Submitted by the Event Organizer

Whether the economy is strong or sour, most of the museums in San Francisco and the Bay Area throw their doors open once a month to allow free admission to all comers.

Generally on the first Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday of each month, these free days are often crowded, but if you arrive early, you’ll stand a great chance of seeing some of the Bay Area’s best museums for free.

Please note that holidays can affect opening days, so please check with the museums first before attending.

Updated as of February 20, 2020

Free Admission to SF & Bay Area Museums

California Academy of Sciences

The California Academy of Sciences used to have quarterly free days, but now they have periodic free weekends as well and free neighborhood days for residents of San Francisco.

• San Francisco Free Neighborhood Days for SF residents only –  Spring 2020 – Four weekends with differnent neighborhoods eligible each weekend – January 24-26, February 21-23, February 28-March 1, March 13-15. Fall 2020 dates TBA.
• Community Tickets – Community Tickets are a new way to provide free Academy admission for families and individuals for whom cost of admission is a barrier. Dates to be announced Fall 2019. – Not taking place for 2020
• $3 Admission “Museums for All” –  $3 Academy admission tickets to EBT (Electronic Benefit Transfer), WIC (Women, Infants, and Children), and Medi-Cal cardholders. Present your EBT, WIC, or Medi-Cal card at the Academy ticket window to purchase your $3 tickets. Limit 4 per group per visit. Available every day of the year. This program may close at any time so please contact venue first
• Free “Discover & Go” Tickets via the SF Library – Free admission passes to the Academy and a variety of other cultural institutions are available through the Discover & Go program at participating neighborhood libraries in low- to moderate-income areas across the Bay Area. Library cardholders 14 and older can check out passes good for free Academy admission for one adult and one youth (17 and under).

– 55 Music Concourse Drive, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco.
– confirmed 2/20/2020

Asian Art Museum

FREE First Sundays  
One of the largest museums in the Western world devoted exclusively to Asian art with a collection of over 17,000 artworks spanning 6,000 years of history. Special collection surcharges may apply.
– 200 Larkin Street, San Francisco – BART: Civic Center
– confirmed 2/20/2020

Legion of Honor

FREE First Tuesdays 
This exquisite Beaux-Arts building, located on a perch with an unbelievable view overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge, houses a collection of 4,000 years of ancient and European arts. Special exhibition surcharges may apply.
– 100 34th Ave, San Francisco
– confirmed 2/20/2020

Yerba Buena Center for the Arts

FREE First Tuesdays
Multidisciplinary art center features exhibitions, performances, film/video and rotating art exhibits with a focus on contemporary and emerging artists from the Bay Area and beyond.
– 3rd and Mission, San Francisco – BART: Powell Street
– confirmed 2/20/2020

de Young Museum

FREE First Tuesdays 
FREE Every Saturday for SF Residents
One of the most visited art museums in the country, the de Young showcases a priceless collection of American art from the 17th through 20th centuries along with art from Central and South America and the Pacific, in addition to an impressive collection of textiles. Special exhibition fees may apply. 2020 Update – A new Friday night promotion “may return in the Spring” but details or upcoming dates have been provide..
– 50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco
– confirmed 2/20/2020

Museum of Craft and Design

FREE First Tuesdays 
After six years in Union Square and two years of pop-ups, the Museum of Craft & Design opened up their permanent location in the Dogpatch. Rather than featuring paintings or traditional sculpture, the museum showcases other types of artwork that range from furniture, kinetic sculptures, and jewelry.
– 2569 Third Street, San Francisco
– confirmed 2/20/2020

Museum of the African Diaspora (MoAD)

FREE Third Thursday Evenings | 5-8 pm 
The Museum of the African Diaspora (MoAD) offers free entry during Third Thursdays in Yerba Buena. The museum is dedicated to sharing the art and stories of our common African heritage with audiences from around the world.
– 685 Mission St (at 3rd), San Francisco (Ground floor of the St. Regis)
– confirmed 2/20/2020

The Exploratorium

FREE Days – Five or six times a year – One day a year
The Exploratorium at Pier 15 is a museum of science, art and human perception with hundreds of interactive exhibits, many geared towards children and families. In the past, the Exploratorium typically had 4-6 “Community Days” a year, but starting in 2020 there is only one free day a year –  Mother’s Day.
– 2020 Free Days: Mother’s Day, May 10, 2020
– Pier 15, San Francisco
– confirmed 2/20/2020

