Museum · San Francisco
de Young Museum: free entry days, tickets & hours
Fine arts museum in Golden Gate Park with American art, art of the Americas, Africa and Oceania, textiles and big special exhibitions, plus a free observation tower.
Independent guide, not the official de Young website. Official links are under Sources.
de Young is free today, 16:30–17:15.
- Also free: Saturdays for residents of the nine Bay Area counties; children and teens 17 and under; general admission for active U.S. military; general admission for U.S. veterans; and more below.
- Otherwise: adult general admission — $25.
Calendar
Free days at de Young
For everyone
- WED28OCTWednesday, 28 October 2026 · today · 16:30–17:15
- THU29OCTThursday, 29 October 2026 · tomorrow · 16:30–17:15
- FRI30OCTFriday, 30 October 2026 · in 2 days · 16:30–17:15
- SAT31OCTSaturday, 31 October 2026 · in 3 days · 16:30–17:15
- SUN1NOVSunday, 1 November 2026 · in 4 days · 16:30–17:15
- TUE3NOVTuesday, 3 November 2026 · in 6 days
For Bay Area residents
- SAT31OCTSaturday, 31 October 2026 · in 3 days
- SAT7NOVSaturday, 7 November 2026 · in 10 days
- SAT14NOVSaturday, 14 November 2026 · in 2 weeks
- SAT21NOVSaturday, 21 November 2026 · in 3 weeks
- SAT28NOVSaturday, 28 November 2026 · in 4 weeks
- SAT5DECSaturday, 5 December 2026 · in 5 weeks
For Bank of America cardholders (Museums on Us)
- SAT7NOVSaturday, 7 November 2026 · in 10 days
- SUN8NOVSunday, 8 November 2026 · in 11 days
- SAT5DECSaturday, 5 December 2026 · in 5 weeks
- SUN6DECSunday, 6 December 2026 · in 6 weeks
- SAT2JANSaturday, 2 January 2027 · in 2 months
- SUN3JANSunday, 3 January 2027 · in 2 months
311 free days for everyone in the next 12 months. Closures and public holidays are already taken out. Group-only days need proof of eligibility.
Before you go
How to actually get in for free
- Go up the Hamon Observation Tower for free 360° views over Golden Gate Park; no museum ticket needed (Tue-Sun until 4:30pm).
- Anyone can walk into the permanent collection free from 4:30pm (Tue-Sun); you get 45 minutes before closing.
- Bay Area residents: every Saturday is free with ID; the first Tuesday of the month is free for everyone.
- Free days cover the permanent collection only; special exhibitions (e.g. the current Egyptian show) need a paid ticket.
- The Japanese Tea Garden and California Academy of Sciences are across the Music Concourse.
All free options
Who gets in free, and when
| Free option | Who | Conditions | Book? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free dayFree general admission for everyone on the first Tuesday of every month | everyone | Permanent collection galleries only; special exhibitions still cost full price. Not held during Bouquets to Art, the museums' annual weeklong fundraiser. | No |
| Free dayFree Saturdays for residents of the nine Bay Area counties | Bay Area residents | Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Solano and Sonoma counties. Show ID on site (a driver's license or postmarked envelope also works at the desk). Permanent collection only; special exhibitions full price. Not held during Bouquets to Art. | No |
| Free hoursFree entry to the permanent collection for everyone from 4:30pm, Tuesday-Sunday · 16:30–17:15 | everyone | Last 45 minutes before the 5:15pm closing. Special exhibition prices still apply. | No |
| Free forFree for children and teens 17 and under | under-18s | Permanent collection galleries; special exhibitions are ticketed separately. | No |
| Free forFree general admission for active U.S. military | military members and families | Show valid military ID at the ticketing or membership desk. Permanent collection only; special exhibitions are discounted, not free. | No |
| Free forFree general admission for U.S. veterans | veterans | Show valid military ID at the ticketing or membership desk. Permanent collection only. | No |
| Free forFree general admission for visitors with disabilities | visitors with disabilities (+1 companion) | Show documentation from a physician or a local or federal agency (e.g. Medicaid/Medicare card, SSD letter, disabled transit pass) at the ticketing desk, or email access@famsf.org. | No |
| Free forFree general admission for Medi-Cal and SNAP/EBT recipients (Museums for All) | EBT cardholders (Museums for All) | Present a valid Medi-Cal or EBT card at the ticketing and membership desks, pending availability. Permanent collection only. | No |
| Free dayFree general admission for Bank of America cardholders on the first full weekend of every month | Bank of America cardholders (Museums on Us) | Cardholder only, with card and photo ID. Permanent collection only. On-site, day-of tickets subject to availability. | No |
| Free areaHamon Observation Tower, Wilsey Court, café and store: free without a ticket | everyone | The tower is open Tuesday-Sunday 9:30am-4:30pm. | No |
Official prices
de Young ticket prices
| Adult general admission — Seniors (65+) $22, students $10, 17 and under free. Special exhibitions cost extra. Phone sales add transaction fees. | $25 |
Prices from the official website, checked Oct 2026. Free options are listed above.
