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Holiday Schedules for SF's Top Attractions 2026
By: Jill Loeffler • Updated: February 20, 2026
Many of San Francisco's attractions remain open throughout the year.
The Golden Gate Bridge, the California Academy of Sciences, Lombard Street, and the Painted Ladies of Alamo Square are four major attractions that stay open every day.
Alcatraz Island, the SF Museum of Modern Art, and several other SF museums close on major holidays.
If you plan on visiting during the holidays, use this helpful guide to determine which attractions you can see each day.
Top SF Attractions Open 365 Days a Year
- Golden Gate Bridge
- California Academy of Sciences
- Lombard Street
- Pier 39
- Painted Ladies of Alamo Square
- San Francisco Zoo
- Japanese Tea Garden
- SF Botanical Garden
- Muir Woods
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Fourth of July 2026
Many attractions are open on Independence Day, July 4, which falls on a Saturday this year. Check out the list below for more details.
- Alcatraz Island: 9 am to 9:30 pm
- Asian Art Museum: 10 am to 5 pm
- Aquarium of the Bay: 11 am to 5 pm
- Botanical Garden: 7:30 am to 6 pm
- Cable Car Museum: 10 am to 5 pm; find additional details on riding the cable cars
- California Academy of Sciences: 9:30 am to 5 pm, last entry at 4 pm; I highly recommend you pick up advanced tickets
- Cartoon Art Museum: Closed
- Coit Tower: 10 am to 6 pm
- Conservatory of Flowers: 10 am to 4:30 pm
- de Young Museum: 9:30 am to 5:15 pm, Hamon Tower closes at 4:30 pm
- Disney Museum: 10 am to 5:30 pm, last entry at 4:30 pm
- Exploratorium: 10 am to 5 pm
- Ferry Building: 7 am to 6 pm, most shops and restaurants open around 9 am or 10 am
- Japanese Tea Garden: 9 am to 5:45 pm
- Legion of Honor: 9:30 am to 5:15 pm
- Muir Woods: 8 am to 8 pm
- Museum of Modern Art (SF MOMA): 10 am to 5 pm
- Pier 39: 10 am to 8 pm (with a few shops and restaurants staying open later)
- SF Zoo: 9:30 am to 4:30 pm, last entry at 3:30 pm
>> Click here for a complete list of all activities and events on the Fourth of July
Thanksgiving Day 2026 Schedules
Many attractions close on Thanksgiving Day, which is always the fourth Thursday of November. It falls on November 26 this year.
Some attractions also close early the day before. All attractions return to their normal schedule the day after Thanksgiving.
Use the information below to help you plan out your stay during Thanksgiving.
Day Before Thanksgiving 2026 (Wednesday, November 25)
- Alcatraz Island: 9 am to 9:30 pm
- Asian Art Museum: Closed
- Aquarium of the Bay: 10 am to 5 pm, pick up advanced tickets
- Botanical Garden: 7:30 am to 4 pm
- Cable Car Museum: 10 am to 4 pm
- California Academy of Sciences: 9:30 am to 5 pm, last entry is at 4 pm; I highly recommend you pick up advanced tickets
- Cartoon Art Museum: Closed
- Coit Tower: 10 am to 5 pm
- Conservatory of Flowers: Closed
- de Young Museum: 9:30 am to 5:15 pm
- Disney Museum: Closed
- Exploratorium: 10 am to 5 pm
- Ferry Building: 7 am to 7 pm, most shops and restaurants open around 9 am or 10 am
- Japanese Tea Garden: 9 am to 4:45 pm
- Legion of Honor: 9:30 am to 5:15 pm
- Muir Woods: 8 am to 5 pm, my favorite tour to Muir Woods
- Museum of Modern Art (SF MOMA): Closed
- Pier 39: 10 am to 8 pm (with a few restaurants staying open later)
- SF Zoo: 9:30 am to 4:30 pm, last entry at 3:30 pm
Thanksgiving Day 2026 (Thursday, November 26)
- Alcatraz Island: Closed
- Asian Art Museum: Closed
- Aquarium of the Bay: 11 am to 3 pm
- Botanical Garden: 7:30 am to 4 pm (free day)
- Cable Car Museum: Closed
- California Academy of Sciences: 10 am to 3 pm; I highly recommend you pick up advanced tickets
- Cartoon Art Museum: Closed
- Coit Tower: Closed
- Conservatory of Flowers: 10 am to 4:30 pm, last entry at 4 pm
- de Young Museum: Closed
- Disney Museum: Closed
- Exploratorium: Closed
- Ferry Building: Closed
- Japanese Tea Garden: 9 am to 4:45 pm
- Legion of Honor: Closed
- Muir Woods: 8 am to 5 pm; see my favorite tour to Muir Woods (available on Thanksgiving!)
