M. H. de Young Memorial Museum

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.

The de Young Museum, officially the M. H. de Young Memorial Museum, rises out of Golden Gate Park in burnished copper, with wide-ranging galleries and the Hamon Observation Tower looking across San Francisco.

For a first visit, book a standard entry ticket in advance so you can lock in your museum time and build the rest of your park day around it.

Select a date to find available tickets, tours & activities:

Tickets

Prebooked entry tickets are the straightforward choice here: you secure museum access for the day you want and avoid relying on first-come desk availability.

de Young Museum General Admission Ticket

4.2(213)

Go to offer

Current exhibitions

About Place: Bay Area Artists from the Svane Gift

This installation brings together contemporary Bay Area artists and looks at belonging, ecological stewardship, and social justice through works from the Svane Gift.

Aug 10, 2024 – Jul 5, 2026

Monet and Venice

The exhibition reunites Monet's Venice paintings with related works from across his career, including Water Lilies, and sets them alongside views by artists such as Renoir, Sargent, and Canaletto.

Mar 21, 2026 – Jul 26, 2026

Boom and Bust: Photographing Northern California

This photography exhibition follows Northern California from the Gold Rush to the tech boom and examines cycles of growth, construction, and upheaval in the Bay Area.

Oct 18, 2025 – Aug 2, 2026

Contemporary Painting in Papua New Guinea: Mathias Kauage and His Family

Boldly colored paintings by Mathias Kauage and members of his family reflect a rapidly changing Papua New Guinea through contemporary perspectives.

Mar 30, 2024 – Dec 6, 2026

Rooted in Place: California Native Art

The exhibition focuses on Native art from northwestern California and explores how art, ceremony, and land remain interconnected through collection highlights, loans, acquisitions, and commissions.

Aug 26, 2025 – Dec 6, 2026

Rose B. Simpson: LEXICON

Rose B. Simpson brings Pueblo pottery into dialogue with classic cars in a mixed-media exhibition about form, memory, and cultural identity.

Aug 30, 2025 – Feb 7, 2027

Lowrider Culture Celebration

This free public program celebrates lowrider culture with a car display, film screenings, discussion, music, and family art making linked to Rose B. Simpson: LEXICON.

Jun 6, 2026 – Jun 6, 2026

Nengi Omuku: The Gathering

In her first US solo museum exhibition, Nengi Omuku presents dream-like paintings of young Nigerians in lush settings, alongside works from the museum's arts of Africa collection.

Jun 27, 2026 – May 14, 2028

6 tips for visiting the M. H. de Young Memorial Museum

Book the first hour

If you want calmer galleries and the easiest shot at the tower, aim for the first entry window of the day. You start before Golden Gate Park fills up, and your second stop stays flexible.

Use 4:30 pm carefully

Daily free entry from 4:30 pm only covers the permanent collection, and the tower closes at exactly that time. Use it if you are flexible and want a quick late look, not if this is your main museum visit.

Pair just one nearby stop

The de Young sits in a dense cluster, but trying to cram the Japanese Tea Garden, the California Academy of Sciences, and the San Francisco Botanical Garden into one stretch turns the park into a checklist. Pick one follow-up that matches your energy, and the day stays enjoyable.

Keep the tower cutoff in mind

The Hamon Observation Tower is one of the museum's best payoffs, but it closes earlier than the galleries. Go up well before 4:30 pm so you are not choosing between rooftop views and the rooms you came to see.

Keep transit proof

If you ride Muni or another Bay Area transit service, keep your proof of purchase with you. It can unlock a small admission discount on site, which is an unusually useful perk for a Golden Gate Park museum stop.

Pack light for the galleries

Standard backpacks are allowed, but anything larger than 8 x 8 x 5 inches must be carried by hand in the galleries, and oversized luggage is not accepted. Pack lightly if you are visiting between flights or after a long city day, so entry stays smooth.

How to plan a de Young Museum visit

The de Young rewards a little structure. Its park setting makes the day feel open, but the best version usually comes from choosing one clear museum rhythm first: early galleries, a late free collection look, or one nearby Golden Gate Park pairing.

Start with standard entry

The bookable options here are straightforward entry tickets, which suits the museum well. If this is your first visit, lock in standard admission in advance and leave the rest of the planning flexible around the collections, tower, and park.

Morning visits give you the easiest flow

Early entry makes the galleries feel quieter, keeps the Hamon Observation Tower in play, and gives you room for one second stop nearby. Once midday crowds build in Golden Gate Park, the museum part still works, but the rest of the day becomes less fluid.

Late-day free entry suits a focused return

The 4:30 pm free-admission window is useful when you only want a quick permanent-collection look or you are already in the park. It is not the ideal first experience, because the tower closes at the same time and you will be moving through the museum on a shorter clock.

Pair the museum with one neighbor, not the whole park

This is the right part of Golden Gate Park for a compact culture day. Pair the de Young with the Japanese Tea Garden, the California Academy of Sciences, or the San Francisco Botanical Garden, but usually not all of them unless the museum is only a brief stop.

What makes the de Young Museum memorable

This museum works because the building, the collections, and the park setting reinforce each other. You are not just stepping into another city museum; you are moving through a San Francisco landmark shaped by local history, wide greenery, and a deliberately varied collection.

