
It’s a steep walk up from any side, so you may be tempted to lay down a few dollars to reach the top. Embracing San Francisco’s heritage of labor reform and glorifying the worker, the murals were created by 25 artists, many of whom were denounced as communists. However, the murals that line the lobby are free to see. Coit Tower murals and the Filbert Street StepsĬoit Tower (1934) is a beloved part of the San Francisco skyline, but not free to go up. Either troll the $1 bins for the glory of vinyl, or time it for the frequent free shows set up in the corner.Ĭoit Tower is a notable feature on the San Franciso skyline © zrfphoto/Getty Images 6. Amoeba MusicĪmoeba Music is a huge record/CD store made out of a former bowling alley on Haight Street. The latter houses items from Oceanic ceremonial masks and trippy-hippie handmade fashion to a James Turrell domed skyspace installation built into the side of a hill. The former features a collection ranging from Monet to John Cage soundscapes, ancient Iraqi ivories to R Crumb comics. If you're in San Francisco on the first Tuesday of the month, get thee to either the Legion of Honor or the de Young Museum, both of which are free on those days.

It’s 1.7 miles across (it’s possible to catch a bus back – though some visitors just walk halfway across, take in the scene, and return). You can bike across, but it’s just as fun – if you are dressed right – to walk across the world’s most beautiful bridge. On sunny days, it's a brilliant radiant orange (International Orange, to be specific), and when the fog rolls in it's a moody only-in-San Francisco vista.

It's completely free to marvel at this feat of art-deco design and engineering. Make your travel budget go a little farther with insider tips from our weekly newsletter delivered to your inbox.
