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Holiday Schedules for SF's Top Attractions 2024
by Jill Loeffler •
Many of San Francisco's attractions remain open throughout the year. The Golden Gate Bridge, Lombard Street, and the Painted Ladies of Alamo Square are three major attractions that stay open every day.
Alcatraz Island, the California Academy of Sciences, 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.
Disclaimer: I receive a small commission from some of the links on this page.
Thanksgiving Day 2024 Schedules
Many attractions close on Thanksgiving Day. You will also find a few of them closing early the night before. All attractions return to their normal schedule the day after Thanksgiving.
Use this information below to help you plan out your stay during Thanksgiving.
Wednesday Before Thanksgiving
- Alcatraz Island: 9 am to 9:30 pm
- Asian Art Museum: Closed
- Aquarium of the Bay: 11 am to 6 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 8 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: 11 am to 8 pm (with a few restaurants staying open later)
- SF Zoo: 10 am to 5 pm, last entry at 4 pm
Thanksgiving Day (Thursday)
- 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: Closed
- de Young Museum: Closed
- Disney Museum: Closed
- Exploratorium: Closed
- Japanese Tea Garden: 9 am to 4:45 pm
- Legion of Honor: Closed
- Muir Woods: 8 am to 5 pm, my favorite tour to Muir Woods (runs on Thanksgiving Day too!)
- 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 this day
- SF Zoo: 10 am to 5 pm, last entry at 4 pm; reservations recommended for weekends and holidays
More Things to Do on Thanksgiving Day & Weekend
If you are planning on staying all weekend, use my helpful Thanksgiving Day guide for additional ideas on the top things to do.
More Top SF Holidays
Christmas Eve & Day 2024 Schedules
The majority of the 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 2024 (Tuesday)
- Alcatraz Island: 9 am to ~3 pm, all visitors must return with the last day trip ferry as there are only day tours this day
- Asian Art Museum: Closed
- 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
- 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 2024 (Wednesday)
- 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: Closed
- de Young Museum: Closed
- Disney Museum: Closed
- Exploratorium: 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 (SF MOMA): Closed
- Pier 39: 11 am to 8 pm, they all decide independently their hours for this holiday, but usually more than half are open
- SF Zoo: 10 am to 5 pm, last entry at 4 pm; reservations recommended for weekends and holidays
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 2024 - 2025
Many attractions run a standard schedule on New Year's Eve and just a few close 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 2024 (Tuesday)
- Alcatraz Island: 9 am to ~3 pm, all visitors must leave with the last day tour ferry
- Asian Art Museum: Closed
- Aquarium of the Bay: 11 am to 6 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: Closed
- Exploratorium: 10 am to 5 pm
- 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: 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
New Year's Day 2025 (Wednesday)
- Alcatraz Island: Closed
- Asian Art Museum: Closed
- Aquarium of the Bay: 11 am to 6 pm
- 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: Closed
- de Young Museum: 9:30 am to 5:15 pm
- Disney Museum: Closed
- Exploratorium: 10 am to 5 pm
- 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: 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
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.
Fourth of July 2025
Many attractions are open on Fourth of July. Check out the chart 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 6 pm
- Botanical Garden: 7:30 am to 6 pm
- Cable Car Museum: 10 am to 4 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
- Disney Museum: 10 am to 5:30 pm
- Exploratorium: 10 am to 5 pm
- Ferry Building: 7 am to 8 pm
- 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: 11 am to 6 pm (with a few restaurants staying open later)
- SF Zoo: 10 am to 5 pm
>> Click here for a complete list of all activities and events on Fourth of July.
Comments? Questions? Suggestions?
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