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Free Museum Days in San Francisco 2025
Written by: Jill Loeffler • Published: July 27, 2024 • Updated: January 4, 2025
Many San Francisco museums offer free days at least once a month and it's a great way to visit if you are on a budget. 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.
While some museums offer a free day every month, a handful, such as the Exploratorium, offer free days just four to five times a year.
Unfortunately, the California Academy of Sciences no longer offers free days. I hope they start this program again soon, and I'll add them to my list when they do.
Disclaimer: I receive a small commission from some of the links on this page.
What to Expect on SF's Free Museum Days
During these days is that it's usually a little busier than it would be normally. I'm always surprised, though, as the museums never feel overly crowded.
I arrive first thing when they open, which I've found is a great way to avoid some of the crowds these days.
From my experience, most people arrive an hour or two after opening, so if you get there first thing, you can visit part of the museum before more people come.
Another tip is to arrive in the last two hours of the day, which is also when you will find it less crowded.
Some of these museums offer free tickets online, but they rarely ask me for them when I arrive. So, booking your tickets online in advance feels unnecessary now.
San Francisco Free Museum Days
This is the sign that the Conservatory of Flowers in Golden Gate Park posts out front on their free admission day.Here are the current free museum days for each SF museum, in alphabetical order. You can also scroll down to see a list of dates for each museum by month.
- Asian Art Museum: First Sunday of every month (sponsored by Northern California Kaiser Permanente)
- California Academy of Sciences: As of the summer of 2024, they no longer offer free days, but I hope they start them up again soon.
- Conservatory of Flowers: First Tuesday of every month
- Contemporary Jewish Museum: First Friday of every month (closed through December 2025)
- de Young: First Tuesday of every month and every Saturday for locals in the 9 Bay Area counties
- Exploratorium: Four to five times a year
- GLBT: First Wednesday of the month (sponsored by the Bob Ross Foundation)
- Japanese Tea Garden: Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for those that arrive between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m.
- Legion of Honor: First Tuesday of every month and every Saturday for locals in the 9 Bay Area counties
- Museum of African Diaspora: Free on the second Saturday of every month for January and February, they will close from March 2025 - September 2025 for renovations and their free days will resume when they reopen in October 2025
- SF Museum of Modern Art: Free the first Thursday of the month from Noon to 8 p.m. for locals in the 9 Bay Area Counties
- SF Botanical Gardens: Second Tuesday of every month, as well as Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, & New Year's Day. They also offer free admission for anyone arriving daily at the Main Gate between 7:30 a.m. and 9 a.m.
- Yerba Buena Center for the Arts: They offer free days every Wednesday and the second Sunday of the Month.
San Francisco and the Bay Area are also home to several always-free museums. You can find the latest list of free San Francisco museums. This is the most up-to-date list of free museums around the SF Bay Area.
Monthly Calendar of Free Days for San Francisco Museums
To make it easier, I've also created a monthly calendar for all of the San Francisco museums mentioned above. Scroll down or click on these links to jump ahead to a specific month.
In addition to the monthly free days at our local museums, there are also a few other programs that offer free and discounted admission days a certain times of the year.
These include the Bank of American Museums on Us, museums with Pay What You Wish Days, and the Blue Star Museums program. Find details for these free and discounted admission days here.
Daily & Weekly Free Museum Days in San Francisco
- de Young & Legion of Honor: All Bay Area residents receive free admission every Saturday to both of these museums.
- Japanese Tea Garden: They offer free admission for anyone who enters between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
- Botanical Garden: It's free for anyone that enters through the Main Gate between 7:30 a.m. and 9 a.m. daily.
- Yerba Buena Center for the Arts: They offer free admission to their San Francisco museum every Wednesday and the second Sunday of the month.
>> Find a list of San Francisco museums that are always free
January 2025
January is a fantastic time to visit the Botanical Gardens, which is when the Magnolia trees are usually in peak bloom.Every Wednesday in January
- Yerba Buena Center for the Arts
Every Saturday in December is a Free Day for Bay Area Residents at the de Young and Legion of Honor
- January 11
- January 18
- January 25
Saturday, January 11
- Museum of African Diaspora
Sunday, January 12
- Yerba Buena Center for the Arts
Tuesday, January 14
- Botanical Garden
Monday, January 20 (Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday)
- Museum of African Diaspora
>> Free San Francisco things to do in January
>> Popular San Francisco events in January
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.