The building is part of the experience

The current de Young opened in 2005 in a copper-clad building by Herzog & de Meuron with Fong & Chan. Even before you enter the galleries, it feels distinct from the usual classical museum model, and the Hamon Observation Tower gives you a quick visual reset over Golden Gate Park and the city.

The collections reward breadth, not speed

Official collection strengths include American art, international textile arts and costumes, African art, Oceanic art, and arts of the Americas. That range is exactly why rushing from one headline room to the next feels thin here; the museum is strongest when you let the mix surprise you.

Its history starts in 1895, not 2005

The institution, formally the M. H. de Young Memorial Museum, began in 1895 after the California Midwinter International Exposition. The current building is newer, but the museum carries a much longer San Francisco story shaped by the 1906 earthquake, later seismic concerns, and the eventual rebuild.

Golden Gate Park changes the mood of the visit

Because the museum sits inside Golden Gate Park, the arrival and exit feel softer than at a dense downtown venue. That makes the de Young especially good for travelers who want an art stop that can open into a garden walk, a science-museum detour, or simply time outside around the Music Concourse.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long should I plan for the de Young Museum?

Give yourself about 2 to 3 hours if you want the collections and the tower without rushing. If you also want another Golden Gate Park stop, a half-day works better.

Do I need to book de Young Museum tickets in advance?

Advance booking is the safer move, especially on weekends, during school breaks, or when a special exhibition is pulling extra traffic. Same-day desk sales exist, but they depend on remaining capacity.

Is the Hamon Observation Tower included in admission?

You do not need a separate tower ticket. The Hamon Observation Tower can be visited without museum admission, but it closes at 4:30 pm every day it is open.

When can I visit the de Young Museum for free?

Visitors 17 and under always enter free. The permanent collection is also free for everyone from 4:30 pm each day, general admission is free on the first Tuesday of every month, and Bay Area residents get free Saturdays for the permanent collection.

Is the de Young Museum wheelchair accessible?

Yes. The building, entrances, and bathrooms are accessible, and wheelchairs are available on a first-come basis. If you need to keep a backpack on your shoulders for disability reasons, staff can help with an accessibility sticker.

Can I bring a stroller or backpack?

Standard strollers and standard-size backpacks are allowed. Larger bags must be carried by hand in the galleries, and oversized luggage is not accepted.

Can I take photos inside the museum?

Usually yes for personal use with a phone or small camera. Flash, tripods, selfie sticks, drones, and long-form video recording are not allowed, and some rooms or temporary exhibitions may post extra restrictions.

What pairs well with the de Young Museum?

The easiest pairings are other Golden Gate Park stops nearby, especially the Japanese Tea Garden, the California Academy of Sciences, or a slower walk through Golden Gate Park itself. If you want a deeper garden day, add the San Francisco Botanical Garden instead of trying to do all three.

General information

opening hours

The museum is open Tuesday-Sunday from 9:30 am to 5:15 pm; Monday is closed.
The Hamon Observation Tower is open Tuesday-Sunday from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm.
The museum is also closed on Presidents' Day, Indigenous Peoples' Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day.

tickets

General admission prices are:
- Adults: $20
- Seniors (65+): $17
- Students with valid ID: $11
- Youth 17 and under: free
- Members: free
Buy online in advance or at the admissions desk if same-day capacity remains. Last ticket sales end one hour before closing. At 4:30 pm the permanent collection becomes free for all; special exhibitions may still have separate pricing. Wilsey Court, the museum store, the cafe, and the tower do not require a ticket. Audio tours are optional extras.

address

de Young Museum
50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive
Golden Gate Park
San Francisco, CA 94118

how to get there

The closest public-transport option is usually the 44 O'Shaughnessy bus. The 5 and 5R Fulton buses are another common choice, while the N Judah Muni Metro is about a 15-minute walk away.
On weekends and holidays, the free Golden Gate Park shuttle stops near the museum. If you drive, the paid Music Concourse Garage is the simplest option; street parking around the park often fills by midday.

accessibility

The museum entrance has push-button doors, and the building is wheelchair accessible throughout. Wheelchairs and lightweight stools are available on a first-come, first-served basis, and there are accessible toilets, gender-neutral bathrooms, plus nursing and changing rooms.
Motorized scooters are welcome.

luggage

Standard-size backpacks are allowed, but bags larger than 8 x 8 x 5 in must be carried by hand in the galleries. Bags larger than 9 x 14 x 22 in are not allowed and cannot be stored at coat check.
Metal-frame backpacks, oversize bags, long umbrellas, skate items, and oversize strollers must be checked.

photography and filming

Personal photography and short videos with smartphones or small handheld cameras are generally allowed in open areas and permanent-collection galleries unless posted otherwise. Flash, tripods, selfie sticks, large cameras, drones, and long-form video recording are not allowed.
Special exhibitions may have additional restrictions.

How useful was this page?

Average rating 0 / 5. Vote count: 0.

Compare prices for more top sights in San Francisco:

Golden Gate Bridge83 tickets & guided tours

Alcatraz139 tickets & guided tours

Fishermans Wharf1 tickets & guided tours

Aquarium of the Bay15 tickets & guided tours

California Academy of Sciences10 tickets & guided tours

Muir Woods National Monument40 tickets & guided tours

Golden Gate Park7 tickets & guided tours

Lombard Street6 tickets & guided tours

Popular destinations

Rome Dubai Athens Venice Istanbul Milan Vienna Dublin Beijing Krakow