You can leave your heart in San Francisco, but you don't have to leave a lot of cash.

Here's a rundown on discounts and free events in the city this summer.

HOTEL DEALS

Room rates have tumbled about 20 percent since last year, says Angela Jackson of the San Francisco Convention and Visitors Bureau, and some hotels are offering a third night free (if booked with an American Express credit card) through Sept. 30. See www.onlyinsanfrancisco.com/escape.

Also check directly with the hotel and ask about AAA, AARP, corporate, military or federal/state government rates.

Some upscale hotels offer substantial discounts for prepaid, nonrefundable bookings, including the San Francisco Hilton with rooms for $99 a night in August. The best unrestricted rate is about $159 a night, www.hilton.com.

But beware of parking fees at the Hilton ($52 a night) and almost all San Francisco hotels.

For an ultra-budget stay, a dorm bed at the San Francisco Fisherman's Wharf Hostel, in a waterfront parklike setting, is about $28 a night. It includes free breakfast, free parking and free Wi-Fi. www.hihostels.com

GETTING THERE, GETTING AROUND

Flights: It's often cheaper to fly to Oakland than San Francisco (and both airports have easy access to downtown).

Public transit: You don't need a rental car. Walking is one of the best ways to explore, and public transportation is excellent. It includes BART (light rail, including from the airports, www.bart.gov) and Muni, which runs city buses, trams and cable cars. A single ride on a cable car is $5; the bus is $2.

A Muni Passport, for one, three or seven days ($11, $18, $24 respectively), can be economical; it gives unlimited rides on cable cars, buses and streetcars, www.sfmuni.org

The city's CultureBus connects major museums in downtown and Golden Gate Park. It's $7 a day for unlimited rides (with discounts for seniors, youths and Muni pass-holders). www.sfculturebus.org

MUSEUMS

New exhibits this summer include Georgia O'Keeffe and Ansel Adams: Natural Affinities at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (until Sept. 7, www.sfmoma.org). Lords of the Samurai at the Asian Art Museum showcases Japanese artifacts (until Sept. 20, www.asianart.org). The blockbuster Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs is at the de Young Museum (runs until March, www.famsf.org/deyoung).

Free admission: Avoid the general-admission charges by going on the monthly free day each museum offers. (There still are fees for special exhibits such as the Tutankhamun.) The first Tuesday of the month is free at the de Young and Museum of Modern Art. The Asian Art Museum is free on the first Sunday, and the Exploratorium interactive science museum is free the first Wednesday of every month (www.exploratorium.org). The California Academy of Sciences in Golden Gate Park has free admission on the third Wednesday -- a big savings since adult admission is $24.95 (www.calacademy.org).

CityPass: This discount booklet includes tickets for five sites, including the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art and California Academy of Sciences, plus a seven-day Muni pass. It cuts roughly 50 percent off standard rates if you go to all the attractions. $59 for adults, $39 for kids, www.citypass.com

FREE TOURS

Free daily walking tours are offered by San Francisco City Guides, volunteers who love the city's sights and history. www.sfcityguides.org/.

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