12 Things To Do In Presidio San Francisco

The Presidio in San Francisco is one of the biggest parks in the city. However, its name and ties as a Spanish fortification left its mark in the city. Part of the National Park Service, the Presidio is where you can spend the whole day. Here is a list of 12 things to do at the Presidio San Francisco.

This post is part of our San Francisco Bay Area Series. Here are a series of related posts:

• Things to do in Berkeley California: Day Trip from San Francisco
• 25+ Things to See and Do at Fisherman’s Wharf San Francisco
• 12 Things to Do at the Presidio San Francisco
• 4 Things to Do Near San Francisco Zoo (A Guide)

Things to do at the Presidio San Francisco

This urban garden oasis is located west of the downtown area and is easily accessible by public transportation. Here is a list of things to do at the Presidio San Francisco, so you can know what to expect before you go. You can spend more than 2 days exploring the area if you don’t have a car since it’s just too big.

Presidio Visitor Center

Address: 210 Lincoln Blvd, San Francisco, CA 94129
Hours: 10 AM to 5 PM Daily
Price: FREE

The Presidio Visitor Center is located in the Main Post area of the Presidio. It is the most central part and is within close walking distance to the Tunnel Tops, Walt Disney Family Museum, and the Lodge at the Presidio. This is also where you get dropped off by the Presidio Go Shuttle from downtown, and the main area to ride the Presidio shuttles around the area.

The Visitor Center has public restrooms and a huge souvenir shop. It is also a great place to join and sign up for ranger-led tours, most of which are free. It’s also a great spot to stop to get information about the Presidio, talk to a park ranger to get tips and recommendations, and get maps. If you are collecting National Park Service stamps, they have plenty of them too. Bring your National Parks passport or a small notebook to collect the stamps as souvenirs.

Golden Gate Bridge Welcome Center and Viewpoint

Address: Golden Gate Bridge Plaza, San Francisco, CA 94129
Hours: Daily from 9 am to 6 pm (closed Thanksgiving and Christmas)
Price: FREE

The iconic Golden Gate Bridge is located within the Presidio. You can get a great view of the bridge on a clear day from the Golden Gate Visitor Center. You can even buy souvenirs from the visitor center.

The visitor center can be reached by bus. It’s the last stop before the toll you will pay for crossing the bridge. On Thursdays and Sundays, you can join a free walking tour of the bridge, guided by the San Francisco City Guides if you crave more history of the bridge.

Best of all, this activity is free of charge unless you decide to cross the bridge over to Sausalito or rent bicycles or scooters.

Walt Disney Family Museum

Address: 104 Montgomery St, San Francisco, CA 94129
Hours: Thursdays to Sundays 10 am to 5:30 pm, special exhibitions from 10 am to 5 pm
Price: $25 adults for permanent exhibitions, $30 for combination permanent exhibition & special exhibition

The Walt Disney Family Museum is the highlight of my trip. The Walt Disney Family Museum is the main reason why I chose to go to the Presidio in the first place. If you’re a big fan of Disney and the iconic characters and stories he created and want to know more about his family and his back story. This place is it.

The museum starts with the early beginnings of Disney and his family. His father was an immigrant from Canada who eventually decided to settle in the Midwest. Walt has always been creative, and he started his career being a cartoonist. He then decided to branch out on his own, and with the help of his big brother Roy, who supported him for the first few years, built the Walt Disney Company.

What then follows is his career progression, showing concept art, sculptures, and some videos of the live-action cartoons he created. Spoiler alert: the museum ends when Walt dies and you exit through the gift shop.

Is the Walt Disney Family Museum Worth It?

The entrance fee may be considered a bit pricey for some but yes, I believe it is worth it to visit the Walt Disney Family Museum. You also get great views of the San Francisco Bridge from some parts of the museum. You don’t even have to opt into the special exhibits part, which costs an extra $5 on top of the ticket price of the regular exhibits.

The special exhibits are located in a different building from the permanent collection. It is best to do the permanent exhibit first then work your way to the special exhibits, which is a smaller space.

If you are a fan of Disney and his genius, then this museum is a must-visit. Save up for the entrance fee, and add this museum to your San Francisco bucket list!

Yoda Fountain at the Presidio San Francisco

Address: 1 Letterman Dr, San Francisco, CA 94129
Price: FREE

Speaking of Disney, aside from the Walt Disney Family Museum, there is a Yoda Fountain in the Presidio. If you’re a fan of Star Wars, it could be worth a stop but it’s not close to any of the other sights in the Presidio.

Only visit if you have time to spare and if you want to see the fountain. You can see photos of the fountain online, in case you skipped visiting. You won’t miss much anyway.

Crissy Field and Crissy Marsh

Address: 1199 E Bch, San Francisco, CA 94129
Hours: Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Price: FREE

Crissy Field used to be an airport runway. Nowadays, it’s a huge field where people gather to have picnics, fly kites, or hang out. Crissy Marsh is an important wildlife area. The small bushes that dot the sand are protected. The marshy area is also a good place to walk around and see the wildlife: there are loads of different birds to see!

