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Free Museum Admission Days in San Francisco
by Jill Loeffler •
- Updated April 7, 2021
Many San Francisco museums offer free admission to their facilities at least once a month. During these days, you gain access to each museum's permanent exhibits. Most of the monthly free admission days are on the first Sunday, Tuesday, or Wednesday of the month.
While some museums offer a free day every month, a handful of them offer free days just four to five times a year. These include the California Academy of Sciences and the Exploratorium.
Here is the general pattern of free days for each SF museum, in alphabetical order. You can also scroll down for a list of dates for each museum by month.
- Asian Art Museum: First Sunday of every month (sponsored by Target)
- California Academy of Sciences: Select Sundays throughout the year thanks to Pacific Gas & Electric Company
- Conservatory of Flowers: First Tuesday of every month
- Contemporary Jewish Museum: First Tuesday of every month
- de Young: First Tuesday of every month
- Exploratorium: Four to five times a year
- GLBT: First Wednesday of the month (sponsored by the Bob Ross Foundation)
- Legion of Honor: First Tuesday of every month
- Museum of Craft and Design: First Tuesday of every month
- SF Botanical Gardens: Second Tuesday of every month, as well as Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, & New Year's Day
- Yerba Buena Center for the Arts: First Tuesday of every month
Month by Month Calendar of Free Days
To make it easier for you, I've also created a month by month calendar for all of the museums mentioned above. Either scroll down or click on these links to jump ahead to a specific month.
April 2021
All Saturdays in April
- de Young: Offering free admission to all SF Bay Area residents with a current, local ID. Must book tickets online in advance and show proof of residency when you arrive at the museum. Doesn't include special exhibits, general galleries only.
Sunday, April 4
- SF Asian Art Museum
Tuesday, April 6
- de Young Museum
Tuesday, April 13
- Botanical Garden
>> More fun things to do in April
Tickets to Top SF Museums
Can't make it during these free museum admission days in San Francisco? You can pick up your tickets in advance to enjoy these museums during your stay.
May 2021
All Saturdays in May
- de Young: SF Bay Area residents will receive free admission every Saturday in May. You must visit their site to book your free ticket online. When you arrive at the museum, you must offer proof of residency in one of SF's Bay Area Counties. This includes admission to the general exhibits and does not include admission to the special exhibits.
Sunday, May 2
- SF Asian Art Museum
Tuesday, May 4
- de Young Museum
Tuesday, May 11
- Botanical Garden
>> More fun things to do in May
June 2021
All Saturdays in June
- de Young: SF Bay Area residents will receive free admission every Saturday in June. You must visit their site to book your free ticket online. When you arrive at the museum, you must offer proof of residency in one of SF's Bay Area Counties. This includes admission to the general exhibits and does not include admission to the special exhibits.
Tuesday, June 1
- de Young Museum
Sunday, June 6
- SF Asian Art Museum
Tuesday, June 8
- Botanical Garden
>> More fun things to do in June
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