Best Museums in San Francisco

A stay in San Francisco, California, is not complete without visiting its most interesting museums. That is why in this list I show you some of the most interesting museums to see in this city.

Visiting the Modern Art Museum or the Asian Art Museum are activities that you cannot miss in your list of things to see and do in San Francisco. If you want to know what other museums you can visit with friends or family, stay and read more.

At the Walt Disney Museum, which is run by the animation genius' daughter Diane Disney, you'll be able to see a wealth of Disney memorabilia from throughout the ages. From scale dolls of the most famous Disney characters to authentic figures that were used in Disney productions. The Disney Museum is truly the home of Disney relics.

It is definitely a good place to include among the things to do in San Francisco with children, because not only will they be able to see inside the most famous characters of all times, but they will also be able to have a wide vision of what was the life and work of one of the most creative minds in America. Looking back at Walt Disney's childhood will help you understand what his creative process was like, and how he eventually managed to bring his iconic characters to life.

Details of interest

• Location: 104 Montgomery Street in the Presidio. Across from Crissy Field Marsh.
• Hours: Thursday to Sunday 10:00 am to 5:30 pm. Closed Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.
• Price: From 25 euros.

Located very close to the San Francisco Academy of Sciences, this museum is also dedicated to the exhibition of fine arts in the city. It is a magical place where you can admire important art collections dating back to the 19th and 20th centuries. The museum has been in operation since 2005.

Before that date it had been open to the public since 1895, but a devastating earthquake in 1989 destroyed the entire structure, which was not renovated until the beginning of the 21st century. It is arranged by regions from around the world, with the idea of showing art from all continents to the public.

In terms of American art, the museum offers a wide variety of exhibitions of American murals and paintings. Most of the artworks in the De Young Museum come from the Rockefeller family collection.

Although it is not one of the best views of San Francisco, I invite you to climb to the top of the museum's tower, from where you can get a good view of the city.

Interesting details

• Location: 50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Dr. Across from Rideout Fountain.
• Hours: Sunday to Tuesday 9:30am to 5:15pm. Mondays closed.
• Price: Adults from 15 euros. Children under 17 free. Admission is free on the first Tuesday of the month. Some tickets include a visit to the Legion of Honor.

A museum dedicated to the 3,600 lives of Californian soldiers lost during WWI. The building, which is a scale model of the Palace of the Legion of Honour in Paris, was built around 1924. From decorative paintings to sculptures to 4,000-year-old works of art, the museum is more than a war memorial. It is a place where you can admire the history of mankind at first hand.

Up to 70 works by the artist Agustin Rodin are on display here, as well as multiple pieces belonging to other important artists such as Rembrandt, Monet and Rubens. But the work that you will definitely want to take the most pictures of inside the museum is "The Thinker", which is exhibited outside the museum.

This is a place to visit calmly, to stop and admire each work and take pictures of each of the interesting pieces you see. It is very close to the Young Museum, and some of its entrances are even shared by both places. Another activity you won't want to miss at this museum is its breathtaking view of the Golden Gate Bridge and the Pacific Ocean.

Details of interest

• Location: 100 34th Ave. Next to the El Cid statue.
• Hours: Tuesday-Sunday 9:30am-5:15pm. Mondays closed.
• Price: Adults from 15 euros. Over 65s from 12 euros. Children under 17 free. Free admission on the first Tuesday of each month.

The Exploratorium is one of San Francisco's most iconic attractions. Thousands of visitors frequent this place to see what is ranked as the second coolest museum in the world by The New York Times. One of the best things to see here are the impressive interactive exhibits, where you can discover the attractions for yourself.

I recommend including a visit to the Exploratorium among the things to do in San Francisco with kids because they definitely love it. Every space, every environment and every exhibit makes them even more curious. It's impressive because it's much more than a regular museum, with more than 600 attractions to see, I guess you get the idea of what I'm talking about.

But it doesn't end there, the Exploratorium, which was inaugurated by physicist Frank Openhaimer in 1969, offers an After Dark only for over 18s, where you can have a great evening , dance and even have a few beers while you go through the most amazing attractions of the place. This also makes it a good place to go if you're thinking about what to see and do in San Francisco at night.

Some of the interesting things you can learn inside the place include an in-depth look at the life of insects, as well as how a car works. You'll have the chance to see how a tornado works, and you can even see in real time how the tides and clouds work.

Interesting details

• Location: Pier 15 Embarcadero & Green Street. Before Fisher Bay Observatory Gallery.
• Hours: Tuesday to Friday 10:00 to 17:00. Saturday and Sunday 12:00 to 17:00. Mondays closed. After Dark on Thursdays from 18:00 to 22:00.
• Price: Adults from 30 euros. Children under 4 years free.

Since its creation in 1995, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art has quickly become a major attraction in downtown San Francisco. In recent years it has become even more colourful and dynamic as new functions have been added with the use of new technologies.

Although it is now housed in the museum's purpose-built building, it actually opened its doors in the 1930s. At that time it was called the San Francisco Museum of Art and was the first museum devoted specifically to art made during the 20th century. It was then located on the top floor of the War Memorial Veterans Buildings. Its current location lives up to its purpose, and one of the first things that strikes you when you enter the museum is the museum itself.

An impeccable layout and architecture only made possible by the hand of architect Mario Botta. Inside, extravagant exhibitions are the order of the day. So if you are an art aficionado, you certainly won't be bored during your visit to the museum. It is home to important works by Picasso and Dalí, while other exhibitions are temporary on the premises.

