Attraction
Golden Gate Bridge
The Golden Gate Bridge is the 1937 suspension bridge across the mouth of San Francisco Bay, free to walk, with a Welcome Center and café on…
San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA)
SFMOMA is San Francisco's modern and contemporary art museum in SoMa, with works by Kahlo, Rothko, Pollock and Warhol across seven gallery levels.
At a glance
- Type
- Modern and contemporary art museum
- Area
- SoMa, San Francisco, United States
- Opening
- Open 6 days a week (closed Wednesday)
- Official site
- sfmoma.org
Good to know
- Free for 18 and under
- Free ground-floor galleries
- Museum store
- Guides in six languages
Why we recommend it
SFMOMA was founded in 1935 as the San Francisco Museum of Art and has collected photography since 1936. Its home on Third Street combines Mario Botta's building of 1995 with the much larger expansion by Snøhetta, which opened in 2016 and added seven levels for art and public programmes, along with nearly 15,000 square feet of public space that is free to enter.
The collection spans painting, sculpture and photography, among other media. Highlights include Frida Kahlo's Frieda and Diego Rivera from 1931, Diego Rivera's The Flower Carrier, Jackson Pollock's Guardians of the Secret, Mark Rothko's No. 14, an Andy Warhol self-portrait and Jeff Koons's Michael Jackson and Bubbles, along with Louise Bourgeois's Spider of 1995. The Fisher Collection, around 1,100 works lent for a hundred years by Doris and Donald Fisher, is a major part of the holdings, and the photography collection goes back to 1936. On the third floor a living wall of native plants offers a break between galleries.
Some spaces are free to everyone, including the glass-walled Roberts Family Gallery on the ground floor facing Howard Street, so even a short visit can include some art. Visitors aged 18 and under get in free, and the museum publishes a schedule of free days on its website. A recent installation affects the atrium and some upper floors, so check what is on before you go if there is a particular area you want to see.
The museum is open Monday, Tuesday and Friday to Sunday from 10am to 5pm and on Thursday from noon to 8pm. It is closed on Wednesdays, as well as on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Book tickets online to save time at the desk; maps and exhibition guides are available in six languages. Allow at least two to three hours, more if you want to take in the photography galleries and a temporary exhibition.
SFMOMA sits a few blocks from Montgomery Street BART station and right beside Yerba Buena Gardens, with a parking garage next door. The museum says it is surrounded by hotels and restaurants, so it is easy to fit into a day in the city centre.
San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) FAQs
What are SFMOMA's opening hours?
Monday, Tuesday and Friday to Sunday 10am to 5pm, Thursday noon to 8pm, and closed on Wednesdays.
Is SFMOMA free for children?
Yes. Visitors aged 18 and under get in free.
Are any parts of SFMOMA free to visit?
Yes. Some spaces, including the ground-floor Roberts Family Gallery on Howard Street, are free to see.
Where is SFMOMA?
At 151 Third Street in SoMa, a few blocks from Montgomery Street BART station and beside Yerba Buena Gardens.
Is there parking?
Yes. There is a parking garage next to the museum.
Which famous works can you see?
Highlights include works by Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera, Jackson Pollock, Mark Rothko, Andy Warhol and Jeff Koons.
How long should you spend at SFMOMA?
Allow two to three hours for the main collection and longer for special exhibitions.
Is SFMOMA closed on holidays?
It is closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.