InfoGuide: Gardens of Golden Gate Park (San Francisco, CA)
Looking for a great day in San Francisco, mostly outdoors? Look no further than the Gardens of Golden Gate Park. The Gardens are comprised of:
— San Francisco Botanical Garden
How much does it cost?
For $33 in person (or $36.75 if your purchase online), you can visit all three over 3 consecutive days which is a fantastic deal. Otherwise, the adult ticket prices are $15, $15, and $14 respectively for the Botanical Garden, Tea Garden, and Conservatory. Advance ticket purchases are recommended for free or busy days.
Suggested Itinerary
We parked under the de Young at the Music Concourse Garage and got an early start (9:30) at the Botanical Gardens. After 2 hours of meandering on and off the main paths, we walked about a block back towards the Music Concourse to the Japanese Tea Garden.
We enjoyed some tea and a light snack of miso soup and edamame before walking through the beautifully manicured and peaceful garden. It’s a smaller space and our entire visit lasted about an hour.
For lunch, we recommend bringing a picnic which you can leave in the car and easily retrieve to enjoy on one of the park benches in the Music Concourse. Alternatively, the de Young Museum has a cafe that can be accessed without purchasing a ticket for the museum itself. We enjoyed a snack and espresso before driving home and it was lovely. Note: for the Academy of Sciences cafe, you must purchase an admission ticket to access.
The walk from the Music Concourse to the Conservatory of Flowers took about 10 minutes along the Golden Mile (John F Kennedy Promenade). Be prepared to take your jacket or sweater off when you enter the Conservatory of Flowers as it can be warm in some of the sections. We spent less than an hour admiring the beautiful and exotic plants, flowers, trees, fish, and water features.
We went offroad and took the path parallel to John F Kennedy Promenade back to the Music Concourse. This took us past the Lily Pond and onto a dirt path which can easily make you forget you are in the middle of a major metropolitan city.
Free Visits to the Gardens (as of July 2024)
— Conservatory of Flowers: first Tuesday of the month
— Botanical Garden: second Tuesday of the month, daily from 7:30–9 AM, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, New Year’s Day
— Japanese Tea Garden: Monday, Wednesday, Friday from 9–10 AM
Parking
Parking is available under the de Young Museum and the California Academy of Sciences at the Music Concourse Garage. We were there all day and it cost us $29 (the max). You may be able to find free street parking near the Botanical Garden and the Japanese Tea Garden. There is no street parking near the Conservatory of Flowers at the John F Kennedy Promenade is closed to vehicles.
Giving Back
If you are looking to give back, consider a donation to the Gardens of Golden Gate Park or volunteering your time.
According to J at the Botanical Gardens, there are 10 onsite gardeners which isn’t nearly enough to handle all that needs to be maintained on the 55-acre property. As it says on the website, you can “grab your gloves and dig in with a Green Team to support the horticulture team in caring for the Gardens.” Other volunteer opportunities are available if you prefer to keep your nails clean.
What to do next in San Francisco?
— Culture + active scenic + local + active scenic
Who are we? We are Zeke and Terri Mead, 50-something Californians navigating our lives and the world, mostly together. We want more midlifers (40–65 year olds) to get out into the world, embrace midlife, and embrace adventure. We launched our YouTube channel in February 2024 and travel as much as our two children (20 and 23) and our empty nest puppy Good Boy George allow.
We love to share what we learn, where we go, and our recommendations to make it easier to step outside of your comfort zone.
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