We\u2019ve listed our top 12 favorite places to visit in San Francisco for free, so you can splurge on that extravagant seafood dinner and still have a full itinerary without blowing your budget.<\/span><\/p>\n Travel back in time to the Civil War with a visit to historic <\/span>Fort Point<\/span><\/a>. Perched on a rocky ledge at the foot of the Golden Gate Bridge, Fort Point is by far one of the best photography spots in San Francisco.<\/span><\/p>\n The fort was built between 1853 and 1861 by the U.S. Army for an attack that never came. It was later recognized as a historic site in 1970. Check out the views from each of the fort\u2019s spectacular vantage points while you wander throughout the building.<\/span><\/p>\n Presidio Tunnel Tops<\/span><\/a> is a park built on top of the Presidio Parkway which replaced the seismically unsafe Doyle Drive. The park overlooks the Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco Bay. It\u2019s the perfect place for the family to stretch out after a long day of sightseeing.<\/span><\/p>\n Stroll the winding paths, climb the play structures, enjoy the murals, or have a relaxing picnic on the grass. Don\u2019t miss the exhibits at the Field Station at Crissy Field Center.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Any Star Wars fan visiting San Francisco should stop to see Jedi Master Yoda! The unique fountain is in front of Building B at Lucasfilm HQ and the <\/span>Letterman Digital Arts Center<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n Visitors should note this is a workplace, not a museum. During the weekdays, if the lobby is open, you can quietly enter and check out the collection of Star Wars memorabilia, including a life-size Darth Vader and R2D2. May the Force be with you!<\/span><\/p>\n A white picket fence frames the final resting place of loyal military pets at the historic <\/span>Presidio Pet Cemetery<\/span><\/a>. Somehow cute and morbid at the same time, the grave markers are miniature versions of traditional military headstones. They date back to the 1950s, and memorialize trusted companions like Knucklehead the parakeet and Trouble who \u201cwas no trouble.\u201d This slightly weird spot is one of the most unique places to visit in San Francisco for free.<\/span><\/p>\n Escape the city without leaving the City when you hike one of San Francisco\u2019s many nature trails. Watch the sunset over the entrance to the San Francisco Bay from the <\/span>Coastal Trail<\/span><\/a> that runs along the Pacific Ocean from Baker Beach to the Golden Gate Bridge. Enjoy panoramic views of the <\/span>Pacific Ocean, Mount Tamalpais, and the Golden Gate from the many lookouts of Lands End. Be sure to check out the <\/span>historic <\/span>Cliff House<\/span><\/a> and the Victorian-era ruins of the <\/span>Sutro Baths<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Ocean Beach lies just south of Lands End at the foot of Golden Gate Park. Healing happens when you cross the Great Highway, step on the windswept dunes, and look out at the horizon across the endless Pacific Ocean. Everything else just melts away. Relax on the sand, watch the surfers, or just contemplate life in this magical place.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Lombard Street, a staple of San Francisco postcard photos, is also known as \u201cthe crookedest street in the world.\u201d In just this one block lie eight tight, brick-paved turns lined with trees and flowers. You can drive down the block or take the stairs. Whichever you choose, be sure to stop and take in the spectacular views of Coit Tower and the Bay.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n See how far you can make it across the 1.7-mile-long <\/span>Golden Gate Bridge<\/span><\/a>. People don\u2019t realize how cold, windy, and foggy it can get, but can you guess the main reason most people turn back?<\/span><\/p>\n The bridge <\/span>sways in the wind<\/span>\u2013up to 27 feet side to side and 15 feet vertically. It is designed to do that, but it can be disconcerting to the uninitiated. In fact, many people don\u2019t make it past the first tower. Do you think you\u2019re up for it?<\/span><\/p>\n Located on a jetty in the Marina District, the <\/span>Wave Organ<\/span><\/a> is an acoustic sculpture built with repurposed cemetery granite and marble, concrete, and PVC. The organ pipes are staged at different elevations to work with the rising and falling tide. The melodic sounds of the Wave Organ work together with the natural sounds of the sea to create a mesmerizing and peaceful harmony.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Golden Gate Park<\/span><\/a> is home to many attractions including the Academy of Sciences and the Japanese Tea Gardens. But there are some lesser-known places worth checking out that are completely free to enjoy.<\/span><\/p>\n Visit the <\/span>historic bison paddock<\/span><\/a> that has been home to a small herd of American bison since the 1890s. Cross the historic arched Roman Bridge and hike up to the <\/span>waterfall on Strawberry Hill<\/span><\/a>. Or grab your lance and joust with one of the two historic windmills sitting in the tulip gardens at the park\u2019s western edge.<\/span><\/p>\n The hills of San Francisco are peppered with steep, narrow stairs hidden within the neighborhoods. Each set of stairs has a personality and history of its own.<\/span><\/p>\n The area of Golden Gate Heights has the 16<\/span>th<\/span> Avenue Tiled Steps, which consist of a sea-to-stars mosaic that spans the 163 steps. The Hidden Garden Steps on 15<\/span>th<\/span> Avenue and Kirkham Street feature a mosaic of California flowers and plants across 143 steps. The <\/span>Lincoln Park Steps<\/span><\/a>, the widest of San Francisco\u2019s mosaic stairs, were designed in a Beaux Arts style, epitomizing the era the steps were built.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Don\u2019t miss the two sets of hidden steps to and from <\/span>Coit Tower<\/span><\/a>, that iconic landmark built in 1933 as a tribute to San Francisco\u2019s volunteer firefighters. We like to take the Filbert Steps up to the tower and catch our breath while visiting the monument before making our way back down along the Greenwich Steps. It is a workout, but well worth it. These steps have some of the best views of the Bay Bridge.<\/span><\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/assets.devourtours.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/crisoforo-gaspar-hernandez-zvuZUYEygv0-unsplash.jpg\")
Fort Point<\/span><\/h2>\n
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Presidio Tunnel Tops<\/span><\/h2>\n
Lucasfilm HQ<\/span><\/h2>\n
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Presidio Pet Cemetery<\/span><\/h2>\n
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Nature in San Francisco<\/span><\/h2>\n
Ocean Beach<\/span><\/h2>\n
Lombard Street<\/span><\/h2>\n
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Golden Gate Bridge Walk<\/span><\/h2>\n
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The Wave Organ<\/span><\/h2>\n
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Golden Gate Park<\/span><\/h2>\n
Hidden Staircases and Steps<\/span><\/h2>\n
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Cable Car Museum<\/span><\/h2>\n
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