We love San Francisco for its vibrant culture, history, and resources, but just about anyone in SF could benefit from finding new free things to do. Whether you’re a college student on a budget, or a bargain hunter wanting to see the sights, this list of free museum days in San Francisco will certainly help you get started. (If you came from Instagram, scroll down for the bullet list with asterisks).
The following list shows SF museums and gardens currently offering free admission days to the general public. If you don’t see your favorite spot, many museums including the Exploratorium and Academy of Sciences also take part in Museums for All, which gives free or reduced admission to low-income visitors, or Discover and Go, which gives free admission to visitors with an SF Public Library card. Read our article about the best free museums in San Francisco for even more places to visit.
Free museum days in San Francisco for December 2024
- Daily through Dec. 15 – Contemporary Jewish Museum
- Dec. 1 – Asian Art Museum
- Dec. 3 – de Young Museum*
- Dec. 3 – Legion of Honor*
- Dec. 3 – Conservatory of Flowers**
- Dec. 4 – GLBT Historical Society Museum
- Dec. 5 – SFMOMA***
- Dec. 14 – Museum of the African Diaspora
- Nov. 28, Dec. 10 and 25, Jan. 1 – SF Botanical Garden**
- Wednesdays – Museum of Craft and Design
- MWF before 10am – Japanese Tea Garden**
Asterisks and more context at a glance
- * The Legion of Honor and the de Young Museum are also free on Saturdays for Bay Area residents with ID showing Bay Area address, or ID + a postmarked envelope or other documentation with Bay Area address.
- ** SF Botanical Garden, Conservatory of Flowers, and Japanese Tea Garden are also free daily for SF City & County Residents with ID showing SF address; or ID + utility bill, lease, or other documentation with SF address. SF Botanical Garden is ALSO free daily between 7:30-9am for the general public.
- *** SFMOMA’s free day is for Bay Area residents only from 12-8pm.
- The Museum of Craft and Design offers “Pay What You Can Wednesdays” every Wednesday
- The Contemporary Jewish Museum will close for at least a year on Dec. 15, 2024. Until then, they are offering free admission daily.
More about monthly free museum days in San Francisco
1. SFMOMA
- Free admission to Bay Area residents on the first Thursday of every month from 12-8pm.
- Free family days several times a year. Admission is free for up to 4 adults accompanying one child or teen 18 and under.
- Free admission for EBT or Medi-Cal cardholders via Museums for All.
- Free admission for CA library cardholders via Discover and Go.
All residents from the nine Bay Area counties may reserve their free spot online for first Thursdays by entering their zip code as a promo code. These are released 2 weeks in advance and sell out quickly, so keep a close eye on the SFMOMA website for reservations to open up. Limit two adult tickets per reservation.
SFMOMA is one of the city’s most famous museums, and you’ll find both large- and small-scale exhibitions to help you think critically about contemporary art in today’s society. If fine art isn’t your thing, this museum might change your mind! Be sure to check out One-Way Colour Tunnel on the fifth floor, and Diego Rivera’s Pan American Unity mural on the first floor while you’re at it.
2. de Young Museum and Legion of Honor (Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco/FAMSF)
Free admission days: (full price still applies to special exhibitions unless otherwise indicated)
- Free admission for Bay Area residents every Saturday. Reserve online and redeem your free admission onsite with a driver’s license or postmarked envelope.
- Free admission for the general public on the first Tuesday of every month.
- Free admission for EBT or Medi-Cal cardholders via Museums for All.
- Free admission for CA library cardholders via Discover and Go.
- Free admission for Bank of America, Merrill, of Bank of America Private Bank (U.S. Bank) cardholders on the first full weekend of every month as part of Bank of America Museums on Us.
The de Young Museum has been one of SF’s most iconic fine art museums since it was founded in 1895. Their collections include African art, arts of the Americas, oceanic art, photography, and textiles.
The Legion of Honor‘s collections of ancient and European art span 6,000 years. The building is a replica of the Palais de la Légion d’Honneur in Paris.
3. Asian Art Museum
- Free admission for the general public on the first Sunday of every month. Special exhibition tickets are also available at a discounted price of $15.
- Free admission for EBT or Medi-Cal cardholders via Museums for All.
- Free admission for CA library cardholders via Discover and Go.
- Free admission for caregivers or friends accompanying a visitor with special needs.
- Free admission for guests with active Military ID via the Blue Star Museums program.
This stunning museum is home to over 18,000 magnificent works of Asian art, ranging from ancient ceramics to contemporary video installations. The museum began over 50 years ago, and has since evolved several times to keep up with the changing artworks and mediums.
4. GLBT Historical Society Museum
- Free admission for all visitors on the first Wednesday of every month, courtesy of the Bob Ross Foundation. You can’t reserve free tickets online, visitors are admitted up to capacity on a first-come, first-served basis.
- Free admission for EBT or Medi-Cal cardholders via Museums for All.