Bank of America Free Days

Free weekends at seven Bay Area museums for cardholders
Holders of Bank of America credit cards and debit cards get free admission to seven Bay Area museums for one weekend each month – typically (but not always) the first full weekend of the month. Museums include Legion of Honor (SF), de Young Museum (SF), CJM (SF) San Jose Museum of Art (SJ), and Computer History Museum (SJ).
– 2020 dates are January 4th & 5th, February 1st & 2nd, March 7th & 8th, April 4th & 5th, May 2nd & 3rd, June 6th & 7th, July 4th & 5th, August 1st & 2nd, September 5th & 6th, October 3rd & 4th, November 7th & 8th, December 5th & 6th
– confirmed 2/20/2020

Oakland Museum of California

First Sundays “$5 Donation” Days
Covering four city blocks in Oakland, the museum specializes in collections of art, history and natural science to tell the story of California.
– 1000 Oak Street, Oakland – BART: Lake Merritt
– confirmed 2/20/2020

Contemporary Jewish Museum

FREE First Tuesdays
The Contemporary Jewish Museum engages audiences of all backgrounds through dynamic exhibitions and programs that explore contemporary perspectives on Jewish culture, history, art, and ideas. Plus the architecture of the Museum itself is a work of art.
– 736 Mission Street, San Francisco – BART: Montgomery Street
– confirmed 1/17/2020

SFMOMA 

FREE Culture for Community Day–  Next Date: February 20, 2020 (RSVP required – open to everyone)
FREE “Family Days” (Periodic) – March 1, 2020
While the museum doesn’t have a regularly-recurring free day for the general public, the SFMOMA does have many free options. There are periodic “Culture for Community” Free Days for everyone, plus “Free Family Days” where up to two adults may claim a free tickets when accompanied by a visitor 18 and under. Everyone 18 and under gets free admission every day. The museum features over 45,000 square feet of art-filled public spaces (no ticket required). The public spaces are open daily at 9:30 am with last admission a half hour before closing.
– 151 Third Street, San Francisco
– confirmed 2/20/2020

BAMPFA Berkeley Art Museum

FREE First Thursdays
BAMPFA, the UC Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive, is the visual arts center of the University of California, Berkeley. Their mission is to inspire the imagination and ignite critical dialogue through art and film.
– 2155 Center Street, Berkeley – BART: Downtown Berkeley
– confirmed 2/20/2020

Walt Disney Family Museum

December 2020 Date – TBA  
The Presidio’s Walt Disney Family Museum typically only has one free day a year – to celebrate Walt Disney’s birthday. The free day is typically on December 5th (Walt’s actual birthday) unless that falls on a Tuesday, when the museum is closed. Then it typically changes to be on December 4th. The date is usually announced and made official in August.
– 105 Montgomery Street, The Presidio, San Francisco
– confirmed 2/20/2020

Conservatory of Flowers

FREE First Tuesdays
Opened in 1879, the wood and glass greenhouse is the oldest existing conservatory of its kind in the Western Hemisphere and features 1,700 species of rare, exotic and endangered plants from more than 50 different countries.
– 100 John F Kennedy Dr, San Francisco – Golden Gate Park
Construction update: The Conservatory of Flowers will be closed to the public for maintenance beginning Monday, January 20, 2020 through Monday, February 3, 2020. They will return to regular hours on Tuesday, February 4, 2020.
– confirmed 2/20/2020

San Francisco Zoo

FREE Days for SF Residents – Periodically (but not always) the first Wednesday – Next Date: Wednesday, March 4, 2020.
Free days typically on periodic Wednesdays, but they are no longer on a regular schedule and may be months apart. Dates often are only announced with one week’s notice or less. Free days are typically either listed on the SF Zoo calendar, or near the bottom of the Tickets & Hours page. Free for San Francisco residents only. Valid ID required.
– Sloat Blvd & Great Highway, San Francisco
– confirmed 2/20/2020

GLBT Historical Society Museum

FREE First Wednesday  
The GLBT Historical Society Museum, located in the heart of San Francisco’s Castro District, is the first full-scale, stand-alone museum of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender history and culture in the United States.
– 4127 18th Street, San Francisco – The Castro
– confirmed 2/20/2020

Discover & Go

Valid almost anytime for SF Public Library cardholders – last updated 8/31/17
The San Francisco Public Library offers free museum admission and deals for through its “Discover & Go” program – You have to have an active library card to participate. You just have to reserve the pass (passes are limited – weekends tend to book up early – and not all museums are available on all days). The lineup and the offers can change, so please log in for the latest details. Other Bay Area county libraries also participate in the “Discover & Go” program with free or discounted tickets for many Bay Area museums and venues. Check with your local library for participation details. Similar restrictions apply.

