Attraction
Golden Gate Bridge
The Golden Gate Bridge is the 1937 suspension bridge across the mouth of San Francisco Bay, free to walk, with a Welcome Center and café on…
Golden Gate Park
Golden Gate Park is a 1,017-acre park stretching over three miles to Ocean Beach, home to major museums, gardens, a lake and a bison paddock.
At a glance
- Type
- Urban park
- Area
- Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, United States
- Official site
- sfrecpark.org
Good to know
- Free entry
- Car-free JFK Promenade
- Museums
- Gardens
- Lakes
Why we recommend it
Golden Gate Park runs for more than three miles from Stanyan Street in the east to the Pacific at Ocean Beach and covers 1,017 acres, about half a mile wide for most of its length. It opened in 1870, when William Hammond Hall prepared the survey and plan; his assistant John McLaren later developed the planting. The park is run by San Francisco Recreation and Parks, whose offices are at McLaren Lodge near the Stanyan Street entrance.
Several of the city's main sights sit inside the park. The de Young museum and the California Academy of Sciences face each other across the Music Concourse, and the Japanese Tea Garden, the oldest public Japanese garden in the United States, covers five acres of the park. The Conservatory of Flowers, opened in 1879, is the park's oldest building and holds around 1,700 plant species, while the San Francisco Botanical Garden covers 55 acres with more than 7,500 species.
Further west the park gets quieter. Blue Heron Lake, known until 2024 as Stow Lake, circles Strawberry Hill and its waterfall, and bison have been kept in the park since 1891, in a paddock that dates from 1899. Near the ocean you reach the restored Dutch Windmill and the Murphy Windmill, and the Beach Chalet at the far end has 1930s murals and looks out over Ocean Beach.
The eastern part of John F. Kennedy Drive is now permanently car-free. Voters backed the change in 2022, and the JFK Promenade has hosted public art such as a whale sculpture and the metal sea serpent Naga, as well as murals, pianos, live music spaces, games and benches. Without cars, it is a relaxed stretch for families on foot or on bikes.
The park is too big to see in one go, so pick a section. A practical plan is to spend a morning at one of the museums on the Music Concourse, walk through the gardens and around the lake after lunch, and save the western half and Ocean Beach for another day or a bike ride. San Francisco weather can change quickly, so carry a layer, and wear comfortable shoes, as distances inside the park are longer than they look on a map.
Golden Gate Park FAQs
Is Golden Gate Park free?
Yes. Entry to the park is free, although some attractions inside it, such as the museums and some gardens, charge admission.
How big is Golden Gate Park?
It covers 1,017 acres and runs more than three miles from east to west.
What museums are in Golden Gate Park?
The de Young fine arts museum and the California Academy of Sciences both stand on the Music Concourse.
Can you drive through Golden Gate Park?
Some roads are open to cars, but the eastern section of JFK Drive is now the car-free JFK Promenade.
Are there bison in Golden Gate Park?
Yes. Bison have been kept in the park since 1891, in a paddock in the western section.
Who looks after the park?
San Francisco Recreation and Parks, whose main office is at McLaren Lodge, 501 Stanyan Street.
What is the oldest building in the park?
The Conservatory of Flowers, which opened in 1879.
How long do you need?
A full day covers one museum and the gardens; the western half and Ocean Beach are best left for a second visit or a bike ride.