The GLBT (Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender) Historical Society Museum delves into the history of the Queer community in San Francisco. It’s recognized internationally as a leader in LGBTQ+ public history. Exhibitions include a segment of the original 1978 rainbow flag; textiles, costumes, and art from Gilbert Baker; and a collection of photos and documents from SF’s Queer history.
5. Museum of Craft and Design
- “Pay what you can Wednesdays” every Wednesday. Visitors can pay whatever they wish for admission.
- Free admission for EBT or Medi-Cal cardholders via Museums for All.
This exciting museum endeavors to make creativity accessible to everyone through fun, interactive exhibits for all ages. See distinctive craft- and design-focused programming that changes throughout the year, challenging the future of creative expression.
6. Contemporary Jewish Museum
The Contemporary Jewish Museum has announced a temporary closure starting Dec. 15, 2024 for a period of at least one year. Admission is now free to all until that date.
San Francisco’s Contemporary Jewish Museum endeavors to share Jewish history, culture, and art in a contemporary context. The museum has no permanent collection but rather rotates a diverse lineup of exciting exhibitions each year through its collaboration with other institutions.
7. Museum of the African Diaspora
- Free general admission on the second Saturday of every month.
- Free general admission on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. National Day of Service.
- Free general admission in honor of Juneteenth.
- Free admission for CA library cardholders via Discover and Go.
- Free admission for EBT or Medi-Cal cardholders via Museums for All.
San Francisco’s extraordinary Museum of the African Diaspora (MoAD) has served as a vital Bay Area institution since 2005. It’s one of the world’s few museums focusing solely on African Diaspora culture, and we are very lucky to enjoy it right here in San Francisco’s Yerba Buena neighborhood. The museum works to spark difficult conversations and learning while celebrating art, artists, and cultures from the African Diaspora. Its exhibitions have long engaged with the Bay Area community and beyond by lifting up Black art and artists of African descent.
8. San Francisco Botanical Garden
- Free admission daily for all SF City & County residents with proof of residency. Proof of residency may be:
- CA driver’s license or ID showing SF address.
- Photo ID + recent utility bill, lease, or other documentation showing SF address.
- Digital proof on your phone of San Francisco ID, screenshot of utility bill, etc is acceptable.
- Free admission for the general public every day from 7:30-9am.
- Free admission for the general public on the second Tuesday of every month.
- Free admission for the general public on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day.
- Free admission for EBT or Medi-Cal cardholders as part of Museums for All.
The SF Botanical Garden features over 8,000 other kinds of plants across 55 acres. Be sure to check out the Ancient Plant Garden, the Garden of Fragrance, the Moon Viewing Garden, and many others for an awesome outdoor experience! The magnolia bloom during February and March is also a must. They are currently offering yoga classes in the garden, and the popular Flower Piano event will come in September.
9. Conservatory of Flowers
- Free admission daily for all SF City & County residents with proof of residency. Proof of residency may be:
- CA drivers license or ID showing SF address.
- Photo ID + recent utility bill, lease, or other documentation showing SF address.
- Digital proof on your phone of San Francisco ID, screenshot of utility bill, etc is acceptable.
- Free admission for the general public on the first Tuesday of every month.
- Free admission for EBT or Medi-Cal cardholders as part of Museums for All.
- Free admission for CA library cardholders via Discover and Go.
This beautiful, lush green space is one of SF’s favorite escapes from city life. Not only is it a national, state, and local landmark, but it’s been curating a vast collection of rare and unusual plants since 1879. Enjoy this up-close view of some of the world’s most beautiful plants and flowers. The giant water lilies are in bloom through the summer!
10. Japanese Tea Garden
- Free admission for all SF City & County residents with proof of residency. Proof of residency may be:
- CA drivers license or ID showing SF address.
- Photo ID + recent utility bill, lease, or other documentation showing SF address.
- Digital proof on your phone of San Francisco ID, screenshot of utility bill, etc is acceptable.
- Free admission for the general public on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays if entered before 10:00am (garden opens at 9:00am).
- Free admission for EBT or Medi-Cal cardholders as part of Museums for All.
The Japanese Tea Garden is one of Golden Gate Park’s most iconic destinations, and for good reason. The tea house, or ochaya, dates back to 1894, making it the oldest ochaya in the United States. Take a stroll through the pagodas, stepping stone paths, native Japanese plants, and more. Remember to visit in March and April for a glimpse of the cherry blossoms.
11. San Francisco Zoo
- Often free for SF residents and other groups on the first or second Wednesday of every month (with some skips). Free days are not consistent and change frequently.
- On SF residents-only free days, guests must present valid ID and/or utilities bill with their home address.
The San Francisco Zoo is home to over 2,000 animals representing more than 250 species. Popular exhibits are the Outback Trail, Grizzly Gulch, Penguin Island, the Lion House, and the Insect Zoo. The zoo dates back to 1866 and has since evolved to focus on conservation, quality animal care, and education.