15 San Francisco Museums and Gardens with Free Admission Days
Whether you’re a permanent resident of San Francisco or just visiting, you should definitely take advantage of perks like free museum days. Here are 15 museums that offer free entry on specific days each month and/or through other programs offered to residents. If you’re visiting, don’t fret—9 of these museums offer free days to you, too!
Also, a bonus lifehack for San Franciscans: you can get free passes from a myriad of institutions through San Francisco Public Library’s Discover & Go program. It actually works for a bunch of different counties. All you need is a library card to register!
Asian Art Museum
Photo by Chris Yunker via Flickr
- Free for all on the first Sunday of each month
- Free admission through Discover & Go (San Francisco library card holders)
- Free for caregivers or friends accompanying a visitor with special needs
- Free admission for EBT cardholders and San Francisco Medi-Cal through Museums for All
Did you know the Asian Art Museum houses one of the most comprehensive Asian art collections in the world? See it for yourself, and be sure to check out their website for the latest news on free and reduced admission.
California Academy of Sciences
Photo by Eric Wagner via Flickr
- Free admission through Discover & Go (San Francisco library card holders)
- Free admission for EBT cardholders and San Francisco Medi-Cal through Museums for All
While their Neighborhood Free Weekends program is currently on hold, residents can still secure free passes to Cal Academy through San Francisco Public Library’s Discover & Go program. Outside of that, be sure to check their free and reduced admission landing page for any new updates.
Cartoon Art Museum
Photo from Cartoon Art Museum
- Pay What You Wish on the first Tuesday of every month
- Free admission for EBT cardholders and San Francisco Medi-Cal through Museums for All
If you find yourself at Fisherman’s Wharf, pop into the Cartoon Art Museum for a deep dive on all things related to comics, graphic novels, animation, anime, and beyond. Visiting guides and information on discounts are available here.
Conservatory of Flowers
Photo by Dale Cruse via Flickr
- Free for all on the first Tuesday of each month
- Free for San Francisco residents and Veterans with ID
- Free admission through Discover & Go (San Francisco library card holders)
- Free admission for EBT cardholders and San Francisco Medi-Cal through Museums for All
Nestled in Golden Gate Park, the Conservatory of Flowers is as pretty inside as it is on the outside! Get the latest news on visiting for free here.
Contemporary Jewish Museum
Photo by Bruce Damonte for the Contemporary Jewish Museum
- Free for all on the first Friday of each month
- Free admission through Discover & Go (San Francisco library card holders)
- Free admission for EBT cardholders and San Francisco Medi-Cal through Museums for All
Both an architectural marvel and a celebration of Jewish art, the CJM has a wide variety of ways to access the museum for free or reduced prices.
De Young Museum
Photo by Dennis Jarvis via Flickr
- Free for all on the first Tuesday of each month
- Free Saturdays for Bay Area residents
- Free admission through Discover & Go (San Francisco library card holders)
- Free admission for EBT cardholders and San Francisco Medi-Cal through Museums for All
A San Francisco staple, the de Young Museum offers many opportunities for visiting the museum for free or at a discounted rate. Check out their website to learn more and make reservations in advance.
Exploratorium
- Free admission through Discover & Go (San Francisco library card holders)
- Free admission for California Public School Teachers
- Free admission for EBT cardholders and San Francisco Medi-Cal through Museums for All
Home to interactive play by the bay, the Exploratorium has a handful of options for free or discounted tickets.
GLBT Historical Society Museum
Photo from GLBT Historical Society Museum
- Free for all on the first Wednesday of each month
- Free admission through Discover & Go (San Francisco library card holders)
- Free admission for EBT cardholders and San Francisco Medi-Cal through Museums for All
Located in the heart of the Castro, the GLBT History Museum celebrates over 100 years of the Bay Area’s queer history. Check out the most up-to-date information for free days and discounts on their website.
Japanese Tea Garden
Photo by Rvs1966 via Flickr
- Free on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 9-10am
- Free for San Francisco residents and veterans
- Free admission for EBT cardholders and San Francisco Medi-Cal through Museums for All
Get a taste of Japan within Golden Gate Park at the Japanese Tea Garden, originally created as an exhibit for the 1894 California Midwinter International Exposition. Visiting details are available here.
Legion of Honor
Photo by Willis Lam via Flickr
- Free for all on the first Tuesday of each month
- Free Saturdays for Bay Area residents
- Free admission through Discover & Go (San Francisco library card holders)
- Free admission for EBT cardholders and San Francisco Medi-Cal through Museums for All
No matter how many times you’ve visited, the views at the Legion of Honor are breathtaking—and the art inside is equally gorgeous. Check out all the visiting details and discounts here!
Museum of the African Diaspora
Photo from the Museum of the African Diaspora
- Free for all on the second Saturday of each month
- Free admission through Discover & Go (San Francisco library card holders)
- Free admission for EBT cardholders and San Francisco Medi-Cal through Museums for All
Celebrate Black culture and art through the lens of the African Diaspora. You can review MoAD’s schedule and discounts here!
Museum of Craft and Design
Photo from Museum of Craft and Design
- Pay What You Can Wednesdays
- Free admission for EBT cardholders and San Francisco Medi-Cal through Museums for All
Head to the sunny Dogpatch neighborhood and check out The Museum of Craft and Design for art that celebrates traditional tools in modern ways. Full details on admission are here.
San Francisco Botanical Garden
Photo from San Francisco Botanical Garden
- Free for San Francisco city and country residents (with proof of residency)
- Free for all on the second Tuesday of every month
- Free for all on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years Day
- Free for all daily from 7:30am-9am
- Free admission for EBT cardholders and San Francisco Medi-Cal through Museums for All
The sprawling gardens of the San Francisco Botanical Garden are extremely accessible price-wise, as nature should be. Explore all the options for free and discounted entry here.
SFMOMA
Photo by Tom Hilton via Flickr
- Free for Bay Area residents on the first Thursday of every month from 1-8pm
- Free family days throughout the year
- Free admission for EBT cardholders and San Francisco Medi-Cal through Museums for All
The collection at SFMOMA is one to be rivaled, and the institution offers free monthly visits and scheduled family days—check out their website for the latest updates!
Yerba Buena Center for the Arts
Photo from YBCA
- Free for all on the first Tuesday of each month
- Free admission through Discover & Go (San Francisco library card holders)
- Free admission for EBT cardholders and San Francisco Medi-Cal through Museums for All
In the heart of SOMA and right by SFMOMA, YBCA showcases the latest in contemporary art. Details about visiting are here.
We’ll leave you with one final tip—whenever there is a free museum day, go early to dodge the crowds. Have fun!
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