Discover & Go FAQ

• You must be a resident of SF
• You can have up to two active reservations at the same time
• You can make reservations up to 3 months in advance.
• Some venues allow you to use the pass only once per calendar year.
• Read more in the FAQ

Please note that venues listed with an * are extremely popular and rarely have tickets available.

Here’s the highlights:

• Asian Art Museum – Family Pass – Free admission for up to two adults accompanied by up to four children.
• Bay Area Discovery Museum* (Sausalito) – Family Pass: Free admission for 1 adult and 1 child. Children under 6 months are free. These passes always book up early.
• California Academy of Sciences* – Family Pass: Free admission for up to two adults accompanied by up to four children. Library card holders may check out 1 pass per calendar year. These are rare and, when they are available, they book up early.
• California Historical Society – General Pass – Free admission for 2 adults. Children under 18 are free.
• Children’s Creativity Museum* – Library card holders may check out 1 pass per calendar year. These tend to book up early.
• Chinese Historical Society of America Museum – Family Pass – Free admission for 1 adult and 1 guest, plus 10% off gift shop purchase. Discover & Go pass must be presented at the time of purchase.
• Conservatory of Flowers* – Library card holders may check out 1 pass per calendar year. These are rare and when they are available they book up early.
• Contemporary Jewish Museum – Family Pass – Free admission for 2 adults and all children under 18
• de Young* – General Pass: Free admission for 1 person. Good towards general admission ticket only. Present Discover & Go pass at box office to receive admission ticket. Library card holders may check out 1 pass per calendar year. These are rare and, when they are available, they book up early.
• Exploratorium* – Family Pass: Free admission for up to 2 adults accompanied by up to four children. These are rare and, when they are available, they book up early.
• Haas-Lilienthanl House – Family Pass – Admits up to two adults accompanied by up to four children under 18. Typically Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays, but only available periodically throughout the year and rarely far in advance.
• Hamilton Swimming Pool – Family Pass – Free admission for up to two adults accompanied by up to four children under 18. Passes to the pool are only valid during recreational swim times.
• Japanese Tea Garden* – Library card holders may check out 1 pass per calendar year. These are rare and, when they are available, they book up early.
• Legion of Honor* – General Pass: Free admission for 1 person. Good towards general admission ticket only. Present your Discover & Go pass at box office to receive admission ticket. These are rare and, when they are available, they book up early.
• Lindsay Wildlife Experience (Walnut Creek) – Family Pass – Free admission for 1 adult and 1 youth (ages 2-17) from the same household. Limit one pass per household per visit.
• Museum of the African Diaspora (MoAD) – Family Pass – Free admission for 2 people (children 12 and under always free).
• Oakland Museum of California (Oakland) – Family Pass – Free admission for 1 adult and 2 children. Children 8 and under are free. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Special exhibitions and programs may include an extra charge or may be first-come, first-served.
• Pacific Pinball Museum (Alameda) – Family Pass – Free admission for 1 adult (ages 12 and up) and 1 child (under 12).
• Peralta Hacienda Historical Park (Oakland) – Family Pass – Free admission for 2 adults and 2 children. Children 10 and under are free.
• Richmond Museum of History (Richmond) – Family Pass – Free admission for 2 people. Children 12 and under are free. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
• The Ruth Bancroft Garden (Walnut Creek) – Family Pass – Free admission for 2 people (children 12 and under always free).
• San Mateo County History Museum (Redwood City) – Family Pass – Free admission for 2 adults and 2 children. Children 5 & under are free.
• UC Botanical Garden (Berkeley) – Family Pass – Free admission for 1 adult and 1 child (ages 5-12). Children under 5 are free.
• UC Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive (Berkeley) – Family Pass – Free BAMPFA gallery admission for up to two people. (Those 18 or under and one accompanying adult are always free.) Good for gallery admission only; it does not include films at the Barbro Osher Theater, or separately ticketed events.
• Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum (Vallejo) – Family Pass – Free admission for 5 people in one family (children under 12 are always free).
• Yerba Buena Center for the Arts – Family Pass – Free admission to gallery for up to 2 people.

