Source: Patrick Finnegan
San Francisco attracts millions of tourists from all over the world. Apart from famous tourist attractions , parks and gardens in San Francisco can give you can array of other options to enjoy your holiday and relax in the lap of nature. Many of these parks have flower gardens, recreational facilities, gardens, restaurants, rest rooms, art studio and museums too. Golden Gate Park is the most famous park of San Francisco that attracts millions of visitors each year.
1. San Francisco Botanical Garden
Source: Nicolas Raymond
Formerly Known as Strybing Arboretum, San Francisco Botanical Garden is one of the most famous parks in San Francisco. It is the part of Golden gate park and sprwals over an area of 55 acres of land and nature. It features about 8,000 diefferent varities of flora from all around the world. It is a perfect place to spend your time amidst the lap of nature. For people San Francisco City & County its entry is free while non resident have to pay a minimal fee as an entry fees.
Information
- Name: San Francisco Botanical Garden
- Address : 1199 9th Ave, San Francisco, CA 94122
- Timings: 7:30am – 5pm (Last Entry)
- Entry Fees: $8 (Adults), $6(Youth 12-17 and Seniors 65 and over)
- Parking Facility: Yes
- Website: http://www.sfbotanicalgarden.org/
2. Yerba Buena Gardens
Source: Valentina Hirsch
One of the most happening parks of San Fransico, Yerba Buena Gardens is located in the heart of the city where you can enjoy your day in a great way in the lap of nature and among some famous galleries, museums, restaurants, award-winning architectures, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts and many others. Entry is totally free for everyone. You can also indulge in various recreational activities here like bowling, and skating. Yerba Buena Center for the Arts is also located inside the park.
Information
- Name: Yerba Buena Gardens
- Address : 750 Howard Street, San Francisco, CA 94103
- Timings: 6am – 10 pm
- Entry Fees: Free
- Parking Facility: Yes
- Website: http://yerbabuenagardens.com/
3. Golden Gate Park
Source: Nani Leilani
Sprawling over an area of 1,017 acres of land, Golden Gate Park is visited by 13 million visitors annually and is one of the most famous parks of the USA. You can find gardens, monuments, playgrounds, picnic spots, lakes, nature’s trails and various other attractions. You can also indulge in number of activities, cultural venues and events. Some of the most famous places in this huge park are DeYoung Museum, Japanese Tea Garden, California Academy of Sciences,San Francisco Botanical Garden and many others.
Information
- Name: Golden Gate Park
- Address : 1199 9th Ave, San Francisco, CA 94122
- Timings: Open 24 hours a Day
- Entry Fees: Starting From $5 (Entry To Park is Free)
- Parking Facility: Yes
- Website: https://goldengatepark.com/
4. Rose Garden
Source: Maza
Located inside Golden Gate Park and in between John F. Kennedy Drive and Park Presidio Drive, Rose Garden is a place where you can explore more than 60 rose beds planted and can lose yourself in the lap of nature along the sweet fragrance of roses. The enchantment of the patio nursery persistently flourishes as some rose bushes have the ability to sprout two times in a year past the regular once-a-year bloom.
Information
- Name: Rose Garden
- Address : John F Kennedy Dr, San Francisco, CA 94117
- Timings: 6am to 10pm
- Entry Fees: Free
- Parking Facility: Yes
- Website: https://goldengatepark.com/rose-garden.html
5. San Francisco Zoo and Gardens
Source: Michael Fraley
Sprawling over an area of 100 acres of land, San Francisco Zoo and Gardens feature over 1,000 fascinating, endangered species and rescued animals representing more than 250 species of fauna and beautiful serene gardens loaded with local and foreign species of flora. There are a number of gardens you can explore like butterfly garden, sensory garden and rose gardens. There are also other gardens with definite themes like Native California Gardens, African Plants, Prehistoric Garden, and Dune Garden.
Information
- Name: San Francisco Zoo and Gardens
- Address : 1 Zoo Rd, San Francisco, CA 94132
- Timings: 10:00 am to 4:00 pm
- Entry Fees: $19 (Adults), Children (4-14) ($13)
- Parking Facility: Yes ($8 in Weekdays and $10 in Weekends)
- Website: http://www.sfzoo.org/
6. Mission Dolores Park
Source: budgetplaces
Mission Dolores Park is one of the most popular parks of San Francisco and a picnic spot. The park features various recreational facilities for visitors like playground, a multi-use court, football field, various courts for both basketball and tennis, and green fields surrounded by palm trees. And yes, there are also areas that are dedicated to pets too. The park offers a fascinating view of San Francsico City Skylines. You can also indulge in various events and festivals celebrated here with great joy from time to time.
Information
- Name: Mission Dolores Park
- Address : 19th & Dolores St, San Francisco, CA 94114, United States
- Timings: 6am to 10pm
- Entry Fees: $8 (Adults), $6(Youth 12-17 and Seniors 65 and over)
- Parking Facility: No
- Website:
7. Bernal Heights Park
Source: Daniel Ramirez
Bernal Hill gives guests a stunning 360-degree scene and incredible views of the San Francisco Bay, San Bruno Mountain, the famous Golden Gate Bridge, downtown and the hills of the East Bay. A cleared road with limited access and soil trails wind around the slope’s flanks and give access to the summit. The grassland on the ridge is home to a remarkable urban biological community featuring various species of flora and fauna. It is one of the best place from where you can get an awesome view of the city.
