The de Young Museum is a fine arts museum showcasing American art, international textiles, and art of the Americas, Africa, and Oceania, located within Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, California. This guide covers opening hours, ticket prices, transport or parking, accessibility, and practical visitor tips.
To skip the explanation and just book tickets, head here.
This guide was updated in March 2026 to reflect the $20 adult admission price and the inclusion of same-day entry to the Legion of Honor Museum with standard tickets.
Quick facts about the de Young Museum
| Category | Details |
| Opening hours | 9:30 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. (Tuesday to Sunday) |
| Ticket prices | Adults $20, Seniors (65+) $17, Students $11, Youth (17 and under) Free |
| Address | 50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, CA 94118 |
| Nearest public transport or parking | Music Concourse Garage / Muni Bus Route 44 |
| Typical time needed to visit | 2 to 3 hours |
de Young Museum opening hours
The de Young Museum is open from 9:30 a.m. to 5:15 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday. The museum is closed every Monday.
While these operating hours remain consistent year-round across all seasons, the attraction is closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day.
Why book tickets for the de Young Museum?
- 🏛️ Copper Architectural Marvel: Admire the museum’s striking “living” facade made of 1.6 million pounds of perforated copper, designed by Herzog & de Meuron to oxidize and blend into the surrounding park over time.
- 🖼️ Premier American Art: Explore one of the most significant collections of American art in the country, featuring masterpieces by Mary Cassatt, John Singer Sargent, and Georgia O’Keeffe.
- 🏙️ Hamon Observation Tower: Ascend to the 9th-floor glass-walled observation deck for breathtaking 360-degree views of San Francisco, the Pacific Ocean, and the lush canopy of Golden Gate Park.
- 🏺 Global Cultural Treasures: Discover a vast and diverse array of art from Africa, Oceania, and the Americas, alongside a world-class collection of over 13,000 textiles and costumes.
- 🌳 Outdoor Sculpture Garden: Wander through the museum’s tranquil gardens to see large-scale works by artists like Henry Moore, and visit “Three Gems,” an immersive underground Skyspace by James Turrell.
de Young Museum ticket prices
Admission requires a general entry ticket, which also grants same-day general admission to the Legion of Honor Museum.
Standard admission costs $20 for adults (ages 18-64), $17 for seniors (65+), $11 for college students with a valid ID, and is free for youth aged 17 and under. General admission to the de Young Museum is included in the Go City San Francisco Pass, alongside other city attractions such as the California Academy of Sciences, Aquarium of the Bay, and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA).
Opening hours and ticket prices were checked on the official website and last updated in March 2026.
Why book the Go City San Francisco All-Inclusive Pass?
- 🧬 California Academy of Sciences: Visit the world’s only aquarium-planetarium-rainforest-natural history museum, featuring a four-story living rainforest and a stunning coral reef ecosystem.
- 🚌 Big Bus Hop-On Hop-Off Tour: See the best of the “City by the Bay” with a 1-day classic tour that covers major landmarks like the Golden Gate Bridge, Union Square, and Fisherman’s Wharf.
- ⛴️ Iconic Bay Cruises: Get out on the water for spectacular skyline views with your choice of a Golden Gate Bay Cruise or a scenic boat trip around the infamous Alcatraz Island.
- 💰 Save up to 50%: Enjoy significant discounts on total admission costs for 30+ top attractions and tours compared to purchasing individual tickets at each gate.
- 📱 100% Digital & Flexible: Download your pass instantly to your smartphone for paperless entry, and choose a pass duration (1 to 5 days) that fits your travel schedule perfectly.
How to get to the de Young Museum
The de Young Museum is centrally located in Golden Gate Park in the western half of San Francisco. Driving or using a rideshare service provides direct access to the cultural concourse.
For public transport, the San Francisco Municipal Railway (Muni) operates the Route 44 bus, which drops passengers directly on Music Concourse Drive in front of the museum. The N Judah Muni Metro line also stops at 9th Avenue and Irving Street, requiring a ten-minute walk into the park.
Why book the Big Bus San Francisco Hop-on Hop-off Tour?
- 🌉 Golden Gate Bridge Crossing: Experience the thrill of riding across the world’s most famous bridge on the open-top deck for unmatched panoramic views and photo opportunities.
- 🚌 20+ Iconic Stops: Explore the city’s most vibrant neighborhoods at your own pace, with a route that hits Fisherman’s Wharf, Haight-Ashbury, the Painted Ladies, and Union Square.