- Museum of Modern Art (SF MOMA): Closed
- Pier 39: Each store/restaurant decides if they want to be open, but you will find more than half are usually open on this day
- SF Zoo: 9:30 am to 4:30 pm, last entry at 3:30 pm; reservations recommended for weekends and holidays
More Things to Do on Thanksgiving Day & Weekend
More Ways to Enjoy Thanksgiving in SF: If you plan to stay all weekend, use my helpful Thanksgiving Day guide for additional ideas on the top things to do.
More Top SF Holidays
Christmas Eve & Day 2026 Schedules
The majority of SF's big attractions close on Christmas Day. A few also close early on Christmas Eve.
However, you will find a few fun things to do on Christmas Day, such as shopping at Pier 39, seeing the plants and flowers at the Botanical Gardens in Golden Gate Park, and strolling around the Mission District to see its famous murals.
Check out the information below to help you easily plan out your trip to SF during the Christmas season.
Christmas Eve 2026 (Thursday, December 24)
- Alcatraz Island: 9 am to ~3 pm, all visitors must return with the last day trip ferry, as there are only day tours on this day
- Asian Art Museum: 1 pm to 8 pm
- Aquarium of the Bay: 11 am to 3 pm
- Botanical Garden: 7:30 am to 4 pm
- Cable Car Museum: 10 am to 4 pm
- California Academy of Sciences: 9:30 am to 5 pm; I highly recommend you pick up advanced tickets
- Cartoon Art Museum: 11 am to 5 pm
- Coit Tower: 10 am to 5 pm
- Conservatory of Flowers: 10 am to 2 pm
- de Young Museum: 9:30 am to 4 pm
- Disney Museum: 10 am to 5:30 pm (last entry at 4:30 pm)
- Exploratorium: 10 am to 3 pm
- Ferry Building: 7 am to 7 pm, most shops and restaurants open around 9 am or 10 am
- Japanese Tea Garden: 9 am to 4:45 pm
- Legion of Honor: 9:30 am to 5:15 pm
- Muir Woods: 8 am to 5 pm; this tour runs on Christmas Eve to Muir Woods
- Museum of Modern Art (SF MOMA): 10 am to 5 pm, find tickets
- Pier 39: 11 am to 8 pm, although each restaurant/store sets their own hours, so this can vary
- SF Zoo: 10 am to 5 pm, last entry at 4 pm; reservations recommended for weekends and holidays
Christmas Day 2026 (Friday, December 25)
- Alcatraz Island: Closed
- Asian Art Museum: Closed
- Aquarium of the Bay: Closed
- Botanical Garden: 7:30 am to 4 pm (free day)
- Cable Car Museum: Closed
- California Academy of Sciences: 11 am to 5 pm; I highly recommend you pick up advanced tickets
- Cartoon Art Museum: Closed
- Coit Tower: Closed
- Conservatory of Flowers: 10 am to 4:30 pm (free day)
- de Young Museum: Closed
- Disney Museum: Closed
- Exploratorium: Closed
- Ferry Building: Closed
- Japanese Tea Garden: 9 am to 4:45 pm
- Legion of Honor: Closed
- Muir Woods: 8 am to 5 pm, this tour runs on Christmas Day to Muir Woods
- Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA): Closed
- Pier 39: 10 am to 8 pm, they all decide independently on their hours for this holiday, but usually more than half are open
- SF Zoo: 9:30 am to 4:30 pm, last entry at 3:30 pm; reservations recommended for weekends and holidays
More Ideas for Christmas in SF: While there are only a handful of activities on Christmas Day, there are plenty of places open for brunch, lunch, and dinner. You will also find a few special activities planned on Christmas Eve. Use my Christmas Eve and Christmas Day guide to learn more.
