San Francisco’s museums close on different days from each other, SFMOMA is dark on Wednesdays, the de Young and Legion of Honor on Mondays, so a multi-museum day needs a plan. When people ask about the best San Francisco museums, I tell them to check the closed day first, since that decides the route.
Art Museums
SFMOMA (151 Third Street) is one of the largest modern and contemporary art museums in the country, with a permanent collection spanning Pollock, Kahlo, and Warhol. A genuinely useful detail most visitors don’t know: over 45,000 square feet of SFMOMA’s ground-floor public spaces are free to walk through without a ticket. Paid admission is required for the upper-floor galleries. Current hours run Monday–Tuesday and Friday–Sunday 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Thursday noon–8 p.m., closed Wednesdays.
The de Young Museum (Golden Gate Park) and Legion of Honor (Lincoln Park) are run by the same organization (the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco) and are often bundled as a combined ticket — worth doing if you want to see both, since they cover different collections (American and international art at the de Young, European art and works by Rodin and Monet at the Legion of Honor). Both are closed Mondays.
The Asian Art Museum holds over 18,000 pieces spanning Asian art history and culture. The Walt Disney Family Museum, in the Presidio, focuses specifically on Walt Disney’s life and career rather than broader Disney/Pixar franchise content — it’s run independently of the Walt Disney Company. It’s open Thursday–Sunday 10 a.m.–5:30 p.m., closed Monday through Wednesday.
Science and Interactive Museums
The Exploratorium (Pier 15) is a hands-on science museum with hundreds of interactive exhibits on light, sound, perception, and motion — genuinely engaging for both kids and adults, not just a children’s museum. EBT/Medi-Cal cardholders get $5 admission through the Museums for All program; check exploratorium.edu for current general admission pricing, since it varies.
The California Academy of Sciences (Golden Gate Park) combines an aquarium, planetarium, natural history museum, and indoor rainforest under one roof — plan a half day if you want to see all four sections without rushing.
Historical and Niche Museums
The GLBT Historical Society Museum & Archives, in the Castro, is dedicated to preserving LGBTQ history and culture through exhibits and an extensive archive.
The Beat Museum covers the Beat Generation literary movement, with artifacts connected to Kerouac, Ginsberg, and Burroughs.
The San Francisco Maritime National Historic Park, run by the National Park Service, includes a museum and several historic vessels docked at Hyde Street Pier — a good stop if you’re already in the Fisherman’s Wharf area.
The Cartoon Art Museum moved locations in 2017 after its longtime Mission Street home closed in 2015 — it’s now at 781 Beach Street, near Ghirardelli Square and Fisherman’s Wharf, not its older SoMa address that some older guides still reference. It’s open Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday through Sunday 11 a.m.–5 p.m., closed Wednesdays, with a Pay What You Wish day on the first Tuesday of each month.
The Museum of the African Diaspora (MoAD) is a contemporary art museum focused on the art, history, and culture of the African diaspora.
Ways to Save on Admission
- Museums for All is a real, current program: EBT, SNAP, or Medi-Cal cardholders get free or reduced admission (typically for up to 4 people per card) at a long list of participating institutions, including the Exploratorium, Cal Academy of Sciences, de Young/Legion of Honor, and the Cartoon Art Museum.
- Discover and Go, available through Bay Area library cards, offers free or discounted passes to many of these same museums — worth checking if you have a local library card.
- Bank of America/Merrill cardholders get one free general admission ticket at participating museums on the first full weekend of each month.
- Several museums (SFMOMA, Exploratorium) run periodic Free Family Days or Free Community Days — check each museum’s site directly for current dates, since these shift year to year and are often announced only a few weeks ahead.
Bottom Line
The best San Francisco museums are walkable in pairs if you match the open days. Build the day around one big collection and one small one, and you get range without burning the whole afternoon in line.
FAQ
Is any part of SFMOMA free?
Yes. Over 45,000 square feet of ground-floor public space is free to enter without a ticket. Paid admission is only required for the upper-floor galleries.
Where is the Cartoon Art Museum located now?
781 Beach Street, near Ghirardelli Square and Fisherman’s Wharf. It moved here in 2017 after its previous Mission Street location closed in 2015.
What is the Museums for All program?
A program giving free or reduced admission to EBT, SNAP, and Medi-Cal cardholders (typically for up to 4 people per card) at a range of San Francisco and Bay Area museums, including the Exploratorium, California Academy of Sciences, de Young Museum, and Legion of Honor.
Are the de Young Museum and Legion of Honor the same institution?
They’re both run by the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco but are separate buildings with different collections — the de Young in Golden Gate Park and the Legion of Honor in Lincoln Park. A combined ticket is available if you want to visit both.
