de Young Museum
San Francisco, California, US
The de Young Museum sits in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park and offers a broad mix of American art, textiles and global works, plus a tower with city views. At $20 admission you can explore rotating exhibitions and the striking Beaux‑Arts building in a single afternoon.
Why choose de Young Museum
You’ll walk through a thoughtfully curated collection that feels larger than its city ranking suggests, while the observation deck gives a perspective you can’t get from other museums. The park setting adds a breath of fresh air between galleries.
Best for: Art lovers · Families · Photography · First-timers
Start your Golden Gate Park morning here
Begin at the de Young Museum, explore its galleries and tower, then wander nearby attractions on foot.
- Morning — de Young Museum
- 11:00 — California Academy of Sciences
- Afternoon — Japanese Tea Garden
Visit tips
- Enter through the main lobby; the ticket window is on the right.
- Take the elevator to the observation deck for the clearest city views.
- Arrive early; the museum opens at 9:30 am and crowds build after 11 am.
- Allow 2–3 hours for galleries and the tower; tickets are purchased at the entrance.
Plan your visit
- Recommended duration: 2–3 hours
- Best time of day: Early morning, before 10:00
- Hours: 09:30–17:15 (closed Monday) — Closed on Mondays
- Entry: $20
- Booking: not required — tickets at the gate
- Category: museum
- Rated 4.4 by 2230 reviewers
- Tags: art collections, city views, park setting, family friendly
Nearby attractions
- Golden Gate Park — park, 16 min walk
- California Academy of Sciences — museum, 4 min walk
- Japanese Tea Garden — attraction, 3 min walk
- San Francisco Botanical Garden — attraction, 5 min walk
- Burma Superstar — restaurant, 17 min walk
More things to do in San Francisco
See all things to do in San Francisco or plan a full San Francisco itinerary with Next Getaway.