The Awesome Free Museum List
The Bay Area is known for being expensive but many museums offer free or pay-as-you-wish options. As long as you are flexible and don’t mind crowds you have many places to choose from.
MUSEUMS, ALWAYS FREE

FREE DATES VARY, CHECK WEBSITE
The California Academy of Sciences is a renowned scientific and educational institution dedicated to exploring, explaining, and sustaining life on Earth. Check website for announcements.
Explore science and meet native California animals! CuriOdyssey’s free Community Days take place on varying days, both during the week and on the weekend, so that more visitors have the opportunity to experience CuriOdyssey. Vehicle entrance fee for Coyote Point Park is $6 per car.
The Walt Disney Family Museum is free on Walt Disney’s Birthday in December.
All visitors to The Exploratorium can pay-what-you-wish on our yearly Community Days, when museum entry is on a first-come, first-served basis.
The San Francisco Zoo is pleased to offer Free Days for San Francisco residents on certain days. On Free Days, all San Francisco residents are eligible for free admission to the Zoo and must provide valid ID at the front gate as proof of residency.
MONDAY
Admission is free from 9:00am-10:00am Monday, Wednesday, and Friday each week.
TUESDAY
The Legion of Honor general admission is free the first Tuesday of every month. Special exhibition fees still apply.
WEDNESDAY
Bay Area Discovery Museum Free First Wednesdays, where admission is free for Bay Area residents* occurs twice a year. The next two Free First Wednesdays are September 3, 2025 and March 4, 2026.
THURSDAY
UC Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive Free First Thursdays: Galleries free for all on the first Thursday of each month.
Free First Thursdays: Admission is free for all visitors on the first Thursday of every month.
FRIDAY
Enter the Japanese Tea Garden Mon, Wed, Fri: FREE admission if entered by 10:00 am
Admission will be free at the History Museum on the first Friday of the month.
SATURDAY
Every Saturday we offer free general admission to all residents of the nine Bay Area counties.
Every Saturday we offer free general admission to all residents of the nine Bay Area counties.
SUNDAY
Every first Sunday of the month, General Admission to OMCA’s Galleries of California Art, History, and Natural Sciences is free and tickets to Special Exhibitions in our Great Hall are offered at a discounted price of $6.
Updated: June 2025