San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
TicketLens lets you:
Search multiple websites at onceand find the best offers.
Find tickets, last minuteon many sites, with one search.
Book at the lowest price!Save time & money by comparing rates.
San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, usually shortened to SFMOMA, anchors the edge of SoMa beside Yerba Buena Gardens with bold contemporary art, the free Roberts Family Gallery, and a museum visit that keeps unfolding as you climb. Founded in 1935 and transformed again in 2016, it is one of downtown San Francisco's defining cultural stops.
For a first visit, choose a prebooked general admission ticket, because it keeps entry simple, covers the full museum day, and lets you add special exhibitions without front-desk stress. Book now.
For a first visit, choose a prebooked general admission ticket, because it keeps entry simple, covers the full museum day, and lets you add special exhibitions without front-desk stress. Book now.
Select a date to find available tickets, tours & activities:
Museum entry tickets
Best if you want a straightforward first visit at SFMOMA, with all-day general admission and the flexibility to move through the galleries at your own pace.San Francisco Museum of Modern Art Tickets
4.5(2307)
headout.com
Go to offer
San Francisco Museum of Modern Art General Admission Ticket
4.5(353)
Go to offer
SF: San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) Entry Ticket
4.5(127)
getyourguide.com
Go to offer
6 tips for visiting the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
1
Book your ticket before arrival
Book your ticket before you reach Third Street, even if you qualify for free entry, because every visitor still needs one. General admission is valid all day, so prebooking removes the desk pause and gets you into the galleries faster. That way the museum sets the pace, not the line.
2
Use Thursday for a later visit
If your morning is already full, use Thursday, when SFMOMA stays open from 12 noon to 8 pm. This works especially well after lunch near Yerba Buena Gardens or shopping at Union Square. You keep the visit flexible instead of forcing a rushed midday stop.
3
Arrive early for timed exhibitions
General admission is relaxed, but timed-ticket exhibitions are not. If you booked one, get there at least 15 minutes before your slot so security and ticket checks do not eat into gallery time. That small buffer saves stress immediately.
4
Travel light into the galleries
At SFMOMA, backpacks cannot stay on your back, and oversized items, selfie sticks, tripods, scooters, and large suitcases are not allowed. If you arrive light and use coat check early when needed, you move through the building much more smoothly. So you can focus on the art, not the rules.
5
Use support tools early
If you visit with limited mobility or with small children, handle that setup on Floor 1 first. Wheelchairs, cane chairs, and single strollers are available at coat check on a first-come basis, and the accessible drop-off entrance on Third Street makes arrival easier. Starting with the right support keeps the rest of the visit calm.
6
Pair one nearby stop
After SFMOMA, choose one clear continuation: Union Square, San Francisco Ferry Building, or Oracle Park. One nearby add-on fits the museum's downtown position much better than three cross-city jumps. That way your day still has room to breathe.
How to plan an SFMOMA visit in SoMa
SFMOMA fits naturally into a downtown San Francisco day, but two decisions matter early: how much gallery time you want, and whether a timed exhibition is part of the plan.
Start with all-day general admission
Best for most visitors: book the standard entry ticket first, because every mapped product here is built around straightforward museum admission. If a timed exhibition matters to you, add that plan on top and arrive at least 15 minutes early; otherwise you can shape the rest of the museum at your own pace. This keeps the visit simple from the moment you reach Third Street. Book now.
Use Thursday when your day starts late
Thursday is the quiet hero of a downtown museum day because SFMOMA runs from 12 noon to 8 pm. If you want lunch first near Yerba Buena Gardens, or you are coming over after a morning around Union Square, this later window keeps the museum from feeling squeezed between other stops.
Build one nearby continuation, not three
After the museum, keep the route honest. Union Square works for a short downtown extension, San Francisco Ferry Building adds a waterfront food finish, and Oracle Park fits if baseball or a stadium tour is already on the calendar. One clean add-on keeps your energy for the art and the city, instead of burning it on transfers.
Why SFMOMA feels different from a standard museum stop
What makes SFMOMA stick in memory is not only the art. Its history, downtown placement, and building changes shape the rhythm of the visit from the moment you see the facade near Yerba Buena Gardens.
The museum began in 1935
The story starts on January 18, 1935, when the San Francisco Museum of Art opened in the War Memorial Veterans Building under founding director Grace McCann Morley. That origin still matters because SFMOMA never feels like a branch museum or a side attraction; it was built to be a serious West Coast art institution from the beginning.
1995 and 2016 reshaped the visit
The move to the Third Street building in 1995 gave the museum its downtown home, but the biggest shift for today's visitor came with the 2016 reopening after the Snøhetta expansion. Nearly tripled gallery space and free public areas changed the visit from a quick single-building stop into a museum that feels layered, generous, and easier to fold into a full SoMa day.
