San Francisco Museums - Ten Best

de Young Art Museum - San Francisco

Art Museums:

de Young Museum - Incredible galleries of American art; international textile arts / costumes; art from the Americas, the Pacific and Africa in Golden Gate Park.

For a great bonus - DeYoung Tickets also allow you to visit the Legion of Honor museum (see below) on the same day for no additional cost. For budget travelers - It's totally free to visit the expansive de Young lobby, observation tower, de Young Café and Museum Store any day of the week. If you happen to be in San Francisco on the first Tuesday of the month - admission to the de Young’s permanent collection galleries is free.

San Francisco's de Young Museum reopened in a beautiful and architecturally significant new building in Golden Gate Park in 2005. Instead of a typical "art filled box," the new architecture from Pierre de Meuron and Jacques Herzog is a seamless joy to explore. The re-opened museum was built on the same site as its earthquake damaged predecessor at the east end of Golden Gate Park near the music concourse. The de Young includes lower level galleries for special exhibitions; two floors of permanent exhibition galleries; and a 144 foot high tower with an observation deck. The observation tower twists as it rises -- at the top it parallels the North-South streets of San Francisco.

People have strong reactions to the museum's new design -- they either love or hate the new building. The architects focused on sensations, not forms to create architecture that touches all your senses in an overall experience. This approach has made the de Young Museum very memorable for both architecture and the expansive art galleries within.

Visitors are able to design their own path through the galleries rather than follow a pre-set route. Many visitors note that the Oceanic galleries are particularly dramatic with a 9,500 square foot space where the ceiling pulls up like a shallow tent. The paving stones of the floors were quarried in in Italy with a syncopated pattern. The Oceanic galleries feel like you are within a romantic, exotic treasure chest. You will find that the de Young is fresh, inventive, and contemporary -- a world class art museum for San Francisco visitors to marvel within.
 

MOMA by Kirklin Lee

SF Museum of Modern Art (SF-MOMA)

It's one of San Francisco's newest and coolest art museums in a very striking building. Some unusual modern art but a great place to check out if you're going to hit a museum in SF. Try half-price off the $12.50 normal ticket price every Thursday evening 6pm-9pm, or wait for FREE admission the first Tuesday of every month.

San Francisco Zoo - Amazing city zoo with monkeys, lions, birds, and lots of easy fun for your family outing.

The Conservatory of Flowers at Golden Gate Park is like a trip to the rainforest filled with exotic flowers and orchids. Different climates from warm, to cooler, to aquatic give incredible flowers their beauty. Don't miss this historic and incredible "flower museum" at Golden Gate Park in San Francisco. Free museum ticket admission the first Tuesday of every month.

Legion of Honor - Excellent classic art located in very scenic locales in the Richmond. Free museum admission the first Tuesday of every month.

Asian Art Museum - One of the largest museums in the Western world devoted exclusively to Asian art. Opened in 1966, the museum's holdings include more than 12,000 art objects representing the countries and cultures throughout Asia. Free museum ticket admission the first Sunday of every month.

Museum of Craft and Folk Art

Folk arts and crafts from around the world at Yerba Buena Center. Mission Street between 3rd and 4th streets.

Hours: Tue-Fri 11-6, Sat / Sun 11-5. Closed Mondays; free on Tuesdays.

Phone: 415-227-4888

Walt Disney Family Museum - Yes, the Disney Museum is right in San Francisco's historic Presidio park, not Southern California. Mickey, Goofy, and the entire history of the art are at this great new attraction.

Science Museums:

The Exploratorium

Living & Hilly Roof - California Academy of Science - San Francisco

A great science museum which is excellent for kids. Lots of hands-on exhibits in a architecturally beautiful building in the Marina District. Many original human-perception displays including optical illusions and fog movements (how SF!).

Admission: Adults $15; children 4-12 $9; Seniors 65+, Students 18+ with ID, Youth 13-17, and people with disabilities are all $11; children under 3 free. Admission is free the first Wednesday of every month.

Hours: 10-5 Tuesday-Sunday 415-561-0360

Gulf of the Farallones Visitor Center - Small, free visitor center at the Presidio Park, but with a lot of passion and great exhibits as part of a walk through the area. Highly recommended.

San Francisco Aquarium

Built in 2008 includes a wonderful science museum with exhibits, aquarium, and planetarium located in Golden Gate Park. The science museum emphasizes natural history and features fish and dolphins, gemstones, and a special earthquake exhibit.

California Academy of Science - San Francisco

Admission: Adults $24.95; kids 12-17 / Seniors 65+ are $19.95; kids 7-11 $14.95; kids under 6 free. Admission is free the third Wednesday of every month.

Hours: Open 930-5 pm Monday-Saturday and 11-5pm on Sundays. 415-379-8000

Grace Cathedral - Historic chapel in Nob Hill and a popular attraction for worship.

Avoid driving! -- Check out five unique San Francisco museums within walking distance of downtown hotels.