Other Free & Pay-What-You-Can Days

• Autodesk Gallery (Embarcadero) – Every Wednesday – confirmed 2/20/2020
• Bay Area Discovery Museum (Sausalito) – First Wednesdays – confirmed 2/20/2020
• Cartoon Art Museum (Fisherman’s Wharf) – First Tuesdays “Pay What You Can” Day – confirmed 2/20/2020
• Pez Museum (Burlingame) – First Thursdays – (Museum is closed until further notice) 4/11/19
• Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History (Santa Cruz) – First Fridays – confirmed 2/20/2020
• Japanese Tea Garden (Golden Gate Park) – Free admission before 10 am on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays – confirmed 2/20/2020
• San Francisco Botanical Garden – Free for all SF residents with valid ID. For everyone else, the gardens are free daily from 7:30 to 9:30 am, the second Tuesday of every month, and on Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. – confirmed 2/20/2020
• Berkeley Botanical Garden – First Wednesday of each month – confirmed 2/20/2020
• Chabot Space & Science Center Observatory Deck – Most Friday & Saturday nights (7:30 – 10:30 pm) – Although this doesn’t include general admission to the museum, on most Friday and Saturday nights, it’s free to visit the observatory deck and see the telescopes in action for spectacular night sky viewing (weather permitting) – confirmed 2/20/2020
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit (SoMa) – This historic courthouse from 1905, a National Historic Landmark, offers free docent-led public tours a few Tuesdays a month at 1 pm whenever court isn’t in session – confirmed 2/20/2020

Free Museums (Everyday)

• SF Camerawork (SoMa) – Free admission everyday (Wed-Sat) – confirmed 2/20/2020
• San Francisco Railway Museum (Ferry Plaza, 77 Stewart St.) – Free admission everyday (Tue-Sun) – cconfirmed 2/20/2020
• Cable Car Museum (Nob Hill, Mason and Washington) – Free admission every day except New Year’s Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas – confirmed 2/20/2020
• Wells Fargo History Museum (Financial District, 420 Montgomery St.) Free everyday (Mon-Fri, 9 am to 5 pm) – confirmed 2/20/2020
• San Francisco Fire Department Museum (Western Addition, Presidio Ave at Pine). Free everyday (Thu-Sun, 1-4 pm) – confirmed 2/20/2020
• Museo Italo Americano (Fort Mason) Free every day (Thu-Sun, 12-4 pm) – confirmed 2/20/2020
• The Mexican Museum (Fort Mason) Free every day (Thu-Sun, 12-4 pm) – (Museum is permanently closed; new space TBA) – confirmed 2/20/2020
• Musee Mechanique (Pier 45, Fisherman’s Wharf) – One of the world’s largest (over 200) privately owned collections of coin-operated mechanical musical instruments and antique arcade machines in their original working condition. Prices range from 1¢ (it’s true) to $1. Most games cost 25¢ to 50¢. Free admission every day – 365 days a year,  10 am-8 pm – confirmed 2/20/2020
• Good Vibrations Antique Vibrator Museum (Polk Gulch)  – Free and open during regular business hours (typically 10 am to 9 pm, daily) – Free guided docent tours every 3rd Sunday at 3 pm – confirmed 2/20/2020
• Toilet Seat Museum (Hayes Valley, Fell & Gough) – Weird collection at Isotope Comic Book Lounge of original artwork on toilet seats by comic writers and artists from all over the world – Free admission offered daily during normal business hours (Tue-Fri, 11 am-7 pm; Sat/Sun, 11 am-6 pm) – confirmed 2/20/2020
• Presidio Visitor Center (The Presidio) – Open 7 days a week from 10 am to 5 pm except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day – confirmed 2/20/2020
• Treasure Island Museum (Treasure Island) – Typically open from 8:30 am to 5 pm, Monday through Friday. Please note that construction on Treasure Island and special events can affect opening times. – confirmed 2/20/2020
• Maritime Museum (Aquatic Park) With gorgeous, WPA-era murals. Open 7 days a week from 10 am to 4 pm – confirmed 2/20/2020

No Regular Free Days

• Chinese Historical Society (Chinatown) – No longer has a free monthly day, but now it’s only free through the SF Public Library’s “Discover & Go” program – confirmed 2/20/2020
• California Historical Society (SoMa) – Closed Mondays, otherwise it’s typically open from 11 am to 5 pm for $10 admission. It’s also free through the SF Public Library’s “Discover & Go” program – confirmed 2/20/2020
• Tenderloin Museum (Tenderloin) – Open Tuesday – Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm for $10 admission – confirmed 2/20/2020
• American Bookbinders Museum (SoMa) – Historic collection of bookbinding equipment that can only be seen by a guided tour. Tours are conducted daily, Tuesday through Saturday, at 11 am and 2 pm for $15 (adult admission) – confirmed 2/20/2020

Disclaimer: Please double check event information with the event organizer as events can be canceled, details can change after they are added to our calendar, and errors do occur.