Golden Gate Park
A city park larger than New York's Central Park, home to a Japanese Tea Garden, botanical garden, conservatory greenhouses, the California Academy of Sciences, and the de Young Museum.
Golden Gate Park stretches about 5 km east to west and covers 4 square km, transformed from sand dunes. The eastern section is the highlight. It includes the Japanese Tea Garden, built in 1894 (about $10-13, with cherry blossoms in spring and a teahouse). There is also the Victorian-style Conservatory of Flowers, the San Francisco Botanical Garden, and, on either side of Music Concourse, the California Academy of Sciences and the de Young Museum. The western section has a bison paddock, a Dutch windmill, and beaches. On Sundays and holidays, parts of JFK Drive are closed to cars, making it good for cycling and strolling. The park is large, so it's best to focus on the eastern section. Take the N Judah light rail or Muni Bus 5 or 44 to get there.
Opening hours
All day; Japanese Tea Garden approx. 09:00–17:45
Nearby sights
- de Young Museum
- California Academy of Sciences
- Baker Beach
- Haight-Ashbury
- Lands End & Sutro Baths
- Twin Peaks
- Presidio & Crissy Field
- Palace of Fine Arts