Worth timing your visit?
What a free day saves
Based on the official price (adult general admission). Free days are busier — if your dates don't line up, a timed ticket is the trade-off.
Tickets & tours
Best-rated tickets and tours: de Young
Ratings and prices from the booking partners; prices may change.
Practical
Opening hours & how to get there
| Mon | Closed |
|---|---|
| Tue | 09:30–17:15 |
| Wed | 09:30–17:15 |
| Thu | 09:30–17:15 |
| Fri | 09:30–17:15 |
| Sat | 09:30–17:15 |
| Sun | 09:30–17:15 |
Tuesday-Sunday 9:30am-5:15pm, closed Mondays. Hamon Observation Tower Tue-Sun 9:30am-4:30pm. Closed Presidents' Day, Indigenous Peoples' Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas Day; open all other holidays. Last ticket sold an hour before closing.
50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, CA 94118, USA
Also free nearby
Make a free afternoon of it
Worth paying for nearby
Paid highlights within walking distance
- Japanese Tea GardenGardens of Golden Gate Park Pass (3-day entry to the Japanese Tea Garden, Botanical Garden and Conservatory of Flowers)0.2 km
- California Academy of SciencesSan Francisco: California Academy of Sciences Entry Ticketfrom $49 · 0.3 km
- San Francisco Botanical GardenGardens of Golden Gate Park Pass (3-day entry to the Botanical Garden, Japanese Tea Garden and Conservatory of Flowers)0.4 km
FAQ
de Young: common questions
Is de Young free?
de Young is free for everyone general admission for everyone on the first Tuesday of every month and to the permanent collection for everyone from 4:30pm, Tuesday-Sunday. Hamon Observation Tower, Wilsey Court, café and store: free without a ticket. Also free: Saturdays for residents of the nine Bay Area counties; children and teens 17 and under; general admission for active U.S. military; general admission for U.S. veterans; and more below. Otherwise the official ticket costs $25.
When is de Young free?
Free general admission for everyone on the first Tuesday of every month and Free entry to the permanent collection for everyone from 4:30pm, Tuesday-Sunday. The next free date is Wednesday, 28 October 2026.
When are the free days at de Young for Bay Area residents?
Upcoming free dates for Bay Area residents: Sat 31 Oct, Sat 7 Nov, Sat 14 Nov and Sat 21 Nov. Bring proof of eligibility; booking rules are listed above.
When are the free days at de Young for Bank of America cardholders (Museums on Us)?
Upcoming free dates for Bank of America cardholders (Museums on Us): Sat 7 Nov, Sun 8 Nov, Sat 5 Dec and Sun 6 Dec. Bring proof of eligibility; booking rules are listed above.
Who gets free entry to de Young?
Under-18s — permanent collection galleries; special exhibitions are ticketed separately.. Military members and families — show valid military ID at the ticketing or membership desk. Permanent collection only; special exhibitions are discounted, not free.. Veterans — show valid military ID at the ticketing or membership desk. Permanent collection only.. Visitors with disabilities (+1 companion) — show documentation from a physician or a local or federal agency (e.g. Medicaid/Medicare card, SSD letter, disabled transit pass) at the ticketing desk, or email access@famsf.org.. EBT cardholders (Museums for All) — present a valid Medi-Cal or EBT card at the ticketing and membership desks, pending availability. Permanent collection only..
How much is a ticket to de Young?
Adult general admission costs $25 on the official site.
What day is de Young closed?
de Young is closed on Mondays. Tuesday-Sunday 9:30am-5:15pm, closed Mondays. Hamon Observation Tower Tue-Sun 9:30am-4:30pm. Closed Presidents' Day, Indigenous Peoples' Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas Day; open all other holidays. Last ticket sold an hour before closing.
Visitor reviews
What visitors say about de Young
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Sources
Where this comes from
- famsf.org/visit/free-reduced-admission · checked Wednesday, 28 October 2026
- famsf.org/visit/de-young-tickets-hours · checked Wednesday, 28 October 2026
Every free rule is checked against the official source and re-checked on a schedule. Spotted a change? Tell us.