Interesting details

• Location: 151 3rd St. across from the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts.
• Hours: Friday to Monday from 10:00 to 17:00. Tuesday and Wednesday closed. Thursday from 13:00 to 20:00.
• Price: From 19 euros for adults. Children free.

What is most appealing about this place is the antiquity of most of its pieces, which date back more than 6,000 years. The Asian Art Museum of San Francisco is a place to get to know and recognise the characteristics of Asian culture in all its splendour. The more than 2,400 items from Asia on display at the museum make it a true jewel of ancient art.

This museum seeks to create a bridge between American society with the knowledge, and the rich Asian culture. This museum, which counts as one of the best museums in San Francisco, offers guides in Spanish that will help you understand a little more about each of the elements that you will be able to appreciate during your visit.

I recommend that you take a tour of the museum starting on the third floor, so that you can see in detail the organisation by zones that the museum has arranged, to better explain part of the millenary Asian history through ornamental and everyday elements of their culture.

You will be able to see wooden and bronze figures, as well as representations of deities, fantastic animals from Asian mythology and everyday utensils from ancient times. More than just a cultural tour, a visit to this museum is a clear representation of an interesting journey through time.

Interesting details

• Location: 200 Larkin St. next to the Pioneer Monument.
• Hours: Friday to Monday from 10:00 to 17:00. Thursdays from 13:00 to 20:00. Tuesday and Wednesday, closed.
• Price: Adults from 15 euros. Students, young people between 13 and 17 years old and adults over 65 from 10 euros. Children under 13 free.

If you're interested in the history of transportation and want to learn a little about how Americans moved around in the 19th century, then the Cable Car Museum is the place to visit. It is an interesting museum where you can see an impressive collection of old photographs of the operation of the cable car that was active until the late 1800s.

Also on display are items from the cable car such as tools, scale models, rails, cables, brake mechanisms and the like. On the other hand, you can also look at some surviving carriages from the cable car company that operated at the time.

Interesting details

• Location: 1201 Corner of Mason St. and Washington St. Next to the Betty Ann Ong Recreation Center by Maison St.
• Hours: Tuesday to Thursday 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. Friday to Sunday 10:00 to 17:00. Closed on Mondays.
• Price: Admission is free.

A museum for the enjoyment and amusement of passionate cartoon and comic lovers, with over 6,000 original exhibits, this museum is the jewel in the crown for those who love to admire animated art. One of the best things about the Cartoon Art Museum is that it has both permanent and temporary exhibitions, which means that when you return, you won't find the same exhibition as last time.

One of the things you'll find inside this museum is a large number of cartoons, being the first museum in the United States to dedicate its spaces to pay tribute to this form of art expression. It's definitely a place you can't miss if you enjoy animated art in a big way.

Interesting details

• Location: 781 Beach St. across from the Maritime Garden.
• Hours: Thursday to Tuesday 11:00 am to 5:00 pm. Closed Wednesdays.
• Price: Adults from 10 euros. San Francisco residents pay from 7 euros. Children under 4 years old are free.

This is a museum dedicated to railways and also to cable cars that were part of the San Francisco F line. The thing about this museum is that it's a compact place where you'll have a really nice vintage experience, learning a bit about the history of the F-line railways and how they impacted society in the 1800s.

You'll also learn how 19th and 20th century technology is reflected in the construction of railroad trains that were a landmark since they were first built and for as long as they were in operation. Another of the interesting elements you can see inside the San Francisco Railway Museum is an almost exact replica of what used to be the engineer's platform of the tramway. You can see it as it looked in 1911.

Interesting details

• Location: 77 Steuart St. Diagonal to the Ferry Building via The Embarcadero St.
• Hours: Tuesday to Saturday 12:00 to 17:00. Closed Sunday and Monday.
• Price: Free of charge.

From the entrance you can imagine that what awaits you inside the Contemporary Jewish Museum is much more than just art. Inside, the work of many Jewish artists is on display. The place tries to envelop you in the atmosphere of Jewish history and culture, to interpret and understand their roots and of course their way of looking at life.

It is an interesting art museum, beyond crowded, modern and popular. The art exhibited here is not only to admire but also to reflect on a culture that is apparently different from the American one.

Among the activities you can enjoy inside are different exhibitions of Jewish music, paintings, films and other works of art. These exhibitions are divided into temporary and permanent. Each tells a different story and tries to appeal to the public from different perspectives and points of view.

Interesting details

• Location: 736 Mission St. next to the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts.
• Hours: Thursday-Sunday 11:00 am to 5:00 pm. Closed Monday to Wednesday.
• Price: From 14 euros. Children under 18 free.

This museum is located in many cities in the United States. In this case I suggest you visit the Wells Fargo History Museum located in San Francisco. It is interesting what you will get in this museum because it is in charge of telling you the history of a country through the history of the company Wells Fargo.

As you know, this financial company has been operating for many years, so it has grown with the development of the United States. Part of what you will find in the museum is a large collection of items that have belonged to and been acquired by the company from the gold rush to what it is today.

It is a dynamic exhibition, where you will have guides inside the museum who will explain the history behind each of the objects presented in its exhibits. It is a place where you can go with friends, family and children. Especially the latter will really enjoy what the place has to offer.

Interesting details

• Location: 420 Montgomery St. next to the Wells Fargo Bank on the corner of Montgomery St. and California St.
• Hours: Monday to Friday 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. Closed Saturday and Sunday.
• Price: Free of charge.