Bay Area context meets global names
What gives SFMOMA real local authority is the way Bay Area artists sit alongside globally familiar names. Official current framing highlights figures such as Ruth Asawa, Wayne Thiebaud, Frida Kahlo, Andy Warhol, and Julie Mehretu, so even a shorter visit still feels rooted in San Francisco rather than interchangeable with any big modern-art museum.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much time should I plan for the museum?
For a balanced first visit, plan about 2 to 3 hours at SFMOMA. If you only want highlights and one special exhibition, 90 minutes can work, but art-focused visitors often stay longer because general admission is valid all day.
Read more.Do I need a timed ticket for SFMOMA?
General admission itself is valid all day. Only timed-ticket exhibitions need stricter arrival, and for those you should be there at least 15 minutes before your slot.
Read more.What are the current opening hours?
SFMOMA is open Monday and Tuesday from 10 am to 5 pm, closed Wednesday, open Thursday from 12 noon to 8 pm, and open Friday-Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm.
Read more.How much do tickets cost right now?
As listed on 2026-03-11 for visits through April 17, 2026, general admission is $15 for adults, seniors, and students, and visitors 18 and younger enter free. KAWS: FAMILY + general admission is listed at $25 on weekdays and $27 on weekends.
Read more.What is the easiest public-transit route?
For most visitors, the simplest route is BART or SF Muni to Montgomery Street or Powell Street, then a short walk to 151 Third Street. Many bus lines also stop near 3rd Street and Mission Street, and the Transbay Transit Center is two blocks away.
Read more.Is SFMOMA a good fit for visitors with limited mobility or families with strollers?
Yes. The Third Street drop-off entrance is accessible, elevators reach all gallery levels, and wheelchairs are available at coat check. Single strollers may also be borrowed there, and changing tables are available on every floor.
Read more.What bag rules should I know before I go?
Backpacks and child carriers cannot be worn on your back inside the galleries, and oversized items are not allowed. Coat check does not accept items larger than 56 x 36 x 23 cm (22 x 14 x 9 in), and selfie sticks, tripods, scooters, and large suitcases are also not admitted.
Read more.Which nearby TicketLens POIs pair best with SFMOMA?
For the easiest downtown pairing, continue to Union Square. If you want a waterfront food block, head to San Francisco Ferry Building; if you already have a game or stadium tour in mind, Oracle Park fits cleanly into the same side of the city.
Read more.General information
opening hours
SFMOMA is open Monday and Tuesday from 10 am to 5 pm, closed Wednesday, open Thursday from 12 noon to 8 pm, and open Friday-Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm. Wednesday is the only full closure day, and Thursday is your best late museum window.
tickets
As listed on 2026-03-11 for visits through April 17, 2026, general admission is $15 for adults, seniors, and students, and visitors 18 and younger enter free. A combined KAWS: FAMILY + general admission ticket is $25 on weekdays and $27 on weekends. All visitors need a ticket, and general admission stays valid all day. Recheck prices close to your visit date.
address
SFMOMA
151 Third Street
San Francisco, CA 94103
United States
151 Third Street
San Francisco, CA 94103
United States
security
All visitors need a ticket, and timed-ticket exhibitions work best if you arrive at least 15 minutes early. No food or drink is allowed in the galleries. Backpacks and child carriers cannot be worn on your back, and oversized items such as large suitcases, scooters, selfie sticks, tripods, and signage are not allowed.
website
Official site: https://www.sfmoma.org
how to get there
The main entrance is at 151 Third Street, a short walk from Montgomery Street and Powell Street stations for BART and SF Muni. Many bus lines stop near 3rd Street and Mission Street, the Transbay Transit Center is two blocks away, and the museum garage sits next door at 147 Minna Street. There is also a Howard Street entrance through the free Roberts Family Gallery.
accessibility
The accessible drop-off entrance on Third Street has push-button doors, and elevators from Floor 1 connect to the ticket desk and all gallery levels. Manual wheelchairs, adjustable canes, and gallery stools are available free at coat check on a first-come basis with ID. Single-stall restrooms are on Floors 2 and 4, and changing tables are available on every floor.
cloakroom
Coat check on Floor 1 is first come, first served and may refuse items if size or space becomes an issue. Items larger than 56 x 36 x 23 cm (22 x 14 x 9 in), motorized items, pets, open drinks, and perishable food are not accepted. Handling this stop early makes entry smoother.
How useful was this page?
Average rating 0 / 5. Vote count: 0.
Compare prices for more top sights in San Francisco:
Golden Gate Bridge80 tickets & guided tours
Fishermans Wharf1 tickets & guided tours
Aquarium of the Bay14 tickets & guided tours
Golden Gate Park8 tickets & guided tours
Lombard Street6 tickets & guided tours
Language
English
Currency© 2020-2026 TicketLens GmbH. All rights reserved. Made with love in Vienna.