Golden Gate Park is a three-mile-long oasis of lush landscapes in San Francisco, extending from the Haight-Ashbury suburb to the Pacific Ocean. Brimming with magnificent museums, serene lakes, verdant meadows, a bison field, beautiful trails, sports centers, and much more, this park has so much to experience and indulge in, making it a delight for locals and visitors alike. It also hosts numerous annual events, like the Outside Lands Music Festival and the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival, which draw some of the most renowned artists in the world.

From the California Academy of Sciences to the Conservatory of Flowers and horseback riding to taking in the panoramic views from the tower, everyone can find something to enjoy in Golden Gate Park. Check out this list of the best things to do and see in Golden Gate Park to create some lasting memories in the city's historic center.

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10 Visit The Paddock To See A Herd Of American Bison

The San Francisco Zoo maintains a paddock in Golden Gate Park with a small herd of wild American bison, providing them with a large grassy area to roam freely. The paddock is fenced in and located on the western edge of the park, where guests can watch the bison forage from a distance. Observing wild bison grazing in a public park is one of the most exciting things to do in Golden Gate Park, as well as a lot of fun and a great photo opportunity.

  • Location: 1237 John F. Kennedy Dr, San Francisco, CA 94121

Basons may attack, so keep distance and do not bother them.

9 Capture Insta-Worthy Pictures At The Windmills

Two wooden windmills (Dutch and Murphy) that were constructed in the early 1900s still stand on the park's western edge. They were intended to move water around the area, facilitating the growth of trees and plants on the park's sand dunes. These historic windmills make stunning backgrounds for Instagram-worthy photos. Additionally, the Queen Wilhelmina Garden, which is beneath the enormous Dutch windmill, transforms into a paradise for tulip lovers each spring when 10,000 of them bloom.

  • Location: 1691 John F. Kennedy Dr, San Francisco, CA 94121

On March 4, American Tulip Day, tulip lovers can pick up their favorite flowers to take home or gift to someone.

The Sharon Quarters, opened in 1888, is considered to be the first public playground for kids in the country. It was extensively renovated before reopening in 2007 as the Koret Children's Quarter, retaining its concrete slides. The park also has climbing walls, climbing frames, towers, walkways, and a charming Herschell-Spillman carousel from 1914. The 62 brightly painted menagerie animals on the carousel, open to both youngsters and young-at-hearts, include a dragon, a camel, horses, roosters, frogs, and many more.

  • Location: 320 Bowling Green Dr, San Francisco, CA 94118
  • Park Hours: 5 a.m. to midnight, daily
  • Carousel Hours: Variable
  • Carousel Fee: Adults, $2; children (6–12 years), $1 per ride; children under 5 years, free

Carousel hours change according to the season, the weather, and the school schedules, so get updated information by dialing (415) 231-0077.

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7 Discover The Remnants Of Oak Woodlands

Golden Gate Park was made up of drifting sand dunes before being transformed into a green oasis. Although the majority of the park now has plants, flowers, lawns, and many other ornamental features, there are still traces of San Francisco’s oak woodlands in the northeast corner. These remains serve as a distinctive historic characteristic of Golden Gate Park, educating visitors about its former ecosystem, and are one of the most fascinating attractions for those visiting San Francisco for a short weekend trip.

  • Location: Stanyan Street and Fulton, San Francisco, CA 94121

Hiking through the forests allows visitors to see some of the oldest coasts' live oak trees and remnants of the park's once-rough terrain.

6 Take A Public Tour Of The San Francisco Botanical Garden

San Francisco Botanical Garden is a lush haven of Golden Gate Park with over 8,000 different species of plants from all over the world. It features many beautifully landscaped open spaces and gardens, such as the South African, the Rhododendron, the Magnolias, the Andean Cloud Forest, and the Ancient Plant Garden. All these allow visitors to immerse themselves in the beauty and fragrance of seasonal flowers at every turn in the garden. Rhododendrons, succulents, magnolias, and camellias are some of the garden's special collections, all of which are a sensory delight.

