Best museums in San Francisco
The top 3 according to 653 votes from people: California Academy of Sciences · de Young Museum · Legion of Honor. (Updated Apr 10, 2025.)
Science, modern art and antique arcade games: the San Francisco museums visitors and locals recommend.
Top 10
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1
California Academy of Sciences
Aquarium, planetarium, rainforest and living roof in Golden Gate Park.
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2
de Young Museum
American art and a free observation tower in Golden Gate Park.
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3
Legion of Honor
European art in a Beaux-Arts palace overlooking the Golden Gate.
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4
SFMOMA
One of the largest modern art museums in the US.
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5
Exploratorium
Hands-on science museum on Pier 15.
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6
Walt Disney Family Museum
Walt Disney's life story in the Presidio.
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7
Asian Art Museum
One of the largest collections of Asian art in the West.
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8
Musée Mécanique
Free-entry collection of antique arcade machines at Fisherman's Wharf.
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9
San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park
Historic ships at Hyde Street Pier.
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10
Cable Car Museum
Free museum inside the working cable car powerhouse.
Candidates
They don't make it into the top 10… yet. Vote for them to move them up.
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11
Chinese Historical Society of America Museum
Chinese American history in Chinatown.
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12
Museum of the African Diaspora
Art and culture of the African diaspora.
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13
Contemporary Jewish Museum
Museum in Yerba Buena housed in a former power substation, with a Daniel Libeskind extension.
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14
Cartoon Art Museum
Museum dedicated to comics and animation art, at Fisherman's Wharf.
How is this ranking ordered? By people's votes: each ▲ adds a point and each ▼ takes one away. Anyone can vote and add what is missing.
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Comments (13)
Legion of Honor's view of the Golden Gate is worth the trip alone.
Asian Art Museum is one of the best in the country.
Add the Contemporary Jewish Museum and the Cartoon Art Museum.
Free first Tuesdays at a lot of these!
Walt Disney Family Museum is surprisingly moving, even for non-fans.
SFMOMA's Richard Serra installation, you can walk inside it.
Cable Car Museum is free and you see the actual machinery pulling the cables.
Exploratorium at Pier 15, best science museum ever.
The de Young's free tower observation deck, great tip.
Museum of the African Diaspora, small but powerful.
Cal Academy NightLife on Thursdays, adults only, so fun.
Musée Mécanique is free and so much fun.
Cal Academy, a rainforest and an aquarium under one roof.