Fun Things to Do Around San Francisco
February 2025
This is one of several pieces in the de Young's permanent collection that you will get to see on their free museum admission day.Every Wednesday in February
- Yerba Buena Center for the Arts
Every Saturday in February is a Free Day for Bay Area Residents at the de Young and Legion of Honor
- February 1
- February 8
- February 15
- February 22
Saturday and Sunday, February 1 & 2
- Bank of America Museums on Us Free Days
Sunday, February 2
- SF Asian Art Museum
Tuesday, February 4
- de Young Museum
- Legion of Honor
Wednesday, February 5
- GLBT Museum
Thursday, February 6
- SF Museum of Modern Art, Noon to 8 p.m. for all Bay Area residents with an ID
Saturday, February 8
- Museum of African Diaspora
Sunday, February 9
- Yerba Buena Center for the Arts
Tuesday, February 11
- Botanical Garden
>> Free San Francisco things to do in February
>> Popular San Francisco events in February
March 2025
A piece in the permanent collection at the SF Asian Art Museum that you can see when you visit on their free day, the first Sunday of every month.Every Wednesday in March
- Yerba Buena Center for the Arts
Every Saturday in March is a Free Day for Bay Area Residents at the de Young and Legion of Honor
- March 1
- March 8
- March 15
- March 22
- March 29
Saturday and Sunday, March 1 & 2
- Bank of America Museums on Us Free Days
Sunday, March 2
- SF Asian Art Museum
Tuesday, March 4
- Conservatory of Flowers
- de Young Museum
- Legion of Honor
Wednesday, March 5
- GLBT Museum
Thursday, March 6
- SF Museum of Modern Art, Noon to 8 p.m. for all Bay Area residents with an ID
Sunday, March 9
- Yerba Buena Center for the Arts
Tuesday, March 11
- Botanical Garden
>> Free San Francisco things to do in March
>> Popular San Francisco events in March
April 2025
Every Wednesday in April
- Yerba Buena Center for the Arts
Every Saturday in April is a Free Day for Bay Area Residents at the de Young and Legion of Honor
- April 5
- April 12
- April 19
- April 26
Tuesday, April 1
- Conservatory of Flowers
- de Young Museum
- Legion of Honor
Wednesday, April 2
- GLBT Museum
Thursday, April 3
- SF Museum of Modern Art, Noon to 8 p.m. for all Bay Area residents with an ID
Saturday and Sunday, April 5 & 6
- Bank of America Museums on Us Free Days
Sunday, April 6
- SF Asian Art Museum
Tuesday, April 8
- Botanical Garden
Sunday, April 13
- Yerba Buena Center for the Arts
>> Free San Francisco things to do in April
>> Popular San Francisco events in April
May 2025
This is an example of the types of art you will find in the San Francisco Asian Art Museum. You have access to their permanent collection on their free days.Every Wednesday in May
- Yerba Buena Center for the Arts
Every Saturday in May is a Free Day for Bay Area Residents at the de Young and Legion of Honor
- May 3
- May 10
- May 17
- May 24
- May 31
Thursday, May 1
- SF Museum of Modern Art, Noon to 8 p.m. for all Bay Area residents with an ID
Saturday and Sunday, May 3 & 4
- Bank of America Museums on Us Free Days
Sunday, May 4
- SF Asian Art Museum
Tuesday, May 6
- Conservatory of Flowers
- de Young Museum
- Legion of Honor
Wednesday, May 7
- GLBT Museum
Sunday, May 11
- Yerba Buena Center for the Arts
Tuesday, May 13
- Botanical Garden
>> Free San Francisco things to do in May
>> Popular San Francisco events in May
June 2025
A look inside one of the carnivorous plants at the Conservatory of Flowers in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park. They offer free admission on the first Tuesday of every month.Every Wednesday in June
- Yerba Buena Center for the Arts
Every Saturday in June is a Free Day for Bay Area Residents at the de Young and Legion of Honor
- June 7
- June 14
- June 21
- June 28
Sunday, June 1
- SF Asian Art Museum
Tuesday, June 3
- Conservatory of Flowers
- de Young Museum
- Legion of Honor
Wednesday, June 4
- GLBT Museum
Thursday, June 5
- SF Museum of Modern Art, Noon to 8 p.m. for all Bay Area residents with an ID
Saturday and Sunday, June 7 & 8
- Bank of America Museums on Us Free Days
Sunday, June 8
- Yerba Buena Center for the Arts
Tuesday, June 10
- Botanical Garden
