Golden Gate Park Walking Tour With California Academy of Sciences

Golden Gate Park is huge, and it’s easy to miss some of the magic while you’re exploring. Our local guide is here to save the day, showing you the must-see landmarks as well as the stories that make this place so special.

This guided Golden Gate Park Walking Tour takes you down the pedestrian-only JFK Promenade to the park’s most iconic spots, from the Conservatory of Flowers to the de Young Museum. You’ll see rows of palms and flower beds outside the oldest Victorian-era wood-and-glass conservatory in North America, plants from Shakespeare’s poems inside a gated garden, and the thousands of names engraved in a 10-acre memorial dedicated to those lost to AIDS.

Outside the Japanese Tea Garden, your guide will share the garden’s rich history, dating back to the 1894 California Midwinter International Exposition, and show you the perfect spot to capture that Instagram-worthy shot of the iconic red pagoda. 

Then we’ll climb the Hamon Observation Tower for a 360-degree panorama of the park. On clear days, you can see all the way to the top of the Golden Gate Bridge. 

As you walk along the pedestrian-only JFK Promenade, often called the Golden Mile, you’ll also spot art installations right in the roadway. Your guide has the scoop.

After your tour, visit the California Academy of Sciences, where your included ticket lets you explore one of the world’s largest natural history museums. With over 46 million specimens, an aquarium, planetarium, science lab, and a four-story rainforest, there’s plenty to discover. 

For those wanting to truly enhance their experience, upgrade for a 45-minute VIP tour behind the scenes. You’ll get access to off-limits areas of the 2.5-acre Living Roof, peek into the private gem and mineral vault, skip lines at popular exhibits, and enjoy reserved planetarium seating. Plus, you’ll receive a 10% discount at on-site restaurants, perfect for grabbing lunch after your guided tour.