The Legion of Honor Museum is a fine arts museum displaying European paintings and ancient artefacts, located within Lincoln Park in San Francisco, California. This guide covers opening hours, ticket prices, transport or parking, accessibility, and practical visitor tips.
To skip the details and just book your tickets, head this way.
This guide was updated in March 2026 to reflect the $20 adult admission price and the inclusion of same-day entry to the de Young Museum with standard tickets.
Quick facts about the Legion of Honor 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 | 100 34th Ave, Lincoln Park, San Francisco, CA 94121 |
| Nearest public transport or parking | Muni Bus Route 18 / Free on-site parking available |
| Typical time needed to visit | 2 to 3 hours |
Legion of Honor Museum opening hours
The Legion of Honor Museum is open from 9:30 a.m. to 5:15 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday. The museum is strictly closed every Monday.
These hours remain consistent year-round, though the building is closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day.
Why book tickets for the Legion of Honor Museum?
- 🏛️ San Francisco’s Most Beautiful Museum: Admire the stunning Neoclassical architecture of this landmark building, a replica of the Palais de la Légion d’Honneur in Paris, situated in the picturesque Lincoln Park.
- 🎨 World-Class European Art: Explore a premier collection spanning 4,000 years of ancient and European art, featuring masterpieces by Rembrandt, Goya, El Greco, and Rubens.
- 🎭 Iconic Rodin Sculptures: Stand before an original cast of Auguste Rodin’s The Thinker in the museum’s courtyard and discover one of the most significant collections of his works in the United States.
- 🌉 Panoramic Golden Gate Views: Take in some of the city’s most breathtaking vistas of the Golden Gate Bridge and the Pacific Ocean from the museum’s unique vantage point at Land’s End.
- 📜 Exquisite Decorative Arts: Marvel at the Rezzonico ceiling, intricate period rooms, and the Achenbach Foundation for Graphic Arts, which houses over 90,000 works on paper.
Legion of Honor Museum ticket prices
Admission requires a general entry ticket, which also grants same-day general admission to the de Young Museum in Golden Gate Park.
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 Legion of Honor Museum is included in the Go City San Francisco Pass, alongside other regional 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 Legion of Honor Museum
The Legion of Honor Museum is situated in Lincoln Park in the Richmond District, in the northwest corner of San Francisco. Driving or using a rideshare service is a direct way to reach the coastal headlands.
For public transport, the San Francisco Municipal Railway (Muni) operates the Route 18 bus, which drops passengers directly at the museum’s terminal plaza in front of the building.
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 Legion of Honor Museum
Free public parking is available for visitors directly outside the museum.
The spaces are located around the main fountain plaza in front of the entrance and stretch along El Camino del Mar on the north side of the building.
How long to spend at the Legion of Honor Museum
Visitors typically need between two and three hours to walk through the Legion of Honor Museum.
This allows enough time to view the central courtyard, explore the permanent European and ancient art galleries, and visit the lower-level exhibition spaces.
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 Legion of Honor Museum
The Legion of Honor Museum is fully accessible, providing ramps, wide doorways, and lifts to connect the different exhibition levels.
Manual wheelchairs can be borrowed from the information desk on a first-come, first-served basis. The museum also offers free audio guides specifically designed for visually impaired visitors.
Inside / what to see at the Legion of Honor Museum
The museum building is a three-quarter-scale adaptation of the Palais de la Légion d’Honneur in Paris, France. The entrance features a large central courtyard containing an original bronze cast of Auguste Rodin’s sculpture, The Thinker.
The permanent collection contains over 124,000 works of art spanning 4,000 years. The European art galleries display paintings and sculptures from the 14th to the early 20th centuries. They include prominent works by Degas, Monet, and Rubens.
A dedicated section features ancient art from the Mediterranean basin, including artefacts from Egypt, Greece, and Rome. Two embalmed mummies are displayed alongside a virtual dissection table for closer examination.
The museum houses the largest collection of works on paper in the western United States, encompassing thousands of prints, drawings, and photographs.
Large windows within the galleries and the grounds outside offer clear sightlines of the Golden Gate Bridge, the Marin Headlands, and the Pacific Ocean.
Practical visitor tips
| Category | Tip |
| Timing | Arrive early to secure a free parking space near the fountain, as these fill quickly on weekends. |
| Crowds | General admission is free on the first Tuesday of every month, which consistently results in the highest crowd levels. |
| Layout | The museum is split between an upper main floor for the permanent collections and a lower floor for temporary exhibitions and the café. |
| Entry process | Advance online tickets are recommended to avoid queues, and a physical ID is required if claiming a student or senior discount. |
| 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 Legion of Honor Museum
| Question | Answer |
| Is the Legion of Honor Museum suitable for children? | Yes, the museum is family-friendly and offers free admission for all visitors aged 17 and under. |
| Do you need to book tickets in advance for the Legion of Honor Museum? | Tickets can be purchased upon arrival, but advance online booking is advised to guarantee your preferred time slot. |
| Is the Legion of Honor Museum open on Sundays? | Yes, the museum is open on Sundays from 9:30 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. |
| Are bags allowed at the Legion of Honor Museum? | Standard day bags are permitted, but luggage and large bags over 8 x 8 x 5 inches must be checked at the cloakroom. |
Things to do near the Legion of Honor Museum
- Lands End Lookout
- Sutro Baths
- Fort Point in Golden Gate Park
- The Walt Disney Family Museum in the Presidio of San Francisco
- Baker Beach
More San Francisco travel
Other San Francisco travel articles on Planet Whitley include:
- Embracing touristy San Francisco at Fisherman’s Wharf.
- Complete guide to day tours to Monterey and Carmel from San Francisco.
- What’s the point of the Wave Organ in San Francisco?
- Get interactive at the Exploratorium in San Francisco.
- How to get the best out of the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco.
