The crown jewel of San Francisco’s museums is without a doubt the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art – SFMOMA! The museum’s current collection includes over 33,000 works of painting, sculpture, photography, architecture, design, and media arts. If you’re visiting San Francisco and love art, SFMOMA is a must see! Read on for your visiting SFMOMA guide.
What is SFMOMA?
San Francisco Museum of Art is one of the largest museums for modern and contemporary art in the world! The newly renovated museum holds over 33,000 works of art, three delicious cafes and restaurants, a vibrant museum store, an immersive sculpture garden, and more, right in the heart of downtown San Francisco.
Where is SFMOMA?
SFMOMA is located in the SoMA district, at 151 Third Street. You can get to SFMOMA by public transportation via nearby BART and Muni stations, and SFMOMA has its own parking garage if you’re driving.
How much is entrance to SFMOMA?
Adults are $25 – discount prices include $19 for ages 19-24, $22 for seniors, plus members and ages 18 and under are free! Click here to learn more and purchase tickets.
SFMOMA is open Fridays through Tuesdays 10 a.m.–5 p.m. and Thursday 10 a.m.–9 p.m, and closed Wednesdays. The museum is open until 9 p.m. on Saturdays, May 25 through September 2.
What should I see in SFMOMA?
The permanent collection of SFMOMA is divided into:
- German Art after 1960
- Pop, Minimal, and Figurative Art
- Approaching American Abstraction
- Painting and Sculpture, 1900 to Now
I highly recommend exploring these four galleries to get the full experience of SFMOMA’s collection! Notable artists on display include Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera, Georgia O’Keefe, Louise Bourgeois, Michael Serra, and Anslem Kiefer.
SFMOMA also hosts temporary exhibits that explore the emergence of modern art to how technology has changed our perception and transmission of art. See here for list of current and upcoming exhibitions.
My personal highlights of the museum I want include in this SFMOMA guide are:
Dan Flavin, untitled (in honor of Leo at the 30th anniversary of his gallery), 1987
Ellsworth Kelly, Spectrum I, 1953
Tony Cragg, Forminifera, 1989 & Tony Cragg, Yellow Bottle, 1982
Robert Indiana, Love, 1973
Sol LeWitt, Wall Drawing 273, September 1975
Cindy Sherman, Untitled Film Stills
Gerhard Richter, 256 Farben (256 Colors), 1974/1984
What else is there to do at SFMOMA?
SFMOMA houses three restaurants and cafes, including local favorite Sightglass Coffee bar, which offers a nice break for a drink and snack while exploring the museum. You can also enjoy Cafe 5, family-friendly dining with a seasonal menu off of the sculpture garden, or experience fine-dining at In Situ, SFMOMA’s Michelin-starred restaurant.
SFMOMA also offers stunning views of the city all around the building, including their rooftop garden, so make sure to check those out too!
The SFMOMA museum store is a must-see before you leave! Bring a piece of the museum and its art home with you with a postcard, poster, jewelry, toys, and more.
Museum Store; photo: © Henrik Kam
Hope this SFMOMA guide helps inform your next trip to San Francisco! Comment down below if you’ve been to SFMOMA or plan to in the near future!
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