>> Free San Francisco things to do in June
>> Popular San Francisco events in June
July 2025
Every Wednesday in July
- Yerba Buena Center for the Arts
Every Saturday in July is a Free Day for Bay Area Residents at the de Young and Legion of Honor
- July 5
- July 12
- July 19
- July 26
Tuesday, July 1
- Conservatory of Flowers
- de Young Museum
- Legion of Honor
Wednesday, July 2
- GLBT Museum
Thursday, July 3
- SF Museum of Modern Art, Noon to 8 p.m. for all Bay Area residents with an ID
Saturday and Sunday, July 5 & 6
- Bank of America Museums on Us Free Days
Sunday, July 6
- SF Asian Art Museum
Tuesday, July 8
- Botanical Garden
Sunday, July 13
- Yerba Buena Center for the Arts
>> Free San Francisco things to do in July
>> Popular San Francisco events in July
August 2025
Beautiful flowers at the Conservatory of Flowers in San Francisco with free admission on the first Tuesday of the monthEvery Wednesday in August
- Yerba Buena Center for the Arts
Every Saturday in August is a Free Day for Bay Area Residents at the de Young and Legion of Honor
- August 2
- August 9
- August 16
- August 23
- August 30
Saturday and Sunday, August 2 & 3
- Bank of America Museums on Us Free Days
Sunday, August 3
- SF Asian Art Museum
Tuesday, August 5
- Conservatory of Flowers
- de Young Museum
- Legion of Honor
Wednesday, August 6
- GLBT Museum
Thursday, August 7
- SF Museum of Modern Art, Noon to 8 p.m. for all Bay Area residents with an ID
Sunday, August 10
- Yerba Buena Center for the Arts
Tuesday, August 12
- Botanical Garden
>> Free San Francisco things to do in August
>> Popular San Francisco events in August
September 2025
Beautiful glass work at the de Young, which is part of what you'll see in their permanent collection on their monthly free day.Every Wednesday in September
- Yerba Buena Center for the Arts
Every Saturday in September is a Free Day for Bay Area Residents at the de Young and Legion of Honor
- September 6
- September 13
- September 20
- September 27
Tuesday, September 2
- Conservatory of Flowers
- de Young Museum
- Legion of Honor
Wednesday, September 3
- GLBT Museum
Thursday, September 4
- SF Museum of Modern Art, Noon to 8 p.m. for all Bay Area residents with an ID
Saturday and Sunday, September 6 & 7
- Bank of America Museums on Us Free Days
Sunday, September 7
- SF Asian Art Museum
Tuesday, September 9
- Botanical Garden
Sunday, September 14
- Yerba Buena Center for the Arts
>> Free San Francisco things to do in September
>> Popular San Francisco events in September
October 2025
Fascinating scrolls inside the San Francisco Asian Art Museum and part of what you can admire during their monthly free day.Every Wednesday in October
- Yerba Buena Center for the Arts
Every Saturday in October is a Free Day for Bay Area Residents at the de Young and Legion of Honor
- October 4
- October 11
- October 18
- October 25
Wednesday, October 1
- GLBT Museum
Thursday, October 2
- SF Museum of Modern Art, Noon to 8 p.m. for all Bay Area residents with an ID
Saturday and Sunday, October 4 & 5
- Bank of America Museums on Us Free Days
Sunday, October 5
- SF Asian Art Museum
Tuesday, October 7
- Conservatory of Flowers
- de Young Museum
- Legion of Honor
Saturday, October 11
- Museum of African Diaspora
Sunday, October 12
- Yerba Buena Center for the Arts
Tuesday, October 14
- Botanical Garden
>> Free San Francisco things to do in October
>> Popular San Francisco events in October
November 2025
One of my favorite pieces at the SF Museum of Modern Art and one you can enjoy during their monthly free day fro SF Bay Area residents.Every Wednesday in November
- Yerba Buena Center for the Arts
Every Saturday in November is a Free Day for Bay Area Residents at the de Young and Legion of Honor
- November 1
- November 8
- November 15
- November 22
- November 29
Saturday and Sunday, November 1 & 2
- Bank of America Museums on Us Free Days
Sunday, November 2
- SF Asian Art Museum
Tuesday, November 4
- Conservatory of Flowers
- de Young Museum
- Legion of Honor
Wednesday, November 5
- GLBT Museum
Thursday, November 6
- SF Museum of Modern Art, Noon to 8 p.m. for all Bay Area residents with an ID
Saturday, November 8
