The Best Parks in San Francisco: Where to Relax, Explore, and Take in the Views

San Francisco is a park lover’s dream. Thanks to its rolling hills, misty shores, and diverse neighborhoods, you’re never more than a few minutes from green space. Here’s a tour of the city’s best parks, blending iconic attractions and hidden gems.

1. Golden Gate Park
A sprawling 1,017-acre haven with something for everyone—gardens, museums, trails, lakes, and even resident bison. Rent a bike, stroll through the Japanese Tea Garden, paddle on Stow Lake, or catch a show at the California Academy of Sciences.

2. Mission Dolores Park
The heart of the city on sunny days. Expect picnics, skyline views, tennis courts, and a lively social scene. A favorite among locals for relaxing afternoons.

3. The Presidio & Tunnel Tops
A unique blend of forested trails, sweeping Golden Gate Bridge views, picnic areas, and playgrounds. Presidio Tunnel Tops offers lawns, food trucks, and some of the best vantage points in the city.

4. Alamo Square & Buena Vista Park
Alamo Square is famous for the Painted Ladies Victorian homes with postcard views. Nearby, Buena Vista Park offers winding trails under old oak trees, perfect for a quiet escape.

5. Grandview Park & Mosaic Steps
Perched above the Sunset District, Grandview Park boasts panoramic ocean views and native plants. The adjacent colorful Mosaic Steps create a memorable climb.

6. Corona Heights & Glen Canyon Park
Corona Heights offers rocky outcrops and dog-friendly trails with sweeping views. Glen Canyon, in the city’s south, is a hidden gem of meadows and trails ideal for nature lovers.

7. Bernal Heights Park
Beloved for its relaxed vibe, gentle trails, and 360-degree city panoramas. A great spot for sunrise or sunset walks.

8. Pioneer Park (Telegraph Hill)
Home to Coit Tower, this park is rich in history and offers stunning views of the bay among cypress trees.

9. Duboce Park
A neighborhood staple with playgrounds, open lawns, and a welcoming community feel.

10. Sutro Heights & Great Highway Park
Sutro Heights offers dramatic cliffside gardens above Ocean Beach. Great Highway Park, a newer addition, transforms former roadways into oceanfront paths with play spaces and fitness zones.

From cultural institutions in the city’s heart to secluded lookout spots, San Francisco’s parks offer a perfect escape for every mood and moment.