Information
- Name: Bernal Heights Park
- Address : San Francisco, CA 94110
- Entry Fees: Free
- Parking Facility: No
- Website:
8. Japanese Tea Garden
Source: majunznk
Located inside the Golden Gate park, Japanese Tea Garden of San Francisco is one of the oldest Japanese Park in USA. It offers guests with a chance to encounter the natural magnificence, serenity and peace of a Japanese-style garden. The landscape of an encompassing the Japanese Tea House is one that energizes, and encourages rejuvenation and relaxation. Japanese Tea Garden showcases the classic elements of Japanese culture here like pagodas, stepping stone paths, tranquil Koi lakes, Zen garden, arch bridge and native plants of Japan.
Information
- Name: Japanese Tea Garden
- Address : 75 Hagiwara Tea Garden Dr, San Francisco, CA 94102
- Timings: 9:00 am to 6:00 pm (Summers), 9:00 am to 4:45 pm( Winters)
- Entry Fees: $8.00
- Parking Facility: Yes
- Website: http://japaneseteagardensf.com/
9. Buena Vista Park
Source: maguisso
Located at the heart of the city ,Buena Vista Park sprawls over and area of 37 acres of land and is named for the stupendous views of the city from its upper slopes. The park is fundamentally an expansive slope with strolling trails twisting through the thickly wooded landscape to the highest point of the slope. One of the oldest parks in San Francisco, it highlights separated, winding trails and coast live oak groves which are rare to find in San Francisco city. A world of animals flourishes among the shadows of an oak forest.
Information
- Name: Buena Vista Park
- Address : Buena Vista & Haight, San Francisco, CA 94117
- Timings: 5am to Midnigh
- Entry Fees:
- Parking Facility: Yes
- Website:
10. Mount Davidson Park
Source: Sharon Hahn Darlin
With an altitude of 928 feet, Mount Davidson Park is the highest natural place and park in San Francisco City. Mt. Davidson features several natural resources and also offers for recreational activities. The park has a diverse and variety of flora that make it a great habitat for a number of local and migratory birds, including 18 locally delicate species. Its most detectable element, beside its altitude, is the 103-foot solid cross at its top.
Information
- Name: Mount Davidson Park
- Address : San Francisco, CA 94127
- Timings: 5am to Midnight
- Entry Fees: Free
- Parking Facility: No
- Website:
11. Alta Plaza Park
Source: Glen Bowman
Owned by the SF Recreation and Parks Department, Alta Plaza Park offers all encompassing views of the San Francisco city and the bay. There are a lot of cleared strolling trails, seats, and an awesome view of the city. Alta Plaza Park features three hard surface tennis courts and a little play area and has an expansive grass park on its northern half and terraced yards on its southern half.
Information
- Name: Alta Plaza Park
- Address : Jackson & Steiner San Francisco, CA 94115
- Timings: 5am to Midnight
- Entry Fees:
- Parking Facility: No
- Website:
12. Lafayette Park
Source: Andrew K. Smith
Sprawling over an area of 11.49 acresof land, Lafayette Park with its green yards, flawless perspectives of the city and the bay, tennis courts, play area, open air tables, and play area for dogs, is a great source for recreation and enjoyment for visitors. You can get a fascinating views of the city from the highest point of this park. After enjoying the city tourist can have a great peacful time here.
Information
- Name: Lafayette Park
- Address : Gough St. & Washington St, San Francisco,
- Timings: 5am to Midnight
- Entry Fees:
- Parking Facility: no
- Website:
13. Lake Merced Park
Source: Sandip Bhattacharya
Lake Merced Park sprawls over and area of 614 acres of land with a recreational trail enclosing a freshwater lake, prominent for angling and sailing. Located in the southwest corner of San Francisco, Lake Merced is significant water, recreational, and natural asset for the City and County of San Francisco and the encompassing range. It is additionally a major area where migratory birds make a stop while on the Pacific Flyway. You can find paved trails which encircle the lakes border; also you can find various picnic spots and a boathouse, angling dock and more.
Information
- Name: Lake Merced Park
- Address : San Francisco, CA 94132
- Timings:
- Entry Fees: Free
- Parking Facility: Yes
- Website:
14. Corona Heights Park
Source: Chris Wronski
Corona Heights Park is one of the recommended parks to visit in San Francisco city. The top of the slope is blustery, however it offers an unhindered and encompassing views of the city of San Francisco from downtown to the Twin Peaks. Carry your lunch and trek up to the highest point of this slope and you’ll get an amazing perspective of the city. The entire zone is underlain by Franciscan chert bedrock, and an expansive areas of the hill is barren.
Information
- Name: Corona Heights Park
- Address : Roosevelt Way & Museum Way, San Francisco
- Timings: 5am to Midnight
- Entry Fees: Free
- Parking Facility:
- Website:
15. John McLaren Park
Source: Marcin Wichary
Situated in south eastern piece of San Francisco city, John McLaren Park was built up in 1927 and is the second biggest park in the city. Explore a colossal natural area of grand meadows, prairie and wetland . More than 7 miles of strolling trails wander through its 312 acres of land, packed with local plants and wildlife. Some others places of interest inside the park can be Jerry Garcia Amphitheater, various picnic spots and amusement courts, McNab Lake and the recently redesigned Coffman Pool.
Information
- Name: John McLaren Park
- Address : 100 John F Shelley Dr, San Francisco
- Timings: 9am – 5pm
- Entry Fees:
- Parking Facility: Street – limited availability
- Website:
Parks and Gardens in San Francisco are great way to explore the city and its culture. Beside other tourist destinations these places are recommended one’s for tourist, since its nature where you can relax and spend a peaceful time after a hectic journey.
Have a good trip and travel!
