There are, of course, some very famous attractions that you shouldn’t pass up, even if you’re an off-the-beaten path traveler. Although these are on every tourist “hit list,” they shouldn’t be confused with “tourist traps.”

Here are five popular activities in San Francisco, with tips on how to best navigate the tourist masses:

1. Golden Gate Bridge

The Golden Gate Bridge is one of the city’s (and world’s!) most iconic landmarks. There are many ways to experience the Golden Gate Bridge, from walking or bicycling across to simply taking a photo from various spots around town.

My favorite spot to take in the bridge is on the other side of the Golden Gate Bridge at the Marin Headlands. Here you’ll find several great scenic overlooks that make for some of the best views of the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, and San Francisco.

Alcatraz at night. Photo: Domesticat

2. Alcatraz

On a warm, clear afternoon, Alcatraz can get pretty crowded with tourists. However, for a more intimate experience and smaller crowds, take the ferry over to Alcatraz for the special night tour, which take you to places not on the daytime tour. On a clear evening, Alcatraz offers a beautiful view of the sun setting behind the Golden Gate Bridge.

3. A ride on a cable car

If you don’t want to be shoulder to shoulder with tourists, I recommend riding a cable car first thing in the morning before they get packed. While San Francisco’s cable cars are popular with tourists, even locals use them for getting up and over the city’s steepest hills.

After your ride, enjoy a free visit to the Cable Car Museum, which takes guests on a behind-the-scenes look at how cable cars work. However, whatever you do, don’t call them “trolleys!”

4. Chinatown

If you’ve been to Chinatown in New York City, this might not be on your “to-do” list. However, San Francisco’s Chinatown is the oldest in North America and the largest Chinatown outside of Asia.

Picnic with the Painted Ladies. Photo: SJL

Come to the neighborhood with an empty stomach and plan on restaurant hopping to sample some of the city’s dim sum. Afterward, head over to Golden Gate Fortune Cookies to see how the cookies are made.

5. The “Painted Ladies”

Constructed during the 1890s, the strip of brightly painted Victorian homes known as the “Painted Ladies” is located across the street from Alamo Park and is known as “Postcard Row” (given its immense popularity).

Alamo Park is one of my favorite places to spend an afternoon. After getting your photo snapped with the “Ladies,” pick up a sandwich nearby (there are several shops on Divisadero and Haight Street), and enjoy a picnic in the park.

Also in our guide: If you’re planning a trip to the city, be sure to check out our reviews of cheap hotels in San Francisco. Our editors have visited and inspected budget hotels in the center of San Francisco, many of which are within walking distance of these attractions (well, except Alcatraz…).

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While San Francisco may be one of the most expensive cities to visit in the U.S., it certainly doesn’t have to be. Whether it’s eating street food or enjoying an afternoon at one of San Francisco’s many great public parks, there are plenty of things to do for cheap, and even free. While some of these activities are outdoors and only available during the summer months, many are year-round.

Here are 10 of the best free things to do in San Francisco throughout the year:

Sutro Baths

The Sutro Baths, the city’s version of ruins, are one of the most interesting landmarks in San Francisco. Formerly a large swimming complex along the rocky cliffs of the Pacific Ocean, the complex burned down in the mid-1960s, leaving the remains that stand today. This is an intriguing landmark, which offers one of the best views in San Francisco. It’s also the trailhead for the Lands End hiking trail.

Golden Gate Park

Few parks in the U.S. can rival San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park. While it has the same shape of New York City’s Central Park, it’s nearly 25% larger. The park features museums, large and open green spaces, and paths for walking and bicycling. The park is convenient to the Haight and Inner Sunset districts, which have great dining and nightlife.

Tour of Anchor Brewing

Anchor is one of the most well-known breweries on the west coast, calling San Francisco home. It’s one of the few breweries that offers a free tour, culminating in a tasting session of Anchor beers. However, you’ll need to book your reservation weeks in advance (months in advance if you want to go on a Friday).

Free museum days

San Francisco features some great museums, including the California Academy of Sciences and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. While many of San Francisco’s museums aren’t free, they have free museum days, which are typically one day per month during the middle of the week. This is also when the museums are often the least crowded.

Cable Car Museum

In San Francisco, cable cars are truly part of the city’s culture. And when you see the hills of San Francisco, you’ll see why; you’ll be thankful for a cable car ride up those steep streets. The Cable Car Museum offers visitors a behind-the-cable look at this fascinating method of transportation.

Shakespeare in the Park

You’ll have to be visiting San Francisco during the summer months to take part in the San Francisco Shakespeare Festival’s Free Shakespeare in the Park. Each summer brings a new weekend afternoon and evening show. Bring a blanket and picnic and make a day of it. The plays take part at a couple of different locations in and around the bay area, but I recommend the Presidio location.

San Francisco Mime Troupe

Don’t worry, we’re not talking about any old mime performing on a street corner. The San Francisco Mime Troupe has been putting on a shows for years. Scheduled performances take place around San Francisco during the summer months, including Dolores Park in the Mission, Glen Park, and Washington Square Park.

San Francisco Maritime National Historic Site

The San Francisco Maritime National Historic Site is located near Fisherman’s Wharf, offers a chance to get close to several types of boats, including tugboats, ferries, and schooners. Self-guided tours of the boats are available for a nominal fee. Visiting the Site also allows for some great photo ops, since it has views of downtown San Francisco, Ghirardelli Square, the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz.

