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First Tuesdays in San Francisco

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On the first Tuesday of every month, many museums in San Francisco open their doors and allow the public to visit…for free! While I don’t recommend trying to hit all of the museums below in one day, this is an excellent opportunity to check out a few of them.

  • SF Museum of Modern Art (SFMoMA) 151 Third Street. Houses modern and contemporary art, along with special exhibits. There is currently exhibits by Italian photographer Gabriele Basilico (through 15 June), Matisse and Beyond (ongoing), and Modern Artists from the Elise S. Haas collection (through 20 July), among others. You can also get in for half price on Thursday evenings (between 6-9pm). From downtown, you can walk to the SFMoMA, take BART to the Montgomery or Powell Station and walk down 3rd, or take the 14 Mission or 12 Folsom buses.
  • Museum of Craft and Folk Art– 51 Yerba Buena Lane. This is the only museum in Northern California dedicated to folk art. The museum offers unique exhibitions of traditional and contemporary folk art and crafts from around the world. This museum is located just a block away from the SFMoMA, and can be accessed similarly by public transit.
  • Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (YBCA)- 701 Mission Street. Located across the street from the SFMoMA, this contemporary art museum takes a look at diverse art that pushes the boundaries.
  • Legion of Honor– Lincoln Park, 34th Avenue & Clement Street. Located on one of the most beautiful spots in San Francisco, the Legion of Honor houses 4,000 years of ancient and European art. After looking through the museum, be sure to go outside and check out the views of the Golden Gate Bridge. To get there by public transportation, take the 38 Geary bus and get off at 34th Ave.

Exception to the Rule: First Sundays

  • Asian Art Museum of San Francisco– 200 Larkin St. This is one of the largest museums in the Western world devoted exclusively to Asian Art. Upcoming exhibits include one on the treasures of the Ming Dynasty. To get to the Asian Art Museum from downtown, take BART to the Civic Center exit, or the 5 Fulton or 21 Hayes buses from Market St.