New Year's Eve & Day Schedules 2026 - 2027
Many attractions run a standard schedule on New Year's Eve, with just a few closing early. You will also find several attractions closed on New Year's Day. Use the information below to help you plan out your visit during this popular holiday.
New Year's Eve 2026 (Thursday, December 31)
- Alcatraz Island: 9 am to ~3 pm, all visitors must leave with the last day tour ferry
- Asian Art Museum: 1 pm to 8 pm
- Aquarium of the Bay: 10 am to 5 pm
- Botanical Garden: 7:30 am to 4 pm
- Cable Car Museum: 10 am to 4 pm
- California Academy of Sciences: 9:30 am to 5 pm; I highly recommend you pick up advanced tickets
- Cartoon Art Museum: 11 am to 5 pm
- Coit Tower: 10 am to 5 pm
- Conservatory of Flowers: 10 am to 4:30 pm
- de Young Museum: 9:30 am to 4 pm
- Disney Museum: 10 am to 5:30 pm, last entry at 4:30 pm
- Exploratorium: 10 am to 5 pm (no After Dark hours)
- Ferry Building: 10 am to 7 pm, varies by store
- Japanese Tea Garden: 9 am to 4:45 pm
- Legion of Honor: 9:30 am to 5:15 pm
- Muir Woods: 8 am to 5 pm
- Museum of Modern Art (SF MOMA): 12 pm to 8 pm
- Pier 39: 10 am to 8 pm, although each restaurant/store sets their own hours, so this can vary
- SF Zoo: 9:30 am to 4:30 pm, last entry at 3:30 pm; reservations recommended for weekends and holidays
New Year's Day 2027 (Friday, January 1)
- Alcatraz Island: Closed
- Asian Art Museum: Closed
- Aquarium of the Bay: 10 am to 5 pm
- Botanical Garden: 7:30 am to 4 pm (free day)
- Cable Car Museum: Closed
- California Academy of Sciences: 9:30 am to 5 pm, last entry at 4 pm; I highly recommend you pick up advanced tickets
- Cartoon Art Museum: Closed
- Coit Tower: Closed
- Conservatory of Flowers: 10 am to 4:30 pm (free day)
- de Young Museum: 9:30 am to 5:15 pm
- Disney Museum: Closed
- Exploratorium: 10 am to 5 pm
- Ferry Building: 10 am to 7 pm, varies by store
- Japanese Tea Garden: 9 am to 4:45 pm
- Legion of Honor: 9:30 am to 5:15 pm
- Muir Woods: 8 am to 5 pm
- Museum of Modern Art (SF MOMA): 10 am to 5 pm
- Pier 39: 10 am to 8 pm, although each restaurant/store sets their own hours, so this can vary
- SF Zoo: 9:30 am to 4:30 pm, last entry at 3:30 pm; reservations recommended for weekends and holidays
More SF New Year's Fun: Are you interested in finding additional activities for New Year's? If so, then visit my New Year's Eve and Day guide. It includes several top activities planned throughout the holiday season.
Hi, I’m Jill!
I’ve been sharing San Francisco travel advice since 2009 and have helped millions of people explore the city like a local. Whether you’re dreaming of sea lions, cable cars, or a great sourdough bread bowl, I’m here to help you plan an unforgettable trip with real tips from someone who actually lives here.
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