- Hours: Tuesday through Sunday, except Jan. 1, Thanksgiving and Dec. 25. Open late Friday evenings mid January through November
- Reservations: Not required, except for special exhibits
- Cost: Admission fee. Children under 12 years old free. Third Tuesdays free. Go by bus, show transfer or Fast Pass and get a discount
- Location: Golden Gate Park, directions below
- How Long: 3 to 4 hours
- Best Time to Visit: Weekdays less crowded
Visiting the de Young Museum
The de Young Museum's collections include art from 17th- to 20th-century America, the native Americas, Africa, and the Pacific. As San Francisco's flagship art museum, the de Young Museum also hosts special exhibits and their curation, both in terms of presentation and explanation are excellent. Check the schedule.
The de Young has been around since 1895, but the current facility was completed in 2005, designed by Herzog & de Meuron and San Francisco's Fong & Chan Architects. People either love or hate it, but everyone agrees that views from the observation tower are great.
For more in-depth information about what you're seeing at the de Young Museum, rent an audio tour or take a free docent tour.
The on-premises cafe offers good food at reasonable prices (for a museum cafe).
Tips for Visiting the de Young Museum
- The de Young Museum doesn't allow baby-carrier backpacks (unless they convert to the front), but strollers are fine.
- We usually find short lines at the ticket counter, but you can buy your tickets online before you go to avoid any waiting.
- Visit the de Young and sister museum the Legion of Honor in the same day and you'll only have to pay one admission fee.
- For more space at popular exhibits, go at the latest entry time and stay near the end of the crowd.
Getting to the de Young Museum
M. H. de Young Museum50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive
San Francisco, CA
de Young Museum website
The de Young Museum is on the east end of Golden Gate Park, near the California Academy of Sciences.
If you drive to the de Young Museum, enter the underground garage at Fulton Street and 8th Avenue. You can park for free on streets nearby. Most convenient are John F. Kennedy Drive near the Conservatory of Flowers or Martin Luther King Drive. Find several ways to get there by car.
Parking fills up on weekends and some nearby streets close to automobiles on Sunday. Your mobile device can help hyou get real-time information about the garage status and alternative parking locations. Check public transit options.
