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Free San Francisco
Free East Bay
Free Peninsula
Free Marin
Best Free Attractions
in the
San Francisco Bay Area
article and images by Carole Terwilliger Meyers
Many San Francisco attractions that charge admission allow non-paying visitors into their lobbies, including Coit Tower with its WPA mural, the de Young Museum with its 9th floor tower featuring panoramic views, and the SFMOMA with a changing special art exhibit in its lobby. Also, many spectacular annual events are free.
Note that free admission policies sometimes change, as do free days and times. Do call the attraction or check at its website to confirm.
And do consider becoming a member of your favorite museums, as that often allows you and your family free or discounted admission and to participate in free days and events especially for members.
these San Francisco attractions are always free
Baker Beach
Cable Car Museum
City Guides walking tours
Crookedest Street in the World
Fort Funston
Fort Point National Historic Site
49-Mile Drive
Golden Gate Park
Koret Children’s Quarter playground
Grace Cathedral
Musée Mécanique
Museo ItaloAmericano
Presidio of San Francisco
Randall Museum
San Francisco Railway Museum
Sea Lions at Pier 39
S.F.F.D. Fire Museum
Wave Organ
Wells Fargo History Museum
free days/times at San Francisco museums and attractions
Asian Art Museum
California Academy of Sciences
Chinese Historical Society of America
Conservatory of Flowers
Contemporary Jewish Museum
de Young Museum
Exploratorium
Japanese Tea Garden
Legion of Honor
Museum of the African Diaspora
Museum of Craft and Design
San Francisco Botanical Garden
San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park
San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA)
San Francisco Zoo
Yerba Buena Center for the Arts
these East Bay attractions are always free
ALAMEDA
Crab Cove Visitor Center
BERKELEY
Adventure Playground
Shorebird Nature Center
LACIS Museum of Lace and Textiles
Sake Museum
Tilden Regional Park
RICHMOND
Rosie the Riveter/World War II Home Front National Historical Park
WALNUT CREEK
Lindsay Wildlife Experience
free days/times at East Bay museums and attractions
BERKELEY
BAMPFA
University of California Botanical Garden
OAKLAND
Chabot Space & Science Center
Oakland Museum
these Peninsula attractions are always free
MILLBRAE
SFO Museum
MOSS BEACH
Fitzgerald Marine Reserve
MOUNTAIN VIEW
NASA’s Ames Research Center Visitor Center
PALO ALTO
Cantor Arts Center
Museum of American Heritage
Palo Alto Duck Pond and Lucy Evans Baylands Nature Interpretive Center
SAN JOSE
San Jose Institute of Contemporary Art
SAN MATEO
Central Park and Japanese Garden
free days/times at Peninsula museums and attractions
Burlingame Museum of Pez Memorabilia
SAN JOSE
San Jose Museum of Art
The Tech Museum
SAN MATEO
CuriOdyssey
San Mateo County History Museum
these Marin attractions are always free
OLEMA
Point Reyes National Seashore
SAUSALITO
Marin Headlands
The Marine Mammal Center
STINSON BEACH
Stinson Beach
free days/times at Marin museums and attractions
SAUSALITO
Bay Area Discovery Museum
Bay Model Visitor Center
(www.berkeleyandbeyond2.com; copyright Carole Terwilliger Meyers)