The Wave Organ at the Presidio San Francisco

Address: 1 Yacht Rd, San Francisco, CA 94123
Hours: Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Price: FREE

Located on the eastmost side of The Presidio, the Wave Organ is a bit away from other sites to visit in the Presidio but could be worth a visit. Whenever the waves crash into the organ, it creates a distinctive tune, making music from nature. It is free to visit and is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at the Presidio.

Presidio Tunnel Tops

Address: 103 Montgomery St, San Francisco, CA 94129
Price: FREE

You can see the traffic rush through, underneath the tunnels. It’s odd to see while you’re up there, playing and walking around. It is a bit disconcerting, but it’s an engineering marvel.

There are viewpoints, plenty of chairs, and play areas for the children. Their grass is made of a synthetic turf material, making it easier for the younger children to run and play around in.

Fort Point National Historic Site

Address: Marine Dr Ste 999, San Francisco, CA 94129
Hours: Fall (October to May): Friday to Sunday 10 am to 5 pm, Summer 10 am to 5 pm closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Check the official website for updated information.
Price: FREE

Fort Point National Historic Site is a hidden gem. Located by the water and underneath the Golden Gate Bridge, the only way to get in is through a road that goes through the Presidio.

The drive/walk is scenic, with the water hitting the side. The sea spray is pretty strong, so you may get wet if walking. There is no sidewalk on some parts from Crissy Field to Fort Point, so you may find yourself dangerously close to cars and other traffic. The road is meant to be two lanes, but because it curves, it feels as if it’s meant for only one car traffic.

There is a gift shop on the first floor, with restroom facilities around a 5-minute walk away, outside the Fort. You are free to explore all three floors of Fort Point. The second floor has a museum, which shows you some artifacts of the day, and how people made clothes. The demonstrator is wearing clothes from the time and is a great source of information. I would highly recommend stopping by and learning more about the history of the fort and what life was like for the people who used to be stationed there.

This site is a must-see while you’re at the Presidio. You can get your National Park stamps when you visit the area as well. Bring a notebook or your own National Park passport.

Baker Beach

Address: 1504 Pershing Dr, San Francisco, CA 94129
Price: FREE

Baker Beach is recommended purely as a great spot to see the Golden Gate Bridge from a different angle. It involves a bit of a hike to get to, but is well worth it for the views, on a non-foggy day of course. For those traveling here with family or who are a bit more sensitive, the north side of the beach is frequented by clothing-optional sunbathers.

The north side of Baker Beach used to be the original site of Burning Man! 1990 was the last year that Burning Man was held on this beach since there is a limit on the size of burning campfires that’s limited by the park.

Andy Goldsworthy’s Wood Line

Address: Presidio Blvd, San Francisco, CA 94129
Hours: Open daily from 10 am to 5 pm
Price: FREE

Andy Goldsworthy’s Wood Line is one of many structures that are dotted around the Presidio. While I have not personally been to Andy Goldsworthy’s Wood Line, it was on my list of places to visit while I was at the Presidio. Sadly, I was extremely tired after going to the Palace of Fine Arts to trek to the other side of the Presidio to see this installation so I skipped it.

This is one of the most photographed spots at the Presidio, and if you don’t know where it is (in the woods), you probably won’t even notice it’s there. You can walk the wood line that’s put in as an art installation, either balancing on it or walking beside it. Either way, the installation is pretty, and the setting adds to it, giving an ethereal forest look.

Presidio Officers Club

Address:50 Moraga Ave, San Francisco, CA 94129
Hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 10 AM to 5 PM. Hours vary for the archaeology lab and the gallery – check the official website for more information.
Price: FREE

The Presidio Officers Club, as the name suggests, used to be a gathering place for Army officers to relax, and enjoy the space with their families. Nowadays, the Presidio Officers Club is open to the public and houses a museum/gallery, an event space, and an archaeology lab. This historic building is over 250 years old and has housed Mexican and American soldiers. From a US Army Post, the building is now under the National Park Service, so you can also get National Park stamps by visiting.

Palace of the Fine Arts

Address: 3601 Lyon St, San Francisco, CA 94123
Hours: The outdoor area is open daily from 9 am to 5 pm
Price: FREE

While technically not part of the Presidio, it’s close enough to the Presidio to warrant a visit. This gorgeous building is very popular for photoshoots and weddings and has a ton of people walking around. Take a look at the architectural details. It feels like an ancient European structure, but it’s modern.

The water surrounding the Palace of Fine Arts adds to the charm. There are plenty of spots to sit and admire the structure, with huge houses on the edges of the park too. These houses are gorgeous and made me wish I was living in the area (if I can afford it!).

12 Things to Do At the Presidio San Francisco

The Presidio is huge, and you can easily spend more than a day exploring all that it has to offer. Stay tuned for part two of this post, which will cover where to stay and where to eat at the Presidio. Hopefully, this post helped you plan your trip to the Presidio and add this place to your National Park list!