Travel bucket list idea:
San Francisco, California, United States of America (USA)
|From its myriad of art museums to its on-the-rise-again street art, there’s no shortage of stand-out artwork in San Francisco.
Nearly everything about the city has an artistic edge. There’s the exquisite Art Deco beauty of the Golden Gate Bridge, and the colourful heart sculptures – which debuted in 2004 – that still dot the streets in spots like the Lyon Street Steps and SOMA’s Moscone Center.
The city is home to several world-class art museums, including the Museum of Modern Art and the De Young Museum for fine art.
For showcasing local artistic talent, there are top-quality independent art galleries and special events such as SF Open Studios, the spring Art Market and the DIY Renegade Craft Fair.
San Francisco, California, United States of America (USA)
Home to one of the most comprehensive collections of Asian art on the planet, this Civic Center locale exhibits everything from future fantasy animations to Chinese jade carvings from more than 6,000 years ago.
Adult price: £15
Best for ages 13+
San Francisco, California, United States of America (USA)
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A highly regarded art collection showcasing American art from the 17th-21st centuries, as well as international contemporary art, costumes and textiles.
Adult price: £12
Best for ages 18+
San Francisco, California, United States of America (USA)
With no permanent collection, San Francisco’s CJM offers ever-changing exhibits highlighting the Jewish culture and its complexities. It’s housed in a historic Pacific Gas & Electric substation that’s been modernly redesigned with elements of Jewish symbolism.
Adult price: £12
Best for ages 18+
San Francisco, California, United States of America (USA)
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One of the largest museums for modern and contemporary art on the planet, with seven floors packed with more than 33,000 works ranging from abstract paintings to Depression-era photographs.
Adult price: £20
Best for ages 13+
San Francisco, California, United States of America (USA)
San Francisco, California, United States of America (USA)
Celebrating black cultures around the world through a global lens, MoAD remains one of the few museums in the U.S. dedicated exclusively to the artworks of the African Diaspora. Artist discussions, literary events, and film screenings take place here regularly.
Adult price: £8
Best for ages 13+
San Francisco, California, United States of America (USA)
A four-weekend festival in autumn when over 400 of the city’s best and emerging artists throw open the doors to their studios and workspaces.
Best for ages 13+
Duration: 4 weekends
When: Oct & Nov
Frequency: annually
The city’s South of Market (SOMA) neighbourhood is the main art museum hub, with the SF Museum of Modern Art (MOMA), the Contemporary Jewish Museum, Museum of the African Diaspora, and the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, all within several easy-to-walk blocks.
Although spread out, the bulk of San Francisco’s art galleries are also located in SOMA, and between, Union Square and the Tenderloin. See the Art Collection website for comprehensive listings. The San Francisco Art Dealers Association is another good resource.
Our selection of the best Viator tours of this attraction or activity
San Francisco
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Destination guides including or relevant to this experience
California, United States of America (USA)
A beautiful bayside city with home-grown authenticity, charmingly unique neighbourhoods and excellent locally-driven food. Home to the magnificent red-ochre Golden Gate Bridge and the world’s most infamous prison, Alcatraz.