- 🎧 Multilingual Audio Guide: Learn about San Francisco’s fascinating history—from the Gold Rush to the Summer of Love—with entertaining recorded commentary available in multiple languages.
- 📱 Live Bus Tracking: Maximize your sightseeing time using the free Big Bus app, which features live bus tracking and estimated arrival times so you never have to wait long at a stop.
- 🕒 Total Travel Flexibility: Choose between a 24 or 48-hour pass to fit your schedule, giving you the freedom to hop off for a sourdough bread bowl or a museum visit and rejoin the tour whenever you’re ready.
Parking at the de Young Museum
Paid underground parking is available in the Music Concourse Garage, which features a direct pedestrian lift into the museum’s lower level.
Free and time-limited street parking is available along John F. Kennedy Drive, Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, and other roads within Golden Gate Park, though spaces fill rapidly on weekends.
How long to spend at the de Young Museum
Visitors typically need between two and three hours to fully explore the de Young Museum.
This allows enough time to view the permanent collections, visit the outdoor sculpture garden, and take the lift up to the panoramic observation tower.
5 San Francisco experiences worth booking
- 🌉 Combine the Golden Gate Bridge, Muir Woods, Sausalito and Alcatraz on a packed day tour.
- 🌲 Take a day trip to the Giant Sequoias and the highlights of Yosemite National Park.
- 🌃 See the city lights at night on a San Francisco Bay cruise.
- 🍷 Go wine-tasting in the Napa and Sonoma Valleys on a full day wine tour.
- ✌️ Hit the hippie hotspots in a colourful VW bus on the San Francisco Love Tour.
Accessibility at the de Young Museum
The de Young Museum provides a fully accessible environment with level pathways, wide doors, and lifts connecting all gallery levels and the observation tower.
Manual wheelchairs are available to borrow from the coat check desk on a first-come, first-served basis. The museum also offers large-print labels, free audio guides for visually impaired visitors, and designated accessible parking spaces within the Music Concourse Garage.
Inside / what to see at the de Young Museum
The striking copper-clad building houses an extensive permanent collection encompassing American art from the 17th through the 20th centuries, alongside significant holdings of textile arts and costumes.
Dedicated galleries display artefacts and artworks from Africa, Oceania, and the Americas, including ancient Mesoamerican ceramics and traditional wood carvings.
The museum frequently hosts major temporary exhibitions focusing on contemporary art, historical retrospectives, and global cultural themes.
Outside, the Barbro Osher Sculpture Garden features modern sculptural works integrated into the landscaping, including James Turrell’s site-specific Skyspace.
Visitors can access the glass-enclosed Hamon Observation Tower free of charge, which offers panoramic 360-degree views of Golden Gate Park, downtown San Francisco, and the Marin Headlands.
Practical visitor tips
| Category | Tip |
| Timing | Arrive before 10:00 a.m. to secure street parking within Golden Gate Park and avoid the peak afternoon crowds. |
| Crowds | General admission is free on the first Tuesday of every month, which consistently results in the highest crowd levels. |
| Layout | The Hamon Observation Tower closes at 4:15 p.m., one hour before the main museum, so plan to visit this section earlier in your trip. |
| Entry process | Purchase tickets online in advance to bypass the ticketing desk and proceed directly to the gallery entrances. |
| On-site logistics | Photography is permitted in the permanent galleries, but tripods and flash are strictly prohibited to protect the artwork. |
Frequently asked questions about the de Young Museum
| Question | Answer |
| Is the de Young Museum suitable for children? | Yes, the museum features wide spaces, an outdoor sculpture garden, and free entry for anyone aged 17 and under. |
| Do you need to book tickets in advance for the de Young Museum? | Tickets can be bought on arrival, but advance online booking is advised to guarantee entry and save time. |
| Is the de Young Museum open on Sundays? | Yes, the museum is open on Sundays year-round from 9:30 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. |
| Are bags allowed at the de Young Museum? | Standard day bags are permitted, but backpacks and large bags over 8 x 8 x 5 inches must be checked at the cloakroom. |
Things to do near the de Young Museum
- California Academy of Sciences
- Japanese Tea Garden
- San Francisco Botanical Garden
- Conservatory of Flowers
- Stow Lake
More San Francisco travel
Other San Francisco travel articles on Planet Whitley include:
- Planning a visit to the Walt Disney Family Museum in San Francisco.
- Complete guide to day tours to Monterey and Carmel from San Francisco.
- What’s the point of the Wave Organ in San Francisco?
- Visitor guide to Fort Point by the Golden Gate Bridge.
- Get interactive at the Exploratorium in San Francisco.
