The 15 Best Museums in San Francisco
For the curious minds, museums are a must-go place. There lies the culture, jaw-dropping artworks, and fascinating installations. And San Francisco is home to a handful of museums that will show and educate you on the artistic, cultural, historical, or scientific importance of various artifacts.
There are currently 54 museums in the city and we have listed the best 15 that you should definitely take the time to visit.
1. Exploratorium
Price Range: | Hours:
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Open During COVID for:
Address: Pier 15 San Francisco, CA 94111
Phone:
(415) 528-4444
The Exploratorium is a science and tech lover’s playground, offering many exhibits on its waterfront location at Pier 15. The demos and galleries allow one to tinker with the physics of electricity, magnetism, light, and sound.
Other popular exhibits include those around weather and human behavior. Learn to spin plates or see the world in different colors. The Exploratorium is a great day out for the whole family.
2. Walt Disney Family Museum
Price Range: | Hours:
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM (Closed: Tues)
Open During COVID for: Virtual Tours
Address: 104 Montgomery St San Francisco, CA 94129
Phone:
(415) 345-6800
If you’re big on nostalgia and remember your childhood of Disney and Mickey Mouse, this is a great way to walk down memory lane. It features the history of Disney, the numerous accolades, some of the early technology used by Disney, and old character sketches. Spending a few hours here in the Presidio will be well worth the Disney lover’s time.
3. Cable Car Museum
Price Range: | Hours:
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Open During COVID for:
Address: 1201 Mason St San Francisco, CA 94108
Phone: (415) 474-1887
One of the most iconic features of San Francisco is its cable car system. Visit the Cable Car Museum free of cost to see the history of the cable car including a few cars from the 1800s. Located in the Nob Hill neighborhood, you’ll see relics from the past, including a smoke stack that has been decommissioned since the cable car system switched from steam power to electricity.
4. Legion of Honor
Price Range: | Hours: 9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Open During COVID for:
Address: Lincoln Park 100 34th Avenue San Francisco, CA 94121
Phone: (415) 750-3600
Through the Legion of Honor’s magnificent architecture and beautiful pillars you will see the homage and influences of the French Pavilion and other French buildings. You can enjoy a collection of European and Egyptian art and artifacts. If you step outside, you can see the famous “Thinker” and enjoy beautiful views of the Bay and the Golden Gate Bridge.
5. Musee Mecanique
Price Range: | Hours: Mon-Thurs:
10:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Open During COVID for:
Address:Pier 45 Fisherman's Wharf Shed A San Francisco, CA 94133
Phone: (415) 346-2000
Fisherman’s Wharf hosts a number of popular restaurants, but you’ll also find the “Mechanical Museum” that displays a number of interactive penny arcade and carnival games from the 20th century. Ranging from music boxes, to pinball, to claw games, to an arm wrestling game, they have entertainment of all types. You can also see a display of what’s believed to be the only steam-powered motorcycle in the world.
6. California Academy of Sciences
Price Range: | Hours:
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Open During COVID for: Virtual classes
Address: 55 Music Concourse Dr San Francisco, CA 94118
Phone: (415) 379-8000
Hidden in the heart of Golden Gate Park, the California Academy of Sciences is one of the largest natural history museums. Featuring a planetarium, a glass-domed rainforest, and an aquarium, you can see creatures and wonders of all types. The Academy also serves as a hub of research in disciplines ranging from marine biology to paleontology. The building also features a massive green roof that serves its sustainability and biodiversity values.
7. Asian Art Museum
Price Range: | Hours: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM (Closed: Mon-Tues)
Open During COVID for:
Address: 200 Larkin St San Francisco, CA 94102
Phone:
(415) 581-3500
The Asian Art Museum boasts one of the most extensive collections of Asian art and artifacts in the world - some even 6000 years old. You will find pieces from South Asia, to the Himalayas, to China and Central Asia. They consistently receive rave reviews on how visitors can wander here for hours and appreciate the connections between different countries and cultures.
8. San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
Price Range: | Hours: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
(Closed: Mon-Tues)
Open During COVID for:
Address: 151 3rd St San Francisco, CA 94103
Phone:
(415) 357-4000
SFMOMA is one of the largest museums in the world devoted to 20th-century art and is located in the SOMA district of San Francisco. Their exhibition of Andy Warhol in particular draws a lot of visitors. There is a wide range of styles that reflect many different cultures across the world today, and you'll appreciate the thought provoking collection every time you visit.
9. De Young Museum
Price Range: | Hours:
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM (Closed: Mon)
Open During COVID for: Virtual tours
Address: 50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Dr Golden Gate Park San Francisco, CA 94118
Phone: (415) 750-3600
The de Young Museum is one of the preeminent museums to appreciate American art and artifacts from the 17th century through today. The building features a Hamon Observation Tower that peers over the top of the trees of Golden Gate Park, and seismic features to help it withstand earthquakes. The museum has a modern feel, where the building itself is a post-modern marvel of architecture.
10. Wells Fargo Museum
Price Range: | Hours: Tues:
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM (Closed: Sat-Sun)
Open During COVID for:
Address: 420 Montgomery St San Francisco, CA 94104
Phone:
(415) 396-2619
Wells Fargo Museum in the Financial District shows the history of one of the biggest and most influential banks in America. The relics and exhibits hail back to the wild west with gold and stagecoaches. Entrance is free whether or not you bank with Wells Fargo, and it’s a good way to spend an hour downtown.
11. Children’s Creativity Museum
Price Range: | Hours:
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM (Closed: Mon-Tues)
Open During COVID for:
Address: 221 4th St San Francisco, CA 94103
Phone:
(415) 820-3320
Located in the Yerba Buena Gardens of the SOMA District, the Children’s Creativity Museum is the perfect place for kids aged 2 to 12 to tinker with clay, animation, sand, and other crafts. Kids can easily spend the whole day here, and there’s exhibits tailored for older and younger children.
12. Contemporary Jewish Museum
Price Range: | Hours: 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
(Closed: Wed)
Open During COVID for: Virtual tours
Address: 736 Mission St San Francisco, CA 94103
Phone:
(415) 655-7800
This museum is located at a former PG&E Substation building in the SOMA district, and does not house a permanent collection. Rather, exhibits, workshops, and classes are featured every year to educate the public about Jewish history and their diverse culture and experience.
13. Museum of African Diaspora
Price Range: | Hours: 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM (Closed: Mon-Tues)
Open During COVID for: Virtual tours
Address: 685 Mission St San Francisco, CA 94105
Phone:
(415) 358-7200
Not far from the Contemporary Jewish Museum is the Museum of the African Diaspora on Mission Street. Their exhibits and features show the movement of Africans throughout history, and appreciates the aart, history, and culture of the African diaspora. A thought-provoking experience that features art from prominent African and African American artists.
14. Yerba Buena Center for the Arts
Price Range: | Hours:
11:00 AM - 6:00 PM (Closed: Mon)
Open During COVID for:
Address: 701 Mission St San Francisco, CA 94103
Phone:
(415) 978-2787
Yerba Buena Center for the Arts features a fantastic art museum and a cultural arts center that hosts concerts, conferences, performances, and film festivals. Exhibits are often featured here, and this location is home to a number of tech conferences throughout the year too. It’s a great way to soak in the afternoon sun in the SOMA district.
15. Cartoon Art Museum
