San Francisco, California is one of my favorite cities to visit. The popular destination for international travelers is also a stop along the Pacific Coast Highway. But let’s be honest: it’s expensive, especially when it comes to hotels, shopping, and dining. But it doesn’t have to be. There are some ways to save cash that I’ve learned in many multiple visits to the city.
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The Free Things to Do in San Francisco
Museums and Attractions
The most iconic attractions in San Francisco are blessedly free. For example, anyone can walk across the Golden Gate Bridge and explore its surrounding park. Check out tourist landmarks like Fisherman’s Wharf and see the sea lions at Pier 39 without spending a dime.
San Francisco is also home to a number of filming locations that are free to visit. Fans of Full House will recognize the “Painted Ladies” of Alamo Square. The Steiner Street house used for Mrs. Doubtfire is another favorite. The Castro district was used in Milk and the Excelsior district was seen in The Princess Diaries.
There are also a few museums in town. The Cable Car Museum details the history of the city’s most famous method of transportation. There’s also a Streetcar Museum, which is also free. The Musée Mécanique, also seen in The Princess Diaries, has vintage arcade games and pinball machines. The Chinese Historical Society of America has exhibits on the city’s Chinatown neighborhood, one of the nation’s oldest.
Some museums have certain free days. The Asian Art Museum has free entry on the first Sunday of every month. Equal parts aquarium, planetarium, and natural history museum, the California Academy of Sciences has free weekends for San Francisco residents and discounted tickets for those 21 and older after 6 pm on Thursday nights.
The de Young has free tickets on the first Tuesday of the month and the Cartoon Museum has “pay what you think it’s worth” admission. For more free attractions, check out this post.
Other Sights and Activities
Free Tours by Foot offers eight pay what you like tours of the city, each focusing on a different neighborhood or part of history. But these tour guides are paid based on tips, so be sure to include it. Wandering the unique neighborhoods like Chinatown is also free. The Japanese Tea Garden is free on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday before 10 am.
Experiencing the art scene is also free. The SF First Thursday Art Walk showcases the many mediums of local artists. There’s also street art and murals all over town worth seeing. Many of the public festivals are also free.
Eating and Drinking
There’s not exactly “free” food and drinks, but a number of bars have free bites with your purchase. White Horse Tavern has free hot dogs.
Public Transportation
The best way to see the city for cheap is on foot. Be sure to wear comfy shoes, especially as you make your way up and down the many hills.
Accommodation
The only way to stay for free in San Francisco is through Couchsurfing. The city has a thriving community. Show your hosts respect and
The Cheap to Do in San Francisco
Sights and Activities
Alcatraz is expensive to visit, around $40 per adult, so perhaps save that for another time when you have the cash to spend. But don’t worry, there’s still plenty to see for cheap. Coit Tower has the best views of the city that can be seen from the viewing platform for only $9.
Don’t miss the WPA murals on the lower level. I enjoyed my tour of Anchor Brewing Company, one of the nation’s oldest, for $25, which includes a look at their production facilities and samples of their lineup. Speaking of a lineup, a Giants game is a fun way to see the city’s hometown pride with views of the bay.
Tickets can be as cheap as $10. And we’d be remiss not to mention the GLBT Museum, which focuses on the city’s important role in the LGBTQ community. Admission is only $5 and is free on the first Wednesday of the month.
Public Transportation
The cheapest way to get around is by skipping driving. Public transportation is inexpensive. From the airport, take BART, the train system that runs through the city and across into Oakland. Fares vary by where you’re going but should cost around $5-10 for a ride.
When it comes to getting around town, opt for MUNI, which runs the trams and buses that cost around $2.50 per ride. Cable cars are nearly twice the price per ride, so as nice as they are for photos, they aren’t that sensible for getting around.
In this tech-heavy town, rideshare apps like Lyft and Uber are a preferred method of getting around. There are also bike and scooter share programs like in other cities. All you need is your smartphone! But be sure to respect traffic laws, wear a helmet, and never drink and ride.
Get a free ride on Lyft by entering the code “CAROLINE868074”.
Eating and Drinking
Food can certainly be the most expensive part of visiting San Francisco, but there are some deals to be had. Owl Tree and El Rio have some of the best happy hour deals in town, even offering snacks like cheese and crackers. Dim sum and noodles tend to be fairly inexpensive, among the best cheap eats in town. Those classic Mission burritos are another good option. If you want a little bit of everything, visit one of the Off the Grid food truck events.
Accommodation
Where you sleep can be the way to save money on your trip to San Francisco. There are some fantastic hostels in the city, especially in the Hostelling International USA chain, which has three locations with private and shared rooms.
Airbnb is also a great resource, especially as it was created in the Bay Area, offering full homes as well as rooms that share common areas. When weather allows, there are also campgrounds in Golden Gate National Recreation Area, including the popular Rob Hill Campground. It’s a short walk from Baker Beach and the rest of the city.
I visited San Francisco last summer – my highlight was walking across the Golden Gate Bridge. BUT it was damn cold and it was in the middle of July!
There are great free walking tours of San Francisco given by San Francisco City Guides. They are led by volunteers and they have lots of different options.
https://sfcityguides.org/