Golden Gate Park
About
Golden Gate Park is a massive, lush green sanctuary stretching from the center of the city all the way to the Pacific Ocean. Spanning over 1,017 acres, it is 20 percent larger than New York's Central Park. The park is home to a spectacular mix of wooded trails, lakes, monuments, a resident bison paddock, and world-class cultural institutions like the California Academy of Sciences and the de Young Museum.
Highlights
What makes this place special
The Japanese Tea Garden
Explore the oldest public Japanese garden in the United States, featuring a historic pagoda, arched drum bridge, koi ponds, and a rustic tea house.
The Conservatory of Flowers
Admire the oldest wood-and-glass Victorian greenhouse in the Western Hemisphere, filled with rare, colorful, and exotic tropical plants.
The Bison Paddock
Catch a glimpse of the park's resident herd of American bison, which have lived in a spacious meadow inside the park since the 1890s.
Things to Know
- •Because the park is exceptionally massive, renting a bicycle or using the park's free weekend shuttle is the best way to see multiple attractions.
- •The main thoroughfare, John F. Kennedy (JFK) Promenade, is entirely car-free, making it highly safe and peaceful for walking, skating, and cycling.
- •While walking through the park and visiting the redwood groves is completely free, specific attractions like the museums, Japanese Tea Garden, and Conservatory require separate admission tickets.
