but machines cost usually a quarter or fifty cents to use.

7. Explore the SF Cable Car Museum

A Dr. Rahilly model-the blue Ellis St. line, which ran from Market St. out to Stanyan at GG Park. Omnibus was 2nd largest cable co. in the City, but the least successful. Its cars cost up to $2,000 a piece: unheard of at the time. MSRY bought & abandoned this line in 1893. pic.twitter.com/KgzTpIvU3y

— San Francisco Cable Car Museum (@SFCCM) February 16, 2022

San Francisco’s iconic cable cars are national landmarks, so it’s only fitting that there’s a museum dedicated to them! See 19th-century cable cars, mechanical displays, photographs and more at this nonprofit museum that works to preserve SF’s long and storied cable car history.

If you’re looking for more background on the cable cars, consider visiting Woods Division Carpentry Shop in the Dogpatch, where you can see master carpenters restoring the cable cars before your eyes!

8. Check out the McElroy Octagon House

Have you seen this bizarre blue home in Russian Hill? The McElroy Octagon House is a famous reminder of the octagon craze of the 19th century, and it continues to turn heads even 160 years after it was built.

Not much was known about it until the National Society of The Colonial Dames of America in California saved it from destruction in 1952. More details came to light in 1963, when an electrician discovered a time capsule left by the house’s original owners, William Carroll McElroy and his wife Harriet Shober McElroy. They left behind newspaper clippings, photos, and a letter written by Mr. McElroy on July 14, 1861, who explained that the home had been constructed as their “privet Residence.”

The house is now a free museum available for the public to visit on certain days of the year.

9. Take a trip back in time at the Society of California Pioneers Museum

The Society of California Pioneers was established back in 1850, when California was recognized as the 31st state. Since then, the society has worked to collect and preserve the memory of California history. Today, the society continues to be under the leadership of descendants of those early pioneers. They display rotating exhibits at the Pioneer Hall museum, and maintain the Alice Phelan Sullivan Library, both of which are open and free to the public.

10. See Coit Tower‘s Depression-era murals

Coit Tower has embellished San Francisco’s iconic skyline since its construction in 1933. In addition to the gorgeous views, it contains 26 beautiful murals, which are painted inside the base. Local artists painted the frescoes, which depict the Great Depression, in 1934. Visitors may view the artworks for free and join guided tours limited to 6 people. If you want to go to the top of the tower, it costs $7.

11. Mark your calendar for free admission days at SF museums and gardens

This list shows museums and gardens currently offering free admission days. It’s a good idea to take a look at upcoming days at the beginning of each month. Here’s a summary:

• SFMOMA: Free admission to Bay Area residents on the first Thursday of every month from 4-8pm. Diego Rivera mural on first floor is free for public viewing any time.
• de Young Museum and Legion of Honor: Free admission for the general public on the first Tuesday of every month. Free admission for Bay Area residents every Saturday.
• Asian Art Museum: Free admission for the general public on the first Sunday of every month.
• GLBT Historical Museum: Free admission for the general public every Saturday
• Museum of Craft and Design: “Pay what you can Wednesdays” every Wednesday.
• SF Botanical Garden: Free admission for all SF City & County residents with proof of residency. Free admission for the general public every day from 7:30-9am. Free admission for the general public on the second Tuesday of every month.
• Conservatory of Flowers: Free admission for the general public on the first Tuesday of every month.
• Japanese Tea Garden: Free admission for the general public on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays if entered before 10:00am.

 

Art

12. Seek out some lesser-known public art

San Francisco is a cornucopia of iconic public art pieces, from glowing light art installations to the beautiful murals of Balmy Alley. But have you seen these lesser-known works around the city? Take a look at our list of hidden gems including sculptures, statues, paintings, murals, staircases, and more.

• Yoda Fountain
• Wave Organ
• Chamber of Secrets door
• Painted staircases 
• And more!

13. Self guided light art tour

San Francisco is absolutely stunning day and night, but some truly incredible art lights up as soon as the sun goes down. SF Travel put together a great map marking 11 of the best light art installations in the city, reaching from the Bay Bridge to the Castro. It will take a few hours to get through the whole thing on foot, but it’s not a bad bike or car ride if you want to hit all 11 stops in one night.

 

Outdoor activities

14. Enjoy a charming picnic at these spots recommended by locals

San Francisco is home to some of the best parks and gardens in the world, so there’s no shortage of awesome picnic spots for you to enjoy a socially distanced meal with friends. Whether you want to support a local cafe and get some amazing food to go, or you prefer to pack your own delicious recipe to enjoy out in the sunshine, you’ll love all of these great options. Some are SF staples, and some are a little less well-known.

• Old Speedway Meadow
• Pine Lake Park
• Shakespeare Garden
• And more!

15. Explore a fascinating local tide pool

If you’re a California native lucky enough to live on the coast, then you know that tide pooling is an awesome way to enjoy the beach! We’ve put together a list of great tide pools to visit around the Bay Area, so put on your best waterproof shoes and get ready to explore. Tidepooling is a fun activity for kids and adults alike, but remember: you’re a guest in these critters’ habitat, so try not to disturb whatever you find and always watch your step! Be sure to visit at low tide, and watch out for sneaker waves.

• Duxbury Reef Reserve
• Bean Hollow State Beach
• Natural Bridges
• And more!

16. Take your bike for a spin on these gorgeous cycling routes

When thinking about bikeable cities, San Francisco isn’t necessarily the first place that comes to mind… but it turns out that there are some very beautiful spots to take your bike for a spin, and the City has some stellar infrastructure for cyclists! Especially if you’re a first-time cyclist in the City, consider planning your next outing on these beautiful routes.

• The Wiggle
• Angel Island
• Fort Funston
• And more!

17. Catch a Bay Area sunset at these essential places

There’s truly no shortage of excellent places to see a sunset in the Bay, but we wanted to get to the bottom of where locals love to watch the sky light up. We asked our Instagram followers, and they didn’t disappoint!

• Mori Point
• Lands End
• Baker Beach
• And more!

18. Spot some local wildlife 

Elephant seals 

Northern elephant seals inhabit the waters from Baja California, Mexico to the Gulf of Alaska and the Aleutian Islands. They generally breed from December to March at Point Reyes, Año Nuevo, the Channel Islands and Piedras Blancas.

Whale watching

California’s coastline is the perfect spot to catch several whale migration seasons – gray whales from January through April, orcas between February and May, and humpbacks between April and December. Even from land, you’re likely to see them spouting, slapping their tails (known as “lobtailing”) or even breaching. If you want to see them up close, a whale watching tour will do the trick.

Harbor porpoises

30 years ago, you never would’ve seen so many harbor porpoises in the Bay. But now, you can spot up to 30 an hour from the Golden Gate Bridge.

19. Learn about these famous historical spots in the city

If you’re a history lover living in the Bay Area, you’ll know that it’s full of amazing stories that have fallen through the cracks over time. Although many historic sites have been built over or otherwise erased from the city’s landscape, some of these gems are still around, and you can visit them today! All of these spots are outdoors and free to visit.

• Lotta’s Fountain
• Portals of the Past
• Battery Chamberlain
• And more!

20. Check out a kite surfing race at Crissy Field

The Presidio’s Crissy Field Beach is a lovely place to visit under normal circumstances, but did you know that they host epic kite surfing competitions in the summer and fall months? That’s right, the St. Francis Yacht Club organizes these fun races on the waves, which can bring out dozens of competitors for an exciting spectacle.

 

Featured image: Chabot Space and Science Center Tales of the Maya Skies gala – Oakland, CA, USA. Courtesy of Chabot Space & Science Center