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.

FREE Library Passes

Discover & Go is a program provided by your library that offers free and low-cost passes for museums, science centers, zoos, theatres, and other cultural destinations. You must meet your library's minimum age requirement and live within your library's service area to use the Discover & Go Service.

MUSEUMS, ALWAYS FREE

FREE DATES VARY, CHECK WEBSITE

Vary
The California Academy of Sciences
The California Academy of Sciences

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.

CuriOdyssey
CuriOdyssey

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
The Walt Disney Family Museum

The Walt Disney Family Museum is free on Walt Disney’s Birthday in December.

The Exploratorium
The Exploratorium

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. 

San Francisco Zoo & Gardens
San Francisco Zoo & Gardens

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

Featured
The Japanese Tea Garden
The Japanese Tea Garden

Enter the Japanese Tea Garden Mon, Wed, Fri: FREE admission if entered by 10:00 am

TUESDAY

Tuesday
Conservatory of Flowers
Conservatory of Flowers

The Conservatory of Flowers is free to all visitors on the first Tuesday of every month.

Contemporary Jewish Museum
Contemporary Jewish Museum

Contemporary Jewish Museum every first Tuesday of each month, admission to The Museum is free! Visitors are welcome to explore current exhibitions, view engaging films, and participate in Creative Aging programs at no cost.

de Young
de Young

de Young general admission is free the first Tuesday of every month. Special exhibition fees still apply.

The Legion of Honor
The Legion of Honor

The Legion of Honor general admission is free the first Tuesday of every month. Special exhibition fees still apply.

The Museum of Craft and Design
The Museum of Craft and Design

The Museum of Craft and Design admission is free to everyone on the first Tuesday of every month.

San Francisco Botanical Garden
San Francisco Botanical Garden

San Francisco Botanical Garden Free on the 2nd Tuesday of every month, daily 7:30-9am, as well as Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day.

Yerba Buena Center for the Arts
Yerba Buena Center for the Arts

Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, First Tuesday of the month—Free to the public.

Cartoon Art Museum
Cartoon Art Museum

The first Tuesday of every month is our

Pay What You Wish Day.

WEDNESDAY

Wednesday
Bay Area Discovery Museum
Bay Area Discovery Museum

Bay Area Discovery Museum Free First Wednesday is every other month to Bay Area residents. See website for details.

The Japanese Tea Garden
The Japanese Tea Garden

Enter the Japanese Tea Garden Mon, Wed, Fri: FREE admission if entered by 10:00 am

UC Botanical Garden at Berkeley
UC Botanical Garden at Berkeley

UC Botanical Garden, First Wednesday of each month free

THURSDAY

Thursday
UC Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive
UC Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive

UC Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive Free First Thursdays: Galleries free for all on the first Thursday of each month.

Letterform Archive
Letterform Archive

Free every Thursday from 1pm-8pm. Hands-on access to a curated collection of over 100,000 items related to lettering, typography, calligraphy, and graphic design, spanning thousands of years of history.

FRIDAY

Featured
The Japanese Tea Garden
The Japanese Tea Garden
The Japanese Tea Garden
The Japanese Tea Garden

Enter the Japanese Tea Garden Mon, Wed, Fri: FREE admission if entered by 10:00 am

The Japanese Tea Garden
San Mateo County History Museum
San Mateo County Historical Association
San Mateo County History Museum
San Mateo County Historical Association

The History Museum is an innovative regional history center. Featuring interactive experiences, the long-term exhibits are the place where you can explore the county’s rich and colorful history.

San Mateo County Historical Association

SUNDAY

Sunday
Asian Art Museum
Asian Art Museum

Asian Art Museum, courtesy of Target, general museum admission is free every first Sunday of the month. Additional entrance fees apply to special exhibitions.

The Oakland Museum of California
The Oakland Museum of California

The Oakland Museum of California on every first Sunday of the month, enjoy admission to OMCA with a suggested donation of $5 for general admission. There is an additional $4 fee for access to special exhibitions.