Sea lions of Pier 39

Pier 39‘s sea lions are celebrities in San Francisco. You may have to wiggle and squirm your way past other tourists at Fisherman’s Wharf to see them, but this is a great chance to see some local marine life. You can almost always find the sea lions at the dock at Pier 39; simply follow their smell.

Fort Point

Located on the southern side of the Golden Gate Bridge, Fort Point offers one of the best views of the bridge. While the Golden Gate Bridge is the main attraction, Fort Point also offers great views of the city. The historic site maintains normal business hours Thursday through Monday. Both guided and self-guided tours are available free of charge.

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However, sometimes the weather may turn so sour that you’ll need to plan for an “inside” day. The following are some of the best things to do in San Francisco when the weather makes a turn for the worst.

1. California Academy of Sciences
55 Music Concourse Drive
Web site

If you get stuck in the rain at Golden Gate Park, this is the best place to spend the rest of your day. The California Academy of Sciences is a multi-faceted museum, one that can be easy to get lost in for the entire day. Not just a natural history museum, it also features an aquarium and planetarium.

If you’re visiting on Thursdays, stick around for the museum’s weekly nightlife, which includes snacks and adult beverages to enjoy while taking in all of its great offerings.

2. Ferry Building Marketplace
1 Ferry Building
Web site

The San Francisco Ferry Building is one of the most recognizable landmarks in the bay area. Dating back over 100 years, the Ferry Building stands today as an indoor market featuring some of the best food that San Francisco has to offer. Plan on going with an empty stomach, as you’ll want to follow the smells coming out of some of the different shops.

This also makes a good stop after lunch for enjoying premium chocolates from Recchiuti Confections or fresh coffee from Blue Bottle.

3. Ghirardelli Square
900 N Point St.
Web site

Just look for the big Ghirardelli sign near Fisherman’s Wharf to find this landmark. The square has a long history that dates back over 100 years as the headquarters for Ghirardelli chocolate. The indoor market features nearly 50 boutique shops and restaurants. If nothing else, let loose with an ice cream cone or some Ghirardelli chocolates.

4. San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA)
151 3rd Street
Web site

Since San Francisco is one of the most creative destinations in the world, it should come as no surprise to see the Museum of Modern Art on this list. Unlike most art museums, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art is devoted exclusively to contemporary art. The collection includes over 25,000 different works of art, including paintings, photographs, statues and multimedia.

In between exhibits, enjoy a coffee served by one of San Francisco’s most popular coffee companies: Blue Bottle.

5. San Francisco Cable Car Museum
1201 Mason Street
Web site

A trip to San Francisco really isn’t complete without a cable car ride. However, before jumping on, learn a little more about their history and significance by visiting the San Francisco Cable Car Museum. The museum features exhibits that include cable cars that date back over 100 years. And did we mention it’s free?

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If you’re spending most of your time in San Francisco itself, you’re not likely to be renting a car. The expense of parking mixed with the difficulty of finding a parking spot are reasons enough to bypass a car rental in favor of public transportation.

You’ll likely be ready for a ride after climbing just a couple of San Francisco’s steep hills. Fortunately, San Francisco has one of the most comprehensive public transportation systems in America, with bus or train stops usually within easy reach from wherever you may find yourself.

The following guide will help you get around San Francisco more efficiently using public transportation. For more details and ticket prices, make sure to read our “Getting Around San Francisco” guide.

MUNI

Familiarize yourself with MUNI, because this is where you’ll be spending a majority of your time while getting around San Francisco. While you’ll probably spend much of your time on the MUNI bus, other forms of MUNI public transportation include cable cars, trolleys and street cars.

Buses, trolleys and streetcars have a fare of $2, which includes a transfer ticket that is good for an hour and a half. This can be paid in cash or coins, but make sure to have exact change, as the drivers do not carry change. Cable car rides are $6 for a single-ride ticket.

If you’re in San Francisco for a few days, consider buying a MUNI passport. These are 1-, 3- or 7-day passes that offer unlimited rides. If you know you’ll be using MUNI on a daily basis or even multiple times per a day (and especially if you plan to take the cable car a few times), then this will typically save you both money and time, and save you the hassle of carrying single dollar bills or coins.

Caltrain

If you plan on getting outside the city, you may be using Caltrain, the Bay Area’s commuter train that travels between San Francisco and San Jose. Significant stops include Candlestick Park, San Mateo, Palo Alto, Stanford Stadium, Santa Clara and San Jose.

Fares depend on the length of your trip, starting at $2.75.

BART

BART is San Francisco’s subway system, although you won’t find nearly as many lines as you would in New York City. There’s one primary line that goes through San Francisco, which can get you around much quicker than MUNI. It runs from the Embarcadero, through downtown and into the Mission District.

You’ll likely use BART when going to the airport, Oakland or Berkeley, all of which are a short BART ride away and much cheaper than taking a taxi. You may even find it to be quite a bit cleaner and tolerable than most subway systems around the world. (Another fun note: Those civilized San Franciscans even have the tendency to line up when the train approaches—not something you tend to see in other cities!)

Fares on BART depend on how far you travel. BART tickets work like debit cards: You enter them when you start your journey and then again when exiting, at which time the correct fare is debited. For detailed information on rates and cards, see this page on the BART Web site.

Public transportation schedules

Since San Francisco has such an interconnected transportation system, it’ll probably be overwhelming at first when considering which public transportation method to use, where they stop, and when to get off.

While I recommend using a map, you can also access this information from your phone, even if you don’t have a smart phone. Dialing 5-1-1 or going to 511.org on your phone or computer gives up-to-the-minute information on traffic and when and where to catch your next ride. It also has a very useful route planner.

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