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.
Who to go with: tour operators
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Asian Art Museum
San Francisco, California, United States of America (USA)
Experience
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.
San Francisco, California, United States of America (USA)
Bucket List Experience
Experience
A highly regarded art collection showcasing American art from the 17th-21st centuries, as well as international contemporary art, costumes and textiles.
San Francisco, California, United States of America (USA)
Experience
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.
San Francisco, California, United States of America (USA)
Bucket List Experience
Experience
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.
San Francisco, California, United States of America (USA)
Experience
A Beaux Arts replica of Paris’ Legion of Honor Palace of all things, this art museum houses a collection of European and ancient art that spans over 6,000 years of artistic creation. The sister museum to the De Young.
San Francisco, California, United States of America (USA)
Experience
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.
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.
Who to go with: organised tours
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Our selection of the best Viator tours of this attraction or activity
San Francisco Museum of Modern Art General Admission Ticket
San Francisco
Viator
The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art is one of the largest museums of modern and contemporary art in the United States and a thriving cultural center for the Bay Area. Our remarkable collection of painting, sculpture, photography, architecture, design, and media arts is housed over seven gallery floors in an LEED Gold-certified building designed by the global architects Snøhetta and Mario Botta.
SFMOMA believes the art of our time is vital and shares it with passion and purpose, and that art and the creative process can open minds and help build a better world. For that reason, we assemble unparalleled collections, create exhilarating exhibitions, and develop engaging public programs that connect with our community. Welcome!
Street Art? Latin Food? Hipster Vibes? Dive into a journey that's bursting with flavor, culture, and stories. Our Mission street food tour is a delightful blend of San Francisco's rich history and gastronomic wonders.
HIGHLIGHTS:
+ Full Meal Included
+ Small Groups
+ Experience the flavor at the town's top-rated taqueria
+ Witness the city's most historic church
+ Discover the captivating murals that grace the neighborhood
+ Step into a lesser-known pupuseria for an authentic treat
+ Learn & taste bean-to-bar chocolate
+ See the Mission's best shopping street
+ Try hipster pizza
+ Walk Clarion Alley and see the famed Street Art
Art and Architecture Walking Tour of Union Square and Chinatown
San Francisco
Viator
We actually go INSIDE 16 different venues including select art galleries with mosaics, sculpture and iconic photographs. Explore Renaissance Baroque architecture with décor in several hotel lobbies in the bustling Union Square area. Then discover Chinatown with its exotic unique shops, Buddhist monastery, Old St. Mary's church, local art and alleyways ending in the movie "Joy Luck Club " and "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom' s" Ross Alley. See where fortune cookies are made and have a taste. This is an easy 2 hour 30 minute walking tour with a local expert guide. Tea tasting included or optional.
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.