Finding free things to do in San Francisco, one of the most expensive cities in the US, may seem like a fool’s errand. But believe it or not, there are plenty of interesting sightseeing tours, museums, landmarks and historic buildings to visit completely free of charge – you just have to know where to look! From name-your-price walking tours to self-guided audio tours, we’ve put together the best free experiences in San Francisco for you to enjoy on your next trip to The Golden City.

Free Downtown San Francisco Walking Tours 

For an all-round comprehensive beginners guide to San Francisco, try this free walking tour of Downtown Union Square, Chinatown and the Financial District.

Offered in both English and Spanish, these tours are led by knowledgeable local guides who are full of interesting facts, and know the best places to go for that highly-coveted Instagram shot. Learn about San Fran history, the Gold Rush, gaze up at the Transamerica Pyramid, and even enjoy a surprise tasting at the end.

Tours operate twice a day throughout the week and are completely free, just leave a tip if you think the guide did a good job!
For a similar tour with a different angle, explore Union Square, Chinatown and the Transamerica Pyramid with a San Francisco local, getting a feel for the city with a guide who’s more of a friend. Visit the former Red Light District, admire Lotta’s Fountain, walk down Chinatown’s iconic Grant Avenue, stop off at Portsmouth Square, and lots more, offered every day at 10am.

Free Lombard Street & North Beach Walking Tour 

San Francisco is so famous for its Chinatown District that many visitors overlook the authentic Italian heritage of the North Beach neighborhood, but many will claim it’s the best Little Italy in the USA!

Join an enthusiastic guide for a three hour free walking tour through the neighborhood, visiting the most crooked street in the world; Lombard Street, sample Italian delicacies in Little Italy, and head to Fisherman’s Wharf, the most visited tourist destination in the whole city.

Tours run on weekday and weekend dates, and at the end you can choose how much the experience was worth.

Free Tours By Foot also offer other themed tours such as Secrets, Scandals, and Scoundrels of San Francisco, Architecture, Art & Secret Parks, and The Castro District.

Free Days at the Cartoon Art Museum 

The first Tuesday of every month at San Francisco’s Cartoon Art Museum is Pay What You Wish Day, so you can make a donation to the museum instead of paying the admission price!

Explore the history of comic books, movie costumes, modern cartoon art and lots more at this wonderfully unique gallery, showcasing pieces by renowned artists throughout the years. Exhibitions are updated regularly, so check back and see what hidden gems you uncover.

Free Golden Gate Bridge Tour 

It wouldn’t be a trip to San Francisco without visiting the Golden Gate Bridge, the bridge they thought was impossible to build! See the structure like never before with the aid of an entertaining tour guide, visiting five of the best sightseeing spots for fascinating stories and great photo opportunities.

Golden Gate Bridge Walking Tours last one hour and can be booked at 2pm on weekdays, free of charge.

Free Self-Guided Walking Tour of San Francisco 

There are plenty of fantastic GPS-tracking apps (such as VoiceMap and Atlantis Audio Tours) for those wanting to explore San Francisco on their own schedule, without the restraints of booking an organized group tour.

Simply download the app to your phone and choose a tour, then listen to a journalist, author, or local resident direct you around the city whilst regaling you with fun stories. Though these tours are very low-priced, they’re not free, so we found this self-guided walking tour blogpost by Lia and Jeremy, authors of Practical Wanderlust, a great website for anyone new to San Francisco.

Starting at the Ferry Building on the Embarcadero, follow their written guide and see the best of the city, including Telegraph Hill, Kerouac Alley, the Sentinel Building, the Fortune Cookie Factory, the giant San Francisco heart statue, and loads more.

Free San Francisco City Hall Tour 

Spanning 500,000 square feet over two city blocks and standing at 307.5 ft tall, the San Francisco City Hall is a stunning structure of marble, steel and granite built in 1915.

Book yourself onto a free one hour guided tour and discover the history of the building; the great earthquake that once destroyed it; the famous weddings held there; movies that feature the building; and learn all about its architect, Arthur Brown, Jr. The San Francisco City Hall is an unmissable experience on a trip to The Golden City, a must-see for history buffs!

… And that concludes our list of free San Francisco Tours! As you can see from this eclectic list of free tours, you needn’t spend a fortune to discover the city. If you’re still looking for unique things to do in San Francisco, you can browse our full range of San Francisco experience gifts here. Do you have any money-saving tips for San Francisco? Leave us a comment; we’d love to hear from you!