  • Location: 1199 9th Ave., San Francisco, CA 94122
  • Hours: 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.
  • Entry Fees: Adults: $11 to $13; children and seniors: $3 to $7

Getting a map at the entrance is highly recommended to know about seasonal highlights and navigate the park.

5 Enjoy A Cup Of Tea In The Japanese Tea Garden

This San Francisco garden, designed primarily as a Japanese exhibit for the 1894 California Midwinter International Exposition, allows visitors to experience the unparalleled beauty, serenity, and harmony of a Japanese garden. It features pagodas, stepping stone paths, stone lanterns, native Japanese plants, a zen garden, koi ponds, and an arched drum bridge, offering a glimpse into Japanese customs and culture. Today visitors can explore the pagoda, take photos on the drum bridge, and even meditate and relish a cup of tea in the tea house, which are all fun things to do in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park.

  • Location: 75 Hagiwara Tea Garden Dr, San Francisco, CA 94118
  • Hours: November-February: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; March-October: 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
  • Entry Fees: Adults: $12 to $16; children and seniors: $3 to $7

Related: A Travel Guide To San Francisco: 10 Things To Know While Planning Your Trip (thetravel.com)

4 Take A Break At Stow Lake

Picnicking with friends or family at Stow Lake is one of the best ways to take a break from the city's life. The largest of the 10 lakes in Golden Gate Park, Stow Lake offers tranquility, entertainment, indulgence, and rejuvenation. Visitors can take a leisurely sail on the lake, go on a short hike to Strawberry Hill nearby, see the cascading Huntington Falls, pose for photos in front of the Golden Gate Pavillion, or simply enjoy the setting sun. A stroll by the lake after dusk is the ideal way to spend a romantic evening out.

  • Snack Bar: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., daily
  • Boat Rentals: Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

3 Admire The Art Collection Of The De Young Museum

The de Young Museum, one of San Francisco's oldest museums (opened in 1895), features American art dating from the 17th century to the present. Situated in an impressive copper-sheathed building, it displays a diverse collection of textiles, paintings, artifacts, and sculptures from around the world. With its outstanding art collections, stunning architecture, and picturesque surroundings, it makes San Francisco one of the American cities with the best museums.

  • Location: 50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Dr, San Francisco, CA 94118
  • Hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 9:30 a.m. to 5:15 p.m.

2 Immerse In The Ambiance Of Conservatory Of Flowers

The Conservatory of Flowers immerses visitors in a different world with its rare and uncommon plants in five distinct galleries, each highlighting a different ecosystem. A marvel of Victorian architecture, this conservatory is one of the most photographed San Francisco landmarks one can find only in the city. With a rich collection of over 1,700 species of tropical and aquatic plants, including a 100-year-old giant Imperial philodendron, orchids, water lilies, and carnivorous plants, this conservatory is indeed a great escape from the bustle of the city.

  • Location: 100 John F. Kennedy Dr, San Francisco, CA 94118
  • Hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
  • Entry Fees: Adults: $11 to $15; children and seniors: $3 to $7

Related: How Best To Visit The Golden Gate Bridge, And Why You Should Know Its History First (thetravel.com)

Admission to the Conservatory of Flowers is free, making it an ideal location for those seeking free activities in San Francisco.

1 Get Tremendous Knowledge At The California Academy of Sciences

The California Academy of Sciences features many attractions under one roof, including an aquarium, a planetarium, a rainforest, and a natural history museum, making it one of the most famous things to do in Golden Gate Park. Visitors can interact with over 40,000 animals here, including African penguins and Claude, the friendly alligator. They can also gaze at the stars in the 75-foot planetarium and learn about the planet's biodiversity through hands-on exhibits. Behind-the-scenes tours, Penguins and Pajamas sleepovers, and weekly NightLife events are a few other activities that make academy visits more exciting.

  • Location: 55 Music Concourse Dr, San Francisco, CA 94118
  • Hours: Monday to Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Thursday Nightlife (for 21+): 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
  • Entry Fees: Adults: $43.25; children (3 to 17 years) and seniors: $33.75

Save $3 to $5 per ticket and ensure availability on busy days by reserving tickets at least three days beforehand.