- Museum of African Diaspora
Sunday, November 9
- Yerba Buena Center for the Arts
Tuesday, November 11
- Botanical Garden
Thursday, November 27 (Thanksgiving Day)
- Botanical Garden
>> Free San Francisco things to do in November
>> Popular San Francisco events in November
December 2025
One of the exhibits in the permanent collection at the de Young and one you will have access to on their monthly free museum day in San Francisco.Every Wednesday in December
- Yerba Buena Center for the Arts
Every Saturday in December is a Free Day for Bay Area Residents at the de Young and Legion of Honor
- December 6
- December 13
- December 20
- December 27
Tuesday, December 2
- Conservatory of Flowers
- de Young Museum
- Legion of Honor
Wednesday, December 3
- GLBT Museum
Thursday, December 4
- SF Museum of Modern Art, Noon to 8 p.m. for all Bay Area residents with an ID
Saturday and Sunday, December 6 & 7
- Bank of America Museums on Us Free Days
Sunday, December 7
- SF Asian Art Museum
Tuesday, December 9
- Botanical Garden
Saturday, December 13
- Museum of African Diaspora
Sunday, December 14
- Yerba Buena Center for the Arts
Thursday, December 25 (Christmas Day)
- Botanical Garden
>> Free San Francisco things to do in December
>> Popular San Francisco events in December
More Discounted and Free Admission Day Programs
Bank of American Museums on Us Free Days
Bank of America offers free museum days in San Francisco through their Museums on Us program. This program offers Bank of America, Merrill, or Bank of America Private Bank credit or debit cardholders free admission on the first full Saturday and Sunday of the month to the following SF museums:
- de Young Museum
- Legion of Honor
- Oakland Museum of California
- Computer History Museum in San Jose
Pay What You Wish Days
We also have two museums that offer Pay as You Wish Days.
Cartoon Art Museum: Visit on the first Tuesday of the month and pay what you wish.
- January 7
- February 4
- March 4
- April 1
- May 6
- June 3
- July 1
- August 5
- September 2
- October 7
- November 4
- December 2
Museum of Craft and Design: This museum offers pay what you wish every Wednesday.
Blue Star Museums
The Blue Star Museums program is for active military personnel and their families, including the National Guard and Reserve.
It offers you the chance to get in free to local San Francisco and Bay Area Museums with your military ID.
It runs yearly from mid-May to Labor Day Weekend.
The annual Blue Star Museums program is finished for 2024.
These are the museums that participated in 2024. I'll update this for 2025 once they announce the new list in the spring.
- American Bookbinders Museum
- SF Asian Art Museum
- Museum of Craft and Design
- SF Museum of Modern Art
- Walt Disney Museum
More Free Things to Do in San Francisco
In addition to these free museum admission days, here are a few other free things to check out during your stay in San Francisco.
Lombard Street: Have you heard about San Francisco's famous crooked street? It's called Lombard Street and a fun place to check out during your visit. You can walk or drive down this famous street with eight hairpin turns. For those walking, you will find a set of stairs on both sides where you can watch others as they try to maneuver around each turn. Learn more about visiting Lombard Street in San Francisco.
Painted Ladies of Alamo Square: Another fun thing to do in San Francisco is to check out the famous Painted Ladies of Alamo Square. You will find them next to Alamo Square Park. They are six identical historic Victorians with a beautiful view of downtown SF behind them. Learn more about visiting Alamo Square here.
Street Art: One of the cool things about SF is that you will find street art all around town. My guide offers details on where to find the best pieces and which neighborhoods have the largest concentration. Learn more seeing the best San Francisco murals here.
Hi, I'm Jill!
Dreaming of a San Francisco vacation? As a proud local, I'm here to share my insider tips and personal experiences to help you make the most of this iconic city!
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